Relentless Pursuit: The True Story of an Unspeakable Murder -- And One Man's Obsession to Bring the Killer to Justice

by Kevin Flynn

Book Overview

On a late Monday morning in 1993, a mother and daughter were found murdered in their home in Washington DC. Within a matter of days an arrest was made. For the victims' friends and family, and for a prosecutor obsessed with justice, the harrowing impact of the crime was just beginning. This is a dramatic moment-by-moment account of a prosecutor's life as seen through the lens of a single case and the power of justice acheived.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425220400
• ISBN13: 9780425220405
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 325 Pages
• Weight: 0.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Amazing first book

This is a true crime written somewhat similarly to Ann Rule. A pair of victims, Diane Hawkins and her daughter, Katrina Harris, are brutally murdered. It is Kevin Flynn's job as a DC prosecutor to put the alleged murderer behind bars. In his tale, Mr. Flynn expresses outrage at their horrific deaths and loses the cool mask of distant prosecutor. He becomes involved with other family members and friends of the victims and contrasts their closeness to his own small family's experiences with his father's impending death and birth of his first child. This book is clear and well written, although it will take some readers a bit to "get into" the book. Stick with it, it is well worth the read. I have bought this book for numerous friends and all have appreciated this thoughtful, insightful read.

Excellent true crime!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book - an excellent true crime story carefully and thoughtfully told - the writer's courtroom skill - I call it Flynn's Finesse - not only makes this book a great read but provides the reader with valuable lessons for the day he or she finds himself or herself in the Courtroom as a part of a prosecution or defense team or as a member of the jury.

I Couldn't Put the Book Down

I bought this book after reading a glowing review in the Washington Post. I was hoping that it would be a good read and that maybe I would learn something about the prosecution of a murder case (I work as a public defender in the metro D.C. area). After reading just the first ten pages or so, I realized that I had stumbled upon a masterful work. Other reviewers have summarized the facts, so I won't dwell upon them, except to say that this was a horrible, brutal crime that is almost beyond human comprehension. The book really moves along so well that at times it is hard to remember that it a true story and not a work of fiction. One thing that clearly sets this book apart from other works is the author's insight into how a trial develops - and Flynn's description of his relationships with the defense attorney and the judge in this case apear remarkably candid and insightful. This is a book not just for lawyers, but for everyone who cares about the quality of justice in this country and I recommend it to all.

A Brilliant and Engrossing Book

Federal prosecutor Kevin Flynn has crafted a masterful work of literature, which gives a brilliant insider's account of the investigation and prosecution of a horrific murder in Washington, D.C. The book's gripping plot line concerns the gruesome killing and mutilation of Diane Hawkins and her 13 year old daughter, Katrina. Flynn takes the reader into the real world process by which crime is investigated and criminals brought to justice. The rich detail of the facts is counterbalanced by Flynn's humanity about the nature of crime and the solemn responsibility of those who enforce the criminal law. The book reads like a brilliant mystery novel and no one could finish it without thinking that the rough measure of justice brought about by the killer's trial was the result of one man's dedication to the cause of justice. This is a must read.

"Justice? You get justice in the next world. In this word

you have the law." William Gaddis, "A Frolic of His Own" There is often a very real and sometimes troubling dichotomy between our individual concept of `justice' and the practical application of `the law'. But every now and again I come across something that strips away a bit of the cynicism I have acquired during my practice of law. Kevin Flynn's "Relentless Pursuit" is one such instance. Federal prosecutors, policemen, and emergency room surgeons have a lot in common. They are in a dirty business filled with blood, gore and death. Those that remain in their chosen career need to develop a hard shell, usually marked by outward signs of cynicism and the use of gallows humor to show the world and their colleagues that they are doing just fine. But every now and again something happens that has such a profound impact on the lives of these professionals that it tears away the shell of the even the most hardened veteran. Kevin Flynn was handed such a case over the Memorial Day weekend in 1993. It was a gruesome double homicide. A mother, Diane Hawkins, and her teenage daughter Katrina had been found brutally murdered in their D.C. home. They were stabbed repeatedly and the details of the stabbings were such that even veteran D.C. homicide detectives had trouble dealing with the crime scene. Kevin Flynn's emotionally compelling and very well-written book, "Relentless Pursuit: A True Story of Family, Murder and the Prosecutor Who Wouldn't Quit" tells Flynn's story of the police investigation and the arrest and trial of the man accused of the crime. It was a case in which Flynn sought not only to serve `the law' but also to provide the victims and their families with some sense that `justice' had been served. "Relentless Pursuit" follows three interconnected story lines: the police investigation, arrest and subsequent trial of the murder suspect; Flynn's relationship with the extended family of the victims; and Flynn's home life. Each story line is well-presented. The details of the homicide investigation, the detention and ultimate arrest of the murder suspect are handled very well. Particularly well-drawn is the extensive trial preparation and description of the trial itself. Flynn covers some complex points of law and procedure very well and you don't need to be a trial attorney to understand what Flynn is talking about. Flynn's account of the trial, culminating in his cross-examination of the defendant and the jury verdict reads like a thriller. It is compelling. Flynn's description of his relationship with Diane Hawkin's family was even more compelling. The contrasts in personality and outlook between Flynn (white, suburban Irish-Catholic) and the Hawkins family (African-American, inner-city, Baptist) are stark. Ultimately, their communality of interest is greater than what sets them apart and the bond they form is remarkably strong, if transient. Last, Flynn's details of his family and the trials all families go through du