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Shadow of the Bridge: The Delphi Murders and the Dark Side of the American Heartland

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The haunting account of the Delphi Murders, a double-murder case that has held its unrelenting grip on the American heartland for over six years.

On February 13, 2017, two teenage friends went for a walk in the woods just outside the small city of Delphi, Indiana. They should have been safe — but Liberty German and Abigail Williams never made it home. The next day, searchers found their bodies in a clearing. The two girls had been brutally murdered. Incredibly, in the final moments of her life, Liberty somehow managed to capture a video of the man who would soon murder her and her friend. This blurry recording showed a man lumbering toward the girls and then gruffly commanding them to go “down the hill.” A fascinated public obsessed over those clues. Speculation about the killer’s identity ran rampant on social media. Meanwhile, a sprawling law enforcement investigation led to some of the darkest corners of the heartland. Still, the case remained unsolved for years. 

Everything changed in October 2022 when authorities announced the arrest of Delphi resident Richard Allen. But as the case began to make its way through the justice system, many began to question whether the small community had what it took to prosecute the case. They also wondered whether or not the police had even arrested the right man. Investigators, officials, prosecutors, and the defense attorneys found themselves stuck in an unprecedented firestorm of online controversy and subterfuge, with so-called internet sleuths hyping up conspiracy theories and trading leaks.

Now, Áine Caine and Kevin Greenlee, the investigative team behind a series of bombshell reports on the case have put forth the only definitive account of the entire investigation. Shadow of the The Delphi Murders and the Dark Side of the American Heartland goes deeper and offers more detail than what was shared on the popular Murder Sheet podcast, answering many of the questions that have haunted so many since the deaths of Libby and Abby. Most importantly, in working closely with the German and Williams families, Caine and Greenlee tell the stories of who these two warm, bright, and promising girls were to all who cared for them. With rigorous research and capitivating prose, Shadow of the Bridge is a powerful narrative of a complicated, twisting story of tragedy and a community determination to see justice.

432 pages, Hardcover

Published August 26, 2025

134 people are currently reading
317 people want to read

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Áine Cain

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5 stars
86 (58%)
4 stars
32 (21%)
3 stars
15 (10%)
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2 (1%)
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13 (8%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
1 review
August 28, 2025
What an incredible, honest, and factual retelling of a conspiracy-ridden case. The actual victims were grossly lost in this case, and created serious concern of the ability of a defense team to try a case within social media. The internet cranks that turned this case into a media circus, directly touting lies to ensure their clicks were satisfactory, should be ashamed of themselves.

My only feedback for this book (I refuse to call it a negative review) is that I would have loved to have seen more details that were listed in your podcasts, regarding the horrific group texts/facebook group that included the defense and how horrifically they schemed to perpetuate and encourage these social media attorneys to falsely report happenings in the case, all the way until the trial.

My most horrid feedback goes to Judge Francis Gull, in that all of this “media circus” she was so determined to avoid, could have been eradicated of the trial would have been visible to the public. I’m trying to protect this case, she managed to give these arm-chair sleuths the fuel needed to sustain this conspiracy fire that spread throughout this case.

Thank you to Áine and Kevin for your fierce determination to uphold the truth.
134 reviews1 follower
August 27, 2025
Jim Thoroughly researched. The authors were in the courtroom and heard the actual testimony, viewed the evidence as it was presented and have personally interviewed the majority of the individuals involved in this investigation and prosecution, Other versions of what occurred the day of the girls death is nothing than more than mere speculation based not in fact.
1 review
August 28, 2025
This book is so captivating and well-written that it was really hard to put down. It was obviously very well researched and so compassionate to the victims, their families, and all of those who worked to bring them justice. A lot of people are getting this story wrong so I'm so happy that they took the time to write this book! It is definitely worth a read if you're interested in true crime.
Profile Image for Kristina.
73 reviews16 followers
August 28, 2025
Impeccably researched and thoughtfully written, Shadow of the Bridge offers a compelling and respectful account of the Delphi murders. Cain and Greenlee balance rigorous reporting with compassion, making this one of the most definitive and important true crime books in recent years.

1 review
August 28, 2025
Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee take on the Delphi murders with a mix of sharp reporting and genuine care in Shadow of the Bridge. Rather than chasing headlines or amplifying the louder corners of the internet, they step back and show the case in full: the investigation, the courtroom battles, the social media circus, and, most importantly, the lives of Libby German and Abby Williams.

The book doesn’t read like a typical true crime retelling. It’s measured, compassionate, and unafraid to show just how complicated and messy this case has become. Cain and Greenlee make space for the families’ voices, give weight to different perspectives, and resist the easy temptation of neat narratives. That honesty makes the story all the more powerful.

For readers who only know the basics of the Delphi murders—or for those who’ve followed every twist—this account manages to be both deeply informative and deeply human. It’s clear the authors poured years of work into getting this right, and it shows on every page.
1 review
August 28, 2025
This was a controversial case that was not televised which lead to an information vacuum and clickbait content creators dream. What this case needs is coverage that cares about the victims and the truth, enter the authors of this book. They meticulously cover this case and time has shown them to be truthful and accurate. Even those who followed this case through trial will be surprised at some of the details revealed in this thoughtful, well researched, victim centered and accurate telling of a disgusting crime.
Profile Image for Mallory Bitterman.
69 reviews2 followers
August 28, 2025
Shadow of the Bridge is a thorough guide to everything-every piece- of the tragic Delphi murders in Delphi, Indiana in 2017. Kevin and Áine do a wonderful job of recounting the story in such detail that you feel like you’re in the woods with the investigators looking for the girls. Thorough research and due diligence went in to this book and it is evident in the way the book is written to reflect actual true events of the murders, the investigation, and the trial of Richard Allen.

For years to come, this will be the book at the top of the reference list when discussing the Delphi Murders. Kudos to Kevin Greenlee and Áine Cain.
1 review
August 29, 2025
This is a factual accounting of the true crime tragic horrific murders of Abby and Libby, including securing the murderer, who was convicted by a jury of his peers, Richard Allen. Cain and Greenlee are masterful authors, using each of their respective professions, to appropriately analyze and capture the facts only an attorney and journalist to do. This true crime book is smart, sensitive and thorough. Thank you for taking time to cover this case, I am looking forward to your next book.
Sincerely
SS
2 reviews
August 28, 2025
Considerate, thoughtful account that put the victims and the family first.
9 reviews
August 29, 2025
Excellent research done on this book by authors who actually care and respect the victims of this heinous crime. As someone who lives in Indiana and whose area was rocked by this crime, I know first hand the care and respect these authors gave to this community. The research was accurate, complete, and done from a neutral stance. The facts of the case are presented, not biased or twisted to represent a false narrative, like so many others tried to do. Excellent read, to such a heartbreaking situation.
6 reviews
September 4, 2025
After watching Capturing Their Killer: The Girls On The High Bridge, I was more than intrigued. The three episode series left me believing that there’s more to this tragic tale, and I found everything I was looking for in this novel written by two podcasters. With actual reports and interviews with investigators, the ending to the story finally made sense! Read this in four days! Hands down the best Labor Day weekend I’ve had in years.
Profile Image for Erika.
5 reviews
August 28, 2025
This is an intelligent, respectful, and extremely well researched telling of this tragic crime. You will come out of it with a factual understanding of the investigation and trial, and remembering the most important part, Abby and Libby.
Profile Image for Kayci.
25 reviews
September 4, 2025
This book encapsulates not only the Delphi case, but the surrounding circus. With their front row seat, Greenlee and Cain were able to truthfully report- with no agenda. To be able to hear the whole story end-to-end, in the voice of Greenlee, brings this case full circle. Heartbreakingly the outcome never changes, but at least reality has been acknowledged.
Profile Image for Sheila Melo.
1,869 reviews51 followers
September 5, 2025
SHADOW OF THE BRIDGE: THE DELPHI MURDERS AND THE DARK SIDE OF THE AMERICAN HEARTLAND stands as the definitive account of the case. It carefully traces the murders, the long and often frustrating investigation, the trial, and the evidence that ultimately led to a conviction. The book succeeds because it avoids getting lost in rumor or speculation. Instead, it presents the facts clearly and directly, showing how the pieces of the case fit together and why the court's outcome was decisive.

The structure is mostly chronological, and the tone is journalistic, which serves the story well. Each step of the investigation is explained in order, so the reader can follow the path from the day of the murders through the trial. The writing avoids sensationalism and focuses on presenting verified information, which makes the narrative both accessible and trustworthy.

One limitation of the book is the absence of the defense perspective. The authors make clear immediately in the introductory note that this was not their choice but the result of decisions made by the defense attorneys who could have provided that viewpoint. While that perspective might have added depth, the authors’ transparency about why it is missing gives the book credibility rather than diminishing it.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is its resistance to the pull of conspiracy theories. For years, online communities speculated endlessly about the case, often spreading misinformation and harming those most affected. This book rejects that noise and instead centers on the truth of what happened and how investigators built their case. By doing so, it provides a much-needed corrective to the public narrative that has grown around Delphi.

The authors also keep the focus where it belongs—on Abby and Libby. Too often, true crime narratives drift into glorifying the killer or indulging in sensational detail. Here, the care and respect for the victims is evident throughout. Their lives and the impact of their loss are never overshadowed by the circus that surrounded the case. Indeed, the authors could have delved more into the conspiracy world, but wisely kept the focus on the facts of the case instead of the sideshow.

This is also a story about failure. The book makes clear that the case should have been solved within weeks. Instead, it dragged on for years, in part because of missteps and in part because of the distractions caused by amateur “detectives” online. Those delays added to the suffering of the families and turned a tragedy into a public spectacle. By showing how the investigation finally reached its conclusion, the book highlights both the resilience of those who pushed for justice and the dangers of letting rumor override evidence.

In the end, this is not just a recounting of a crime but a reminder of how true crime should be written. It is grounded in fact, centered on the victims, and carefully avoids feeding the culture of speculation that often surrounded this case.
1 review
August 28, 2025
​In the often murky waters of true crime, Kevin Greenlee and Aine Cain's "Shadow of the Bridge" emerges as a brilliant and essential work, providing a meticulously researched and profoundly impactful account of the Delphi murders of Abby Williams and Libby German. This book isn't just a recounting of facts; it's a vital, timely commentary on the very nature of modern true crime reporting and the corrosive influence of online toxicity.
​From the outset, it is clear that Greenlee and Cain are committed to the truth. Their access to law enforcement, the victims' families, and local community members, combined with their diligent examination of every legal brief, forms the bedrock of a narrative built on fact-based evidence, not speculation or sensationalism. This isn't a book that traffics in fanciful hearsay or elaborate conspiracy theories; it's a testament to rigorous investigative journalism, offering readers a clear, reasoned, and humane perspective on a devastating crime.
​What truly elevates "Shadow of the Bridge" to a five-star masterpiece is its brave and unflinching look at the dangers inherent in modern true crime culture. The authors presciently detail how online platforms can be hijacked by those who refuse to engage with reason, instead propagating misinformation and engaging in bullying and harassment. Ironically, the very online trolls who have attempted to derail this book's reception with a barrage of one-star reviews serve as living proof of Greenlee and Cain's central thesis. These coordinated attacks, designed to obscure truth and promote unfounded narratives, only underscore the urgent relevance and courage of the authors' message.
​"Shadow of the Bridge" is a must-read for anyone seeking a comprehensive, compassionate, and critically aware understanding of the Delphi murders. It stands as a powerful antidote to the noise and negativity that often pervades online discussions of true crime, offering a pathway back to empathy, truth, and respect for the victims and their families. This book doesn't just tell a story; it performs a vital public service
1 review
August 29, 2025
Getting through Shadow of the Bridge felt less like engaging with serious nonfiction and more like trudging through a mean teenager’s diary masquerading as investigative journalism.
Cain laces every page with gaudy, overcooked adjectives, as if flowery language could paper over the lack of substance. Instead of sticking to verified facts, the author repeatedly & painfully inserts her own imagination and bias, warping events into a narrative that reads more like fan fiction than history.

Lines early in the book like “Perhaps if the girls behaved normally, he would leave them alone” and “They must have felt trapped there, between the bare trees and the blue winter sky” are pure author invention.

Juvenile, bombastic prose like “the little, lumbering man” or “eyes pale and bulging” read like cheap thriller clichés, not careful nonfiction reporting.

Cain presents self-centered, unverified inner thoughts and feelings of the victims as if they’re factual.
It isn’t just misleading, but Cain is blurring fact with imagination — putting words, feelings, and even thoughts into the mouths of victims who can’t speak for themselves.
That’s not just bad journalism — it’s exploitative.

And this book reeks of copaganda. In the very first chapters, Cain uncritically recycles police claims that were later shredded at trial as outright lies. Rather than correcting the record or even acknowledging the contradictions, she parrots discredited talking points, cementing misinformation instead of challenging it. This isn’t investigative work, it’s stenography for law enforcement, dressed up in melodramatic prose.

The result is a frustrating, misleading mess. Cain is more interested in dramatizing her own voice & interpersonal drama (to the point it raises some serious defamation concerns) than presenting a clear-eyed, fact-driven account.
Serious readers looking for accuracy & a gripping, coherent storyline will instead find themselves wading through juvenile bombast, biased asides, and uncritical police cheerleading.
Profile Image for Teryn W.
4 reviews
August 26, 2025
Shadow of the Bridge is the careful and attentive written account of the Delphi murders by journalist Aine Cain and attorney Kevin Greenlee. They have extensively investigated the Delphi murders, not only by interviewing the families and local authorities but also by being there in the courtrooms (when allowed). With the unique addition of this case going 'viral' and the fanatics that poured in from around the United States, Greenlee and Cain tread an honest path that not many could when writing about a crime such as this.

They take care to write with empathy and include facts from all sides- not just the popular ones, which made this an exceptional read. I feel as though with a lot of True Crime, the paths that are explored are the definitive ones only, making the stories lack the feeling of chaos that is present in many of these tragedies. Greenlee and Cain piece together the theories, facts, and feelings in such a way that it never felt overwhelming or misleading- rather, it was informative and real. The interviews with the families were emotional and raw, but so loving and compassionate.

I had only ever heard about this case briefly, so picking this up, I was fairly in the dark about all that had happened. I was immediately invested in this case like so many others and felt as though I could trust these investigators because of the extreme care I could feel within these pages. I would recommend this to anyone, including those wanting to get into True Crime, especially if they live in the Midwest.
Profile Image for Angie Chase.
133 reviews
September 3, 2025
I’ll be honest - I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts but I have not listened to The Murder Sheets. I do listen to The Prosecutors and Crime Weekly religiously and knew a lot about this case from their podcast but this book gave me so much more. It was thoroughly researched and well written. Knowing how much time and effort was put in to this investigation from the investigators and prosecutors was eye opening. Being able to solve a case with little evidence goes to show just how well of a job they did.

I will say it was disappointing to see how Abby and Libby were lost amongst the media mess. The age of social media has made people lose sight of what is really important but instead highlights that if you speak loud enough, you will get your 5 minutes of fame, even if it’s not the truth. The YouTubers, the “cranks,” didn’t care if they were putting out factual stuff or not and that is scary, but unfortunately doesn’t surprise me with the current administration in office. Also no family should see crime scene photos of their children!! Those lawyers should be debarred!!! No excuse for the bull shit that went down!

At the end of the day justice prevailed and the idiots lost! The passive aggressiveness and somewhat pettiness of this book was the best “fuck you” to them.
Profile Image for Kate O'hehir.
1 review
August 30, 2025
My opinion of Shadow on the Bridge by Cain and Greenlee? If Cain and Greenlee want to be taken seriously, step one would have been picking a consistent narrative voice. Cain writes as if she were actually at the crime scene, which reads like poor fan fiction. Her voice—and her logic—zigzags all over the place. Mr. Greenlee’s voice? If it’s in here, I could not find it. Cain, though, deserves credit for her loud, unmistakable voice is impossible to ignore, though many do and more will after reading.

Now, about the tone and tenor of the book, and why it put me off. Cain takes issue with other competing content creators. Her cutting adjectives target a large audience who believe Richard Allen is not guilty. Is this how a professional writer covers crime? With outright bias and deriding those associated with the defense? There are two sides to every story, and every court case, and this book presents one side semi-lucidly. Legal scholars will shake their heads, though.
In short: entertaining if you like drama. Credible? Not in a million years.
1 review
August 29, 2025
SHADOW OF THE BRIDGE was even better than I anticipated! The authors, Aine Cain and Kevin Greenlee, weaved beautifully crafted narration, intertwined with detailed technical aspects of the crime. The book humanizes and brings life to who Libby and Abby were before this tragedy. Even if there are several books written about this horrendous double murder, this book will end up being one of the foremost authorities on the matter. The style of writing is better than I could have imagined. I enjoyed learning details that had not been reported. I pre-ordered this book because I have found the authors' reporting to be unbiased, fair, thorough, and humane. The book contains the same values as their Murder Sheet podcast reporting. Libby's video of Richard "Bridge Guy" Allen was remarkable, captivating the world. Let us always remember the beautiful young ladies that Libby and Abby were. This book is worth every moment spent reading and every penny it costs. Highly recommend!
1 review
August 26, 2025
I could go on a long tirade but here's just a taste of why this book is a waste of time.

The authors double down on the ridiculous statement related to the infamous 'Bridge Guy' video: that Libby says "that be a gun." At 0:14 in the publicly available video, she unmistakably says, "this is the path, that we go down." I urge anyone to watch it and judge for themselves.

This egregious misrepresentation of reality should make any reader question everything else in the book, along with anything law enforcement said about this case because they had a cop testify to this nonsense on the stand.
Profile Image for Jordan Theune.
347 reviews31 followers
September 2, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up.

I appreciate the lengths that the authors went to in order to get this story. I followed this case closely for years, so I can’t say anything in this book was new to me, but it was still worthwhile.

If I could make one giant suggestion it would be to STOP DRAGGING OTHER CONTENT CREATORS. It just makes you look bad, guys. I don’t subscribe to any of the BM/Defense Gang’s beliefs, but there is a way to talk about them without showing your bias so strongly. I heard plenty of it on the MS podcast, and I had hoped it wouldn’t be so blatant in the book. I would have really appreciated it if this all felt a little more balanced.
1 review
September 7, 2025
It's pretty shocking to see so many prominent attorneys in this state get dragged through the mud and raises questions about the ethical implications of accusing people of criminal activity is risky to say the least. If they had documented their accusations, it would make more sense why any of that outside the court gossip is relevant to the story.

The writing is simply bad. It reads like a sophomore creative writing assignment. It also begs the question, was this book edited and/or vetted at all? I see legal problems, particularly since one of the persons on the front cover (not the author) is an attorney.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sara.
5 reviews
September 3, 2025
Shadow of the Bridge leads the reader down the journey of grief experienced by the families and by the town of Delphi, Indiana, and despite the many twists and turns of that journey, we, the readers, are never allowed to lose sight of the two children at the center of the story. The violence inflicted on February 13, 2017, under the Monon High Bridge not only stole the lives of Abigail “Abby” Williams and Liberty “Libby” German, but it also stole the future happiness of two families and the peace of a community.
Profile Image for Linda.
1,005 reviews
September 5, 2025

I was a regular listener to the authors’ podcast during much of the Delphi investigation, but I’m still glad I read the book. Having the entire 7 year saga laid out in chronological order was very helpful in understanding why things played out the way they did.

If you’re interested in the case, but only paid attention to the occasional headline, this is the book I’d recommend to give you a good overview. If, on the other hand, you checked in to your favorite YouTube true crime channel every day for the latest conspiracy theories on the case, you’re not going to like the book at all.
1 review
August 27, 2025
A must read from those covering the case and being there during the court presentation. Factual, intelligent and so comprehensive.

Will intellectually satisfy and most importantly factual. There is a heartfelt coverage as well. Audio book also wonderful with one of the authors reading the book.

If you are interested in knowing the background as well, this is for you. I especially felt the family of, & the girls was an insight as well. Heartwarming.
Profile Image for Anne.
37 reviews2 followers
August 29, 2025
I followed this case and The Murder Sheet became my number 1 source, especially following all hearings and the trial. I appreciated their dedication to covering the proceedings as there were no cameras allowed nor was there audio feed. This book was a thorough and well-organized explanation of what happened, who the victims were, how the investigation ended where it did, and a recap of the trial. Thanks Aine and Kevin for this wonderful work of nonfiction!
Profile Image for Crystal Moonchild.
1 review
August 30, 2025
If I could give it 0 stars I would. As someone who has followed the case since the girls went missing, I find it disheartening, dishonest, and disrespectful to the memories of these two beautiful girls to lie and grift on their deaths. These two individuals are arms of the state and have done their own misconduct to ensure the conviction of Richard Allen. It's truly sad and pitiful they would double down on this.
1 review
August 31, 2025
It’s as if Cain wanted to be Ashley Flowers so bad, she emulated the exact behavior she once launched a smear campaign against Flowers about.
Authors knowingly platformed debunked police narratives in a messy, immature, verbose fashion.
Cain has begged her Facebook acolytes to pump up these reviews, somehow believing only their imagined enemies would be coming on here giving a poor review.
As neither fan nor foe of Cain — this book is bad. Horrifically bad.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews

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