Fall: The Rape and Murder of Innocence in a Small Town is about two girls who were abducted, raped, and murdered in 1973 in Casper, Wyoming.
It’s written by Ron Franscell—a Casper native and journalist who knew the girls personally. Because of this, Fall is deeply personal, and written incredibly well.
The first chapter goes into explicit detail about the crime from the victims’ point of view. It’s super gruesome and a bit over-the-top from a dramatic standpoint, but as a whole, the book reads easily and flows well.
One thing I found odd about this book was the chapter called “Untold Destiny” near the end. It’s a fictional “autobiography” written by the murderer in prison. I found it distasteful and just plain sad.
One thing I DID really like is that Ron Franscell mentions Jack Olsen in this book. Jack Olsen is one of my favorite true crime authors, featured in this post called, Like True Crime Books? Try These Vintage Picks. Olsen actually wrote a book about how one of the doctors “treats” Becky years after the crime. Jack Olsen is great, and I highly recommend his work if you enjoy the True Crime genre.
Overall, Fall is a great book as far as true crime is concerned. You’re not likely to forget this one any time soon.
Ron Franscell has written many books, including a few novels. Some of his other titles include:
- Morgue: A Life in Death (2016)
- Alice & Gerald: A Homicidal Love Story (2019)
- Deaf Row: A Mystery (2023)
Have you read Fall or anything else by this author? What are your thoughts?
Last Updated on February 26, 2026 by Sarah Ann
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