Under the Bridge: The True Story of the Murder of Reena Virk - Hardcover

Godfrey, Rebecca

3.81

1,948 ratings by Goodreads

9780002000673: Under the Bridge: The True Story of the Murder of Reena Virk

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0002000679 ISBN 13: 9780002000673

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, 2005

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

It has been a long road to justice for Reena Virk, beaten and murdered at the hands of her teenage peers. The murder of this girl is one of the most notorious and heartbreaking cases in Canadian history. Here, for the first time, acclaimed author Rebecca Godfrey reveals the stunning truth about a Canadian tragedy that captured international headlines.

Who were the seemingly ordinary suburban teenagers who found themselves under the bridge in Victoria, BC, on the night of November 14, 1997? Why would a girl who longed to be their friend be beaten and killed? And how did so many teenagers keep terrible secrets from parents, teachers and police for eight days? These are the questions all of us have been asking, and in Under the Bridge the answers are revealed in a stunning narrative. Godfrey spent six years researching the case, conducting exclusive interviews with parents, classmates, police, prosecutors and, perhaps most importantly, several of the youths, including Warren Glowatski, one of the two teenagers convicted of murdering Virk. Godfrey also witnessed firsthand the many trials of Kelly Ellard, also found guilty of killing a girl who just wanted to fit in.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Rebecca Godfrey is an award-winning novelist and journalist. Her first novel, The Torn Skirt, was a national bestseller and a finalist for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. Her second book, Under The Bridge, an investigation into the Reena Virk case, was a Globe and MailBook of the Year, and received the B.C. Award for Canadian Nonfictionand The Arthur Ellis Award for Nonfiction. Born in Toronto, and raisedin Victoria, she currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Review:

“Godfrey’s portraits are complex and unsentimental. . . . A homicide is best told as a story, and this marvelous book makes this very clear.” (The Globe and Mail)

“Easily one of the most harrowing nonfiction books of the year. . . . Godfrey cannily shifts perspectives, which allows for insights not only into the legalities of the case but also into the minds of the teens involved. This is a dark ride.” (Vancouver Sun)

“A skilled and emotionally compelling investigation into the dark heart of adolescent society . . . a complex interwoven narrative of the events that is at once intimate and detached. . . A keen-edged and heart-rending account.” (National Post)

“Both tragic and cathartic.” (The New York Times)

“A modern day Crime and Punishment that keeps you on the edge of your seat. A stunning book that manages to terrify and enlighten at the same time. I reread it on a regular basis to remind myself what the best, most empathic crime journalism can be like.” (Gary Shteyngart)

“A brilliant, compassionate retelling of a horrific murder.” (O, The Oprah Magazine)

“Intelligent . . . insightful . . . will be remembered for years.” (Sarah Weinman, author of The Real Lolita)

“Dreamy, mysterious and ultimately terrifying.” (Megan Abbott, author of Give Me Your Hand)

“A swift, harrowing classic, perfect for these unnerving times.” (Jenny Offill, author of Dept. of Speculation)

“Lipstick, platform shoes and braces have never felt more menacing. The book reads like a breezy bestseller, but it’s Godfrey’s in-depth reporting that gets under your skin.” (GQ)

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.