"Drawing on research culled from police files, court records, transcripts, uncollected evidence and new interviews, this gripping work of investigative journalism revisits the 1990 unsolved murder of 16-year-old Lisa Pruett in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, revealing the dark secrets teens tell--and keep"-- - (Baker & Taylor)

Drawing on research culled from police files, court records, transcripts, uncollected evidence and new interviews, this gripping work of investigative journalism revisits the 1990 unsolved murder of 16-year-old Lisa Pruett in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, revealing the dark secrets teens tell—and keep. Illustrations. Maps. - (Baker & Taylor)

For readers of Ann Rule and Gregg Olsen, a riveting new true crime book from the acclaimed author of True Crime Addict and creator/host of the podcasts True Crime This Week and The Philosophy of Crime, as he explores the unsolved murder of 16-year-old Lisa Pruett in the real life town of the bestselling novel Little Fires Everywhere for a painstakingly researched account of a senseless and heartbreaking tragedy and the people who were pulled into its aftermath.

In September of 1990, in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, sixteen-year-old Lisa Pruett, a poetry lover and member of a church youth group, was on her way to a midnight tryst with her boyfriend, when she was viciously stabbed to death only thirty feet from the boy’s home.

The murder cast a palpable gloom over the upscale community and sparked accusations, theories, and rumors among Lisa’s friends and peers. Together they wove a damning narrative that circled back to a likely suspect: “weird” high school outcast Kevin Young. Without a shred of evidence the teen was arrested, charged, and tried for the crime. His eventual acquittal didn’t squelch the anger and outrage among those who believed that Kevin got away with murder.

With a fresh perspective and painstaking research culled from police files, court records, transcripts, uncollected evidence, and new interviews, James Renner reconstructs the events leading up to and following that heartbreaking night. What emerges is a portrait of a community seething with dark undercurrents—its single-minded authorities, protective status-conscious parents, and the deeply peer-pressured teens within Lisa’s circle.

Who had the capacity for such unchecked violence? What monsters still lurk in the dark? After more than thirty years, questions like these continue to fester among the community of Shaker Heights, Ohio, still deeply scarred by wounds that remain hidden, unspoken, and unhealed. - (Random House, Inc.)

James Renner is an investigative journalist, podcaster, and critically acclaimed author of both nonfiction and fiction books, including True Crime Addict and The Man from Primrose Lane. Previously the host of Lake Erie’s Coldest Cases on ID Discovery, he currently hosts the podcasts “The Philosophy of Crime” and “True Crime This Week.” He is the Founder and Director of The Porchlight Project, a nonprofit that provides genetic genealogy for cold cases in Ohio. He lives in Akron with his wife and children and can be found online at Jamesrenner.com. - (Random House, Inc.)

Booklist Reviews

Cleveland suburb Shaker Heights, a tight-knit community bursting with hometown pride, suffered a brutal tragedy one fatal night in 1990. Lisa Pruett was just 16 years old when she was ruthlessly stabbed to death only 30 feet from her boyfriend's home. The town erupted in a cloud of rumors and suspicion. Could one of their own be capable of such a heinous act of violence? Their picture-perfect, upper-class facade was shattered to reveal a dark underbelly of secrets. Investigative journalist Renner lays out Lisa's case like a prime time police procedural, re-creating conversations and courtroom scenes through careful research. Despite a highly publicized trial, Lisa's murder remains unsolved. Renner presents it as a cautionary tale of how police tunnel vision and media interference can hinder the path to justice. He introduces readers to other suspects who didn't reach the limelight and offers hope that new advances in genealogical DNA research could help catch Lisa's killer. This title is extremely engrossing and well crafted. Recommended for true-crime fans of Little Fires Everywhere. Copyright 2023 Booklist Reviews.

Library Journal Reviews

In the early morning of September 14, 1990, in Shaker Heights, OH, 16-year-old Lisa Pruett snuck out of her house for a midnight rendezvous with her boyfriend. Just 100 feet from her boyfriend's home, Pruett was taken from her bicycle and stabbed 21 times. Investigative journalist/podcaster Renner (True Crime Addict) shows how the community focused on one suspect in the murder, classmate Kevin Young, who was believed to have feelings for Pruett. Although Young was found not guilty, many in the community still viewed him as the one who got away, although there was no evidence to support their theory. The author believes that Young was indeed innocent and presents another candidate as the possible murderer. Young ultimately died in 2017 at the age of 44; no foul play was suspected in his death. The book would have benefitted from a more engaging approach, instead of the casual and conversational tone employed in the narrative. VERDICT This book about an unsolved murder that continues to haunt an affluent suburb of Cleveland is an optional purchase for libraries in the region.—Michael Sawyer