Diane Downs is the worst kind of narcissistic psychopath. Killing and severely injuring her own children under the guise of multifaceted lies, she held to this story from the beginning of the incident to today, but absolute proof marks her as the attacker and murderer of her children. Her children were viewed as disposable to her, and she never bonded with any of them. The sickly ironic part of this mentality, was that she loved being pregnant - however, in her eyes, the kids were nothing but a

I can see how people would be flabbergasted by the actions of Diane Downs. I can't see how people can think her a person railroaded by the police. Her life story, told by herself and her family, friends, and acquaintances expose an individual of very little self-control. Her transitory desires became her absolute needs in her mind all of her life, and if she couldn't get what she wanted, there were tantrums and rage. As long as she felt she could manipulate someone or force someone into getting

Diane Downs, divorced mother of three, started an affair with a fellow employee. She dreamed of a life together. Small catch though, he doesn't want children, which sets the stage for a horrific scene. One night while driving home a "bushy haired" stranger shoots into her car killing one child, crippling another, and leaving the last barely alive. As the police race to find the culprit, they discover things are not as they seem. Did a mother commit the ultimate betrayal? Ann Rule, as usual, did

Feels weird to rate a true crime book about a woman who tried to murder her three kids with a "I really liked it". But I was very interested in the story and thought it well written and very balanced between the legal side and the emotional side. As someone who likes to learn about the human psych this was hard to put down. Not sure if there is a more diverse, strange person to study then Diane Downs. This lady is nuts! And even so, even so I could not help the tiny voice in the back of my mind

That's it... I'm done with Ann Rule. Peace, sister.I've been in the mood for true crime lately, and I was inspired to pick up Small Sacrifices by my fond memories of Rule's The Stranger Beside Me, which I read in high school. I remember really enjoying that book, but after finishing this one I'm doubting my memories. I am SO disappointed with Small Sacrifices. For the life of me, I don't understand what Rule saw in Diane Downs that made her want to write a five-hundred-page book about her. Diane...

This is a book you wish was fiction instead of true crime of a sociopathic mother. This woman always wanted to be loved by men she couldn't have yet was relentless in her pursuit of one married man. I don't want to say too muchand spoil the story. This is a fascinating story of a Narcissus and a calculated killer who committed the ultimate vicious heartbreaking crimes, hence the name Small Sacrifices! This book is very comprehensive in all the events in Diane Downs life and covers the trial and

This is one of the best books from Ann Rule's best stretch of writing, from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. "Small Sacrifices" is leaner, fairer and more balanced than Rule's bloated, often slanted later works in which saccharine philosophizing pushes its way into the narratives. The irony is that a lot of people — mostly Diane Downs supporters, who, nearly three decades later are still legion — will be happy to tell you that "Small Sacrifices" is one of her most biased works. That's because

I saw a special on Diane Downs and her daughter Becky Babcock on an episode of 20/20 a couple weeks ago. The story was horrific but intriging to me. In the episode they talked about how this woman, Diane, had shot her 3 children, killing 1 of them and injuring the other 2. She blamed everything on a "bushy haired stranger" who shot the kids, but she was still found GUILTY in her long trial. Before she got arrested she became pregnant with Becky (who was originally named Amy) and the 20/20 episod...

4.5 stars. A fantastic true crime read!

4.5 StarsDiane Downs is one of the most horrifying murderers I've ever read about. Not only was her crime heinous but add to that her total lack of conscious. Diane Downs is a truly evil "human being". On the night of May 19 1983 a woman drives to the hospital emergency room, screaming that she had been attacked by a "Shaggy haired man". The woman was suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm but the nursing staff also noticed that in the car lay 2 critically injured children. A little girl and

I remember watching the tv version of Small Sacrifices in the 1980's. There's a scene of Diane Downs (played by Farrah Fawcett's hair) where she's driving the kids to the middle of nowhere for less witnesses (preferably none alive, anyway) to their impending murder. The twin and I loved to panic and yell "This isn't the way home!" whenever in the car with our mom (she loved it), and other such fun scenes from the film. (There's a darker side to that story in that mom whined faaar too much for my...

A fascinating crime will always transfer to a good true crime book as long as its well written and ‘Small Sacrifices’ is pure class. There’s crazy criminals and then there’s Diane Downs who’s way way out there on her own far distant universe. As this is public record I don’t think i’ll be ruining it for anyone when I explain the story. On May 19th 1983 Diane, along with her three children, pulled up at her local hospital in a blood drenched car. All four passengers had gun shot related injuries

Crazy Diane Downs! Even crazier, if you Google her, you'll see that her poor father has a website devoted to her innocence. I know it's pitiful and comes from heartbreak and desperation, but it really bugs me when a loved one of an accused killer (Jackie Peterson; Diane's father) actually justify seemingly remorseless behavior with stupid, disingenuous lines like "You can't know how you'll react under those circumstances. Everyone is different". This is just plain incorrect. In fact, we CAN, thr...

My favorite Ann Rule book. I believe this book convinced me to be a true crime writer. Amazing character development with outstanding research.

I'll never forget the "live"(from prison)interview of the female monster of this book on the "Oprah" show some years back. It was the only time I ever saw (of the few times I ever watched the show,of course(Ha)),Oprah get so angry that had - that woman(monster)of been in studio with her-Oprah wanted to and would have physically beaten her down. Of course,to the delight and cheers of the audience. This book will absolutely put a knot in your stomach,that to some degree, I truly believe never enti...

A book that gripped me so much that three years after I first read it I continue to read it each year. And it still fills me with horror, dread and makes me very grateful to have had the loving mother I did.Having never heard of Diane Downs or read an Ann Rule book before I wasn't sure what this book would be like but the story intrigued me. I went into it with an open mind about the crime in question and decided to let it play out before deciding if I thought Diane had done it. From page one th...