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Anne K. Howard
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His Garden: Conversations With A Serial Killer Paperback – June 11, 2018

by Anne K. Howard (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 397 ratings
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Winner of the 2020 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD and 2018 LITERARY EXCELLENCE PENCRAFT AWARD

"You want to know what happened? Ask Anne."—serial killer William Devin Howell

A monster was on a killing spree. In just nine months, seven people went missing; all of their bodies eventually discovered in a wooded lot behind a suburban strip mall. But the investigation that led law enforcement to their suspect, William Devin Howell, is only part of the story behind HIS GARDEN: Conversations With A Serial Killer.

A practicing attorney, author Anne K. Howard first contacted Howell while he was serving a fifteen-year sentence for the murder of one of his seven victims. He was about to be charged for the remaining six murders. A unique and disturbing friendship between the two began, comprised of written correspondence, face-to-face prison visits and recorded phone calls. Howell, who had been unwilling to speak to any members of the media, came to trust Howard.

In the years that follow, the suspect shared his troubled history with Howard but refused to discuss the charges against him, promising only to tell her everything when the case was over.

That time has come.

HIS GARDEN probes the complicated and conflicted mind of William Devin Howell--Connecticut’s most prolific serial killer. Both sacred and profane in its narrative style, the story on these pages explores the eternal question of human evil and its impact on others, including the woman he chose to hear his horrific confession.

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  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    June 11, 2018
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.76 x 8.5 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1947290711
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1947290716
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

I have seldom come across a more forensically researched book about a serial killer, helped by the author's remarkable access to the man himself. William Howell is a monster - but when in conversation with Anne Howard, he becomes a pliable witness to his own grizzly life story. His testimony and confessions to her were comprehensive and revelatory - neither the Police nor his own lawyers got the full story of Connecticut's worst serial killer - Anne Howard did.Will Hanrahan, TV Producer, BBC, Netflix, A&E, Discovery ID.

Howard skillfully blends true crime procedural into her personal journey as she gets to know the serial killer being investigated. This disturbing tale unfolds through her eyes as she learns the shadow side of the case facts from the killer himself. Fans of true crime should not miss this one! Katherine Ramsland, Ph.D., author of Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer.

This novel is an absolute first in America. I have presided over dozens of murder cases as a Judge, and represented some as a defense lawyer. This is reality, perhaps the only one, that we see into the mind of a serial killer.

Superior Court Judge Charles D. Gill (Ret.)

Anne K Howard has in writing the book "His Garden: Conversations with a Serial Killer" presented to the world a detailed and engaging exposé into the life and crimes of William Devin Howell. I was impressed with how she managed to get Howell to open up about his deeds. Her book is a great read for those interested in a true, non-speculative and compelling true crime story. If you enjoyed Ann Rule's "The Stranger Beside Me," you'll love "His Garden: Conversations with a Serial Killer."
Thomas Wilborg-Thune, "The Serial Killer Podcast"

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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ WildBlue Press; Illustrated edition (June 11, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1947290711
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1947290716
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.76 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 397 ratings

About the author

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Anne K. Howard

Anne K. Howard

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I endeavor to write dramatic nonfiction in as truthful and fact-based a manner as possible. Having practiced law for 20 years, I am able to sift through large volumes of research and legal information and craft the hodgepodge of facts and ideas into page-turning stories. I hold an undergraduate degree from McGill University, where I studied English Literature and a JD from University of Cincinnati College of Law. I write nonfiction because I am fascinated by the human psyche. Saints live among us, but so do monsters.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
397 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2023
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This is an extremely well researched and brilliantly written book. I finished it in two days because I couldn't put it down. The story is horrifying and brutal but the author has a empathy for the killer that comes through in the book. She also discusses the victims in detail and the impact on the families of the victims. It's a grim subject but handled with tact and sympathy. I highly recommend this book.
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Red to Gray
4.0 out of 5 stars Slow moving
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2019
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I like to read true stories and I feel the writer had a lot on their plate when they wrote this book about Bill., the serial killer. All in all it was interesting and the thoughts that the author shared were some of the ones I would think of too. I felt the story dragged a little bit too much at times. I did like the short chapters so that I could put the book down. It wasn't a have to find out what happens next type of book. Some of the graphics were not as bad as I have read in some books, but I feel that they might have given me some bad dreams. Thank you for trying to figure this guy out. I don't think anyone really knows what makes a person do these types of things.
8 people found this helpful
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A. Siwicki
3.0 out of 5 stars How Does One Write a Book on a Serial Killer - and Still Find a Way to Push their Politics?!
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2022
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I'm a huge fan of true crime. I have read lots of books on the subject matter, but Anne Howard was clearly not capable of writing about her experience with William Howell, his story and that of his unfortunate victims. No, instead quite early on she gave the readers an all-to-obvious insight into her political views, and continued to "circle back" throughout the book. I believe writing, even from a first person vantage point should stick to the topic at-hand. I felt like Anne went out of her way to include her political beliefs and to mention her disbelief regarding the results of the 2016 election - as well as Howell's. That could've easily been a relevant point to convey a period of time for relatability to the reader, but that was clearly not her purpose. It was plucked out of thin air and just as oddly discarded. I also don't think I'd be bragging if where I sat on the political spectrum lined up with that of a serial killer...but maybe that's just me. I also find it no less than disturbing that someone who is apparently licensed to practice law in this country would refer to The Constitution as "that pesky document". Given the state of our nation, maybe Anne has gained a better understanding and appreciation for why our Founding Fathers were wise enough to construct such a document.
All-in-all, I found the book to be so-so. Even beyond the previously-stated annoyances, the book was too detached from the victims. I felt as though I really learned nothing of them other than what their lives led them to become and the less-than-human picture Howell repeatedly drew. I felt these people deserved better from this book. I also think, even though Howard tries to lightly reprimand Howell as the monster he truly is, she tried to excuse him and see the good in him over anything. I think all these faults boil down to Howard trying to be too self-serving in her writings. Next time, Anne, more respect for the victims, don't try to save the reputation of the serial killer,...and leave your opining (politically and otherwise) entirely out of the equation.
26 people found this helpful
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thomas h. shannon
5.0 out of 5 stars Objectivity in analyst of complex events and human elements
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2024
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The author exhibits extraordinary devotion to getting to the "heart of the matter". After reading the book I still wasn't sure if the convicted murderer was a typical pscho or maybe had some other redeeming issue motivating his actions.
One person found this helpful
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Love to Read
4.0 out of 5 stars Well researched
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2021
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The author did a good job of telling Bill's story. It was well written and very interesting to read. It's too bad that he wasn't caught sooner tho before he had killed seven people.
2 people found this helpful
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Mark Pinti
5.0 out of 5 stars No sympathy for this devil.
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2018
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Anne Howard began researching a serial rapist-killer expecting to find a monster. She did. When she met William Devin Howell he was in a Connecticut prison awaiting trial for a series of gruesome killings, after having already been convicted of the murder of a woman he had known through the seedy world of drugs and prostitution. Ms. Howard took me on a journey into the mind and psyche of this individual, and although she developed a type of friendship and empathy for him, I did not. Nor, do I believe, Ms. Howard was attempting to make me and other readers sympathetic to this guy. She developed a disturbing profile into the mind of Howell, while at the same time allowing the reader to delve into her emotional wrestling match with the good/evil dichotomy. True crime stories can be compelling or boring. This was no boring story. After reading it I realized that I learned as much about the conflicts and moral questions of Anne Howard as I had of Howell. What is it like to come face to face with a person who killed at least seven people, torturing and raping most of them? How does a person go home after listening to these confessions and carry on with everyday life? Ms. Howard gives us a glimpse at her personal struggles with dealing with hearing descriptions of these atrocities. She shares some of her personal challenges - continuing to carry on a busy career as an attorney, helping her husband through serious health problems. The journey was compelling and I won't forget it soon.
22 people found this helpful
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Alex Nikolla
3.0 out of 5 stars Repetitive. No feeling. Short.
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2019
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I wish I had a better glimpse at what this book was really about before I bought it at a full price. Basically for 3/4 of the book it talks about a lot of back and forth stuff about jail conditions and such. There's a lot talk about the informants that brought some of the evidence to light. But in all it's really only about 200 pages of repetitive talk and some basic history of the Killer. Three stars for me because I just find it okay, but it didn't seem to be much about the cases. The drama to grab interest isn't there. A couple hundred pages of the same thing over and over. There could have been a lot more information in this book. But what is informative is wrapped up in the last parts of the book. And that's not really much at all. I would have rather have gotten this for a few dollars used then after it's paid the full price for a new book. Just alot if denial, blaming everybody else, and beurocratic stuff. Not hard to tell its written by a lawyer with not much if any criminal experience, who is a killer fan. Maybe if the author had more writing experience, it would have been better.
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

B
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read!
Reviewed in Canada on May 20, 2021
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I found this case after searching for Killers that share a birthday with me (Feb 11) and there just wasn't a lot of information about the case, the killer, or his victims. I purchased Anne's book and could not put it down.

It's so well written, doesn't seem fabricated to be more appealing (like many True Crime novels), and it was vefy thought provoking.

How is it possible to find yourself liking a serial killer? I do not blame the author for her conflicting views on Bill. I laughed at one of his jokes and felt disgusted by his actions.
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Joanne Currah
4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting read.
Reviewed in Canada on January 3, 2019
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Interesting but it dragged on a bit. At times it felt like the author was repeating information.
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LA
5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing
Reviewed in Canada on July 26, 2018
Verified Purchase
Anne Howard has a wonderful writing style in portraying the facts while telling a story. One of my favourite quotes is as follows.
"As the saying goes, “Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt.” Human beings possess a remarkable capacity for closing their minds to the most obvious faults about themselves. We often perceive the alternative of facing the truth, which most observers already see despite our defensive protestations, as just too humiliating, disempowering or a combination of both. And so, we demonstrate over the course of our respective lifetimes a vast array of self-sabotaging character flaws that often go with us to the grave."
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