Auto Focus

by Robert Graysmith

Book Overview

As the basis for Sony Pictures' Autofocus, starring Greg Kinnear and Willem DeFoe, set for release in October 2002, this classic of true crime examines the unsolved 1978 murder of television actor Bob... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425189023
• ISBN13: 9780425189023
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

A great mystery!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Autofocus. I bought the book after seeing the movie on cable. Graysmith, naturally, does a great job weaving all of the details into a fine crime novel. I have enjoyed most of his crime books and this one was no exception. Others have criticised Graysmith for focusing too much on Carpenter but after reading the book and the statements being based on fact and supported by statements from the detectives, I have to say that Carpenter really does look guilty. In saying that, I think the police departments could have done a better investigation of the case and looked more into some of the suspects mentioned in the book. It is amazing that police departments were so careless. The book doesn't go into great detail about sexual specifics and graphic sexual descriptions (this is not one of those fiction love novels!) but he gives you enough detail which leaves you shaking your head at Crane's exploits. A typically good Graysmith book and definitely worth a read.

Above average Hollywood crime story

This is a book I came across after watching the movie "AutoFocus" which I liked very much. I read the book hoping to get into greater detail surrounding the investigation of Bob Crane's murder. The book covers Crane's social exploits in detail. This part of the book is effective and conveys the casualness of the swinger lifestyle and Crane's cavalier attitude towards women and sex. It is also a look into the celebrity worship that is deeply embedded in our culture. When Crane is murdered the police immediately suspect his friend John Carpenter who was in the vicinity the night before. Most of their evidence is circumstantial and they do not indict Carpenter until the mid-90's. This part of the book is very interesting as Graysmith does a very good job of juggling the evidence and the personalities involved in the delayed indictment. If there is a flaw it is that Graysmith obviously has some affection for Crane as an actor and coupled with the fact that all of his information comes from police sources the book is pretty one sided. It is obvious that Graysmith wants a conclusion to the case and he, like the officers, are quick to jump on John Carpenter as that conclusion. In the end though the evidence is flimsy, and without a solid motive, circumstantial evidence doesn't go very far. This is not a heavy criticism of Graysmith, his book is still an excellent work up of the case, and Carpenter most likely was the killer. There was reasonable doubt there and it could have been explored deeper. I recommend this book to anyone who likes good true crime, mystery, or Hollywood scandals.

Excellent Book

Book was a quick read, very well documented for a case that is over 20 years old Robert Graysmith thouroughly did his homework researching the death of Bob Crane. I would highly recommend.