The Want-Ad Killer

The Want-Ad Killer examines the criminal trajectory of Harvey Louis Carignan, a serial offender who utilized classified advertisements to lure female victims. Initially sentenced to death in 1949 for a brutal murder in Alaska, Carignan gained legal leniency and eventual parole, only to resume his violent activities across the United States. Ann Rule documents the investigations into several 1970s homicides and assaults, detailing how Carignan targeted women who responded to his ads for employment or transportation. The narrative focuses on the procedural efforts to link his past offenses to a fresh spree of killings.

This book serves true crime readers interested in the mechanics of criminal recidivism and the failures of the mid-century parole system. It provides a detailed look at forensic evidence gathering and the multi-state collaboration required to secure a conviction against a predatory offender. Readers gain an understanding of how gaps in the legal system allowed a violent individual to remain at large and the specific investigative techniques used to permanently halt his career.

Practical, outward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.

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