Frank Figliuzzi, a noted authority on counterintelligence and a retired high-ranking official in the FBI, is a frequent guest on MSNBC. His sharp intelligence, impeccable logic, and fine erudition shine through every time. In this book Figliuzzi leaves his familiar domain of investigation to pursue the almost unknown but very extensive serial murders perpetrated by interstate truckers. Given his FBI background, a reader might expect Figliuzzi's book to adopt the language, phrasing, and locutions of a report he might have submitted to the Director. Instead, Figliuzzi adopts a style and nomenclature more appropriate to a novel. It doesn't work. Figliuzzi just isn't a novelist. Because he presents his material in a way intended to engage the reader much like a novelist might, the reader must work through countless details and asides that are completely irrelevant to the subject matter. We are provided with endless pages about truckers and truck driving, and Figliuzzi's experiences and impressions as he learns from long hauls in the company of professional drivers. We are told the ins and outs of loading and unloading big rigs, and of federal regulations governing the industry. We are even told what Figliuzzi and his mentors have for breakfast and when and where they can take a shower. And who cares? We read the book because we want to learn about the serial murder problem created by long haul truckers. What we get is a lot of information about long haul trucking. Figliuzzi here assumes the role of a reporter. His investigative work consists of trying to piece together disparate bits of information that might be relevant. This draws Figliuzzi into the bureaucratic apparatus that has developed to coordinate the sharing of data about serial killers between law enforcement agencies. Those efforts have produced some arrests, and Figliuzzi reviews a few of the more notorious cases, but apparently not much is known about the serial killers still on the loose. One conclusion becomes clear; These serial killers are no different from other serial killers; they just happen to drive trucks for a living. Figliuzzi is on more secure ground when he considers the murder victims, who almost always are prostitutes soliciting customers at trucker rest stops or online. Describing the seedy lives of drug-addled prostitutes, Figliuzzi adopts the modern view of prostitutes as victims -- which they surely are when under the control of pimps. But not all prostitutes are, and here the notion of prostitutes-as-victims has limits. If a pimp-free prostitute wishes redemption and a change of lifestyle she can board a bus, get off in Kansas City, where she will be anonymous, get a job as a waitress, and start a new life. Of course, that simple sequence isn't going to happen because to walk away from one's past is not an easy thing to do, and probably can't be done without emotional support. But help is available. The most worthwhile material in this book is Figliuzzi's reporting on the self-destructive lives of prostitutes and the efforts underway to help those who are willing to redeem their lives. But, like alcoholics who quit drinking, the women have to want to. The sub-title of this book -- "Hunting the highway Serial Killers" -- is misleading. The author describes not the hunt itself but what a successful hunt would need to know, what currently is known, and what isn't known. A more accurate sub-title would be "the continuing education of Frank Figliuzzi." He learned a lot during his adventure away from the world of counterintelligence. But many of his readers will not care about much of what he learned because too much of it is focused on truck driving and bureaucracy. So, what if Figliuzzi had written a formal report for the FBI director instead of a wannabe novel? Then he might not have had a book to publish. Take out the material on long haul trucking and there simply isn't enough material left about serial killers and their victims to make a full-length book. The publisher, the Mariner division of Harper Collins, gave us half a loaf here, so it's fair to impugn their editorial judgment and their failure to provide sage advice. Frank Figliuzzi was not well served by them, so his readers aren't either.

This book was informative and easy to read. While it was not a law enforcement “chase” of a suspect, the book brought to light a problem that has been quickly becoming a social nightmare: human trafficking. This is a book that I will recommend to others. Thank you Frank Figliuzzi for writing it.

The first thing that needs to be said is that if you are looking for a book that goes through the hunt, forensics, arrest, and so forth of serial killers, this isn't the book for you. If you buy it thinking that's what it is, you will be disappointed. This book is not a journey into "whodunit and why?", it takes more of a bird's eye view to a problem in our society and a particular segment of that society. The book is well written and easy to read, even if the subject is a bit heavy, and at times disturbing. The author uses a conversational tone throughout the book, almost as if that favorite uncle of yours is telling you stories about his cool job or latest adventure. Mr. Figliuzzi does a good job of presenting the "stake holders" - the LEO hunters, the trafficked victims, the truckers, and those who deal with fallout of all the trauma. And if I had to put my finger on a major theme of this book, it would be the trauma. Trauma that has caused women to be caught up in the world of human trafficking, the trauma that has caused some to be attracted to the profession of trucking, the trauma that causes a small percentage of truckers to do evil things, and the aftermath of that trauma. I came away from this book with a new empathy, and some new understandings. Though I don't agree with some of the author's conclusions, or some of his suggested remedies, it was clear to me by the end of the book that his main concern was for the vast pool of potential victims out there; a population we choose to not see or go out of our way to be concerned about. This book is a good and thought provoking read.

I thought this was going to be about serial killers.... specifically serial killers that are long haul truckers. This book is MOSTLY about the art of long haul trucking, period. If you want to learn everything about being a long haul trucker, the loads you pick up and deliver, the pay, the time allotments, how to load the truck and put on straps and tarps, using the logbook, maintenance, where to stop for food and rest, etc., then this is the book for you! It also talked a bit about the profile of a "victim" and trafficking and rescuing them and pimps etc. But what I WANTED to read about was trucker serial killers. Very little of this book was about that! I was pretty bored with most of the book to be honest.

I liked the book, I was interested in the investigative work to a deeper degree than presented in the book, however, I can say that the author presented what could have been horrific details in a way that would not likely cause a trauma response for readers. I didn't expect the ride-along aspect, so that was interesting and I learned a lot.

If you love true crime, police procedural, FBI investigation, and groundbreaking forensics, you'll love this book. Call me weird, but I'm also a fan of serial killer crime reads, and Long Haul is right up there with James Elroy's The Black Dahlia and other greats. Maybe long hauling isn't glamorous, but many of us have family and friends who work in the trucking industry and this is a brilliantly written exposé and important eye-opener that everyone should read. Frank Figliuzzi's writing is honest, sensitive, and thoughtful. The 25-year former FBI special agent also has a wonderfully patriotic presence on social media and as an MSNBC national security analyst. This book is the perfect introduction to the author and the trucking industry.