Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town

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From one of our finest investigative journalists- this powerful, meticulously reported account of campus rape at the University of Montana illuminates the human drama behind a taboo subject. NATIONAL BESTSELLER . "A devastating expose of colleges and local law enforcement.... A substantive deep dive into the morass of campus sex crimes, where the victim is too often treated like the accused." -Entertainment Weekly Missoula, Montana, is a typical college town, home to a highly regarded state university whose beloved football team inspires a passionately loyal fan base. Between January 2008 and May 2012, hundreds of students reported sexual assaults to the local police. Few of the cases were properly handled by either the university or local authorities.In this, Missoula is also typical. In these pages, acclaimed journalist Jon Krakauer investigates a spate of campus rapes that occurred in Missoula over a four-year period. Taking the town as a case study for a crime that is sadly prevalent throughout the nation, Krakauer documents the experiences of five victims- their fear and self-doubt in the aftermath; the skepticism directed at them by police, prosecutors, and the public; their bravery in pushing forward and what it cost them. These stories cut through abstract ideological debate about acquaintance rape to demonstrate that it does not happen because women are sending mixed signals or seeking attention. They are victims of a terrible crime, deserving of fairness from our justice system. Rigorously researched, rendered in incisive prose, Missoula stands as an essential call to action.

Reviews

Excellent. . . . Krakauer doesnt just tell the story of these crimes. As he has done so brilliantly in his other books . . . he sets the story firmly in the context of social history. The Boston Globe

An important, difficult and timely subject. . . . Meticulously reported, fascinating and deeply disturbing. USA Today

Jon Krakauer began his career as an author of taut, finely reported outdoor adventures; seven books later, he emerges as the conscience of a nation. The Christian Science Monitor

Missoula will be a touchstone of any future correction to the rape culture we live in. Minneapolis Star Tribune

Compelling. . . . Meticulous. . . . Krakauer is a writer committed above all else to asking difficult questions. . . . [A] timely and important book. Los Angeles Times

Compelling. . . . Clear and dispassionate, offering level-headed, in-depth reportage. Chicago Tribune

A narrative nonfiction page-turner. . . . Krakauer skillfully strengthens his sources recollections without taking away their agency. Buzzfeed

A devastating expos of colleges and local law enforcement. . . . A substantive deep dive into the morass of campus sex crimes, where the victim is too often treated like the accused. Entertainment Weekly

A good and needed thing. . . . Powerful. . . . Krakauer has done a great service by taking on this subject. Newsweek

Krakauer exposes the cavalier attitude of police, prosecutors and football fans toward victims of acquaintance rape in the Montana town full of fanatics for the University of Montana football team. The Denver Post

A clear and undeniable picture of a broken system. . . . Krakauers straightforward writing resists sensationalism. . . . This is a book we all needed. Missoula Independent

A harrowing read. . . . Missoula stands as both a reminder of the forces arrayed against women raising their voices, and of the tremendous power of the telling of their stories. The Toronto Star

Krakauers evocative reporting, honed to a fine edge of anger, vividly conveys the ordeal of victims and their ongoing psychological dislocations.. . . A hard-hitting true-crime expos that looks underneath the he-said-she-said to get at the sexist assumptions that help cover up and enable these crimes. Publishers Weekly (starred)

Riveting. . . . A raw and difficult but necessary read. Kirkus Reviews

Author Bio

Jon Krakauer is the author of eight books and has received an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. According to the award citation, "Krakauer combines the tenacity and courage of the finest tradition of investigative journalism with the stylish subtlety and profound insight of the born writer." www.jonkrakauer.com