The Big Book of Serial Killers: 1 (An Encyclopedia of Serial Killers)

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These serial killers are not mythical beasts with horns and shaggy hair. They are people living among society, going about their day to day activities until nightfall. They are the Dennis Rader's, the fathers, husbands, church going members of the community. The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers is something every true crime enthusiast should have on their shelves. For someone who has a reasonable level of familiarity with American serial killers, I wanted a little more depth, or for certain particulars to be dug into a little deeper, in some cases. However, this book did provide a solid overview of each of the American serial killers featured, and is more than adequate for someone beginning their reading or research. This A-Z encyclopedia of 150 serial killers is the ideal reference audiobook. Included are the most famous true crime serial killers, like Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, Richard Ramirez, and not to mention the women who kill, such as Aileen Wuornos, and Martha Rendell. There are also lesser known serial killers, covering many countries around the world, so broad is the range.

I also feel like the information could have been presented in a more clinical/professional manner. Many of the sentences were either redundant or overly long with the sentiment that might be found in the narration of a bad true crime series or a report written by a middle schooler. I selected this book because it was seemed very interesting at the time. It talked about all the inside stories of America’s worst serial killers. It is disturbing, but yet thrilling to read at the same time. This book covers intricate details about each individual, including their stalking/hunting habits, their trials, things they said, and so forth.You don't get a thumbnail, you get a complete rundown on these people. It almost comes across as one of those alphabet agencies dossiers. I don't you could ask for more information, even if you had an individual book done on these monsters, one by one. Each profile is concise and tight, but not bare-bones by any means. Third, as the book progresses you can see the effort and quality (what minimal amount there is) waning. Chapters get shorter and shorter, details become fewer and fewer, and the inaccuracies multiply ten fold. Also, the odd guessing games that are thrown in as if to just take up space with no introduction are clunky and, again, oversimplified and inaccurate. For those expecting some sort of storyline, bear in mind that this IS as the title suggests, an encyclopedia. So therefore, its also going to be read/sound like one too. Not exactly the sort of thing one would normally sit and listen to straight from beginning to end....thus it will be much more enjoyable for you doing that in increments.It is one thing to merely write something regarding these perverted, depraved individuals and the horrific, heinous deeds they’ve done. There’s a massive juxtaposition when the writing dwells into the historical upbringing these individuals had to endure as children, a childhood which unintentionally set the stage for rest of their murderous lives. Like many of the crime shows we’ve watched on television, the manhunts for these individuals are also included, along with their trials and ultimate outcomes which finally brought some justice to the families of those that been the unfortunate victims at the hands of these murderous individuals.

When you are listening to this book what happens is that you get a whole lot of very brief descriptions of each of many killers. Most of them I had read something about before, but some were brand new for me. To me it was almost like registering for a speed dating event. You get a few minutes to review photos of individuals that are participating, and then move from one table to the next getting just the highlights. That is to say you get a list of names, dates, and general timeline. No time for things like in depth understanding, just is this someone I'm interested in or not. There is little more terrifying than those who hunt, stalk and snatch their prey under the cloak of darkness. These hunters search not for animals, but for the touch, taste, and empowerment of human flesh. They are cannibals, vampires and monsters, and they walk among us. For starters, the authors and editor should reconsider their calling in life. The entire book is riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. In some cases they omit words or just make them up. As an academic, I have seen some truly horrible writing, but this is right up there among some of my most abysmal students. Don't even get me started on their version of "citation."I think the author did a lot of things well for this book. The author started each chapter with how each serial killer became known throughout that area. After, the author would describe each of their major kills until they were caught. They would show some sympathy for the serial killer by sharing their extremely rough childhood, which led them to their murderous ways. The author would then finish the chapter off with their sentence by the court, and if they’re still alive where they are today. I think the was a perfect sequence to explain each serial killer’s story. After hearing the horrific things they’ve done; the author would explain what could’ve possibly caused them to become like this. Anything counter or subcultural has been a focus of my personal studies for years. Organized crime, musical movements, serial murderers, etc. With that said, I am always devouring as much source material as I can. This book was a very sweet gift from a friend, but unfortunately, their good intentions could not save this book from its authors.