Reading Finding Amy

Last Thursday night at the Gloucester Lyceum, I bought a copy of Kate Flora’s new book Finding Amy: A True Story of Murder in Maine. I have not been able to put it down since I opened it on Saturday. I have not read much true-life crime or detective stuff so it surprises me that I became as engrossed in this as rapidly as I did but it grabbed me from the first chapter and didn’t let go.

Amy St. Laurent, by all accounts, was a lovely 25 year old woman who led a responsible life, was greatly loved by those who knew her — kind, generous, and sweet. On October 20, 2001 she took a friend to the Old Port section of Portland, Maine to have fun dancing, having a few drinks, playing pool. Sometime that night she disappeared. Her beaten body was found some months later buried in the woods. She had been shot in the head. This book, heart-breaking as it is, tells the story of the investigation into her disappearance, murder and the subsequent trial.

The narrative alternates between the notations made by Captain Joseph K. Loughlin of the Portland police, who headed the investigation, and the clear, unblinking prose narrative of Kate Flora, a distinguished writer of mystery novels and former assistant attorney general for the state of Maine. I first became aware of the book when Kate contacted me about doing a web site for the book which was then about to be released. The website is at www.FindingAmy.com. As I worked on the web site I became increasingly eager to read the book.

I’m not a television watcher so I don’t have a lot of preconceived notions about criminal investigation. One of the points Loughlin makes over and over in the book is that real life just ain’t CSI. But the story of Amy is all the more fascinating for it. This is how investigations really go, these are the road blocks and the limitations, these are the frustrations and through it all is the sharp awareness that this is a thing that really happened. It’s not a novel, it’s not fiction. These are real people who lead real lives and, with the exception of Amy herself, are still dealing with all this horror.

First of all I have to say that I was completely drawn in by Loughlin’s narrative — the personal log he kept throughout the narrative in which he details his admiration for Amy’s mother, his disgust for the suspect who eventually was convicted as Amy’s killer, and his admiration for the men and women he worked with throughout the investigation. From his pictures on the web site, Loughlin is a handsome, very appealing and attractive man. Through his words he becomes the very exact person you would want on your side if you were ever thrust into such a horrible circumstance. It’s hard not to fall a little in love with him.

Secondly, the portrait of the killer that emerges through interviews with acquaintances and family members is genuinely chilling. This man is a classic predator whose stated goal is to have sex with as many women as possible. He has no regard for women other than as sources of sexual gratification. He is violent and cold and 21 years old. He can turn on the charm and turn violent with equal ease. This is a person any of us could know. This is not a person you would want to know. Even at the trial he leers at and taunts the family, openly eying Amy’s younger sister and presenting an attitude of bored contempt for the police.

This isn’t the sort of book I would pick up in the library or at a bookstore but I’m very glad I read it. There are predators among us. Beware. And there are wise, committed legal professionals who have a hell of a job to do. And there are superior writers like Kate Flora to tell the story. Read it.

Thanks for reading.