Outside Valentine is the 2004 debut novel of American author Liza Ward, the granddaughter of two of the victims of spree killer Charles Starkweather.[1][2] The book was first published on August 12, 2004 through Picador and is told from the perspective of Caril Ann Fugate, Starkweather's accomplice, the son of two of his victims, and the son's wife.[3][4]

Outside Valentine
AuthorLiza Ward
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreNovel
PublisherPicador
Publication date
August 12, 2004
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Pages320 p
ISBN0-8050-7598-4
OCLC54843568
813/.6 22
LC ClassPS3623.A7324 O97 2004

Film rights to Outside Valentine were optioned, but plans to create a feature film did not come to fruition.[5]

Synopsis edit

Lowell, an antique collector operating out of Manhattan, can't seem to forget the bloody path that Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate left behind them while they went on a killing spree. His wife tries his hardest to soothe him, but can't see to drive the terrors from his dreams. Meanwhile, Caril Ann recollects the first day she met Charles and the events that this meeting would spark.

Reception edit

Critical reception for Outside Valentine has been positive.[6][7] The New York Times gave Outside Valentine a mostly positive review and noted that the work's appeal would differ depending on whether the reader was looking for a novel or for a true-crime book.[8] Publishers Weekly posted a starred review for the book, which they called a "riveting literary suspense novel".[9]

References edit

  1. ^ Hansen, Liane. "First Novel a 'Valentine' to Murdered Grandparents". NPR. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  2. ^ Coll, Susan. "The long, wide wake of a serial murderer and three other novels of troubled hearts". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Outside Valentine (review)". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  4. ^ Schlichenmeyer, Terri (29 September 2004). "Survivors live to tell their story in 'Outside Valentine'". Daily NonPareil. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Fictional spin on infamous murder spree". The Record. 11 December 2005. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  6. ^ Siegel, Tatiana. "'Outside Valentine' gets inside the legacy of a killing spree". USA Today. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  7. ^ Whitney, Susan. "Book review: 'Valentine' full of tenderness". Deseret News. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  8. ^ Schappell, Elissa (26 September 2004). "'Outside Valentine': He Looked Like James Dean". New York Times. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  9. ^ "Outside Valentine (review)". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 12 April 2014.

External links edit