I Know Who You Are

Praise

“I Know Who You Are is a true-crime masterpiece written by a cold-case-cracking master. Barbara Rae-Venter’s investigative DNA work has revolutionized the way law enforcement hunts serial killers. This page-turner takes readers inside the web of lies spun by the worst criminal minds and reveals the path to solving the country’s most notorious crimes. It’s an epic read and a searingly important story.”—John Douglas, New York Times bestselling co-author of Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit

“This book is an invaluable addition to the true-crime genre.”—Maureen Callahan, New York Times bestselling author of American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century

“I Know Who You Are is a propulsive true-crime thriller that takes the reader deep inside the manhunt for one of the most terrifying serial killers in American history. Barbara Rae-Venter’s admirable work as a DNA sleuth provided the searing heat that melted the coldest of cold cases.”—Casey Sherman, New York Times bestselling author of Helltown: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod

“I Know Who You Are offers an immersive, compelling account of a revolution in crime-fighting from the woman who pioneered it. With urgency and insight, Barbara Rae-Venter tells the unlikely story of a retired patent attorney whose obsessive, scientific mind transformed her from a genealogical hobbyist into the who helped identify one of America’s most notorious serial killers. Rae-Venter’s deep dive into the Golden State Killer case explores the science, history, and ethics around a technique that has led to the solving of hundreds of cold cases, a fierce debate over privacy, and a burgeoning awareness of the power of DNA technology to transform our lives by revealing the truth about the past.”—Libby Copeland, author of The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Upending Who We

“A remarkable account . . . Rae-Venter makes the science accessible and delves into the controversy that forensic genealogy has engendered because of privacy concerns. . . . It’s an eye-opening and thought-provoking contribution to the true crime genre.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Fascinating true-crime reportage infused with cinematic suspense . . . [Barbara Rae-Venter’s] chronicle is a solid testament to the evolution of genetic forensic science and how it has made investigators more effective in apprehending criminals, both from cold cases and those in real time. It’s also an examination of corrupted humanity gone haywire and the thrill and release of an abuser being brought to justice.”—Kirkus Reviews