Run or bike with journalist Gera-Lind Kolarik inspired her book, Freed to Kill: The True Story of Serial Murderer Larry Eyler.
Purchase one-off tickets here:
Joining all three fall signature events? Guarantee your spot and get discounted tickets to all three (September 27, October 25, and November 15) with a Fall 2026 Events Bundle.
About the event
Join Read & Run Chicago, Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, Haymarket House, New Balance, and Gera-Lind Kolarik at Haymarket House (800 W Buena) on Sunday, September 27 at 10:00 AM for a 3.6-mile running tour or biking tour (s/o BFF Bikes!) of the chilling true crime history in Gera-Lind’s book, Freed to Kill: The True Story of Serial Murderer Larry Eyler as part of our Fall 2026 Signature Events Season, “Chicago Between the Lines.”
After the route, hear a live Q&A with Gera-Lind Kolarik, browse archives, and shop for books with our bookstore partner, Partners in Crime Bookshop.
Prefer not to bike or run? Purchase a pay-what-you-can ticket for the Q&A, archive viewing, and book sales only.
Gerber/Hart staff will bring a display of materials from 1980s Chicago including travel guides, leather bar memorabilia, and gay press coverage showing how the gay press in Chicago and Indianapolis fought to alert their communities of the dangers of Eyler well before police took action.
Schedule
9:45 AM – Gather at Haymarket House (800 W Buena) for the New Balance shoe demo
10:00 AM – Program begins
10:20 AM – Running and biking tour routes begin
12:00 PM – Q&A, snacks, book sales with Partners in Crime Bookshop, and archives at Haymarket House (800 W Buena)
How tickets work:
All-Access Members have guaranteed, complimentary entry to all signature events.
Fall 2026 Events Bundle: Guarantee your spot and get discounted tickets to all three Fall 2026 signature events (September 27, October 25, and November 15) with a Fall 2026 Events Bundle.
One-Off Tickets: The access code for one-off tickets releases to non-members in our newsletter on Monday, September 7 at 8pm. Any remaining tickets will open to non-subscribers on Wednesday, September 9.
Pre-Reading:
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the graphic nature and potential for triggers in Freed to Kill, we decided to make this a Running Tour (no pre-reading required), rather than Book Club Run (pre-reading required and discussion of book along route). However, we recommend reviewing some of the history and details of this case prior to attending.
If you’re interested in reading Freed to Kill: The True Story of Serial Murderer Larry Eyler, here’s how to access it:
Borrow from Gerber/Hart Library and Archives or your local library branch
Purchase the e-book from Simon & Schuster here
Purchase used hard copies from Read & Run Chicago at Printers Row Lit Fest (September 12-13) or at the event on September 27