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

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this is a 5-Star PRINTED book but just a 2-Star AUDIOBOOK. You get all the serial killing that you could hope for, with several spree killers thrown in. Narrator Kevin Kollins is absolutely perfect for this genre. 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.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

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. 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. The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers is something every true crime enthusiast should have on their shelves. 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 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.

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. Here is an intriguing fact, one of the BTK victims is a relation to someone I know. I tend to forget the I only live an hour away from where he 1. committed such heinous acts and 2. from where he is incarcerated. Even scarier the friend I mentioned once worked in a corrections facility and has a former co-worker who presides over the wing that BTK is held. He says the man is still one of the most polite people he’s encountered in the prison system. It’s hard to believe such a man was capable of the things he did. The Big Book of Serial Killers has brought 150 of the most depraved, sadistic, and terrifying murderers from Russia, America, Germany, Australia, Korea, China, Denmark and the UK together in one giant encyclopedia. Having said that, it is VERY informative as far as getting a basic rundown of nearly every killer you can possibly think of. And then some. Its wonderful for prompting further study in a case that you may be unfamiliar with, and perhaps might want to delve deeper into. So what’s the problem? Well, it’s written in outline form, making it difficult fully appreciate in audio. The author presents each killer in a non-chronological database form, which references and cross-references their crimes, which is often redundant. Also, he lists “Murder Victims” (by name and age), “Offenses” (including murder), and a “Timeline of Murders”. This is alright, albeit redundant, if there are less than 5 victims. However, in the case of prolific serial killers like Ted Bundy, Gary Greenway, and John Wayne Gacy, you will zone out by victim 10. Lord help you if there are 30+ victims! Or, in the case of Chinese, Korean, or South American killers (don’t ask me their names!) who killed as many as 100 people in their native countries......well, I think you get where I’m going with this.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. Brrrr.This is a great resource for anyone interested in serial killers. Like the title says it covers 150 of these cold-hearted killers. There are killers from all over the world profiled here, many famous, many not so well know. All I can say is that you had really better have a strong constitution as this is not for the faint-hearted or those of the weak stomach. It can be down right chilling. 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.

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.Overall, I enjoyed reading it and don’t really get as critical with biography’s as I do with other fiction novels. I liked it. 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. 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. 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.

This A-Z encyclopedia of 150 serial killers is the ideal reference book. Included are the most famous true crime serial killers, like Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, and 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 the range is broad. 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.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 authors of this book have made sure to give their readers not only the mere childhoods of these individuals, they’ve made sure to include the psychological ramifications of their childhoods on their actions as adults. But writing about their childhoods merely sets the stages for these actions, gruesome details about their insidious murders have not been avoided as doing so would lessen the severity of their dastardly deeds. 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.