Serial Killers Books

This story is frightening to say the least and it kept me on the edge of my seat as I read this authors account of true events. The rampage of Micajah and Wiley Harpe would shake the very foundation of anyone living in their time who dared or unwittingly crossed the paths of these two horrific murderers. The trail of events leading up to the Harpe's demise left me chilled.

I feel that Mr. Harpe did a very good job in explaining his research and how he came to his own conclusions about his family's history. The research he did for this very personal story couldn't have been easy. This piece was well written and very believable. Nice Job, Mr. Harpe.

Reviewed by Vickie (Tory Lynn, author of My Charming Protector)

Those of us in the Amazon Shorts Program all know E. Don Harpe. He speaks his mind and runs away from nothing. His efforts to learn and come to grips with an infamous branch of his family tree were accomplished in the teeth of family resistance. This, when you think about it, is really poignant....
>>>> The stigma was so strong that my father would not even tell me the name of his father, my own grandfather, for fear that I may be able to finally make the connection between our branch of the Harp family and Micajah and Wiley. I believe he told me what he did in an effort to stop me from my research, and in fact it almost accomplished it.<<<<<

Like a professional historian, Don meticulously names his sources and comments on their reliability and the reason for his conclusions. He then states that the most reliable sources available say that the infamous Harpe Brothers were members of his family.

Then comes the summary of the last rampage:
>>>In 1798 and 1799, the brothers blazed a trail of blood through Tennessee, Kentucky and Southern Illinois and into the pages of history as perhaps the two most wanton and bloodthirsty killers this country will ever know.<<<

What follows is an exciting, yet carefully documented account of the actions of two truly bloodthirsty, pitiless men. Don traces the trail of death up to the end of their lives. The story is written in his usual easy, flowing prose and makes for one chilling, yet thoroughly engrossing read.

The reader can tell that the writing of this story was the apex of a long and sometimes frustrating quest...a quest for truth...based upon an honest man's need to KNOW. The undercurrent running throughout the telling of this rampage of death, mutilation and destruction was E. Don Harpe's personal fight to squarely face a shame that bedevilled his family literally for centuries... He makes no excuses...he lets the chips fall where they may... He is, after all, an honest man...and withal he shares this story for the world to see. Bravo, Don. Five Stars
John W. Cassell

John W. Cassell is the author of seven novels in the action,adventure and 1960's-70's Counterculture genres, including Crossroads: 1969, which has been selected for inclusion in the London-based Arts on the Underground Foundation's publication PICADILLYLAND, set for release in the United Kingdom May of 2008. In 2006, Cassell retired from a career in law enforcement spanning from 1971. In the past nine months he has published four guest editorials in Israel Nationl News.

There have been many evil men and women in the world but few if any are more entitled to that mantle than MIcajah and Wiley Harpe. They roamed the forests and settlements of what was then the western frontier shortly after the American Revolution. They left a trail of death behind them as they traveled through Tennessee, Kentucky and Southern Illinois.
Anyone interested in crime and what it is that leads men to kill for the sheer pleasure of it will enjoy this true story of America's first serial killers. It's a fascinating tale.

I thought that Mr. Russels first novel "Blood Eagle" was not only very well written, fleshing out nicely the characters, giving them faces and thoughts and all, but also stuctured in a way that more reflected reality than you would normally expect from a whodunnit novel.

His second book, "Brother Grimm" is even better. It follows the same team of Hamburg murder detectives as "Blood Eagle", Jan Fabel and his murder commission officers. Once again the writing is spot on, captivating, and yet somehow manages to give this police thriller another dimension. A dimension of litterature really (in lack of better words anyway). The author does seem to be particularly fond of the words "azure blue", which he uses two times on the opening page and more throughout the novel.

The story and the plot itself, is very well made up. We're kept guessing till the very end who the grim murderer is, and along the way we're led through many a wild goose chase, but it dosen't subtract or lessen the pace or 'feel' one bit, it actually adds to it.

A very good thing about this novel is, that you can reed as a stand alone adventure without having read the first story about the Hamburg murder commission team. Of course having read the first novel will only add to the experience, but it is not a must.

To reiterate: well written, well thought out, well plotted, very recommendable.

A girl's body lies, posed, on the pale sand of a Hamburg beach, a message concealed in her hand. 'I have been underground, and now it is time for me to return home...' Jan Fabel, of the Hamburg murder squad, struggles to interpret the twisted imagery of a dark and brutal mind. Four days later, a man and a woman are found deep in woodland, their throats slashed deep and wide, the names 'Hansel' and 'Gretel', in the same, tiny, obsessively neat writing, rolled tight and pressed into their hands. It becomes clear that each new crime is a grisly reference to folk stories collected almost two hundred years ago by the Brothers Grimm. The hunt is on for a serial killer who is exploring the darkest, most fundamental fears hidden in ancient fairy tales. A predator who kills and then disappears into the shadows. A monster we all learned to fear in childhood.

Murder is no fairy tale

Scottish true-crime writer Carol Anne Davis (who blogs at the outstanding In Cold Blog) released this collection of profiles of deviant duos in the UK in 2005. Three years later, this chilling collection is available to U.S. readers in a paperback printing. Davis discusses the most famous UK serial murder couples -- the moors murders and the case of Fred and Rosemary West - plus over a dozen more murdering couples from around the globe. She pays special attention to her subjects' childhoods, cataloging the physical and sexual abuse that is so common in their backgrounds.

Carol Anne Davis organizes her crime profiles by type -- couples who kill together vs. couples in which one partner is exonerated vs. homosexual couples, and so on. She does the headline-grabbing cases well, and introduces the reader to a number of other lesser-known (but no less fascinating) serial murderers. Her essays are complete criminal profiles, including the detective work required to take these criminals down. Highly recommended for true crime fans.

COUPLES WHO KILL: PROFILES OF DEVIANT DUOS is a chilling study of what drives attractive male cousins to rape and kill ten young women, why an altar girl and her boyfriend torture their victims, and more. These killers make up only twenty percent of murderers, but often are serial killers and responsible for terrible murders. Thirteen case studies are examined in a study which combines research with interviews with experts and surviving victims to make for eye-opening revelations about couples who kill together.

Eighteen months after her ordeal at the hands of the sadistic 'Stiletto Murderer', fashion model and forensic psychology student Makedde Vanderwall must confront her demons when she returns to Sydney for the trial. But just as the verdict is handed down, the unthinkable happens - the homicidal maniac escapes and Makedde is his target once again. This is the basic plot of a truly riveting suspense novel by award-winning mystery writer Tara Moss who draws upon her own expertise as a former international model to craft a well-honed romantic thriller that will engage the listeners's total attention from beginning to end. This flawlessly recorded, 9 hour 45 minute, 10 CD audiobook features the author's own narration and is an enthusiastically recommended addition for community library audiobook and mystery/suspense collections.

It has been eighteen months since Ed Brown the "Stiletto Killer" of nine women was caught after he kidnapped and tortured Canadian model Makedde Vanderwall. All the women he butchered wore stiletto heels like his mother used to before the incident he caused that put her in a wheelchair because she no longer had legs. Mak is leaving Canada and heading to Australia to be the star witness for the prosecution since she was the only victim who survived Ed's torture.

She testifies on the first day of the trial but in the middle of her testimony Ed Brown confesses that he is guilty on all counts of murder. In exchange for certain privileges, he leads the police to a place where he says a victim lies that the police never discovered. It is a trap and when an incendiary device explodes, Ed escapes. Makedde is scared out of her wits because she knows Brown is fixated on her. She hops on the first plane to Hong Kong for a modeling assignment. Ed, with the help of the prison guard he befriended, follows her and the two come together in a confrontation in which only one of them is left standing.

Tara Moss is Australia's answer to Patricia Cornwell. Her characters are multi-faceted and run the gamut from pure good to pure evil. The scenes in which Ed Brown is the prime player are the most interesting because readers get to see how his twisted mind thinks. Makedde is a beautiful amazon with a high IQ who runs from danger that makes her even more believable than the rest of the characters because she knows Ed Brown is too dangerous for her to be on the same continent with. This is a fascinating crime thriller that contains a feeling of ever spreading danger.

Harriet Klausner

Joyce Spizer is the only writer who could possibly makes us feel outrage on behalf of a monster. How does she accomplish this? By showing us the failings in the justice system and the social supports and the schools that could have prevented the deaths of the 70 people of which Glen Rogers has killed, that we know about. Joyce's most shocking revelation is not that Glen may be the one who actually killed Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. This will most likely be a matter of fierce debate, as will her contention that Glen Rogers' depravity is partly due to his unfit parents, who have rendered all but one of their seven children forever damaged (they have 300 arrests between them.) Her insight into judicial errors of L.A. County and Florida makes you take seriously her argument that the law enforcement officials who failed to stop Glen Rogers before he killed his first victim are as much to blame for the ruined lives as Glen himself. Joyce sets out to do something revolutionary, and succeeds in sounding a "wake-up call" to all those who just wash their hands of troubled at-risk juveniles.

I haven't ever picked up a true crime book before. I really enjoyed this book. You can tell it was well researched! Some of the family interviews must have been very difficult. I learned a great deal about the mind of a serial killer, or at least this one in particular.Also, I learned a whole lot about trial law and porphyria (the disease Glenn has). It was very insightful.

Kyle is an absolute nutter. Known to the public as The Puppeteer, he embarks on a spree of multiple murders in an attempt to create The Dance--a ritual enacted with his victims and his odd sidekick, Nina. Kyle positions his victims in a disturbing way after death, though what Kyle needs to do to them to position them this way is done while they are still alive....

Nina abets Kyle in all of his crimes--as far as creating the set up, the place, and the victims. Kyle, in love with Nina, doesn't question her motives for wanting to join him on his quest for hearing the screams of those he tortures. After all, it must be a serial killer's dream to find a woman who shares the same predilection. But Nina isn't `all there'....

Detective Tom Wiley is on The Puppeteer's trail once more after eight years pass since the last murder. The Puppeteer has upped the ante--his killings are more disturbing this time round. Why did the killer stop for so long? Why is he back? Tom intends to find out. Assigned a new partner, Anna Perez, Tom not only has to find a killer of despicable proportions, but also struggles to settle into a new work relationship. Tom's ex wife, Sherry, throws more stress into the mix by messing with Tom's emotions with regards to their children. Also, Sherry's new partner, Dan, rattles Tom's already fraught nerves (Dan got on mine too!).

The Dance sated my yen for the macabre. Though Kyle's acts are violent and despicable, I will admit to enjoying reading about his antics (am I sick?). I also felt a little sorry for him. Yes, insane to feel sympathy for a nutbag who goes round gouging people's insides out and doing that...that thing he does to them, but, well, Kyle's a lumbering dimwit really, and though there should be an inkling of remorse inside him, he doesn't appear to know any better. This doesn't excuse his actions, of course, but all the same.... Nina, it's Nina's fault! She encourages him! Now, if Nina were your average woman, Kyle, once he starts to sense something isn't quite right with her, would probably be able to get rid of her in the same way he offs his victims. But Nina, like I said, isn't all there, and Nina is on a higher mental plane than Kyle. Other forces attempt to help Kyle see the light with regards to what Nina is really up to, but the poor sap's besotted with her. Nina is the only person who has truly loved him, you see....

The paranormal aspect of The Dance is truly believable. I didn't question how Kyle and Nina got from one site to another--the explanation of how they travel seemed totally plausible.

My favourite scene involved a botched up journey that Kyle took while still learning how to project himself. His altercation with a police officer made me laugh out loud. Kyle, though off his rocker, has a sharp wit that brings much dark humour to the tale.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Dance and look forward to reading more from James Goodman. His warped characters are exactly the kind I like to read about. Sick, weird, and twisted.

I LOVE this book. The Dance, written by James Goodman, is an awesome story. It's a romantic horror, paranormal romance, romantic suspense and romantic thriller all is one!

The story revolves around the hero, Tom, and his quest to catch a serial killer, aka--the Puppeteer. (With a name like that, I'm sure you can imagine what he does to his victims--LOL!) The heroine, Anna, is also a detective and is helping Tom on the case. Theirs is a love/hate relationship, but I haven't seen such great chemistry between partners since the days of the X-Files. (Yes, I'm such a geek. I know...)

However, the romance doesn't stop there. Wait until you meet the villain and the villainess. You'll find yourself loving them as much as you do the hero and heroine. (How can I love a serial killer? Read this book and you'll see what I mean.)

Though I'm not one to read this genre of romance, I'm so glad I did. The Dance kept me on edge the whole time, and well... can we say twisted? This story was fun, fresh, scary and twisted!!!

The Dance is a great book from a great author and I can't wait to read more books from James Goodman.

I'm not usually much for this genre, but once I read the first several pages, I found myself concerned about these people, so then it literally became impossible for me to put the book down until it was over. I'm exhausted. Great read. Should be a movie.

Twenty years ago Alan Lombardo, accountant to the mob boss George Heinrich, was convicted of killing nine people. He swore he was innocent, but nobody believed him. Now after two decades in jail, he hires law partners Zack Wilson and Terry Tallach to find a loophole that will get him a new trial. They reluctantly take the case. They think they have found an opening when they learn who originally defended the convicted CPA; as Zach's father was on two payrolls with Alan and Heinrich both paying him. His father, now a respected judge, could get disbarred if his conflict of interest goes public.

Complicating their ethics dilemma is that the attorneys begin to believe their client is innocent even before a serial killer begins a series of murdering using the same MO as the Springfield Shooter did. The pinky of each victim is cut off and the phrase "Welcome to my World" is left with each victim. That information was never made public. Back then the police barely looked at author Malcolm Ayers as their serial killer because Lombardo fit so perfectly; however evidence points towards him being the "Eternally Yours" killer except lead detective Vera Demopoulos has doubts as everything is to simply perfect making her wonder about a frame, but proving it without dying is quite a task.

DIARY OF A SERIAL KILLER is appropriate titled because it was Lombardo's journal that ultimately convicted him. Readers will feel sorry for the mild-mannered obsessive-compulsive convict who does not come across as a psychopath. The cat and mouse game between the cop and the killer will fascinate the audience who will obsess over deciphering clues from the present. Ed Gaffney has a hit series with this fine thriller as an indication.

Harriet Klausner

This extensively-researched true crime story reads like a novel. The players come alive to a disturbing extent. I hope Ms. Booth continues with her crime writing efforts.

Taylor Helzer was a devout Mormon who lost his moral compass after diving into the teachings of a "self-help" program and heavy drug use. Charismatic since a child, he managed to manipulate his brother and a lonely woman into sharing his belief that he was a prophet who would save the world from the Apocalypse. His plan was to kidnap the top leaders of the church and force them to write letters to Mormons declaring him the new leader.

Author and journalist Claire Booth gives an excellent narrative of the shocking events of the summer of 2000, when the Helzer gang brutally murdered five innocent Bay Area residents -- including the daughter of blues musician Elvin Bishop -- in an effort to extort money he hoped would finance his plan.

Booth gives us insight into the real nature and history of all the people involved -- the victims, their families, law enforcement, the killers -- and shows us how Helzer transformed into the false prophet.

I remember ordering and reading the book after I saw the television movie about the Hillside Stranglers, Ken and Angelo, Bianchi and Buono. The author mentions about the killer's trying to use a multiple personality defense which was totally insulting to those who have multiple personalities from similar trauma as the girls they abducted, lured, terrorized, tortured, and finally murdering them and leaving their bodies on the Hillside. The ten victims in the Los Angeles case and two victims in Bellingham should not be forgotten. Bianchi and Buono, both cousins, had a sick, twisted agenda. I don't remember reading about their childhoods or any abuse in their lives. The case was a travesty because of Ken's decision to fake or feign illness. They should have been on death row but because Ken got life so did Angelo who died in prison anyway.

This guy HAS done his homework, has NOT been "duped" and was in fact on an E! special all about the Hillside Strangler. This is an excellent book about Ken Bianchi, and regarding the so called "faking" Schwarz explained that Bianchi could indeed have been a multiple when first arrested, but throughout all the interviews, multiple psychological testing, it was likely that these multiple personalities became self-aware.

This book will have you laughing out loud while thinking about important issues related to the criminal justice system. Alan Young has managed to find that difficult balance that eludes most authors of this subject. His writing is funny, intelligent, clever and thought-provoking (and sometimes obscene, though not in the legal sense). This book is not just for lawyers - it's for all of us who value our rights and our freedom to choose how we live our lives. Kudos to Professor Young for having the courage to speak his mind and to stand up to his profession, take a bow, and then spit in its face!

Astonishing! When I heard Alan Young on CBC's Here and Now Show, at first I thought he must be an unsuccessful lawyer ranting about the system. Then I found out that he's actually the same guy that defended Terry Jean Bedford in the 80's, and has all the important marijuana cases that keep hitting the news. And a Law Professor! Wow! When someone like this says there's something deeply wrong with our criminal justice system and the way lawyers are trained, I take notice. I bought the book a couple days ago and couldn't put it down. I always thought that there was some barrier and even mystery between lay people and the law, Alan Young confirmed my thoughts, and explains why. It's not me, it's the system. This book is a wake up call for Canada, and should be a turning point for change. I wish it was requisite reading for every citizen, politician, law student, police officer, and judge. Why aren't there more laywers like this?