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Murder In Spokane
True crime at its very best. Building on his two previous Murder in … bestsellers, Mark Fuhrman turns his formidable detective skills to the apprehension and arrest of Robert L. Yates, Jr., a serial killer responsible for the deaths of at least 23 women. Written in the same fast-paced style as Murder in Brentwood and Murder in Greenwich, this is a shocking account of Fuhrman's investigation of the prostitutes' deaths as he worked alongside the Spokane Task Force. The serial killer preyed on prostitutes with drug problems. He intentionally selected street people, who would not be missed right away, often women who were new to town. The police seemingly put these murders on the back burner because the victims did not stir up public sentiment. Only after the serial killer began to play with the police — planting bodies for attention and escalating the murders — did intense effort go into the case. Though the understaffed police force did catch the killer, Fuhrman shows that their reliance on computers and on DNA test results from everyone they interviewed was slower than doing old-fashioned gumshoe detective work. With the clues they had, Fuhrman writes, the police could have made the arrest two years earlier — saving the lives of at least nine women.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Mark Fuhrman
10 books91 followersFormer LAPD detective, true crime writer and talk radio host.
He is primarily known for his part in the investigation of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman and his subsequent felony conviction for perjury.
He is primarily known for his part in the investigation of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman and his subsequent felony conviction for perjury.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 15, 2012
Could you talk about yourself any more Mark Fuhrman?
August 15, 2016
If you can get past who the author is (and the infamous case he was a big part of is mentioned briefly a couple of times), this is actually a good read. It is a bit dated, but it’s an interesting perspective that reads like a whodunit at times. When several bodies of prostitutes start turning up in the mid and late 90s, the local law enforcement in Spokane (and other areas) find themselves looking at a serial killer case. Much of the story concerns the investigation (and what Fuhrman lists as the many, many mistakes made in said investigation). If Fuhrman’s statements can be taken at face value (a cursory check didn’t reveal anything contradictory) then there were a lot of appalling mistakes made by law enforcement, and perhaps as many as nine lives were needlessly lost. Leaving crime scenes overnight. Not following up on tips. Lack of communication and cooperation with other enforcement agencies. In the end, Robert Lee Yates is known to have killed at least 13 female prostitutes, most of them also drug addicts, and probably killed more. It’s sad because you see this a good deal with serial killer cases. With a few exceptions, the victims tend to be marginalized, so no one really notices – or cares – when they turn up dead. Indeed, I guess Fuhrman’s wife was talking to a Spokane resident, who flat out said who cared about a few drug-addicted prostitutes, and perhaps the killer was doing the area a favor. Ouch. I have to wonder if this was a part of the reason for the lackadaisical attitude on the part of law enforcement and the community when it came to these crimes. The Yates case reminds me of the more recent Anthony Sowell case here.
December 4, 2008
Murder in Spokane: Catching a Serial Killer by Mark Fuhrman
When I read John Douglas's books, I'm amazed at the arrogance and self-importance I see. After reading Murder in Spokane, however, I have found a worthy rival for Douglas.
It only took a few pages for him to bring up the OJ business and his other books (Murder in Brentwood and Murder in Greenwich). In fact, the book jacket proclaims:
Mark Fuhrman's bestseller Murder in Greenwich led to Michael Skakel's arrest [in the Martha Moxley case] .
Now America's foremost detective turns his investigative brilliance to Spokane. . .
Let's step back a minute and consider how "America's foremost detective" (according to whom?) went from being a cop to a journalist. About how he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights at the OJ trial and refused to testify about falsified documents and planted evidence. About how he claims Robert Yates could have been caught two years earlier if Spokane police would have just worked smarter. That's what this book is mostly about: how the bumbling Spokane PD and Sheriff's department took three years to crack the case - with Fuhrman's help, of course.
To read this book, you'd think Spokane is a backwards little burg in the middle of nowhere. Well, I can say that because it's my hometown. But I defend it mightily against the likes of Mark Fuhrman, who now calls Sandpoint, Idaho home (about 75 miles from Spokane). I happen to know he is not well liked in the area. In fact, many locals refuse to buy this book. I can see why.
Okay, so what about the book, you ask?
Fuhrman finds fault with every aspect of the investigation, while lamenting the uncooperativeness of the city and county cops. The book opens with:
You never forget what a dead body smells like. The stink of decomposing flesh. That retching, putrid stanch that seems to penetrate right through your skin. That sticks to your clothing and clings to the hairs in your nose. . . That afternoon, I smelled it again. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but the smell wouldn't go away.
I was stuck in traffic on my way to do a radio show in Spokane, Washington. Mark Fitzsimmons had asked me to be a guest host on his program at KXLY 920 AM.
(Two pages later you find that the smell is a dead deer on the side of the road, and he describes the carcass in full, revolting detail.) Much of the book deals with Fuhrman and Fitzsimmons, hosts of the radio show "All About Crime," taking the investigation upon themselves and criticizing local law enforcement's lack of footwork.
The book follows a time line in which several prostitutes' bodies are found in the Spokane area. Fuhrman says police didn't follow up on tips and sat on good information. Police say that Fuhrman didn't have all of the information. In fact, police refused Fuhrman access to law enforcement files and crime scene information, which Fuhrman complains about in the book. Gee, I would have to side with the cops on this one. Here's this radio duo stepping on your investigation - and one of them is an ex-LAPD cop with a bad reputation. In fact, Fuhrman's 20 years of experience as a cop included two serial killer investigations. And he portrayed himself as a lead investigator in Murder in Brentwood, when in fact he was just one of the first cops on the scene. Would you share? And despite the SPD's apparent shoddy investigative techniques, Robert L. Yates, a father of five, pled guilty last October to 14 murders. I'd say the local boys did just fine.
The one interesting aspect of the case that Fuhrman didn't examine very deeply was the general attitude of the locals about the killings. Because the victims were prostitutes, most people didn't worry too much about the killer in their midst because they didn't consider themselves in danger. In fact, one woman I know from there said, "Who cares, as long as he [the killer] is getting the junkies off the streets?" That position seems to have been the norm rather than the exception.
In any case, I suggest reading The Robert Lee Yates Spokane Serial Killer Timeline instead of Fuhrman's book. It's shorter and less critical of the professionals.
When I read John Douglas's books, I'm amazed at the arrogance and self-importance I see. After reading Murder in Spokane, however, I have found a worthy rival for Douglas.
It only took a few pages for him to bring up the OJ business and his other books (Murder in Brentwood and Murder in Greenwich). In fact, the book jacket proclaims:
Mark Fuhrman's bestseller Murder in Greenwich led to Michael Skakel's arrest [in the Martha Moxley case] .
Now America's foremost detective turns his investigative brilliance to Spokane. . .
Let's step back a minute and consider how "America's foremost detective" (according to whom?) went from being a cop to a journalist. About how he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights at the OJ trial and refused to testify about falsified documents and planted evidence. About how he claims Robert Yates could have been caught two years earlier if Spokane police would have just worked smarter. That's what this book is mostly about: how the bumbling Spokane PD and Sheriff's department took three years to crack the case - with Fuhrman's help, of course.
To read this book, you'd think Spokane is a backwards little burg in the middle of nowhere. Well, I can say that because it's my hometown. But I defend it mightily against the likes of Mark Fuhrman, who now calls Sandpoint, Idaho home (about 75 miles from Spokane). I happen to know he is not well liked in the area. In fact, many locals refuse to buy this book. I can see why.
Okay, so what about the book, you ask?
Fuhrman finds fault with every aspect of the investigation, while lamenting the uncooperativeness of the city and county cops. The book opens with:
You never forget what a dead body smells like. The stink of decomposing flesh. That retching, putrid stanch that seems to penetrate right through your skin. That sticks to your clothing and clings to the hairs in your nose. . . That afternoon, I smelled it again. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but the smell wouldn't go away.
I was stuck in traffic on my way to do a radio show in Spokane, Washington. Mark Fitzsimmons had asked me to be a guest host on his program at KXLY 920 AM.
(Two pages later you find that the smell is a dead deer on the side of the road, and he describes the carcass in full, revolting detail.) Much of the book deals with Fuhrman and Fitzsimmons, hosts of the radio show "All About Crime," taking the investigation upon themselves and criticizing local law enforcement's lack of footwork.
The book follows a time line in which several prostitutes' bodies are found in the Spokane area. Fuhrman says police didn't follow up on tips and sat on good information. Police say that Fuhrman didn't have all of the information. In fact, police refused Fuhrman access to law enforcement files and crime scene information, which Fuhrman complains about in the book. Gee, I would have to side with the cops on this one. Here's this radio duo stepping on your investigation - and one of them is an ex-LAPD cop with a bad reputation. In fact, Fuhrman's 20 years of experience as a cop included two serial killer investigations. And he portrayed himself as a lead investigator in Murder in Brentwood, when in fact he was just one of the first cops on the scene. Would you share? And despite the SPD's apparent shoddy investigative techniques, Robert L. Yates, a father of five, pled guilty last October to 14 murders. I'd say the local boys did just fine.
The one interesting aspect of the case that Fuhrman didn't examine very deeply was the general attitude of the locals about the killings. Because the victims were prostitutes, most people didn't worry too much about the killer in their midst because they didn't consider themselves in danger. In fact, one woman I know from there said, "Who cares, as long as he [the killer] is getting the junkies off the streets?" That position seems to have been the norm rather than the exception.
In any case, I suggest reading The Robert Lee Yates Spokane Serial Killer Timeline instead of Fuhrman's book. It's shorter and less critical of the professionals.
January 23, 2016
In this one, Fuhrman digs into an unsolved serial-murder case which I believe has since been cracked. It's a good read.
July 27, 2019
Good read, but not entirely fair or complete
This book is interesting because it allows us some further insight into the personality of Mark Fuhrman, one time LAPD detective, and fall guy for the prosecution in the O. J. Simpson debacle. It is interesting to see how Fuhrman's loyalties and perspective have changed from the siege mentality of a beleaguered cop to the free and easy skepticism of a freelance journalist. One thing is clear: he has extended his fifteen minutes of fame by becoming a writer of true crime tales destined for the best seller list. This is his third. I didn't read Murder in Brentwood (1997), having had my fill of the Simpson tragedy, but I did read Murder in Greenwich (1998) and it wasn't bad. This is an even better book, more skillfully written, about murders committed by Robert Lee Yates Jr., a sickie who might be dubbed the "Ordinary Joe" of serial killers, if one can ever say that a serial killer is ordinary.
This is also interesting from the point of view of an ex-detective from the big city, trying to have some significant impact on a sensational case. Fuhrman and his buddy, Spokane radio talk show host, Mike Fitzsimmons, provide us with some insight into what it's like playing detective in their spare time while second guessing the police on a weekly basis over the radio. Fuhrman insists that he's still a cop at heart, but don't tell that to the Spokane police (or to the cops in Greenwich, Connecticut either). Regardless, his critique of the way the Spokane police handled this string of murders is well worth reading. His main point is that faulty police work allowed Yates to remain free long after they should have had the goods on him. As Fuhrman puts it, "The task force was supposed to be chasing a killer. Instead they became file clerks" as they "relied on blood tests and databases to do their work for them" (p. 259). By the time they figured out who the murderer was, a man right under their nose, "They had already wasted two years, and watched ten women die," women that Fuhrman insists would not have been killed had the police done their job. "Whether it was laziness, incompetence, or just simple human error, the task force could have caught Yates back in September 1997" (p. 239). As it actually happened, Yates was not arrested until April 18, 2000.
Fuhrman believes that the police department's failure to give information to the public about the crimes was one of the reasons the killer stayed at large. Fuhrman argues strongly that the more information about the killings that the police put out on the street, the better the chances are that somebody will step forward with something that will help them catch the killer. This is the clear public service message of this book. All the material about police errors and misdirections and butt guarding are important for the public to know, but are nothing new. To rake the cops over the coals because they COULD have caught the killer sooner serves a public purpose, but it is a small one. Police work, as Fuhrman knows, is not an exact science, and mistakes, sometimes tragic, will be made.
Fuhrman implies (e.g., quoting Fitzsimmons on pages 69 and 70, but denies it himself when on the radio, page 125) that the reason the police did not put more energy into finding the killer was the fact that he was only killing prostitutes and drug addicts. Again, it's hard to doubt that there is an element of truth to this accusation. Imagine if the daughters of the landed gentry of Spokane were the victims. I think every resource of city, county, state and the FBI would have been summoned, and no crime scene would have been left unprocessed until tomorrow. (Crime scenes left unprocessed overnight was one of Fuhrman's pet peeves. Several times the Spokane police just cordoned off the crime scene and went home to dinner and a night's rest before finishing the job.)
For those readers looking for information about the serial killer himself and insights into his behavior and what might have made him the sexual psychopath that he is, this book will be a disappointment. Fuhrman isn't interested in Yates's motives. While his identify was unknown and Fuhrman and Fitzsimmons were speculating on the air what he might be like, Fuhrman's interest was understandably high. Fuhrman played the profiler game and put his head into the mind of the killer and came up with the idea that this guy was fairly sophisticated. "This guy is definitely an organized murderer...This is a streetwise guy. You've got to show this guy a little respect for the way he comes in, commits the crime, slips out, and nobody knows the wiser...I see this guy as being very organized, fairly intelligent...Clever, cunning." (pp. 93-94). When it turns out that, except for the killings, he is an average sort of joe, Fuhrman was clearly disappointed. "The fact that he was so ordinary only made me wonder why they hadn't caught him a long time ago" (p. 232).
There is plenty of the well known Fuhrman arrogance here. He's clearly the star of this book, even though he was on the periphery of the case. His knowledge of police procedures and in-station politics is a plus. He's able to see through the press releases and the public posturing to what is really going on in the police and sheriff's departments. The fact that he points out how the case could have been solved sooner is also a plus, and a huge embarrassment for Spokane law enforcement. But the bottom line is the police did get the killer and they convicted him.
That doesn't always happen, as Fuhrman knows only too well.
--Dennis Littrell, author of the mystery novel, “Teddy and Teri”
This book is interesting because it allows us some further insight into the personality of Mark Fuhrman, one time LAPD detective, and fall guy for the prosecution in the O. J. Simpson debacle. It is interesting to see how Fuhrman's loyalties and perspective have changed from the siege mentality of a beleaguered cop to the free and easy skepticism of a freelance journalist. One thing is clear: he has extended his fifteen minutes of fame by becoming a writer of true crime tales destined for the best seller list. This is his third. I didn't read Murder in Brentwood (1997), having had my fill of the Simpson tragedy, but I did read Murder in Greenwich (1998) and it wasn't bad. This is an even better book, more skillfully written, about murders committed by Robert Lee Yates Jr., a sickie who might be dubbed the "Ordinary Joe" of serial killers, if one can ever say that a serial killer is ordinary.
This is also interesting from the point of view of an ex-detective from the big city, trying to have some significant impact on a sensational case. Fuhrman and his buddy, Spokane radio talk show host, Mike Fitzsimmons, provide us with some insight into what it's like playing detective in their spare time while second guessing the police on a weekly basis over the radio. Fuhrman insists that he's still a cop at heart, but don't tell that to the Spokane police (or to the cops in Greenwich, Connecticut either). Regardless, his critique of the way the Spokane police handled this string of murders is well worth reading. His main point is that faulty police work allowed Yates to remain free long after they should have had the goods on him. As Fuhrman puts it, "The task force was supposed to be chasing a killer. Instead they became file clerks" as they "relied on blood tests and databases to do their work for them" (p. 259). By the time they figured out who the murderer was, a man right under their nose, "They had already wasted two years, and watched ten women die," women that Fuhrman insists would not have been killed had the police done their job. "Whether it was laziness, incompetence, or just simple human error, the task force could have caught Yates back in September 1997" (p. 239). As it actually happened, Yates was not arrested until April 18, 2000.
Fuhrman believes that the police department's failure to give information to the public about the crimes was one of the reasons the killer stayed at large. Fuhrman argues strongly that the more information about the killings that the police put out on the street, the better the chances are that somebody will step forward with something that will help them catch the killer. This is the clear public service message of this book. All the material about police errors and misdirections and butt guarding are important for the public to know, but are nothing new. To rake the cops over the coals because they COULD have caught the killer sooner serves a public purpose, but it is a small one. Police work, as Fuhrman knows, is not an exact science, and mistakes, sometimes tragic, will be made.
Fuhrman implies (e.g., quoting Fitzsimmons on pages 69 and 70, but denies it himself when on the radio, page 125) that the reason the police did not put more energy into finding the killer was the fact that he was only killing prostitutes and drug addicts. Again, it's hard to doubt that there is an element of truth to this accusation. Imagine if the daughters of the landed gentry of Spokane were the victims. I think every resource of city, county, state and the FBI would have been summoned, and no crime scene would have been left unprocessed until tomorrow. (Crime scenes left unprocessed overnight was one of Fuhrman's pet peeves. Several times the Spokane police just cordoned off the crime scene and went home to dinner and a night's rest before finishing the job.)
For those readers looking for information about the serial killer himself and insights into his behavior and what might have made him the sexual psychopath that he is, this book will be a disappointment. Fuhrman isn't interested in Yates's motives. While his identify was unknown and Fuhrman and Fitzsimmons were speculating on the air what he might be like, Fuhrman's interest was understandably high. Fuhrman played the profiler game and put his head into the mind of the killer and came up with the idea that this guy was fairly sophisticated. "This guy is definitely an organized murderer...This is a streetwise guy. You've got to show this guy a little respect for the way he comes in, commits the crime, slips out, and nobody knows the wiser...I see this guy as being very organized, fairly intelligent...Clever, cunning." (pp. 93-94). When it turns out that, except for the killings, he is an average sort of joe, Fuhrman was clearly disappointed. "The fact that he was so ordinary only made me wonder why they hadn't caught him a long time ago" (p. 232).
There is plenty of the well known Fuhrman arrogance here. He's clearly the star of this book, even though he was on the periphery of the case. His knowledge of police procedures and in-station politics is a plus. He's able to see through the press releases and the public posturing to what is really going on in the police and sheriff's departments. The fact that he points out how the case could have been solved sooner is also a plus, and a huge embarrassment for Spokane law enforcement. But the bottom line is the police did get the killer and they convicted him.
That doesn't always happen, as Fuhrman knows only too well.
--Dennis Littrell, author of the mystery novel, “Teddy and Teri”
February 2, 2008
This book is about a serial killer in Spokane in the mid to late 90's, and how the detectives bungled the investigation. I am an admirer of the police, but in this case they seriously screwed up and could have prevented the last 10 murders if they had been doing their job.
I used to be a true crime junkie, but I read less now because they get so bogged down in the trial and all the legalilities. However, this one had none of that and dealt strictly with the investigation.
I used to be a true crime junkie, but I read less now because they get so bogged down in the trial and all the legalilities. However, this one had none of that and dealt strictly with the investigation.
July 21, 2014
I haven't read that much but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get through it. I'll probably continue to try because I'm interested in the story, but I don't believe his view anyway. He's cocky and so self-righteous and spends so much time bad mouthing the police department that in my opinion it discredits his point of view. I may or may not finish it, but will also try to find a credible author that wrote about this case. Too bad it's not an Anne Rule book.
June 19, 2018
A friend and I read this one together and I believe I still own it. I am so glad that Mark Furman wrote this book and showed how the police just didn't care about all the lives that were lost. What was wrong with them?
July 23, 2010
Not bad but furhman thinks he is the only one who can solve crimes ok the Spokane police did not do their jobs right and women died of it
August 17, 2017
I didn't make it very far. His writing totally puts me off. He's way to self important. The part I made it through was more about how great he was than the case. while I want to know the story since I grew up near Spokane I may have to look for a different book.
April 3, 2010
This was a page turner for me.
September 10, 2010
Didn't finish reading it...not a very good book.
November 15, 2015
Well documented and well written. A disturbing case that never got much media attention. If true crime books involving serial killers are of interest I encourage you to read this book.
July 5, 2015
I read this book about 10 years ago, after moving to Spokane and came across this book on a freebie shelf. I hadn't read a true crime novel in several years, and reading about the crime taking place where I was now living - being able to actually go to those places or see those places was rather "trippy" I guess. So, given all that, overall I thought the book was enjoyable. And I'm writing this review 10 years after reading it, so I may not be remembering details that might have originally annoyed me. I've never looked to true crime as wonderful works of art, so maybe I'm not as critical as other readers. I'd say give it a shot, but keep in mind the type of book it is.
October 5, 2012
I really wanted to read this book. It takes place in a area that I am familiar with. Unfortunately Mark Fuhrman makes it nearly impossible to get through the book due to his self praise. I can only take so much arrogance.
November 20, 2017
As much as I love my true crime books, I could not finish this one.
July 4, 2020
Wow The Spokane PD really screwed this one up big time. Had the task force released the information to the media in 1997 to be on the lookout for a White Corvette, 10 Women's lives could have been saved. Another solid book from Mark Fuhrman. This is my 3rd read of his (Murder In Brentwood, Who Killed Martha Moxley?) and it is just as interesting. This time we focus more on Fuhrman's perspective as a Journalist and Radio show host that along with his partner Mike Fitzsimmons as they look into this serial killer and become freelance investigators on the side of the media. Their interactions with the local police and county sheriff make up a good portion of this true crime novel. Fuhrman's thoroughness in investigating homicides over his career reflects an outstanding work ethic and he shows us how every single piece of evidence is important in solving murder cases. If you like true crime, this one is really great and recommended.
April 10, 2020
Probably one of the worst books I've ever read. I couldn't even finish it. The entire book is Fuhrman talking about how terrible of a job the Spokane police did while also bragging about how easily be could solve it.. Let me spare you ....he plays no real part in this case whatsoever. This book is just him building himself up while tearing down the agency that did so!be the case.. Save yourself the time and the money and read a
ANY other book about Robert Yates..
ANY other book about Robert Yates..
January 29, 2020
I enjoyed Fuhrman's writing style. He's not just an author, he's a cop with a lot of experience and inside knowledge. I don't really care about his part in the whole OJ debacle, that was a long time ago and has no bearing on my opinion of his expertise and writing.
August 31, 2021
The detectives described in this book had no clue on how to handle this case. I wouldn’t want them to be working on case of my loved one if something happen to one of them. They’re not reliable at all.
July 19, 2020
The author is full of himself and critiques how the case was worked and how he would have worked it, even though he botched the O J Simpson case.
July 4, 2023
As a born and raised Spokanite, this guy was active when I was a kid and has become one of those names forever associated with our (now not so little) town. I finished because I wanted to learn the timeline from beginning to end, but it was tough with the extreme narcissism that trotted its way across every page. Fuhrman is offended that he was not included in the investigation, even though he was not part of the force or actively working as a detective! He had nothing but complaints that felt more like a personal grudge rather than valid criticism of the force’s handling of the case.
If you’re interested in Spokane’s infamous criminals, I suggest Jack Olsen’s “Son”, about the South Hill Rapist, over this one. That was a 5 star read for me, and did a much better job of getting into the psyche of both the offender and the community they operated in.
If you’re interested in Spokane’s infamous criminals, I suggest Jack Olsen’s “Son”, about the South Hill Rapist, over this one. That was a 5 star read for me, and did a much better job of getting into the psyche of both the offender and the community they operated in.
September 29, 2021
Quite possibly the most frustrating book ever, not because it was badly written but because the police were so inept. Maybe you should find a new career if you don't care about solving murders in your town.
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