Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly

Today's nonfiction post is on Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly by Jim DeRogatis. It is 330 pages long and is published by Abrams Press. The book is black with the title in white. The intended reader is someone who is interested in true crime and survivor stories. There is some very foul language, discussion of sex, rape, and sexuality, and some violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The Definitive Account of R. Kelly's Action and Their Consequences.
In 2000, Chicago journalist and music critic Jim DeRogatis received an anonymous fax that alleged that R&B superstar and local hero R. Kelly had a problem with 'young girls.' Weeks later, DeRogatis broke the shocking allegations in print- Kelly had groomed, sexually abused, and paid off young girls. Still, Kelly's career flourished, especially after his first trail and acquittal. No one seemed to care: neither the music industry nor the culture at large. But for more than twenty years, DeRogatis stayed on the story. Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly is a work of tenacious journalism and cultural criticism. It tells the story of Kelly's career, the author's conversations with victims, expects, and those in the musician's orbit and, at last, a sweeping conviction for Kelly's crimes in federal court. 

Review- This is a well written account of one journalist's search for the truth and his hope for justice for the victims. It all starts for Jim DeRogatis when he receives an anonymous fax telling DeRogatis that Kelly had a problem with young girls. Of course DeRogatis had heard the rumors about Kelly and his misbehavior with young girls and women. The fax just sits on his desk before DeRogatis starts investigating the rumors and what he finds will haunt him for the rest of his life. DeRogatis and other reporters will spend the next twenty odd years researching and interviewing the girls, the women, and their families about their relationships with Kelly and what happened to them. This book is a tough read at times because DeRogatis does not hold back with the victims and their stories and the video tapes of the acts, as Kelly liked to tapes himself with women and girls. If you are looking for a information about the case against R. Kelly, then you should read this book, DeRogatis does a great job with this very tough material.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.