Salt of the Earth is one of many true crime books by Jack Olsen, and an excellent one at that. This one is about the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl named Brenda Gere, and the effects it has on her family—particularly her mother, Elaine.
At the time Brenda went missing, authorities believed she was abducted by Michael Kay Green, a local steroid addict. Unfortunately, the justice system was unable to prove at the time that Green was involved with Brenda’s disappearance.
I love how Jack Olsen tells his true crime stories. His format is different than that of most other true crime writers because he provides explicit, highly detailed backgrounds on the victims, suspects, and their families FIRST. Most writers divulge the gruesome details right away in the first chapter, which makes the story feel sensationalized, or like a tabloid.
Before Brenda’s disappearance is mentioned in the book, I feel like I got to know her family quite intimately, and therefore was super emotionally invested in the story. I felt so relieved when Elaine learned what happened to Brenda.
My book club once did a theme called, “Nonfiction That Reads Like a Novel”, and Salt of the Earth definitely qualifies. It’s extremely well written and easy to follow, lacking any boring slumps that are typically common in this genre.
I mentioned Jack Olsen in this feature called, Like True Crime Books? Try These Vintage Picks. Some of his other titles include:
- I: The Creation of a Serial Killer (2002)
- Predator: Rape, Madness, and Injustice in Seattle (2015)
- Charmer: The True Story of a Ladies’ Man and his Victims (2018)
Have you read anything by Jack Olsen? What are your thoughts?
Last Updated on February 26, 2026 by Sarah Ann
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