THE LAZARUS FILES: A COLD CASE INVESTIGATION
By Matthew McGough
This book is an excellent depiction of the investigation into the cold case murder of young newlywed Sherri Rasmussen. Savagely beaten and killed in 1986 in the condo home she shared with her new husband, John Ruetten, Sherri’s death went unsolved until 2009. The book details the mishandling of the case by the Los Angeles Police Department, during a time when the agency was embroiled in controversy for other incidents. The murderer herself, in this case, was none other than an LAPD officer, Stephanie Lazarus, a former lover of Sherri’s husband.
Matthew McGough goes into minute details about the LAPD and its history of abuse and nationwide controversy during the years leading up to the murder and afterward. Some may find the book much too detailed, but in my opinion, it was important to document so much about the LAPD and its history to put it into context with what played out during and after Sherri’s murder. Many times I’ve found too much detail in a book to be distracting and boring; in this situation, it was so well-written that I was fascinated throughout. Also, because I didn’t remember this case at all, I was enthralled throughout to find out what happened and the outcome of so many years of negligence on the part of the LAPD.
My only disappointment in the story, which had nothing to do with the book itself, was that there was not enough info as to what actually happened in the condo the day that Sherri was murdered. I have many questions about that day, but the only person who really knows is the murderer. And she’s still not talking.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed April 2019
House of Black and Blue 