True Crime Books

The true crime genre has many hacks, several reliable practitioners and a few greats. Kathryn Casey is becoming one of the great ones. Die, My Love by Kathryn Casey would be perfect if it weren't for the awful title. But that's the only bad thing I can say about this entertaining book. This is the story of one very odd woman, her nearly equally odd sister and the murder of her husband. How odd? Well, would you want a self-proclaimed "druid" and "bard" as your lawyer? If the answer is yes, then Piper Rountree is the lawyer for you.

Piper Rountree Jablin is batty on her best days and for some reason the men around her routinely find this charming. Her family, especially her sister Tina, coddle if not encourage Piper's permanent residence in La-La land. It's one thing for Piper to think she possesses magical powers, it's something else altogether for Tina to agree. Another friend praises Piper's "live for today" attitude, apparently unaware that Piper suffers from ADD. This book is full of those "are these people for real" moments so dear to the heart of true crime fans. Piper thinks nothing of urging a fellow lawyer to lie on an affidavit or designing the most unintentionally hilarious business cards ever.

When her husband finally has enough - after 20 years - and sues for divorce and joint custody, Piper takes her commitment to nutty behavior up several notches. Her sister Tina joins in on the hi-jinks. Tina Rountree is worth a book herself. Like Piper, she fancies herself a protector of women. Also like Piper, she barely has to wave her hand for half a dozen men to throw themselves at her feet. They're attractive women but the sheer volume of men willing to do their bidding made me wonder if there was something in the water in Houston. Most women are happy if their significant other takes out the garbage, these two have men all but hiding bodies for them.

It's an entertaining story on its own but Casey makes it better. She adds dimension to all the characters. She's done the sort of hands on reporting that is essential to making a true crime book more than a rehash of news reports. Casey writes in a clear, almost matter-of-fact manner that propels the book along. At one point Casey delivers one of the most chilling, devastating details (about Tina Rountree) I've read in a long, long time. She makes it all the more stunning by telling this detail straight out without adornment or overheated prose. That's the mark of a true master.

Kathryn Casey delivers on every level in this book. This is the second of her books I've read. After two excellent reads, she joins my short list of true crime authors whose work I'll pre-order as soon as I hear they have a new book coming out.

After reading some other true crime stories by various authors I learned to stick to the writings of Ann Rule...until now. Ann is the best ever, but Kathryn Casey is also an excellent true crime writer. I look forward to reading more of her books. I've gladly added her name to authors I trust to do a story justice. No pun intended. In this case the criminal isn't really very bright, but Kathryn Casey makes it into an interesting read.

Could not put this book down. Loved it! Only thing I didnt like was the cover--- It's weird looking; while I was reading it everywhere I went I would put the book face down.

I just finished this book and found it hard to put down. Piper Rountree is right up there with the worst of the worst - an incredibly narcissistic, coldblooded, self-absorbed individual. Kathryn Casey pulled it all together seamlessly, from the beginning of Piper's and Fred's relationship to the tragic end. It's the first book of hers I've read, and I'm here now to order another.

Oh those minority opinions, sure to get the writer in trouble- especially when all the foregoing reviews have awarded DML 5 stars! Nonetheless, let's give this review a try: Piper and Fred are not the ideal, happily married couple. In fact, they are poles apart. He is a distinguished egghead of a college professor; she can kindly be described as a "free spirit". Early one morning, Fred meets his demise in the driveway of his Richmond, VA home. It is not divulging much to state that the slate of suspects is short. Wifey quickly emerges at the head of the list, as most spouses do in these situations. The challenge to the Law is to place her at the crime scene. What makes DML interesting is Piper's alibi-she claims to have been in Houston at the time of the murder. Plus, there is a Texas-based sister who could pass for her. That draws 2 investigative departments into the chase. The story ebbs and flows as scenes shift from Texas to Virginia and back. This reviewer found it difficult to track all the detectives, district attorneys, lawyers, witnesses, family members and hangers on in two cities. Sometimes interest would heighten, other times it would wane. The end result was an often frustrating read. One has to hand authoress Casey credit. Imagine how challenging it must have been to document the myriad of facts and personalities herein. Ms. Casey certainly set a high bar for herself but this reader found DML a bit much. This reviewer is actually a Casey fan, but one has to call them as he sees them: Ms. Casey has simply done better work elsewhere, most especially with her first tale, "The Rapist's Wife". This review could not conclude without mentioning the infamous Ann Rule rule: Tundra will be happy to read that it is not in effect here. Those centerfold photos do not even hint at the resolution; they do the proper job of putting faces on the main characters. Also, the front and back covers reveal nothing. Casey fans take heart: Most reviews are favorable. Scroll up or down to receive more favorable opinions of "Die My Love".

I enjoy reading about the history of Kansas City and I found this book very informational and entertaining. I've read accounts of Pendergast's Machine as well as the early Irish mob and the author does a great job of recounting their historical influence as well.

This is a story that has long been left untold. I am a "gangster geek" from Kansas City and I have been waiting for a book like this for a long time. With the exception of the Kansas City Massacre very little is known about the Irish and Italian stronghold that controlled the state of Missouri by way of Kansas City. I hope this book leads the way in putting Kansas City where it belongs in gangster history. Great job Mr. Hayde!

This book is truly like no other book. It tells a story you will see only in pieces in other books. The story is a very dynamic, exciting and deadly story of life in Kansas City. This story also has had a huge impact on the country as a whole. The author, Frank R Hayde says things that I don't think have ever been put in print before. They had been rumored around town but not printed.

Also, any Kansas City resident will love the book. It tells a story of the town that no one else has mentioned. The book shows the growth of the mob over the past 100 years or so. The author shows how the mob was very tied to Kansas City Democratic Politics. He proves that Tom Pendergast and the Mob were interlinked almost like a hand and a glove. The growth in one allowed the growth in the other. The Pendergast machine allowed the mob to run wild to the point where the city government looked just like the mob. The author goes on to show how that force continued long after Tom left the scene. The KC Mob had a role in the National Mob fight in the 50s. He reviews the River Quay battles in the 70s in very clear wording that rivals the KC Star in the days of the war. If you loved the movie "Casino" you will love his chapter on the role of the KC mob and Vegas. It was pretty much running the show for the whole nation's mob for a long time. The KC mob was the crew that put the muscle on the teamsters which bankrolled the mob expansion in Vegas. That is a fact the movie points out. In a way their Vegas efforts had a very large national impact.

The book also has several interesting allegations that any KC resident will love. He talks about allegations that the loved Len Dawson was involved in a point shaving scheme. He talks about links to politics up to this day. It is interesting to read about how this event or that event occurred here or there. In a strange way certain parts of the city's character back then has an impact on that section of the city today.

Overall everyone will love this tale of the mob.

Tom

The headlines in the 20th century were mostly of the New York and Chicago mobs. Frank Hayde's book details just how much power and influence the Kansas City mob demonstrated with relative obscurity. Not until the Tropicana skimming scheme broke, Kansas City mob bosses controlled and influenced not only local mob operations, but national union corruption. This book chronicles in detail the origins of both the Kansas City political machine and the Mafia. I highly recommend this book to all interested in mob lore and history.

Law enforcement officer Frank R. Hayde presents The Mafia and the Machine: The Story of the Kansas City Mob, the mesmerizing true story of the Mafia's influence in Kansas City politics during the course of the twentieth century. Mob infiltration in the police department, the Democratic Party, the Teamsters Union, and more manifested as terror spread on election days, "licensed" and "protected" criminal rackets, and eruptions of violence. Mob activity was a daily part of Kansas City life for decades. Efficiently researched and told with a sense of excitement sure to intrigue readers of all backgrounds, The Mafia and the Machine is a highly recommended contribution to American history and criminal history shelves.

I honestly didn't know that I was reading non fiction until I was about 30 pages into this book. It kept me interested from cover to cover and it really made me think. It is so terrifying that innocent men and women can go to jail on such little evidence...I will not look at a deathrow inmate the same again. I'm so glad that John Grisham decided to write this amazing story!

This real-life story is very emotional, rousing and compelling and in my opinion also very exciting. Even if you know the outcome already and the writing style isn't out for suspense. The nonfictional narration is constructed as a history of a criminal case and less intended as a thriller. In the English edition in midsection there are photographs of some participants which help a lot to put oneself in there place and empathize with them. It is a book that gives a deep insight in the touching life of a wrongly convicted person, who is hit hard by destiny several times - the burst dream of a baseball career, alcoholism, drugs, women, schizophrenia and eventually the condemnation for death penalty. It is a distressing factual report of a human tragedy, put together from many conclusive pieces of a puzzle. To my mind no page is too long and no excessive information is given. Anyway I can recommend this book warmly to every empathic, humanely and politically interested reader.

This is book can be easily read and may be good for an airline ride or for a long wait somewhere, but will not stand the test of time and won't hold up what I call the "smell test". It is at least average but Grisham could do better. But you could do worse and if you are a Grisham fan, this is about average, not his best and not his worst.

I was very disappointed in this story, about 100 pages too long, the details were repetitive and I had to struggle to keep reading. Had it not been a John Grisham, I would have given up about a third of the way through it but I kept thinking it must get better.
Next time I will check his book out at the library first. I gave this one away a few minutes after completing it. Big sigh of relief that I was done with it!

An excellent book; an important book. The tone of the prose puzzled me for a while, but I realized eventually that there is a kind of dark allegory in the style that helps keep several themes going at once. The most obvious of these is the intertwined stories of the several characters, but the depth is created by interweaving the issues of Law, Capital Punishment, Due Process, Mental Health, to name just a few. The myriad minor characters provide a sort of cell structure to continuously regenerat the narrative. Grisham also has a plain respect for the basic story, and never intrudes, except for the rare expression of disbelief. A must read--read it!

SA Jay Dobyns, the lead ATF agent in this investigation, has written a book on it which is out in FEB 2009. That, no doubt, will provide the best insight on what went down.

This book was an opportunistic effort by the author, who had bystander access to some but not all of the information (which is why it reads like a high school senior's final paper) and spun what she had into this three-star ho-hum.

"Into the Abyss" is far better - and Dobyns' book will seal the deal.

This book details the ATF's extensive attempt to infiltrate the Hells Angels. The operation put the undercover agents through hell and produced nothing. The agents discovered that the Hells Angels displayed far more loyalty and genuine caring for them than their supervisors did. The operation was poorly run and poorly planned. Millions of dollars of taxpayer's money spent with no results. This book does provide a limited "insider's" view of the Hells Angels, but provides a better illustration of federal law enforcement's paranoia and obsession with biker clubs.

This book is absolute GARBAGE. A middle schooler could write a better book. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. I want my money back

I thought this book would be much better from the hype I read. No so as it is long and boring. Not much action, constant repeating and not much of a story. Maybe they could not tell much because of secrets not being allowed out. Yeah, that's it!

The job done by the cops - tough and respectable. The job done by the Angels - tough and respectable. The job done by the author - weak. Reads like a fiction novel.

This book was a difficult read. Not because of the subject matter, but because the author drones on and on about the backgrounds of each and every character in this book. Too much unnecessary information that really didn't add to the essence of the book.

Ned Snelgrove, the subject of this book, is quite interesting and it would have been helpful to learn more about him...his childhood, his background, interviews with peers, etc...

Overall, I rate this book below average due to the too much info induced yawn factor.

M.W. Phelps has created a masterpiece in this must read. He has taken the road less traveled and he has gone where few writers dare to tred. Directly into the dark and devious mind of a lust serial killer. In his upclose and personal interviews with Ned Snelgrove, he has been privy to, and played the power control mind game, that comes with the turf of trying to sort out fact from fiction when communicating with an extremely manipulative and intelligent serial killer.

John Kelly
President of S.T.A.L.K., Inc (SYSTEM TO APPREHEND SERIAL KILLERS)

M. William Phelps stays true to his writing. This book kept me interested and I look forward to his next.

Once you start this book you can not put it down.
This is an excellent book by an excellent writer. This is an example of how all true crime books should be written. Look out Ann Rule you've got some competetion!!!

M. William Phelps continues to spin true horror stories with intense and precise decorum. Mr. Phelps has a way of not only telling a story, but his style will engross you from one page to the next. I like that the books he writes are not only fact driven, but his own research and interviews goes beyond the headlines.

If you are looking for a "page turner", look no further than "I'll Be Watching You", a fascinating look into the mind of a lost soul that even the Devil himself rejected. What Mr. Phelps has accomplished with this book is amazing. He crawls into the depths of a killers mind and exposes him as not only as pure evil, but also as someone who could be living right next door to any of us.

Read this book, it will change the way you look at that creep down the street or in your office. They are among us and that is the scary part.

I had a hard time putting this book down. I found it entertaining. I did not see all the connections between Sickert and Jack the Ripper, but there are many. I do not know all the facts, but she certainly did alot of research. This case will never be fully closed until DNA testing gets better and by then any samples will likely be too degraded.

I was unhappy with this effort from Patricia Cornwell. I found it repetitive, hard to follow and didn't find her argument that convincing.

Disturbing history of Jack the Ripper and disclosure of Cornwell's claimed resolution: The Ripper was Walter Sickert, an English artist who, claims Cornwell, painted some of the murder scenes in his art and wrote the Ripper letters to the police and newspapers.

The argument appears convincing, although Cornwell, a famous fiction murder mystery writer, uses too much speculation and circumstantial evidence.

Ultimately, if Sickert was the Ripper, as painted by Cornwell, the whole thing was very creepy. Don't read this book alone after dark.

Why on earth did Cornwell spend a fantastically huge amount of money in order to produce this? Maybe I should get her to adopt me; I'd make better use of her funds.

Other reviewers have already mentioned her lack of sources, her erroneous DNA conclusions, and the like. One of the things that really caught me was her assumption that a dark lantern provided hardly any light at all, simply because she experimented with one. On her patio. Not in the East End of London. She claims that a dark lantern was NOT the brilliant, illuminating tool shown in contemporary illustrations, but a weak and hotly burning liability.

If that were the case, why would dark lanterns be issued to London's police force? Why would a lantern that, as Cornwell claims, can't illuminate an object only six inches away, be thought of as a helpful instrument? It wouldn't. Clearly, Cornwell's "test" was just as useful as the money she spent in "research". The $6 million dollar book. She'd have done better to try to create a bionic man.

I have never read any of Patricia Cornwell's mystery books, but if they are as narratively compelling as Portrait of a Killer, they must surely be page-turners. She knows how to characterize a psychopath; how to illustrate a depraved and violent mind. But I'm not convinced that Walter Sickert, 19th century artists and minor celebrity, was such a mind, or that if he was, he was the infamous Jack the Ripper.
Cornwell is clearly meticulous in her research, but here she seems to have been meticulous with a purpose. She concluded that Sickert was the Ripper, and gathered the evidence that supported her theory, giving minimal attention to the evidence that opposes it. Her argument would have been more convincing had she elaborated on how she determined Sickert was the Ripper; what were the steps that lead her to that conclusion? As presented, her epiphany seems like a bolt from the blue.

Cornwell's main pieces of evidence raise many interesting questions about Sickert. He had a deformity due to botched surgery that made him impotent, his artwork is largely misogynistic, many of the Ripper letters were written with artists' tools. All of these things indicate that he may have been a repressed and violent man, but not that he was Jack the Ripper. But Cornwell's case with these points makes fascinating reading. Her more tangible, physical proof is less fascinating. The only point in the book where my eyes began to cross was her descriptions of different watermarks in different 19th century stationary that Sickert and others used. More interestingly, several investigators are trying to get DNA evidence from the envelopes and stamps on the Ripper letters, but again, the most this could prove would be that Sickert (and many other pranksters) liked to bait the police.

Still, Cornwell presents a richly detailed portrayal of a unique and disturbing individual. I had never heard of Sickert before reading Portrait, and I can see how he and his artwork would capture the imagination. Sickert, from Cornwell's research, seems to have been a dark and complicated man. And the London of his time was undeniably a dark and complicated place. It was an intriguing read, and I enjoyed hearing Cornwell's argument although I remain unconvinced.

I received my order within a couple of days, very fast shipping. The book itself was a great read. Would recommend this book to anyone.

The two boys had every reason to do what they did, and if they had looked or acted remorseful during that time, it would have been to their benefit. But no, page 186 describes Jason telling another inmate that he killed his mother, grinning about it the entire time. What did he expect? That they wouldn't consider him a threat to society if he acted like that? Then there's the unfortunate fact that this young man was 18, and considered an adult, who could have gone out into the ring and taken the legal system on himself for custody of his brother.

I agree that this story is tragic for many reasons. First of all, because someone should have taken custody away from the mother, she was in no shape to be raising two teenage boys. Even their father sort of backed out after he left her and sort of saved himself. If anyone had made a case out of this, I doubt any judge would have left two boys with a mother who is obviously and unmistakably mentally ill.

The other reason this story is tragic is the fact that it ended with murder. The children's mother was very sick and someone should have tried to get her help, instead of treating her like she had full mental capacity and holding her responsible for her actions. She probably did not mean to hurt the boys the way she did, but she was terrified every day herself of millions of formulated threats and being stalked by "the henchmen of Duncan Sheik." She was scared, in some ways really a victim herself, and she needed to be in the care of a psychiatrist and on some kind of medication that might have aided her in living a normal life.

And however much she tormented and abused her sons, in the end, she also wasn't the one who committed murder.

So while this book demonstrates a complete lack of regard from the entire world on the abusive situation the boys were forced to deal with for years, it also demonstrates a lack of regard and compassion regarding a woman who was seriously mentally ill, by no fault of her own, that no one bothered to aid or care about until it was too late.

I think Jason's punishment was apt. Matthew, however, really does deserve a second chance at life.

Such Good Boys: The True Story of a Mother, Two Sons and a Horrifying Murder

This story is very frustrating because several people knew this mother had mental problems and did't try to get help for her or her children.

This book should make clear to anyone who reads it the hypocrisy and double standards with which our culture reacts to murder. If the genders were reversed, Jason could have been ten years older and would have been portrayed as rising against the shackles of patriarchal oppression. There would have been celebrities and artists and feminists turning the case into a cause celebre, as they did with Aileen Wuornos, who had far less reason to commit her depradations than these boys. I, too, think the punishment for Jason was appropriate, although the expectation that he could have been repentant is ridiculous. Most people -- male or female -- who are raised under such circumstances aren't. Jason was rightly held socially responsible for his actions, but the root cause of this ugly tragedy was mainly the monster "mother" who "raised" him.

Note, too, the eager willingness on the part of female readers to assume this "mother" was mentally ill. Apparently, there are those who believe that only men are capable of abuse, violation, and oppression through the force of their own will.

This is a well-written, gripping true crime tale. I simply could not put the book down! It is a tragic story that is profoundly sad, as it deals with the murder of a woman, Jane Bautista, by her older son, Jason Bautista, with the knowledge and blessing of the younger one, Matt Montejo. Jane Bautista was mentally ill, and they simply could no longer deal with her erratic and frightening behavior. Jason's regrettable act was one that he deluded himself into thinking would restore normalcy into his and his brother's lives, only to find that his young life would never be normal as a result.

The book lays out the pattern of the children's lives over the years, living with a mother that had, undoubtedly, developed paranoid schizophrenia in her early adulthood. Her behavior was erratic, frightening, and totally paranoid. Although she came into contact with adults, including her own family, displaying frightening, irrational, and peculiar behavior, no one did anything or notified anyone to intervene in what certainly must have been a very difficult situation with which to cope for her poor children. Their life was anything but normal.

The Deputy District Attorney who tried the case seemed to be totally without compassion, seeking the maximum penalty for this murder. He saw it simply in black and white terms. It is true, however, that Jason, who was about twenty years old at the time of the murder, could have sought outside help or simply left the household instead of murdering his mother in cold blood. Instead, he not only killed her but chose to dispose of her remains in a way that shocks the conscience. Although given his home life, it is difficult to expect him to have been totally rational. Yet, there is simply no way one can condone what he did. Still, one cannot help but feel that the criminal justice system dealt with Jason over harshly, given the context out of which his actions arose.

This is an excellent true crime book, three dimensional in the telling and well-researched. It is certainly one that aficionados of the genre will greatly enjoy reading.

This book is very easy to read, very well written and does keep one going til the end. It's not too horrible but factual and gory enough to be very interesting. Really morbidly fascinating reading.

Excellent for fans of true crime novels. Very strange facts about killer, Eddie Gein. Couldn't put it down!

Good book if you looking for information on Ed Gein. Some very good picture included in book. Lots of inside information about the ghoul of Wisconsin. Some information in book is widely known, but there's lots of information that is generally new from most news reports on Gein. Really helps you to understand (somewhat) the makings of a killer.

Quest que cest,yes, just what is it about those psychokillers past,present and future that holds our attention.Words are used to define their acts such as ghoulish,fiendish,psychotic necrophilic deviants etc, but why do they do it and just what is the root cause of their extreme antisocial behaviors.How can one live with these episodic,violent bloodbaths and continue to function as if all was right with the world.Deviant is an excellent start on your quest for comprehension.It chronicles the life and times of one of the most notorious killers who wasn't all that notorious at all, at least during the daylight hours.Edward Gein,a local town simpleton who took the oedipal complex way too far and acted out in the only way he knew how, was well on his way to becoming a legendary boogieman. The research is sound and factually based on the circumstances of his early life, his distorted relationship with his mother and those around him.His penchant for nocturnal,necrophilic activities such as grave robbing, his unique use of skin and bone applications in home decorating ideas you would never find in Better Homes and Gardens,and the art of human butchering are all here for the reader to digest.For those who enjoy this stuff it is a fast read,a real page turner.Gein is practically iconic now given that this occurred in the late 1950's.The setting is yet another rural,midwest,one horse town described by some as the dead heart of Wisconsin,an appropriate description for Plainfield, a dismal,barren,isolated patch of mostly dead farmland with nothing to do except slowly go insane.Ed Geins actions are considered to be the bedrock of most of our literary and cinematic killers,all fashioned and linked in some way to what he did and how he did it.Schechter does a good job in keeping with the facts without too much conjecture or sensationalization.Deviant is all you'll need if you want to know about the grandaddy of them all,the actual example all of our most nightmarish killers were modeled after.Just how many deaths,local disappearances and actual grave robbings took place has remained a mystery. He admitted to some things but could not recall others.A real cool character that Ed Gein.He was someone you would never suspect which is why he evaded detection for over a decade.How could the local idiot commit such horrible acts?This is the crux of the facinating field of forensics and psychiatry with regard to the criminal mind.There is a potential Ed Gein in every town in America,hell the world as well.Read and learn about them and hopefully you might not be next on the menu for decapitation and flaying which for Ed Gein assisted in his hobbies of dress and jewelery design. This book is a winner and will enhance the macabre section in your library.

Ed Gein was just CRAZY INSANE!!!!! The author did a good job in trying to figure out what in the WORLD could have compelled someone to such insanity. Good read

I just finished reading this Janine Latus book and I was very surprised that this book had little to do with the murder of her sister Amy at the hand of her boyfriend. Rather the book drones on about Janines relationships and her boring marraige.

She mentions Amy a few times and doesn't get to her murder until like page 200..

PASS!!!

Clearly Janine Latus has used her sister's death as a lever to enter the book publishing world. As many others have noticed, the title leads one to anticipate a tale of Amy's life and death. Half way thru the book I began to realize that Amy's murder was just a come on so that Janine could tell the story of the most important person...herself!

It was at this point that the writing became redundant and the author unlikeable. After Janine gives us the basic outlines of her marriage to Kurt, she incessantly belabors the points with tale after tale. I almost wanted to shout 'I get the point already!'.

It is clear that Janine was too caught up in her own psychodramas to notice her sister's slide into a destructive relationship. From this book, it appears not much has changed.

This book was okay, although not what I was expecting. The first 3/4's of the book are mostly about the author's life with little snippets of her sisters, which is where the catchy title actually comes in. I kept waiting for someone to go missing; I thought it would be more about the search for her sister but it was all about her own abusive relationships. Overall it was an okay read, although hard for me in some places because I just couldn't identify with the characters and the way they would put up with so much for so long.

Janine Latus does a fabulous job of describing the slippery slope of abuse. This book is written beautifully and captures 2 stories of abuse that many can relate to.

This book may seem heavy and undesired to one who has not experienced this type of relationship before but it is surprisingly raw and heart provoking. I myself have never experienced anything like this and yet I found myself involved and in relationship with Janine and Amy. The story touches a deep part of my heart connecting me to the struggles that many women face. The story inspires a fight for the cause to protect the real lives of women who experience this every day. I will never forget this story. It has inspired strength and courage of heart.

Mind Hunter, (Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit) is an insightful journey into the life of a FBI profiler John Douglas. This book does not contain extensive case file information. However, it does contain a good taste of many criminal profiles enough to satisfy the curious and interested reader. In "Mind Hunter" Douglas shares in brief his expert finely tuned perception of person's such as Ed Kemper the coed Killer, Son of Sam David Berkowitz, Mass Murderer Richard Speck, Son of Sam David Berkowitz, Charlie Manson, Green River Killer, et all. Douglas introspection of abnormal behavior is illuminating and his drive to understand the human condition is compelling. The book also affords the reader a chance to gain a few insights into the history and manner in which the FBI's Behavioral Science unit has evolved over the last generation. For those of you following this career path you will gain from this book the impact the profession can have on ones personal life, family, friends and the public at large. Within its pages you will preview the pressures, pitfalls, and rewards that come with this career and much insight can be gleaned by the careful and perceptive reader. "Mind Hunter" is undeniably one of the most compelling books I have ever read.

this is well written, and worth your time to read.
gives you insight about the reasons why men do
such wicked things.
It's good to know the FBI has figured these guys out, and
are able to track them down more easily.

Mark Olshaker has written a very readable, entertaining, and educational book on the life and career of Special Agent John Douglas of the FBI. Douglas was one of the leading experts on criminal personality profiling and a pioneer of modern criminal investigative analysis. The 'Prologue' tells of the physical breakdown Douglas endured from overwork. This is a shocking and misleading introduction! The nature of violent crime has changed since 1960. The murder rate has gone up and the solution rate had gone down (p.30). Crimes between strangers lack an obvious motive. This need created the behavioral approach to criminal profiling. The Investigative Support Unit assists local police in focusing their investigations. Few towns or counties ever have a serial killer or the experience to learn the techniques for solving rare crimes (p.31). [G. K. Chesterton's "Father Brown" used to solve crimes by getting inside the head of the murderer, a feat that seems illogical compared to "Sherlock Holmes" and other detectives.]

[As I remember it, the "Mad Bomber" was caught when police work matched the handwriting in the letters (p.33) to the employee records. Metesky contracted TB and was then fired for being out sick.] The early chapters tell of Douglas' life, education, military service, and how he joined the FBI. These are colorful stories. Douglas was most successful in clearing bank robberies when he developed a "signature" to link several crimes together (p.86). His background in psychology led him to behavioral science (Chapter 5). After Douglas joined the Behavioral Science group he learned that the academic expert's opinions had limited applicability to law enforcement. [Academics don't get the details known to the police, law officers see a limited area. Only national police can see the whole picture.]

Douglas knew the importance of actual experience (pp.104-105). Chapter 6 tells about a strange murderer who was released against the advice of state psychiatrists (p.107). Chapter 7 tells about other serial murderers. Good psychics can pick up on small, nonverbal clues; keep them away from detectives who know the details (p.151). The following chapters describe the cases that he worked on. Is there a classic profile to a serial killer (p.178)? Can an interrogator educe a confession from a suspect (p.186)? Chapter 11 tells about the Atlanta child murders and the conviction. Chapter 15 tells about the solution to the murder of a two-year old boy. Wrapping the body in a blanket was a clue (p.283).

Serial killers are not legally insane, but not normal either (p.338). Their mental disorders derive from their sexual interests and their character. Insanity means not knowing the difference between right and wrong (p.339). Can a brain tumor cause a murderous rage (p.341)? Violent, sexually based serial killers can not be rehabilitated [except by a death sentence]. If they are released on parole they will return to past behavior (p.343). Don't confuse a psychopath with a psychotic (p.345). Killers are created by a bad background (p.357). [Like Ted Bundy?] That seems like an incurable problem given our society. Crime can be lowered by families at the grassroots level (p.374). [Does it takes a village?] The changes in family life since 1960 has effects. [No mention of the National Highway System since the 1950s and the ease of travel for everyone, including serial killers.]

What can I say other than John Douglas never fails to deliver? This book is a great read, and I loved it!

this book is very similiar to many of his books. This book discusses much of his life. His second book is much better if you are interested in true profiling.