The town of Moscow, Idaho, wasn’t prepared for the news that broke on November 13, 2022. Four University of Idaho students were found stabbed to death at an off-campus residence on 1122 King Road. The killer struck in the early morning hours and was briefly glimpsed by a resident who, while being scared by the black-clad assassin, didn’t immediately reach out to the police.

By the time Moscow Police Chief James Fry arrived at the scene, Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were dead, their friends were in shock, and the authorities were distraught. This case would generate headlines and media presence zeroing in on Moscow, but the immediate concerns were the danger posed to the school and whether or not the at-large suspect would attack again.

"Lingering questions about the crime, including the motive, prove enigmatic. Still, THE IDAHO FOUR is a necessary and unputdownable read that is as intriguing as it is heartrending."

Kaylee and Maddie were friends going back years before their college days. Although they were disappointed that they were not in the same sorority, they each supported their respective sororities on social media. As they progressed through college, they became mentors to their younger sorority sisters and were highly thought of. In the fall of 2020, the pair moved to King Road.

Xana belonged to the same sorority as Maddie and won many over with her effervescence and affability. She moved to King Road with Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke. Xana soon became involved with fellow classmate Ethan, who was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and was well-regarded. By early 2022, their relationship had gotten more serious.

The future looked bright for Kaylee, Maddie, Xana and Ethan as the fall semester proceeded.

Bryan Kohberger had his ups and downs throughout his life, as he battled weight issues and bullying as a teenager, and later, an addiction to heroin. He managed to straighten his life out and buckled down to earn his degree from DeSales University in 2020. His intelligence and studiousness were noted, and he was recommended for the Criminal Justice program at Washington State University, where he enrolled in the hopes of getting a PhD. By November 2022, Kohberger was struggling in his role as a teacher’s assistant. Female students had complained about his lack of impartiality in grading and other alleged bizarre behavior. He was spiraling and in danger of being kicked out of the program.

The amount of time between the murders and the arrest spanned 47 days. Chief Fry and his department’s investigation of the slayings were scrutinized during this entire period, as social media and television pondered the motive and identity of the suspect. A crucial piece of evidence found at the scene, along with other circumstantial evidence, would be enough to charge Kohberger with the quadruple homicide.

THE IDAHO FOUR insightfully examines a true-crime story from its horrific beginning to its frustrating midpoint. (Just days before the book’s publication and weeks before the trial was set to start, Kohberger pleaded guilty and was given four consecutive life sentences.) James Patterson and Vicky Ward go beyond the headlines to provide an abundance of information about the victims and their lives up to that fateful morning in November. They also profile the law enforcement figures who had the daunting task of tracking down a brutal, methodical killer.

Lingering questions about the crime, including the motive, prove enigmatic. Still, THE IDAHO FOUR is a necessary and unputdownable read that is as intriguing as it is heartrending.