5 comments about While They Slept: An Inquiry into the Murder of a Family.

1. "While they slept" is a fascinating tale of the murder of family. Eighteen year old Billy Gilley blugeons his Mother, FAther and baby sister with a baseball bat as they slept one evening in 1984. After he does this, he wakes up his oldest sister and states to her "..We're free." The book describes the dysfunction of the family in great detail including verbal and physical abuse as well of hints of incest which led to Billy Gilley's decision to murder his family. Ms. Harrison interviewed both Billy and the surviving sister (who are now estranged) in the aftermath of the incident, and also uses legal and medical documents to tell the story of the Gilleys. What makes it even more interesting was that the author Kathryn Harrison chooses to tell her own story intertwined with the Gilleys. Ms. Harrison was raised primarily by her GRandparents, with some involvement with her Mother (her Mother was mentally ill. Her Father came into her life when she was 20. She started an incestous relationship with him and he ended up dominating all of her decisions (including breaking off contact with her Mother and Grandparents) until her decision to end her relationship with him. These transference issues in recognizing problems in the Gilley family and how they related to her own family when Ms. Harrison was in her 20s make the book even more interesting.
   The only way this book could have possibly been improved is by having some pictures of the murderer, and the victims in the middle of the book; as well as the chief prosecutor of Billy Gilley and the chief defense attorney. I enjoyed it tremendously.



2. I saw this book at the library and thought it looked interesting- it's been compared to "In Cold Blood" which I loved. However Kathryn Harrison is nowhere near in the same league as Truman Capote. "While They Slept" is told in a completely biased manner that detracted from the intriguing story.
   "While They Slept" is the story of a young man who bludgeons his parents and little sister to death with a baseball bat, while allowing a second younger sister to survive. His defense is that his parents were horribly abusive and that he was trying to save himself and his sisters, but that the youngest sister walked in during the crime and he panicked and killed her. He claims that the surviving sister was an accomplice; she denies it. Instead of allowing the reader to decide for himself, Harrison decides for us: the surviving sister is not only completely innocent, but also a hero. Harrison is almost sycophantic in her devotion to Jody Arlington, the survivor. She praises Jody throughout the book, and anyone who expresses even the slightest criticism towards Jody is "jealous" or "crazy". Even with (or perhaps because of) this highly biased version of events, I found myself questioning Jody's involvement in the murders, and her seemingly complete lack of emotion following them. According to Harrison, the fact that Jody never expressed any grief or sadness following the murders is simply an indication of her youth and a result of her abusive childhood, and anyone who disagrees with that has no right to judge how others grieve. Well, I disagree with that. Many criminals- Susan Smith and Scott Peterson are two prime examples- are first suspected of involvement because of lack of emotion displayed in the immediate aftermath of the violent death of a loved one. I understand that everyone grieves differently, but for a 16-year old to be totally emotionless after witnessing her 11-year sister's bloody and slow death seems a little strange. Also the fact that Harrison refuses to entertain any other opinions and forces her own down the reader's throat made me want to question it.
   On top of this is that Harrison continues to refer to her own personal history throughout the book- she had a four year long affair with her father. Why she constantly references herself in what I thought was to be a true crime book is beyond me, but is becomes clear that Harrison is extremely self-absorbed and thinks that everyone is as fascinated with her as she is.
   Lastly the book is simply not very well written. Twice Harrison misuses the word literally- "he was literally scared out of his mind". That is physically impossible, and perhaps Harrison should look up what the word literally actually means.
   I was disappointed that this story was so poorly told. I wish that everyone involved, Jody Arlington included, had been given a better chance to have their story told.



3. I enjoyed this book. It brings you into a sad world of a family. I liked this booked because each chapter brought me closer to people involved. Sad,but it shows how disfunctional a family can be. Well written and the author invested time and emotion to the topic. good read.



4. If I did not know the main characters in this book, I probably would have found it a satisfying read. For several years, my family home was next door to the rural house in which Billy, Linda and Becky were attacked. I attended their triple funeral, and later, Billy Jr.'s trial. Many questions arose for me at that trial, and this book does not help resolve them in any way. If anything, it raises more.
   
   Billy, Jr.'s consecutive sentences are currently under review. While he does not claim he is not guilty, even the Supreme Court has agreed evidence that should have been presented at his trial perhaps was not, and therefore his sentences may be eligible to be served concurrently. I felt that the author was overly sympathetic to the surviving sister, in some semi-twisted hope of identifying with her (there is shared tragedy in their lives). There were several times I wanted to tell the author to get a good therapist. Her personal story is an inappropriate addition to the story of the Gilleys: Three murdered souls have earned their own book, don't you think?
   
   To the author's credit, the book was written well. It was engrossing and easy to read; I suspect that someone who was not there would get more out of this book than I did. I do not claim that the information it contains is inaccurate. I was simply disappointed that the investigation itself was not more closely detailed.



5. I found this book enjoyable (as much as a book about such a topic can be), but also enlightening. Harrison attempts to embark on a study of murder, but not in the voyeuristic retelling of so many conventional "true crime" books. She wants to prove that there is a schism in a person when a tragedy occurs: a "dead" person who once lived, but who is lost forever because a trauma has forced a new person to be reborn.
   
   Although I think she took an interesting approach to the book, in retrospect it seems weak. I was never sure if she was arguing that there is a schism, or if she assumed there is and that the point had already been made. In the end, it seems as though her book was to argue for this point, but throughout the book she took this point for granted. There are also numerous times when this point is left undiscussed for so long the reader forgets about it.
   
   Harrison's personal tragedy is woven into the story of the Gilley's, which does not seem inappropriate given that this is why she is writing this book. My problem with the inclusion of herself is that she is never consistent. She breaks up interesting passages about the Gilleys to interject her own story, and then there is a drought for dozens of pages.
   
   The worst of her mistakes is her syntax is so confusing at times that I had to reread passages multiple times. It broke up the flow of the work, and really just confused me. She is obviously a talented writer, so such distractions are disappointing.
   
   The story of the Gilley family is remarkable. The honesty of Jody and Billy bring such different perspectives. Harrison's insights and analysis of the evidence is daring and provocative. Harrison forces the reader to inspect every story, letter, and interview from every possible angle. While you may have sympathies for Jody, you eventually find some compassion for Billy, Becky, and even their parents. But ultimately Harrison proves she is overwhelming supporting Jody. Jody's perspective is assumed to be the "truth" at the cost of others.
   
   In the end, it was a truly interesting and provocative read, with only Harrison getting in her own way to spoil it. The material was frank, graphic, and sometimes difficult to read. If you find abuse and trauma unbearable to think about, let alone read about, this may not be the book for you. Although the book was hopeful, it still deals with difficult subject matter.
   
   I doubt I will ever read it again, but I am glad I read it now.

5 comments about The Night Stalker (Pinnacle True Crime).

1. Philip Carlo certainly did his homework when researching the crimes of Richard Ramirez. After reading his unbiased account of what happened, I am now much more critical when selecting a true-crime novel. He tells the story just as it happened and lets you form your own opinions about Ramirez, good or bad. I disagree with the reviews that criticize Carlo for not giving his own opinion of Richard Ramirez; it was not his purpose for this book. I also disagree with the reviews on this website that criticize Carlo's account of the trial; I found it fascinating, well-written, informative, and full of detail. If you are only a voyeur of blood-lust, put the book down when the courtroom drama begins. He systematically divides the book into sections of time and place, allowing the reader to look at Ramirez's crimes from all points of view of all persons involved. He is what every journalist should strive to be: unbiased and only reports the facts. As a pre-criminology major, I found this book very insightful.



2. Philip Carlo has written a very exhaustive book about the Night Stalker. It's hard to imagine a more complete book on the serial killer.
   
   The first portion of the book dealt with the horrible crimes of the Night Stalker.
   Following that was a section dealing with Richard Ramirez from birth all the way to his arrival in L.A. from El Paso. His temporal lobe epilepsy of childhood and the influence his cousin Miguel had on Ramirez when he was a pre-teen.
   The next section of the book was about his attempts to avoid arrest and his eventual apprehension by citizens.
   The last part gave a detailed summary of Ramirez's trial.
   
   What made the Night Stalker so dangerous was that he was a different breed of serial killer, he didn't victimize a certain type of person. He really didn't stalk his victims, he chose his targets at random from an ever-expanding area.
   
   Philip Carlo effectively connected the combinations of influences that fueled Ramirez's criminal drive;sex,drugs,pornography,heavy metal music,and satanism.
   He was a dedicated satanist reading books authored by Anton LaVey and even meeting him once.
   
   The strange,surreal actions by the Night Stalker "groupies" and Ramirez himself are reminiscent of the Charles Manson trial from "Helter Skelter".
   
   If you want to learn why the Night Stalker was arguably the most feared killer this is the book to read!



3. I've read some complaints here about the fact that this book is too long because the author covers the trial of Richard Ramirez at great length in the second half of this novel. (The first half covers the crimes and the Night Stalker's childhood.) I'll have to disagree with those reviews. Author Philip Carlo is clearly well-researched. He provides a lot of input here not only into the crimes, victims, and the killer. We get to know the key players of this harrowing story of one of the most dangerous and scariest serial killers of the annals of crime. I highly recommend this gripping book. You'll find it hard to put down and even harder to forget.



4. As I am concerned about justice in America, especially in regard to homicide and serial killers, I found Philip Carlo's book completely fascinating in its depth and broad perspective. There were no cardboard
   characters in this book; there were only real, human, feeling, people; people who prayed and cried and despaired. Obviously Carlo researched
   this story thoroughly. What drama! We hear on TV, or read in the newspapers, that the victim was taken to the hospital and is expected to
   survive. But that's not where it ends. Victim Virginia Petersen tells
   what happens afterward in her statement when she was given a chance to speak after the sentencing. If you're the type who cries, you weep as
   you learn of her family's agonies and the devastation and shambles
   and fragmented pieces left of their lives after the attack. Then again,
   some object to giving a killer's family any sympathy. But when Carlo
   told of the family's deep grief, especially of his mother's and father's
   despair over his terrible murders, I felt, these, too, were victims.
   This is a book that helps men and women understand the serial killer
   and perhaps edge toward learning how to better handle such horrors when they arise.



5. This may be an old case, but Ramirez is the ultimate archetype of evil. In some ways, this is the book that other true crime should be compared to. It's thorough, unrelentingly real, which is what makes this so scary. The structure, and detail make this a must read for true crime fans. It starts to feel long about three quarters in, but this is because Carlo doesn't miss anything. He doggedly persists in presenting every single incident in the case, from beginning to end. Only because it felt long, I gave this four stars. As with any classic, from In Cold Blood to my favorite new classic, Monster of Florence, or Drew Peterson Exposed, this belongs on every true crime fan's shelf.

No comments about Taken From Home: A Father, a Dark Secret, and a Brutal Murder (St. Martin's True Crime Library).

5 comments about Spy: The Inside Story of How the FBI's Robert Hanssen Betrayed America.

1. Author David Wise did a remarkable amount of research in a relatively short period of time as preparation for writing this fascinating real life story of treason and betrayal. Robert Hanssen joined the FBI in 1976 and over the subsequent 25 years rose through the ranks to the very highest levels of the bureau's counterintelligence unit. The trouble is that for the latter 22 years of his tenure, he was a paid spy for Russian intelligence.
   
   Spy: The Inside Story of How the FBI's Robert Hanssen Betrayed America gives an unembellished view of what is known about Hanssen's early life. his marriage, his career and how he systematically used his top secret clearance to sell out his agency and his country to three different Russian intelligence services, most notably the KGB.
   
   This fact filled book spares no detail in describing Hanssen's lengthy career. Some chapters make for rather dry reading while others are absolutely riveting. In the course of describing the treasonous acts of Robert Hanssen, Wise also touches upon the facts surrounding some other very interesting espionage cases. For example, the strange story of Felix Bloch to name just one.
   
   The Robert Hanssen story is a shocking one for a number of reasons and this well researched book lays it all out for the reader in relatively straightforward fashion. A worthwhile read worthy of a 4 star rating.



2. After watching the movie Breach, I decided to check out this book. It's very comprehensive and easy to follow for myself and fellow novices to this subject. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.



3. Normally, I do not read spy stories or thrillers, but after seeing the movie "Breach" I wanted to know more about Robert Hanssen and how he managed to send sensitive American security information - that put our country in danger - to the Soviets for 22 years without being caught.
   David Wise has told his story well. On page after page, he describes Hanssen's activities as an FBI agent, his savvy computer skills, his marriage, his large family, his staunch Catholicism. Wise also describes a man who loved pornography, described his sex life with a loyal and loving wife to his best friend, (as well as taping their bedroom activities and showing them to him). He also visited strip clubs, bringing one stripper with him on a government mission to Hong Kong.
   Wise details each secret "Drop" which took place in a Washington D.C. park, Hanssen's Soviet counterparts, and above all his betrayal of everyone around him while calmly continuing his double life - until one day - one small detail tripped him up. I couldn't put this book down - astonishing!



4. More gripping than any novel because it is true. Shocking. The lack of remorse in Hanson is chilling in its completeness. Wise is a great author. Highly recommend this book.



5. Excellent book. Written like a novel and use of real documents well placed. I had a hard time putting it down. Gave greater insight to the Movie "Breach".

5 comments about Green River, Running Red: The Real Story of the Green River Killer--America's Deadliest Serial Murderer.

1. I could not get past the first 100 pages. The topic is interesting but the style of the writing is boring and unbearable. Hard to stay interested with all the off topic tangents the author goes on.



2. Accurately and graphically covering details of horrific murders, Ann Rule does so with compassion and sympathy. This is not any easy task considering the horror of the crimes against more than 50 young women in the Pacific Northwest during the 1980's. Rule gives the reader insight into the both the killer's and the victim's motivations and life's story. This story is well-presented and conclusive. Recommended.



3. This book is more of a yearbook of the victims than it is an account of the crimes or the mind of the GRK. It just went on and on about each girl and her miserable life and how that led her into the world of prostitution and eventually to becoming a GRK victim. I read about 3/4 of the book and then just gave up. It just went on and on and on and jumped all over the place. Only Ann Rule book I did not enjoy. And the first book I have ever not bothered to finish reading.



4. With Green River Running Red, Ann Rule has done a great service not only for Ridgeway's victims, but also for the society which often regards such persons as throwaways. Replacing their numbers with their names and faces, she describes each of these women with sensitivity and compassion, reminding readers of their humanity and desperation. On the other hand, Rule treats Gary Ridgeway, who was jokingly labeled "Green River Gary" by co-workers after police first questioned him, with clinical objectivity. There is nothing new here: a psychologically empty man with no conscience exerts the ultimate form of power over a series of victims who are the symbols rather than the sources of his pain. Why this happens, no one yet knows. But one thing seems certain. If you encounter an individual who appears harmless yet seems a bit creepy, you'd best not get involved.



5. Green River, Running Red is Ann Rule's chronicle of the Green River murders of the early 1980's and the subsequent two decades of investigation. It would take over 20 years to solve these crimes and convict a Seattle man of 48 murders. The victims of these crimes were almost entirely prostitutes, but Rule acknowledges them individually by describing each one and the lives that were affected by their loss. The police work is described as well as the huge amount pressure and stress that the detectives were under.
   
   I found the 600+ pages to be a bit daunting. With the sheer number of victims, describing each one takes hundreds and hundreds of pages. My only complaint is that the book seemed to be too exhaustive. Some details could and maybe should have been left out. Other than that, it is certainly another good true crime book from Ann Rule.

5 comments about Bestial: The Savage Trail of a True American Monster.

1. A very well documented account of the "Dark Strangler's" life. This book brings together everything that makes a typical great Schechter book: a very well documented research, an excellent work of putting things into perspective (history, popular culture, etc), a gripping writing style, etc.
   
   It's true that this killer may not be the most astounding killer in history (but still... he strangled women to death and then raped their dead bodies, and afterwards he concealed them under beds, in closets, behind furnaces, etc) but this isn't a good parametre to judge by, at any rate. Sure, his modus operandi is consistently the same, but I don't think this changes anything really. Moreover, that is the killer's deeds, not the author, so it would be slightly ridiculous (perhaps even immoral) to blame Schechter for the killer's "unoriginal" acts; also, it's a bit strange a complaint to make: "I wish that killer did more gruesome things for my personal pleasure as a reader." But anyway...
   
   Harold Schechter's work is impressive because of his documentation and the manner with which he leads the whole thing. As usual, I appreciate it very much when the author quotes newspapers and gives the reader some insight in those times. It's truly a work of History that Schechter offers us here. And that's something I really like about this author: you never fall into the merely morbid curiosity and always benefit from the historical perspective on violence in popular culture, as well as other matters worthy of one's interest.
   
   Excellent book.



2. This is one of Schechter's best, and IMHO, one of the best true crime novels I have read. It is about a murderer/rapist nicknamed the Gorilla Man, who seemed to be "cursed" from birth. He was abnormal from the beginning and lived a bizarre lifestyle his whole life. Both of his parents had and died of syphillis--it makes you wonder if this disease somehow affected this child's brain and warped him. Even his eating habits were more than strange. He later takes to killing and raping landladies while posing as a potential or actual tenant. He manages to get married--to a woman more than 30 years older than him and proceeds to make her miserable--and scared.
   
   This was a riveting read. I could hardly put it down.



3. This incredible, but true story is so well written that one really wishes Hitchcock were alive to capture it's alluring power on film. And I really think that's what makes this book a great and unforgettable journey. I've read two others by the talented Mr. Schecter, both hard to put down, but this one is so deviously fascinating and consistantly well documented. It's not only a well researched piece of journalism, but a bonified shock treatment that lingers long after you've finished it. Highly recommended for crime buffs. And young film-makers please take note: "Saw" and "Hostel" are sheer piffle compared to the hideous life of Earl Leonard Nelson. Truth really is stranger than fiction.



4. Harold Schechter has produced several highly acclaimed works of true crime including "Depraved" and "Deviant". In "Bestial", Schechter takes on the lesser known Earle Leonard Nelson. On a cross-continental spree that is documented to have taken the lives of 22 landladies and other women, it makes for an interesting chapter in the history of true crime.
   
   Schechter is comendable in his attention to detail in telling the story. While telling the story, the author must be credited for stepping back and allowing the reader to wonder guilty or guilty and insane. Yet at times I found his digressions frustrating. Taking entire chapters to explore facets of the time period or give superficial facts regarding other murders of the era, massively sidetracks the pace of the story. The profile that is painted of the "Gorilla Man" seems clear for a man that has been deceased for more than 80 years and is largely forgotten in American history because of his arrest and execution in Canada.
   
   Those that are fans of Schechter's other books are likely to enjoy the detail of the Nelson's modus operandi. A graphic crime scene picture included in the book is certain to thrill fans of the genre. Still, I can not help but think the book would have been better with certain chapter full of digressions on the editting room floor.



5. Book looked interesting. Ordered it used but would have prefered to order it new. When I got it there was a huge sticker on the front which was disappointing. Would have ordered it new if I knew it was going to look very used.

5 comments about Unnatural Death: Confessions of a Medical Examiner.

1. Dr. Michael Baden is married to Linda Kenney Baden who is representing Phil Spector in his criminal trial in the murder of Lana Clarkson, a Hollywood actress. Dr. Baden's book is an easy read, very informative, and revealing. He cuts out the nonsense that goes into conspiracy theories like John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, etc. as well as explains the differences between classes even in death as the upper classes do their best to cover up embarrassing situations like the woman choking. Dr. Baden is great at explaining why death occurs and the importance of forensics pathologists and medical examiners needed in our country. There is no doubt that some cases can be suspicious if not investigated further. I do believe that anybody who gets cremated should have an autopsy in order to know that the death was not caused by homicide but by natural causes. Anyway, Dr. Baden's experiences and his dedication to his career as a medical examiner in New York City is most helpful in probably explaining the process of his profession which he loves very much. His wife is an attorney who specializes in the forensics part of the crime. I would have liked to have seen photos of the author and others in their dedicated profession.



2. What a read!! If you think a dead person has no info to give after their loss of life, you are dead wrong. Amazing what can be learned from a body even after some time AND how this arthur knows how to explain all of these findings in detail. I learned so much about what happens to a body after death, the time period when certain items occur, and what these details can tell a coroner who knows what he is looking for and how. I also learned that all medical examiners are not really qualified to give a complete/accurate autopsy results. Let me say this...if you ever considered a murder, or suspected a murder, or are not sure if someone you know was murdered....READ THIS BOOK...THIS IS A BOOK YOU WILL NOT WANT TO PUT DOWN AND WILL LEAVE YOU HUNGRY FOR MORE OF THIS TYPE INFO!!



3. I got this book because of a recommendation from my boss and it was GREAT. She was right- I can't put it down. I am entranced and it's described just right. Very interesting book! :)



4. This is a very good book if you are interested in forensic science; it's probably not for everyone. It goes hand in hand with the series on HBO.



5. After you get past this author's overweening ego, he has a great story to tell. First, he educates you that his specialty is forensic pathology, meaning that as a doctor he focuses not on the living but on the dead--and their three kinds of unnatural deaths (suicides, homicides, and accidents) and the traumatic causes thereof (e.g., drowning,, asphyxiation, gunshot and stab wounds, blunt force, poisoning, overdose, etc.). He explains the three traditional signs used to determine how long a person has been dead (temperature, color, and stiffness) and gets you thinking about toxicology screenings so that you enter the main body of the book more prepared for what follows.
   
   And he tells his story as an insider, as indeed he is, being one of the most renowned MEs in the world. When he says, for example, "Where bungled autopsies are concerned, President Kennedy's is the exemplar," we listen. He goes on to give a rather definitive answer to questions that we have all wondered about, as told from the prospective of the evidence: Oswald acted alone, Claus von Bulow didn't do it, Cathy Smith did give Belushi his fatal injection, and so forth. His stories of less well-known folks are no less compelling, and Baden does a good job of leading the reader through the gory and technical details to a scientific conclusion. Ideally, however, one should read the companion volume of his friend, Dr. William Maples, in tandem with this one. He is a forensic anthropologist who does with skeletons what Baden does with "fresher" evidence. All in all, a good read . . .

5 comments about Beyond the Body Farm: A Legendary Bone Detective Explores Murders, Mysteries, and the Revolution in Forensic Science.

1. Dr. William Bass has written an entertaining and informative book about real forensic science. While he discusses the differences between television forensic science, such as show like "CSI", and the less flashy day to day life of a real CSI, he still makes real life forensics seem exciting and interesting.
   
   Dr. Bass has written novels based on his experiences at the Body Farm, but I haven't read any of them. This real life look at crime scene investigation is as interesting and compelling as any screenplay or novel.
   
   Although some of the cases were very touching, and all of them tragic in one way or another, this book still offered entertainment, information, and built a true respect for real forensic scientists.



2. This is a quickie review for a quickie book. Dr. Bill Bass, the man who revolutionized forensics by examining the corruption of the flesh with scientific exactitude, follows up his memoir "Death's Acre" with a collection of stories of the cases he's worked on.
   
   With the help of writer Jon Jefferson, Bass is an avuncular storyteller, exhibiting a pleasure in his work that readers who are uncomfortable with the thought of spending one's life hanging around the dead might find offensive. Of course, one should have a means of protection, a detachment that is vital when dealing with someone so elemental as witnessing for the dead.
   
   Over 16 chapters, Bass and Jefferson recount 13 cases, some of which were solved or advanced due to research performed at the Body Farm. There's the case of the body found in the burnt-out car, whose time of death was determined by the age of the maggots breeding on him. There was the assistant DA, found trussed and stabbed inside his home, whose time of death helped convict the man who did it.
   
   The high point of the book was a guest appearance by The Big Bopper, who died in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and Richard Valens. The rumored presence of a gun on board the plane, and the possibility of it going off and killing the pilot, led the family to request an exhumation. The Bopper's son, who was born after the singer's death, was present, and the tale acquires a thin sheen of fiction as he, surprisingly to all, finds a bit of closure with his tragically absent father, due in a large part to very, very good embalming.
   
   True crime finds will probably treat "Beyond the Body Farm" like a treat, gobbled quickly and mostly forgotten -- apart from the Bopper's tale and that poor man's intestines -- but it also serves as a tonic against the "CSI effect". Solving mysteries in real life takes money, time, human effort, and is never interrupted by commercials. And in some of the cases, we're still left with questions.



3. I found this book to be as engrossing as Death's Acre. Dr Bill Bass is truly a pioneer in forensic science. I found that I couldn't put this book down!



4. Great!! Loved the part on the Big Bopper. The whole book is wonderful just like the original!



5. I highly recommend this book. It is a great follow up to Death's Acre. I am currently finishing this book (should wrap up over my lunch hour today), but I have read Death's Acre and had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Bass and Mr. Jefferson a few months ago at a book signing for one of their new fiction books. I had actually purchased this book prior to the meeting, but hadn't gotten the opportunity to read it. The authors are just as interesting in person and were gracious enough to sign my book! As an aspiring prosecutor I find the information both interesting and insightful. I have gleaned information about the human body that will help me understand the questions I need to ask of potential law enforcement and other key witnesses to better develop my cases. I hope there will be another nonfiction book by the duo. I recently came back from Tennessee, traveling through some of the areas mentioned in the book- it was an interesting experience. I also highly recommend Teasing Secrets From the Dead- written by Emily Craig, one of Dr. Bass's former students mentioned in this book and Death's Acre. It too is a real treat.

5 comments about The Serial Killer Files: The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the World's Most Terrifying Murderers.

1. If you want to read about endless grusome, horrible, deranged tales of torture, madness, incest, murder and more, read this book.



2. I orignally borrowed this book from one of my students (I teach Forensic Science), and it had so much great information that I had to buy it for myself. It's a great resource for an overview of MANY different serial killers. There are longer readings about selected serial killers. This is a great summary, and has a lot of information without being too detailed. It's easy to read, and easy to find information.



3. This collection is great! Bought this book when it came out and was never disappointed.
   
   The information is easy to read and their is plenty of info. on each killer for you to get your fill.
   
   Amazing that all these sickos existed and most people have never even heard of them. If you like serial killer literature, this is the bible!
   
   Highly recommended!



4. Whether used as a reference work to look up specific serial killers or types of serial killer, this book holds its own very, very well. It is a must for any personal library, and not only for those with somewhat morbid interests: this book hold interesting information for those with minds bent towards history, law enforcement, psychology, and a myriad other topics of study.
   
   The book's tone is usually nice and objective, which is what I've come to expect from serious works of nonfiction, especially ones concerning such heinous subject matter. There is very little over-dramatization of the numerous serial killers presented in the book; it's "just the facts" attitude, coupled with a clean, enjoyable to read style, makes it the sort of book you cannot help but read cover-to-cover, even if you intend it only as a reference work.
   
   It is true that this book sometimes is repetitive, and sometimes, it is somewhat lackluster; but, if you just plod on through these parts of the book (which are never more than four or five pages long) you'll be rewarded with some of the most fascinating reading you'll do in a long time.



5. The Serial Killer Files is a very resourceful and informative book. It provides detail informations on the types of serial murderers, case studies on some of the world's most notorious serial killers, the development of the killers' mind, the way the killers perceive the world and the possible reasons which drive them to kill.
   The author also provides references to other useful books for further readings.
   It's definetely worth buying!

5 comments about The Franklin Cover-Up: Child Abuse, Satanism, and Murder in Nebraska.

1. To all of the detractors and those who think this is merely crazy conspiracy BS.
   
   The horrible crimes documented in this book are not fictitious bunk made up by the author. Everything he wrote is verifiable, much of it was direct testimony from the CHILDREN that were abused by these, often wealthy and prominent, f'ing-inbred- lowlifes, and everything can be backed up with credible EVIDENCE. Mr. Decamp so much as said that if anyone believes that he is lying, or being untruthful about ANYTHING he's written in his book, then that person should just 'go ahead and sue him'. He wrote that, he in fact, "welcomes" any suits that anyone would like to bring against him challenging his honesty in what he's written in this book. So, if you're questioning Mr. Decamps honesty here, you should do something about it, instead of immediately dismissing it with your poor complaints, arguments, or lack of independent thought.
   
   Ultimately, Mr. Decamp concludes that the reason why this huge cover-up has gone on for so long, is because there are very prominent people who like where they are in the social hierarchy, and if this scandal were to reach the mainstream then the whole "system" itself would collapse entirely, thus threatening the security of their position. The sick perpetrators and coordinators identified in this book are willing to let innocent children be abused and murdered in order to maintain their privileged, insignificant little lives. How very sad. But you do, as the saying goes, reap what you sow.
   Go watch Conspiracy of Silence.



2. THIS IS A MUST READ FOR EVERY PERSON IN THE WORLD.
   
   JOHN DE KAMP IS A BRAVE, INTELLIGENT MAN.



3. The book was both informative and well documented for very shocking and somewhat disturbing subject matter. There was a great deal of detail to the point of too much but the author's closeness and passion for the case was evident. He left no stone unturned with vivid accounts and interviews of victims and who had first hand knowledge and backed his research.
   For conspiracy theory buffs it's a must read. You come away with a new view of our local and national politicians and the lengths to which they will go to achieve and stay in power. Also makes you think of who really controls our country. Are we manipulated for a higher cause or by some super-rich men behind the scenes with diabolical motives? You read the book and decide. If nothing else this book makes you stop, reflect and truly think.



4. This book is a real eye opener. It's amazing how a story like this has been virtually suppressed in a "Free" country such as ours. I don't want to hear about American Idol or Britney Spears, these are the news stories that should be getting air time. There should be an independant task force set up for the protection of children who are being exploited and brutally abused. Try doing a search, isn't it amazing you really can't find one? Kind of makes you wonder. The fact that there are so many influential politicians involved in this scandal gets you to thinking do we have the fox gaurding the hen house??



5. John W. DeCamp is strongly motivated to pursue justness in this world which he discovers quite hard, or impossible to do. Because for most people it is harder to live with a painful truth than to snug comfortably in the corrupt system that our world leaders have fabricated (I don't mean the USA government alone; I am referring to all humans rich and powerful whatever their background or nationality) he faces a Sisyphus-like task. His story in particular reveals the dirty manipulations of politics, the dirty minds of moneymakers, the desperate courage of some, of whom several have died unexplained deaths. It makes me wonder whether we live in de Golden Age of Immorality. Anyway, the book is highly readable, certainly for those with a strong stomach.