5 comments about Lust Killer: Updated Edition (Signet True Crime).

1. Before serial killers were even "serial" (generically referred to as "mass murderers"), Jerome Brudos was collection women's shoes and undergarments. And when that wasn't enough, he collected the women themselves!
   
   Ann Rule does a great job of detailing the crimes of sexual deviant Brudos as he escalates from stealing women's undergarments off clotheslines to raping his victims' lifeless bodies repeatedly. His crimes are so demented that even seasoned detectives (and true crime readers!) blanched at the things Brudos had done to his victims and his lack of remorse when confessing to them.
   
   Rule also gives readers a glimpse into the effects of a perverts crimes on his family; specifically, Brudos wife, Darcie. This young lady was tried and convicted by neighbors and others simply on the grounds of "guilt by association." Despite suffering the humiliation of her husband's crimes, coping with the stress of knowing these things occurred within feet of her backdoor where her children played, and figuring out how to start over as a single women with no income and two small children, she was charged as an accessory based on blantant lies of gossipy old bitty who's sister lived next door to the Brudos'. Fortunately, a jury did not convict and Darcie was reunited with her children to begin their lives again.
   
   A very interesting read. A bit tedious in places, but overall an excellent piece of true crime.



2. The book was good. Just read it. If you know Ann's writting then you won't be disappointed at all. If this is your first time reading Ann, then hang on. Ann is able to take you to where horror lives. Her descriptions of the killings and killers are intriguing. The worse part is this is all true crime. Ann having the back ground in law enforcement is how this author is able to get so detailed. I won't write about what's in this book because you just need to read all of Ann's books. This may not be helpful but, you know what. I got started on Ann because I picked the book up and just started to read it. Now, go out there and read !!!



3. I am a huge fan of Ann Rule's work and this is another good read....I couldn't put this book down. Rule does not disappoint with this book or any other of her books for that matter.



4. I enjoyed this book but didn't find it as interesting as Ms. Rule's later works (e.g. Small Sacrifices, Stranger Beside Me). Perhaps it is because the investigative/legal aspects of the case were relatively trivial. It could also be that Ann's writing has improved but who am I to judge?
   
   In any case, if you have read her later books first, you'll still like this one, but lower your expectations a bit.
   
   Joel



5. This is one of the earliest books written by Ann Rule, and one can tell. Ms. Rule hasn't yet honed her talent for drawing the reader into the world of the victim and the criminal. That's not to say that this is a bad book - far from it! It's just not quite as polished as Ms. Rule's later books. I have always enjoyed Ms. Rule's books, and I recommend this one, with the caveat that it is an early book.

5 comments about Never Enough.

1. In this almost-typical Joe McGinniss, the reader gets two murders for the price of one. Previous books about trials and such, "Fatal Vision." "Blind Faith," and "Cruel Doubt" were about crimes of the past. This one chronicling the lfie and trial of Nancy Kissel was not unique. It happens more and more in this modern-day society full of rich baby boomers who have no morals o ethics. The background and lifestyle of Americans abroad with too much money includes little nuances of its complexity. The patriatch of this dysfunctional family had inherited wealth but lived through and enjoyed the successes of his second son to the detriment of older brother Andrew. They were Austrian-Jewish but devoid of the wisdom of Judaism.
   
   With Andrew, he associated the song "Cat's In the Cradle" as CS does on his network. McGinnis associates Nancy with the "Material Girl." Apparently she was inimiable. The ubiquitous inclination to be selfish and detructive is timeless. Jewish beliefs are personal, their wisdom has survived generations. A man does things for money (lots of money) but not for love. Unable to express love in other ways, they sometimes compensated by bestowing expensive gifts. When you strive for and grasp too much you lost it all.
   
   The world of finance is now global. This book gives us a detailed account of banking in Hong Kong by Americans, using much creative writing and supposition. The two murders were within the same family but a world apart. One was acquitted with the abused wife being condemned; the other abandoned in America. The preacher's wife had a similar tale to tell somewhat like Nancy's; she spent a short time in a mental place then walked free. From the multitude of emails included, Nancy was living in a romantic fantasy and should have recieved treatment.
   
   That's the difference between American justice and China's injustice. Leading up to the crime and end of her privileged life, she was full of righteous indignation and "no Amish church practiced shunning with more vigor that she." And yet "she never felt (that) she had enough" of anything, and so did Rob feel this way about money and prestige.
   
   Globe-trotting was up Nancy's alley and she blackmailed Rob into a big house in Vermont near Andrew's, the bad son. Soon her fate was determined and things changed. Divorce was common and the threat of such was always hovering over their heads. On the day Rob planned to tell her of his plans, he died tragically from head wounds from an unexpected instrument of death. She'd never felt she had enough until everything would be taken from her. You do what you have to do to defend yourself. It's do or die. Nancy attempted a cover up and suffered amnesia, She lived in an unreal world of romantic fantasties.
   
   Andrew was murdered the following April; no one was sorry he was permanently out of their lives. Nothing would ever be the same. I was once told, "There ain't no justice...but someimes there is justice." Called the Lady in Black, she went from a blonde yuppie with everything to a common-looking dark-haired shrew. Life's not always fair.



2. Why? Why did handsome multi-millionaire Robert Kissel refuse to leave his screaming, threatening, out-of-control wife Nancy, when she was telling everyone how much she hated him and wanted him dead? After bashing in his skull and wrapping up his corpse in a carpet, this wife-from-hell then thought she was home-free to inherit her dead husband's millions that would support her and her trailer-park paramour in high style.
   
   Author Joe McGinnis does an outstanding job of bringing to us this horrific murderess who steps out of one's worst nightmares of feminine lunacy. The long-suffering victim, Robert Kissel, comes across as someone pathetically naive when he waived away the pleas of his friends to get rid of his killer wife. Even when his wife was poisoning him, he refused to give a private investigator hair samples to be tested for poison. "Perhaps I'm too hard on my wife," he explained. Poor idiot.
   
   The story really becomes hilarious when Nancy hobbles into court for her trial, doubled over in pretend pain as she prepares to tell the court how she was just a poor battered wife who finally snapped. As the true story really shows, her husband was the one who withstood mental and physical abuse from the killer for years. Nancy's favorite lie was to tell everyone that her terrible husband was forever breaking her ribs and beating her to a pulp and raping her at every chance.
   
   Yet, doctors found no injuries on her. This still didn't prevent Nancy Kissel from continuously breaking down on the stand into convulsive sobbing marathons. She wailed to everyone how she was only trying to protect herself when she murdered her demonic husband who was forever trying to rape and torture her. The prosecution brought out the facts that she was never abused or raped and that just prior to murdering her husband, she had fed him a deadly drink laced with five different drugs.
   
   Nancy Kissel comes across as the most horrific of the current gallery of fake abuse victims. McGinnis writes that while she tried to come across in the courtroom as the terribly beaten up victim of abuse, frail and cringing, she was heard and seen shrieking at her attorneys as to how they should present her case.
   
   Another fascinating facet of this fascinating tale is that Robert Kissel's brother, Andrew, was tortured and murdered a year later by persons unknown. Tolstoy couldn't dream this up.



3. Joe McGinnis has his formula down pat. His latest is one of his best, the work of a real pro who knows how to write for the masses while never dumbing things down too much. This tale of greed is cringe-worthy, and the central murder is conveyed with just enough graphic detail. You're never too sure who to hate more: the greedy wife or the greedy husband, though the author makes his sympathies pretty clear. This opens a door on a world most will never know, and maybe that's just as well. Highly recommended.



4. The famous saying "The Rich are Different" is not true in all respects. For instance, a rich wife, unhappy with her husband, and one who could have easily lived as a divorced person on her half of her husband's $18 million estate, kills him instead, just like poor people sometimes do. And tries to cover it up, about as clumsily as anyone could possibly imagine. And then adopts the battered woman's syndrome defense, only without any credible evidence. Set this tale in a Hong Kong luxury condo, and within an American family of huge wealth and mutual hostilities, and you have a grim morality tale, but a good read. It is not as fascinating a case as "Fatal Vision" or "Cruel Doubt", two of Joe's previous crime sagas, but it is well worth reading if you like this kind of journalism.



5. As soon as I heard Joe McGinniss had a new book coming out I came to Amazon and pre-ordered it. I've been a fan of McGinniss's work since "Fatal Vision" so the news that he was returning to the True Crime genre and writing about the Kissel murders had me counting the weeks until publication. I wanted to love this book but ... maybe my expectations were too high. McGinniss has written three True Crime classics but this isn't his fourth.
   
   The raw material is there: unstable Nancy Kissel, work-obsessed Robert his appearances obsessed, corner cutting brother Andrew and their repugnant father, glam expat lifestyles, fights over vacation homes, etc. What's missing is the greater context McGinniss so brilliantly provided in his previous books. These people don't seem to say anything about the way we live now, they're just generally appalling.
   
   The book losses steam about three-quarters of the way through. It reads as if McGinniss totally lost interest or his publisher demanded that he complete the book within a certain timeframe. Not having the Andrew Kissel murder can't have helped but that alone doesn't explain the tacked on, hurry up and finish ending.
   
   I can't recommend this book for True Crime or McGinniss fans, it doesn't deliver on any level, not even as an "instabook." Let's hope McGinniss returns to form with this his next book. I'll still be pre-ordering when he does.

5 comments about The Want-Ad Killer (True Crime).

1. Harvey Carignan is a prime example of why the US Constitution so frequently works against victims while offering loopholes for perpetrators; often setting them free to repeat their crimes as is this case with Carignan. On the side of the fence, readers develop sympathy for Mary Miller, whose daughter was the first known victim of Carignan after most recent prison release.
   
   Ann Rule, despite this being one of her early works, does an outstanding job of providing an in-depth look into the childhood, teenage years and adulthood of Carignan. Much of what we learn is based on Carignan's "accusations" and Rule does a superb job of noting that, most likely, this are just what they are...only accusations.
   
   While the title is a bit deceptive (Carignan only murdered one young girl, that is known, from a classified ad), the overall content of the book is intense and intriguing; so much so that I completed the book within 24 hours.
   
   This is the last of the Ann Rule books I had not read to date. This early work is proof that Rule has a natural talent for writing about America's worst citizens....rapist and/or murderers.



2. If you like true crime at it's best you have just met the master.



3. I've read other books by Ann Rule, especially NO REGRETS and GREEN RIVER RUNNING RED, so I was intrigued by this title. I had previously heard about scams involving "help wanted" ads, where unwitting people are lured into danger by scam artists looking to take advantage of people who genuinely need work, so this book seemed worthwhile reading.
   
   THE WANT-AD KILLER describes the disappearance and murder of Kathy Sue Miller, the victim who finally was responsible for bringing Harvey Carignan, a longtime "career criminal" to justice. Carignan had hit upon the idea of luring women to his gas station on the pretext of applying for a job. He placed ads in the local paper. When the job applicants refused his sexual advances, he killed them, usually with blows to the head, in a homicidal rage.
   
   Kathy Sue Miller, aged 15, was one of those girls who applied for the job she saw in the paper. Despite her mother's warning that she should not go off in a car with an unknown man for a job interview, Kathy Sue Miller got into Harvey Carignan's car, ostensibly to go to his gas station to apply for the job, and was never seen again. She had originally called the number in the paper for a job for her boyfriend, Mark, but Carignan convinced her that she could get the job herself, and she was excited at the idea of having some money of her own. Rule points out that Carignan's idea of putting a "want ad" in the paper gave him a steady supply of victims who walked right into his hands.
   
   Rule's book is skillfully written, with good insights not only into the emotional effects of this crime on the victim's family, but also on the detectives in charge of solving the crime. It serves as a well-written cautionary tale to anyone who is looking for a job, but also wants to make sure that he or she remains safe in the process.



4. I'm a big fan of Ann Rule, so I have read a lot of her books and stories. Although the Want-Ad Killer was good, I like some of her books better. I still would recommend the book if you like her work.
   
   She did a good job illustrating this slimy, sleaze-ball, nut job, sicko from hell. No other way to describe him!



5. This is an early Ann Rule true crime story about Harvey Carignan who used the want ads to lure unsuspecting, young female victims.
   
   Ann Rule goes back to the cases in Alaska where Carignan beat a hanging sentence on a technicality.
   
   Carignan is a sociopath,but far from insane. He is intelligent and knows criminal law and constitutional rights well enough to have written papers on the subjects during an earlier stretch in prison.
   
   The author defines the difference between a sociopath and a psychotic.
   
   She mentions the possibility that Carignan may have been involved in the Piper kidnapping, although the evidence is weak.
   
   The maps with the interesting markings showing some known burial sites gives rise to the concern that he vented his hatred of women far more times than has been known. The numerous unexplained markings loosely match some unsolved murders with similar M.O. in areas that Carignan passed through. He may have been an earlier version of a roaming killer much like Tommy Lynn Sells. One difference between Carignan and other notorious serial killers is the physical nature of Carignan, he was large,muscular and didn't shy away from fights with men.
   
   "The Want-Ad Killer" may not be Ann Rule's best book, but it is fast-paced and an interesting choice of subject in Harvey Carignan.

5 comments about Without Pity: Ann Rule's Most Dangerous Killers.

1. "Without Pity" is a collection of short true crime stories by Ann Rule. Ann Rule is the premier true crime author and treats the stories she writes about with careful sensitivity, not sensationalism. The majority of the cases collected in this volume were older crimes from the late 1960s/early 1970s.
   
   I love Ann Rule. I have read quite a few of her novels and her writing style is very friendly and she treats the subject matter with respect. "Without Pity" was chilling. Quite a few of the cases gave me the chills. If you are a fan of true crime, you will definitely want to read this volume.



2. I really, really love Ann Rule. "Without Pity" is a collection of 12 short cases, three new, the rest reruns from her earlier books. I personally like her long books that contain one story, such as "Small Sacrifices", or the True Crime Files volumes which contain one book-length story supplemented by a few shorter stories, such as "Last Dance, Last Chance". But if you have read her longer works, and can't get enough of Ann Rule, the three new stories in this book alone will be worth the price of admission. If you have not read Ann Rule's earlier books, the older stories are all very interesting ones too.



3. Ann Rule chose a dozen cases of this book. In each case she was acquainted with some of the people mentioned: victim, survivors, detectives, or the prosecutors of defense attorneys. Sometimes the killer. The first three cases are all new; the last nine cases were taken from previously published books. This is a good introduction to her writings. Note how often economic factors are in the background. Ann Rule lives and works in the Seattle area.
   
   "The Tumbledown Shack" tells of two girls who went hitchhiking to work in Washington state's apple orchards. Their bodies were found in an old abandoned shed. One suspect was found, knew facts about this 1975 case, but was never prosecuted. He died in jail. The case is still open.
   "Dead and on Tape" discusses the case which made the biggest impression (the few where Rule knew the killer or victim before the crime occurred). There was a shooting in an alley. A credit card thief lay dead and a detective was wounded in his left hand and side. The police gathered the evidence and investigated. But complications arose from the hidden tape recorder on the victim. Eyewitnesses were found, and the shooter was convicted. Who killed Branko Ellich?
   "Fatal Obsession" is the story closest to a horror tale. What happens when a "perfect citizen" turns into an insane killer? Who would slaughter the parents and a child? A torn-up letter revealed the clues that solved this tragedy.
   "Campbell's Revenge" tell how no small town is safe from a psychopathic killer, even when they are smiling, handsome, and sincere. Some do look frightening, and are in trouble since childhood. Nature or nurture? What could be more horrible than finding your neighbors murdered?
   "One Trick Pony" tells of an accidental death that was later found to be a murder, and solved. There are few trained forensic pathologists outside of the major metropolitan areas. Would a blanket on a body prevent the normal cooling after death?
   "The Last Letter" tells of an obsessive possessive love. Is the love of an older married man for a young girl doomed? Bellevue Washington had some of the more bizarre murders over the years. Would financial disaster trigger a murder? Or steroids and Halcyon?
   "I'll Love You Forever" tells about a wealthy middle-aged widow who found love with a confidence man. Her accidental death was found to be murder, and justice was served.
   "Murder and the Proper Housewife" is a tale of a hired murderer who failed the proper housewife who hired him! It would be crazy if it wasn't all true.
   "The Most Dangerous Game" tells about two teenage girls who fantasized about a better life away from their families. But not all strangers are friendly with good intentions. The scratching against the cabin could have been from a snow-laden low tree branch.
   "The Killer Who Never Forgot" tells about a young wife and her baby found strangled. Could a husband kill them just for insurance money? Two juries said "yes" and he got a life term. He was paroled after 14 years and lived a good life afterwards.
   "The Lost Lady" is about Marcia Moore; being rich, beautiful, and intelligent does not guarantee happiness. Did a belief in the occult foretell disaster? Does taking a drug lead to happiness? Marcia Moore disappeared suddenly, her skeletal remains were found years later.
   "The Stockholm Syndrome" discusses "brainwashing" where a captive defends their captor. What if you met a stranger while alone in a wilderness? When "brainwashing" wore off, Robin recalled the true facts: it was a murder. The testimony about the brainwashing was sort of a precedent - furtive conduct to cover up a crime.



4. Ann is one of my favorite authors. I am pretty picky in how a book is written and Ann writes them so perfectly as she is there watching the situation Happen. This is of course Another one of Ann's books that you can't put down!



5. I have always been intrigued with murder and the stories that follow serial killers, however I limited myself only to programs on TV that seemed interesting. I had no idea there were books written so well by an author who really knows her stuff.
   
   This was my first true crime book that I've ever read and I picked this one specifically because it was a collection of Ann's more disturbing murders. I wanted a "quick and dirty" book of really great stories and that is exactly what I got. This book has persuaded me to buy more of her true crime novels and I look forward to reading her novels in the future.

5 comments about Tacoma Confidential: A True Story of Murder, Suicide, and a Police Chief's Secret Life (48 Hours Mystery).

1. I'm surprised (shocked, actually) this book has received so many good reviews on Amazon. I found it horrible. It contains many contradictions -- for example, on one page LaRosa says every single journalist criticized the bartender-blogger who broke the case, and a few pages later, he quotes an editor complementing the same guy--, in lieu of facts he provides he says/she says ("Crystal said she only got $100 every two weeks, David's family says she got much more" -- well, who is telling the truth? Isn't LaRosa's job to find out and tell us?) and his writing is mediocre at best. I have read very few true-crime books in my life, but if this is one of the better ones, then the genre sucks.



2. I really should learn to never judge a book by it's cover...but that is what I did with this book for many months. The cover, the title, they just didn't grab my attention. But once I opened the book and started reading...it had my fullest attention.
   
   Paul LaRosa does an excellent job of relaying the story of Tacoma Police Chief David Brame who, in 2006, shot his estranged wife in a RiteAid parking lot before turning the gun on himself. And, sadly enough, this occured while the couple's children were just a few feet away.
   
   This book is a riveting tale of sex, scandals, and attempted cover-up by many of Tacoma's high ranking officials. It is a definite must read for any true crime fan!



3. The big secret life of the Chief of Police is simply not that interesting. It is very difficult to care about the victims. The wife is a spoiled brat and the husband is a retarded lech. These people were raising damaged children further traumatized by this violent, selfish turn of events. The parents do get high marks for lousy parenting. If you want to learn how not to behave, buy this book.
   
   The writing is average and redundant. It is clear that much "filler" was put in to make it a full book. The author simply should have chosen a more interesting subject. On the surface, I can imagine he thought it was. A closer look is just another pathetic ugly divorce.



4. Paul LaRosa, talented writer and excellent researcher, makes great use of both talents in 'Tacoma Confidential'.
   
   Fairly presented without bias, LaRosa's detailed and insightful look into the tragic outcome of the troubled marriage of a dangerously flawed police chief and its impact on a major U.S. city is a riveting story that will keep the reader turning the pages at a furious pace.
   
   The disintegration of a marriage and of the mind of a law enforcement officer is chronicled in such fine detail one has the sensation of actually 'being there' as the story unfolds. Despite never having met the major victims of this crime, the author's highly-honed research skills and evenhanded writing allow the reader to become intimately familiar with Chief David Brame and his wife, Crystal, and their families and acquaintances.
   
   That Mr. LaRosa did ultimately meet so many others involved and their willingness to share such a wealth of personal information is certainly a credit to his ability to convey understanding and compassion. The same traits were excellently utilized to document this tragedy in an absorbing and compelling manner.
   
   True writing skill prevents the far-reaching political implications of this case, both citywide and within the police department, from becoming muddled, confusing or boring. Instead, they are recognized as mind-boggling, somewhat amazing, and certainly always thoroughly interesting.
   
   There was a moment of confusion for me when the author injected his personal input into the story via 'first-person' writing. Many writers accomplish this with irritating and insulting heavy handed innuendo that severely colors the facts. An astute reader recognizes immediately the efforts to force the reader to accept the writer's beliefs. The refreshing openness of this author's writing style; presenting the facts and trusting the reader to reach their own conclusion, certainly makes for a more enjoyable reading experience.
   
   True true-crime fans are well aware of how this genre has fallen prey to a bevy of poor writers publishing weak books that read like sleazy dime-store novels. Readers have to continually be on their toes to search out first-class, well-written, great reads. If any of you fans missed this one, you need to remedy that mistake straight away because.....
   
   'Tacoma Confidential Is A Winner'!



5. So many reviews of TACOMA CONFIDENTIAL, almost all of them positive, have already been posted, that I normally would not write another one. But I believe that Paul LaRosa has created a true crime book that is so outstanding that I feel the need to pile on. The subject of the book, the pending divorce between David Brame, the Tacoma, WA, Chief of Police and his wife Crystal - and the tragic outcome - is interesting and must have given Tacoma residents gossip material for months. But what elevates the book to the top echelon of true crime is the outstanding work by Mr. LaRosa.
   
   TACOMA CONFIDENTIAL is written reportorially, straight-forwardly, and without the melodrama to which this story would readily lend itself in the hands of a lazy or less-competent writer. The research is remarkably thorough, and the reader has a sense, due to LaRosa's powerful narrative, of being at the center of the Tacoma Police Department's maelstrom of innuendo, sorrow, disavowance of responsibility, and just great gossip.
   
   The most impressive single aspect of LaRosa's work, however, is his even-handedness. David Brame was apparently a cold, selfish, manipulative, and abusive man; and Crystal, while seemingly a nicer and more pleasant person than David, had her own share of negatives, coming across as compulsive, mildly hysterical, and as one of those people who shares their life's most personal details with strangers who probably would rather not hear them. La Rosa presents both of the Brames, warts and all -and there are plenty of warts - in a non-biased fashion, letting the reader come to his own conclusions.
   
   This is excellent true crime, and I thank my friend in Lubbock for recommending it to me.

5 comments about Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit.

1. Given Douglas' background there was little question that he would have a story or two to tell. In Mindhunter you get a glimpse of what it takes to conduct good profiling and what an instrumental tool the profile can be. The book covers some of America's most feared monsters and what role the Behavioral Science Unit played in their capture.
   
   James A. Forrest - Eye of the Storm



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



3. 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.]



4. 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.



5. 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.

5 comments about The Anatomy of Motive : The FBI's Legendary Mindhunter Explores the Key to Understanding and Catching Violent Criminals.

1. Real info and facts on serial killers. The behind the scenes look at the killers that we don't get from the news. An excellent and well-written book. Also check out Robert Ressler's books.



2. When I saw this book in a used book store, I thought the title was "Anatomy of Murder". Only later did I see that it was "Motive". Based on Douglas' other books about serial killers, I expected this book to deal strictly with serial killers. And it did not.
   
   Douglas' book described a range of killers; and his chapters are broken down accordingly. There are chapters on the anatomy of arsonists; people who use guns to commit crimes; those who poison and why; and other chapters ranging from guys who simply snap to those who commit random violence.
   
   I wasn't really interested in serial arsonists so I skipped that chapter. The rest of the book was interesting but I think the chapters would have been much better if Douglas had focused on one or two specific cases rather than telling us snippets of several cases.
   
   Would I read this book again? Probably not. Several of his other books are better.



3. When it comes to bringing serial crime psychology and profiling to a level that a layperson can understand, Douglas is peerless. He identifies several different types of serial killers and includes true-life stories of a few he's dealt with in his decades with the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit. It's an engrossing, easily understandable and fascinating read.



4. This is an engrossing book that was ahead of its time in presenting the often seamy, often searching field of forensic science. Douglas brings us onto the crime scene, and gives us a view through the eyes of profilers, pathologists, analyzers, and detectives.
   
   The only fault I find with the book is its general contention that criminals choose their behavior. Without rehashing the nature vs. nurture controversy too much, a consideration of some of the possible physiological factors influencing criminals might have led to a more three-dimensional view of the criminal mind.
   
   Douglas uses the fact that an offender can almost always restrain himself from committing a crime while a policeman is watching him as proof that virtually all criminal behavior is under the individual's control. I can't help but think though of the somewhat parallel condition of people with disorders such as Tourette's Syndrome. Tourette's sufferers can at times reduce or even eliminate their ticcing behavior when they are briefly in public. But their tics will return all the more insistently when they are alone again. So a criminal's ability to briefly control himself isn't necessarily an indication that he can always control himself.
   
   A compulsive element seems to be especially apparent in crimes such as arson, which Douglas is often at his best discussing. He links this crime to a desire to command and manipulate. The arsonist gets the satisfaction of watching a whole slew of people, firemen and victims alike, scurrying around as a result of the problem he has created.
   
   However, as Douglas himself reveals, there is also often some physically-rooted obsession that goads pyromaniacs. Douglas presents the case of Peter George Dinsdale in England for instance. This man was an epileptic who would set fires after he experienced a tingling in his fingers followed by some triggering, often trivial, altercation with his victims. This description also left me wondering if the flickering of flames might produce a more markedly pleasurable, fixating trance-like state in some people than in others.
   
   A variety of criminal acts that Douglas describes center around fetishes and fanaticisms that might similarly have some neurological quirk as their basis.
   
   Overall though, Douglas does a fine job of putting his readers on the trail of the criminal. He brings Sherlock Holmes onto current crime scenes by illustrating how a forensic scientist's work boils down to details - attention to details. He cites the case of arson in which a Torah was purposefully burned from right to left - cluing the detectives into the fact that the perpetrator must have been someone with a knowledge of Hebrew.
   
   And like Holmes' classic clue of the dog that didn't bark, Douglas alerts us to the importance of details that are not there. Such observations are often important in insurance cases. When someone burns his own property for money, he will often remove items of special sentimental value first. If there are no family photo albums left in the ashes - that's a clue.
   
   This book reminds us that no detail is trivial or uninteresting. Any mote might have a story to tell. If we could approach life from the viewpoint of the forensic scientists in these pages - we would never be bored.



5. Though repetitious in some parts (if you have read the author's other books), it is well put together and informative. Another job well done.

5 comments about The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers.

1. Expanded and updated edition of his original that came out in 2000. There are now entries on cases that have been solved since the first edition was released. Examples: Gary Leon Ridgway, the Green River Killer and Dennis Rader, the BTK Strangler. Other cases have been expanded. Some that were only listed in the appendixes now have entries in the main section.
   The author uses the definition of a serial killer as someone who murders 2 or more persons, done as separate events. This leads to inclusion of some killers that most people would not consider serial killers. I understand the author going for a more inclusive approach than otherwise. If he didn't go this route, there would inevitably be complaints about killers left out.
   I spotted very few errors and none that I would categorize as major.
   I would like to see a much more comprehensive index. Trying to find an entry if all you remember is a victim name or an odd location is difficult.
   The entries range from a few paragraphs to several pages. Still, if you want a detailed read on a specific case, you will need to get a book devoted to that killer. There are entries on some killers that there hasn't been a book written about, such as Melvin Rees.
   Of the three SK Encyclopedias I've read, this is the best, in my opinion.
   The reviews for the first edition are still mostly applicable here. I recommend reading them for other viewpoints.



2. This is a fascinating read for true crime buffs. The author's stated purpose is to "demystify, as far as possible, those predators in human form who have been with us since the dawn of history..." Serial killers at large are so frightening that they end up touching all of our lives--most especially in the United States, where 84% of all known serial killers have committed their crimes since 1980. I first became aware of this type of human predator when I was a student at the University of Michigan, and John Norman Collins was murdering coeds with pierced ears and long brown hair.
   
   California native Michael Newton has published 181 books since 1977, including 147 novels but he is best known for his true crime and reference works. I have to say that I assumed this author was British because of his concise, witty style and also for his tendency to critique other true crime authors who failed to get their facts straight, including the names of a serial killer's victims. One of his special peeves is the term 'spree killer,' and he also doesn't seem to think much of profilers.
   
   Most of the entries in this encyclopedia are concerned with the serial killers themselves, whether they acted alone, in twosomes, or in packs. One of the biggest surprises for me was the large number of serial killers who are or were women. Something like 12% of all serial killers are female, and Hungarian women seem especially prone to this behavior, starting with Countess Erzsebet Bthory in the sixteenth century whose final body count was somewhere between 300 and 650 victims. In the early 1900s,Vera Renczi murdered 35 husbands, lovers, and a son and was arrested by the police only after they searched her basement and discovered 35 zinc coffins. "Some evenings, Vera liked to sit among the coffins in an armchair and enjoy the company of her adoring beaux." Then there were the "Angel Makers of Nagyrev"...
   
   Well, let me just close by remarking that "The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers" is an extremely interesting source of information on the darker side of human nature. In addition to the encyclopedia entries, there are also appendices on "Solo Killers," "Team Killers," and "Unresolved Cases," plus an extensive bibliography.



3. A friend of mine gave me this book, and normally I don't read. However, on a road trip, I decided to read some of the book and became very interested, QUICKLY! The book is quite detailed, and I liked the fact that there was information in the book on serial killers from the 1800's and earlier (Erzsebet Bathory born in 1560). A great, well-written book!



4. This is one of the best books availible for those interested in True Crime and the history of Serial Killers. The author has compiled a fast read and profiles for each person. Very detailed, It is a basic knowledge of the essential info. If you want more detailed profiles of certain serial killers i would recommend that you buy a book based on a certian individual.
   
   But this is a great basic info source.
   
   Most Recommended.



5. It's a pretty long read but it does contain some written material that might be inappropiate for some readers.What I really like about this book is the aspect of every serial killer which deals about their background as well as why would they committe such a crime that forever haunt us till this very day.Michael Newton does provide info that'll help us think and learn about who they are and what they are.Make no mistake that this book will give you everything you need to know about them except the only thing I wish that this book should have is more photos.Anyway,do yourself a favor and check this book out.

5 comments about An Unfinished Canvas: A True Story of Love, Family, and Murder in Nashville.

1. I caught part of a show on Court-TV about this case and the little I saw was intriguing, so I got this book--and was not disappointed. The author has done a fine job of documenting the devious machinations of a man who seemed to have had it all, but followed his own selfish desires and left human wreckage in his wake. This is one of the most well-written true crime books I've read in a long time (and I read a LOT of them). Looking forward to more from this author.



2. THIS BOOK WAS A PAGE-TURNER IF THERE EVER WAS ONE. THANKS TO THE 2 DETECTIVES JUSTICE WAS SERVED.



3. This was one of the most heart-breaking true crime books I have ever read. My heart goes out to the Levines in the loss of their daughter and to Janet March's children. There is no punishment I can think of that is bad enough for Perry March.
   
   However, one major frustration for me was that this book was written in the present tense. I found it extremely confusing and had to keep going back to previous passages in order to clearly understand the sequence of events.



4. I took my title from a quotation by Det. Pat Postiglione, one of the true heroes of this fascinating story. I found this account of Nashville's most anticiapted (10 years) trial (actually 3 trials) and perhaps "crime of the century" to be thoroughly readable. Although I paid as much attention to the case as anyone in the Nashville area, this fine work put all the pieces together. For that reason alone, I recommend this.
   
   This book includes: custody battles, jurisdictional fights, alleged hit-men, jailhouse snitches, abuse of a corpse, and above all- supreme arrogance on the part of the book's principal subject, Perry March. It also includes midnight bicycle rides, not really a crime but I'll leave that for you to discover. Anyone interested in unsolved/ cold case murders will love this book. I couldn't put it down.



5. "An Unfinished Canvas" is about the murder of Janet March by her husband and the long trail to justice.
   There are several colorful characters involved in the book including the killer's father, Arthur March and Perry March himself.
   
   The highlights in this case were the victim's parents and their will to fight against their daughter's killer. The cold case detectives Pridemore and Postigliano also stand out for their intelligence and unwavering dedication as evidenced by their high rate of cold cases they solved.
   
   The resolution of this murder was hampered by two primary factors: the victim wasn't reported missing for two weeks and for some unexplained reason the original lead detective tipped off March's attorney that the home was going to be searched.
   
   Where the book disappointed me was the repetition of the same information, like the conversation on the plane ride back from California during March's extradition. The history of Nashville in chapter 1 was dry. The book really ground to a halt with the trial sections at the back of the book.
   
   An interesting cold case but the book was not the smoothest or most riveting true crime book that I have read.

4 comments about If Looks Could Kill.

1. This is one of the best stories written about a true crime. Once
   I started this book I couldnt put it down. Phelps is very fair and
   balanced in his judgments. This is quite a bizarre crime-almost
   unbelievable but nonetheless true. Phelps is a good writer.



2. The case of Jeff Zack's cold-blooded murder is well-documented by true crime author veteran, M. William Phelps, here which he also writes about life in Akron, Ohio. Zack's murder occurred at a gas station at a BJ's Wholesale Club in the suburbs. He is buried in a Jewish cemetery around Stow, Ohio. Despite his flaws and faults, he was a devoted father to Ashton (name changed to protect his identity). As a husband, he was quite different, arrogant, rude, obnoxious, and terrible to his long-suffering wife, Bonnie, who loved him regardless. She was at one time a suspect because of the polygraph but she would have never killed her son's father right before Father's day. She stayed with Jeff for their son's sake. She had to tolerate Jeff's open affair with married mother of seven, Cynthia Rohr George, who was married to Ed George who ran the Tangiers Banquet Hall and restaurant in Akron which was and is still legendary among the locals and even attracting celebrity clientele who visited Akron. Ed George was so busy working and providing a home for his wife and growing family that he did notice his wife's flagrant affairs but tolerated them. She ran the household but she was no desperate housewife. She had nannies, babysitters, and housekeepers to help with the household work. She wanted to rid of Jeff after a ten year relationship which produced Ruby, their daughter, but Ed was never informed of it until after Jeff's murder. I felt bad for Ed and Bonnie, the long-suffering spouses. In the end, the killer gets caught but the desperate housewife Cindy George only spends a year or so in prison. Proving that with expensive legal counsel, you can buy justice or injustice depending on what role you have in society. She is free and doubtfully will be charged again for paying the killer.



3. Couldn't understand the connection between the title and the story. The story was clearly written by someone who was far removed from the situation. Lynn Slaby, mentioned at the end is a man not a girl. Evidently. the Feds saw something the author didn't because they have reopened the case.



4. Without revealing the outcome of this book, I will say that I was fooled by the ending. Phelps understated yet compelling story keeps one totally enthralled by releasing just enough information to connect the dots as the story progresses. As John Zaffino continues to bury himself with stupid mistakes and misquided actions in the murder of Jeff Zack, the real monster in this crime sits back and pulls the strings. The outstanding investigation by the Akron Police Force deserves to be recognized for doing its job above reproach and documenting the critical details that resulted in Zaffino's conviction. A read I could not put down.