In the Name of the Children

An FBI Agent's Relentless Pursuit of the Nation's Worst Predators

By: Jeffrey L. Rinek, Marilee Strong

Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan

FBI Special Agent Jeff Rinek had a gift for getting child predators to confess. All he had to do was share a piece of his soul...

In the Name of the Children gives an unflinching look at what it's like to fight a never-ending battle against an enemy far more insidious than terrorists: the predators, lurking amongst us, who seek to harm our children.

During his 30-year career with the FBI, Jeff Rinek worked hundreds of investigations involving crimes against children: from stranger abduction to serial homicide to ritualized sexual abuse. Those who do this kind of work are required to plumb the depths of human depravity, to see things no one should ever have to see - and once seen can never forget. There is no more important - or more brutal - job in law enforcement, and few have been more successful than Rinek at solving these sort of cases.

Most famously, Rinek got Cary Stayner to confess to all four of the killings known as the Yosemite Park Murders, an accomplishment made more extraordinary by the fact that the FBI nearly pinned the crimes on the wrong suspects. Rinek's recounting of the confession and what he learned about Stayner provides perhaps the most revelatory look ever inside the psyche of a serial killer and a privileged glimpse into the art of interrogation.

In the Name of the Children takes listeners into the trenches of real-time investigations where every second counts and any wrong decision or overlooked fact can have tragic repercussions. Rinek offers an insider's perspective of the actual case agents and street detectives who are the boots on the ground in this war at home. By placing us inside the heart and mind of a rigorously honest and remarkably self-reflective investigator, we will see with our own eyes what it takes - and what it costs - to try to keep our children safe and to bring to justice those who prey on society's most vulnerable victims.

With each chapter dedicated to a real case he worked, In the Name of the Children also explores the evolution of Rinek as a Special Agent - whose unorthodox, empathy-based approach to interviewing suspects made him extraordinarily successful in obtaining confessions - and the toll it took to have such intimate contact with child molesters and murderers. Beyond exploring the devastating impact of these unthinkable crimes on the victims and their families, this audiobook offers an unprecedented look at how investigators and their loved ones cope while living in the specter of so much suffering.

©2018 Jeffrey L. Rinek and Marilee Strong (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Published by arrangement with BenBella Books

Interesting, at times writer seemed bitter/blaming

Story was okay, but seriously, the writer obviously is still harboring some serious resentment and bitterness toward the FBI. I read so many memoirs of Crime Victims, True Crime Cases written by Police and FBI agents, popular to obscure true crime story writers, and the like, but I've NEVER listened to ANYONE write about how badly they were "wronged" by their employer, be it General Foods, Ford, or the FBI. It became monotonous and his writing started to sound more narcissistic and self involved than anything. Also, his empathy of Cary Staynor and the description of taking him to a nice "sit down" dinner after he cried all day and "bared his soul gathering evidence to help the FBI and convict himself" stating "that's the least we can do" SERIOUSLY?? Joey, Carol, Julie and Ms. Peloso THEY DIDNT GET A LAST MEAL !! I turned off the book for few days, so angered by his feelings that "Cary wasn't a monster like Jodi Arias or Scott Peterson, who constantly denied" That's ridiculous!!

Riveting story - Narration needs work

This book is a bit different than many of the true crime titles that are available. The author presents a number of views of heinous crimes. He writes openly about how the crimes he investigated affected him as well as his relationship with his family. This author brings the perspective of taking on empathy for the accused in efforts to gain more information than would be gained by approaching the task in other ways. I like it that the author risks criticism by offering insight into how an offender could become an offender. It doesn't mean he has any less sympathy for the victims of the crime. Any information that can be gathered about how early experiences affect behavior are critical if we are to fully understand the criminal mind. This book is unique in that it dares to take the time to try and understand why some of the offenders behave as they do.

The narrator's tone didn't "fit" with the subject matter. He approached the book as if he were reading a textbook. He brought very little emotion to the performance which is a shame because the author included a strong emotional component in his writing. Overall, I recommend the book - just try and overlook the performance. Kevin Pierce would have done an excellent job. He's great with this subject matter.

Captivating

Loved the honesty of the author and truth behind what’s it like to hold such a job and the toll it takes on those who do and there families also to give a voice to the victims and what it took to bring them to justice I had a hard time when I had to stop the book and couldn’t wait to get back to it I have already told my friends they need to get this book

HERO

you Sr. are a hero .
I'm not sure I can finish this book I cry the whole time I listen those poor kids deserve to be remembered so I will finish this book for the poor children in this book and for the rest of them in the world and my own 4 kids.

Amazing

This was a great book. I could not stop listening. The stories and details were captivating. Along with the voice and reader which was perfect for the type of book. Thanks for sharing your experiences.