Synopses & Reviews
he was an all-american boy-next-door
Alec Krieder knew his best friends family never locked their doors—making Kevin Haines and his family the perfect targets for a crime. One night, he waited until they were asleep…then entered the house with a knife. Alec burst into the master bedroom and stabbed Tom and Lisa Haines first. Then he attacked Kevin, who fought for his life. Meanwhile, at the end of the hall, Kevins sister Maggie awoke to the sound of violence—and was the only one who made it out alive.
who WAS DRIVEN BY a need to kill
Clean-cut and academically gifted, Alec seemed to have no motives, no history of psychosis—and no remorse. Some believed he was a serial killer in the making, a soulless monster plagued by “demons.” Now, for the first time, acclaimed author Michael W. Cuneo shares the inside story—with shocking details of Alecs confession to his father, disturbing messages to his classmates, and chilling excerpts from his diaries—and takes you inside the dark, troubled mind of this teenage killer.
“Cuneos writing does not flinch.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch
With 8 pages of dramatic photos
Review
Praise for Michael W. Cuneos true crime classic…ALMOST MIDNIGHT
An American Story of Murder and Redemption
"Vivid. Gripping. Undeniably potent. Almost Midnight barrels along like a hot rod on a twisty Ozarks road…a fast, furious read that leaves one plagued by disturbing toughts every time one manages to pause before turning another page.”—The Kansas City Star
“Crisp, informative and evocative . . . Compelling, vibrant, rich with winning details about scuffling life.”—The Washington Post
“Engrossing…disturbing noirish undertones and undeniable spiritual flair.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Cuneo handles these saints and sinners with equal aplomb.”—Playboy
“A richly detailed exploration…Cuneos writing does not flinch.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Cuneos detailed descriptions of the virtues (loyalty, self-reliance, faith, family) and negatives (violence, chemical dependency, lawlessness) of the Ozarks culture not only fleshes out Meases personality but also vividly portrays this overlooked area of Americana. Cuneos skillful writing allows him to convey the romantic notions of Meases outlaw ways and travels on America's back roads, while never romanticizing the violence or the hand-to-mouth living…One cannot help but appreciate Cuneos in-depth, interwoven stories of Mease and the Ozarks.”—Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Alec Krieder knew his best friends family never locked their doors—making Kevin Haines and his family the perfect targets for a crime. One night, he waited until they were asleep…then entered the house with a knife. Alec burst into the master bedroom and stabbed Tom and Lisa Haines first. Then he attacked Kevin, who fought for his life. Meanwhile, at the end of the hall, Kevins sister Maggie awoke to the sound of violence—and was the only one who made it out alive.
Clean-cut and academically gifted, Alec seemed to have no motives, no history of psychosis—and no remorse. Some believed he was a serial killer in the making, a soulless monster plagued by “demons.” Now, for the first time, acclaimed author Michael W. Cuneo shares the inside story—with shocking details of Alecs confession to his father, disturbing messages to his classmates, and chilling excerpts from his diaries—and takes you inside the dark, troubled mind of this teenage killer.
About the Author
Michael W. Cuneos research has been featured in media coast to coast. The author of the critically acclaimed American Exorcism and Almost Midnight, Cuneo divides his time between New York City and Toronto.