The New York Killing Campaign

The Dark Half

The murders of people associated with the revelation widen Stark’s reach and make the danger to Thad’s family immediate.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Miriam’s Apartment Miriam’s Apartment from "The Dark Half". Miriam’s Apartment A forced telephone call Stark attacks Miriam Cowley and forces her to call Thad.

Miriam’s Apartment from "The Dark Half". Miriam’s Apartment A forced telephone call Stark attacks Miriam Cowley and forces her to call Thad.

Miriam’s Apartment A forced telephone call Stark attacks Miriam Cowley and forces her to call Thad. She identifies the danger before he cuts the connection and kills her. A warning carried north Thad hears her scream but cannot reach her again. The call turns the murders from distant news into immediate personal threat.

Donaldson in the Hallway Donaldson in the Hallway from "The Dark Half". Donaldson in the Hallway An attack at his door Michael Donaldson is attacked while returning to his apartment.

Donaldson in the Hallway from "The Dark Half". Donaldson in the Hallway An attack at his door Michael Donaldson is attacked while returning to his apartment.

Donaldson in the Hallway An attack at his door Michael Donaldson is attacked while returning to his apartment. He fights back unexpectedly, forcing Stark to improvise and prolonging the violence. Witnesses and escape The assault draws attention, but Stark evades the arriving officers. The killer’s audacity demonstrates that police presence does not guarantee safety.

Myers Under Protection Myers Under Protection from "The Dark Half". Myers Under Protection A deceptive approach Stark poses as a wounded blind man and exploits the officers’ instinct to help.

Myers Under Protection from "The Dark Half". Myers Under Protection A deceptive approach Stark poses as a wounded blind man and exploits the officers’ instinct to help.

Myers Under Protection A deceptive approach Stark poses as a wounded blind man and exploits the officers’ instinct to help. He kills the guards before reaching Phyllis Myers. A protection detail defeated Myers is killed despite police surveillance. The disguise makes ordinary caution useless against a person willing to turn vulnerability into a weapon.

Cowley’s Door Explodes Cowley’s Door Explodes from "The Dark Half". Cowley’s Door Explodes A trapped return Rick Cowley leaves for police questioning and returns to find a booby-trapped door.

Cowley’s Door Explodes from "The Dark Half". Cowley’s Door Explodes A trapped return Rick Cowley leaves for police questioning and returns to find a booby-trapped door.

Cowley’s Door Explodes A trapped return Rick Cowley leaves for police questioning and returns to find a booby-trapped door. The explosion kills him and two communications technicians. The threat expands The attack proves that police protection and technical precautions can be anticipated. Thad’s professional circle has become part of Stark’s campaign.

The Last Accomplice The Last Accomplice from "The Dark Half". The Last Accomplice A final name surfaces Stark tells Thad that Darla Gates has been killed. She had supplied Clawson with information from Darwin Press.

The Last Accomplice from "The Dark Half". The Last Accomplice A final name surfaces Stark tells Thad that Darla Gates has been killed. She had supplied Clawson with information from Darwin Press.

The Last Accomplice A final name surfaces Stark tells Thad that Darla Gates has been killed. She had supplied Clawson with information from Darwin Press. No safe distance remains The last connection to the blackmail plot is eliminated. Thad understands that the violence is no longer contained to people who know the secret.

Night of June 6, 1988, in Manhattan

Early June 7, 1988, in New York City

Early morning, June 7, 1988, at Phyllis Myers’s building

June 7, 1988, after Rick leaves his apartment

Mid-June 1988, after Stark’s first recorded call