Serial Murder Books

Another good book by Erica Spindler, she never fails to keep me in suspense, a real page turner, I couldn't put it down. I liked the characters and hope she will have another story with them in it. But I have to agree with the other reader who said she was disappointed in the ending, I was also disappointed. It kind of left me hanging and the only thing I can think of is that she is saving it for a future story.
If you like a good suspense mystery you will enjoy this book! I know I did. Enjoy!

I fell in love with Erica Spindler's work after reading In Silence. So I purchased this book.
The characters are great, I loved M.C.
But the story was kinda obvious. I picked up the killer the first time he showed up. Some characters just get lost in the middle of the story, and some "theories" the detectives have make no sense at all.
Other than that, I enjoyed the book.

This author is one of a kind and I have read all her books and this is just as good as the rest...

Erica Spindler does it again! The book is fast paced with dozens of twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end...even when you're sure you know who did it.

The only problem I had with the book was that the two main characters were pretty unlikeable, particularly MC. I would've given it five stars if I had cared more about these two...although, Kitt did get better as the book went along.

This book wasn't wonderful, but it was a quick read, and did tie up most of the loose ends. However, it did what alot of books do that is hugely disappointing!!! It made one of the bad guys someone who is only mentioned in passing throughout the book. I hate when they do that, it doesn't make it shocking it makes it annoying. The bad guys story and history could have been written soooooooo much better!

But if your just looking for a quick easy to follow book this ones not a bad choice.

I read this book in two days. I loved the plot, the characters, and everything. One weird thing is that I felt sad when Miranda killed Davy Larsen (The Butcher). I don't know why I felt sorry for the bad guy, maybe because it wasn't really his fault. Maybe his past was tormenting him and he had no way out. When you are reading the book, you feel you love it. When you finish it--well, your opinion about it may change. Don't know why.

Again, Ms. Brennan has written a stay up late, edge of your seat, can't put down book. If possible it was better than The Prey. I say worth every penny!

The Hunt is the second book in a trilogy. The characters in this one, Miranda and Quincy are mentioned in the previous book, The Hunt. While predictable at times, the book is still entertaining and has mystery and suspense. I think Ms. Brennan's Evil trilogy that came after this one is better, but I'm enjoying this one too.

This was probably a 3 1/2. It was very well written. Hard subject matter. Books on serial killers are not usually my kind of book. I did enjoy it.

"...a taut, well-paced romantic thriller that will leave you desperate to read the third and final book in the series. Hunt it down in the shops now!"

Miranda Moore is no ordinary woman. Twelve years ago she escaped from a serial killer, The Bozeman Butcher, but her best friend, Sharon, wasn't so lucky. Neither were several other young girls from the local college who he hunted and tortured for fun. In an effort to control her life and deal with 'survivors guilt', she enrolled with the FBI under the watchful eye of her mentor and lover, Quinn Peterson. But when he forced her out of the programme because he felt she hadn't joined the FBI for the right reasons, Miranda never thought she'd see Quinn again. Not that she wanted to, after how he treated her.

However, with The Butcher still on the loose, and holding another victim captive, Miranda felt compelled to assist in her capacity as a search and rrescue specialist. She owed it to the victim's families, her dead best friend and perhaps her sanity. Unfortunately she is still vulnerable, and before long Miranda and Quinn are reunited and their old feelings resurface. Is it now too late to return to how they were? With the killer back on the scene, and Miranda his latest quarry, they may never have the chance to find out.

When I picked up this book I wasn't sure what to expect. How could it be as good as The Prey, Ms Brennan's debut book? Nothing could beat that, or so I thought. As you can tell, I was not disappointed. The Hunt, the second book in this trilogy is just as good. In fact, in some ways The Hunt is even better. Allison Brennan has yet again pulled out all the stops to create another gripping masterpiece. As an entertainer she knows how to pack a punch!

From the meaty dialogue to the thrilling, nail-biting plot, Allison sends her protagonist and all those who are dear to her to hell and back several times. Readers who love to hear gruesome details from inside a serial killer's mind, whilst peeking inside the forensic investigations as they unravel hidden clues, will be enthralled by her talented storytelling capabilities.

Also, if it's love you want, there are some great romantic and tender scenes to keep you happy, too. What a plot! It is obvious that a huge amount of planning and thorough research has been undertaken to produce such a believable and exciting story. I could quite easily imagine this being made into a film or a TV drama series. I only hope we get a chance to see it over here in the UK! This is a taut, well-paced romantic thriller that will leave you desperate to read the third and final book in the series The Kill, coming soon!

Someone is murdering beautiful eleven-year-old blonde, blue-eyed girls in the small town of River Oaks. When the mysterious serial killer suddenly turns his sights on blonde, blue-eyed police lieutenant Shiela Brady this book really begins to get interesting. The twisted mind of the killer confuses a childhood tryst with the feisty lieutenant but he's not so twisted that he can't hide right in among the townspeople and no one suspects him. In a position of trust he can murder at will. Has the lieutenant's new boyfriend betrayed her? Will she finally see her boss really cares about her? As a psychotherapist I read so much non-fiction that a book like this just hits the spot when I'm travelling. It is similar to Elizabeth George's book WITH NO ONE AS WITNESS. Perfect. A. B. Curtiss, author of BRAINSWITCH OUT OF DEPRESSION.

Powers brings you to an idyllic, small town, luring you to slow down and smell the flowers along with the heroine. But then she builds the suspense and before long your heart is racing and you can't put the book down. I identified with the heroine and fought right along with her. Already read and loved Bleeding Heart. Waiting for the next one!

Disappointing. If you like a "Gee whiz, Mom" book,
you'll like this. To little about the killer
and to much about
Mom and daughter doing trivial things.I guess
the author needed a lot of filler.
"Savage Art" is a good thriller if you
are looking for a nail biting meaty read.

A warm glass of milk and Sunflower is sure to give you a good night's sleep.

What can I say? I hate to write a bad review for any book considering I'm an aspiring writer and I know how I would feel if I got a negative review. That said, I can't give this more than one star. And I will tell you why. Its one of the slowest books I've ever read. The characters are very old and out of style. This is definitely one for the elderly and not for anyone under the age of 60. From the crew-cutted cop with no sex appeal to his favorite exclamation "Jesus Jenny", I couldn't find myself into the male love interest at all. Its not a badly written book as far as grammar but the pages are full of boredom.

Definitely one to donate to the retirement home! Don't let the 5 star reviews fool you. If you are youngish and like action and mystery, don't get "Sunflower".

This is the first Alafair Burke novel I've ever read, but I'm a big fan of her father, James Lee Burke. Truth be told, I'm more than a little wary of nepotism, and I have read some terrible novels written by children of famous novelists.

Luckily, this does not fall into that category. "Angel's Tip" started off off fast paced and will nab you right from the beginning. Ellie Hatcher is a better written version of the standard single female detective; and the writing focuses on her career rather than the fact that she is single and in a profession where the genders are still not quite equal. You won't find any gripes about calorie counting or husband finding.

The plot, involving the murder of a college student on spring break, is believable and fast-paced. Nothing falls out of thin air to ease the solving of the murder. I am not entirely fond of the name, I don't think it fits it too well within the context of the novel. Burke clearly has an excellent grasp of police procedurals, and displays that here.

This normally isn't the type of genre that I read, but I'm a big fan of shows like 'Law and Order', and this book is very similar. I found the book to be very well written and the characters were well developed to say the least! The book definitely pulls you in and it's hard to put it down. I don't want to give away too much of the story in the review, but in short I recommend and I think you'll enjoy it even if you're not the type to normally read murder mysteries/thrillers.

Detective Ellie Hatcher catches a homicide one morning while she's out jogging in the park with her brother/roommate Jess. They find the murdered and mutilated body of 19-year-old college student Chelsea Hart from Indiana. Chelsea and her friends had come to Manhattan for spring break, and Chelsea disappeared on her last night in town after partying it up in a VIP room with some yuppies. All the evidence points to the least man to see her alive, obnoxiously coiffed Jake Myers, but when Ellie comes across some similar cold cases that Jake would have been too young to commit, she has doubts. When more evidence surfaces with another new victim, Ellie fears she may be the killer's next target.

Though it lacks any qualities to really make it stand out from other police procedural series, this book did star a very likeable lead character and a decent mystery. Ellie has just enough angst in her life, between her job and her love life, to make her likeable. The story twisted and turned, with enough red herrings to keep me guessing until the end. This is a classy murder mystery that stops short of giving too many gory details while vividly describing the New York nightclub scene. Chasing serial killers is popular in fiction these days, and this is one of the better books in the genre.

This is a believable, exciting and very contemporary murder mystery. The scenes, the characters and events that transpire are very well written. There are enough twists and turns in the plot as new clues are provided to keep any jaded murder mystery reader craving to read more ... until the very end. Essentially, three young female college students from Indiana go to New York city during school break to experience something different and new. They visited museums and different neighborhoods to get the feel of the city. On their last night, they chose to go clubbing in a very upscale trendy neighborhood that used to be the meat-packing district. Chelsea Hart is the prettiest and most out-going of the trio. She is the obvious leader and risk-taker. They ended up at a night club named Pulse, where they showed their fake Indiana driver's license IDs and entered, no questions asked. It was a drinking and dancing paradise, sure to provide an unforgettable "night on the town". If it had been up to Chelsea's friends, Jordan and Stephanie, they would have turned in early and gotten a fairly good night's rest, to awaken early for their flight home. Instead, they followed Chelsea's lead into unchartered territory, as was their habit. By one AM, they urged her to return with them to the hotel but she was inebriated and high enjoying herself too much to agree. At two-thirty AM, both Jordan and Stephanie realized they had only a couple of hours to rest, if not sleep, before awakening at five and getting ready to reach their plane by seven AM take-off. This time, Chelsea was with a new guy in his mid-twenties tall and fashionable looking with a faux mohawk. He looked like Jake Gyllenhall and there was no persuading her to return with them. She wanted to make it an "all nighter" and promised to return to the hotel after closing time. That same day, Ellie Hatcher and her brother Jess went jogging around five AM and noticed people gathering near a fence at a construction site. It is rare for New Yorkers to have their curiosity so aroused as to make them stop and gawk. They joined the crowd and were met with a gruesome scene: a partially dressed young adult female, was savagely stabbed, with knife wounds on her torso, sitting propped up like a doll, her legs spread apart, v-shaped. Her hair had been savagely hacked off, leaving parts of her scalp exposed. Ellie's detective training kicked in and her instincts went to work, she whipped out her badge and called her precinct's number. She cleared the area to contain all evidence, making it ready for the crime scene investigators ...

The author does a credible job of collecting evidence and clues from Chelsea's friends, who were in partial shock after learning of the crime. There is an interesting tension between Ellie and her relatively new detective partner J.J. Rogan. Ellie's previous partner retired. He was deemed a rogue cop who occasionally spent his own time collecting clues and reviewing cases, searching for commonalities, digging for unusual links. Ellie and JJ managed to identify and track down the guy last seen with Chelsea, as described and witnessed by the girls. He was apprehended and obviously their prime suspect. However, as Ellie dug further, and checked the backgrounds of the employees at Pulse, another suspect came under investigation. He had a previous arrest for assaulting a young female. Their apparently clean=cut case was getting more complicated ...

Also, Ellie discovered one unusual bit of evidence which her previous partner was following up on and which he sought in the old records of unsolved murders in their district. That one bit of evidence, was a common link with this current case. Ellie's current boyfriend was a newspaper reporter who was working on a book about a past event which impacted Ellie's life and was the impetus for her entering the field of law enforcement. The reader will enjoy how the author connects the dots and creates a roller coaster of a ride, with unexpected twists, turns, and curves in the story before the murder is solved. The author provides a hugely entertaining and enjoyable reading experience. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]

With the proliferation of general interest in cold cases and forensics, Angel's Tip is a timely new entry in the thriller genre. As protagonist, Ellie Hatcher is smart and assertive, building her confidence with every new case and carving out a niche in the man's world of homicide investigation. But she isn't arrogant, and she realizes that she still has a lot to learn. When she literally jogs her way into a serial murder case, she's got to learn fast. Fortunately, she's been paired with a great partner, and it's a pleasure to watch their relationship develop.
Watching Hatcher and Rogan navigate the complex, interwoven minefields of the city of New York, its law enforcement agencies, its media, and its ever active criminal population, is both intriguing and satisfying. As an insider, author Burke strengthens her story with realistic procedural detail far removed from TV portrayals of similar situations, much as Patricia Cornwell did for forensics. The plot of Angel's Tip holds together well up until the final chapters, when her involvement of Hatcher as potential victim seems contrived. Nevertheless, fans of tautly written police procedurals will find much to like in this novel.

I would really give this book a 3 1/2 stars if I could. It is a quick and easy read. Your average murder mystery with some romance thrown in. Not incredible, not horrible.

I was so intrigued by the emotionally-damaged, yet strong characters and gut-wrenching plot, I didn't even notice the evening go by. Sutcliffe harnesses her talent in this tightly-plotted, twisted tale with a dash of undeniable attraction between two characters who have suffered great tragedies and come out stronger.

Had, Bad Moon Rising, by Katherine Sutcliffe, been a little more "romantic" and a little less "street," I would have rated this book 5 stars! This is a terrific story and I know most people will think the same after reading it.

Someone is determined to stop the prostitution in the French Quarter, unfortunately, they are going to extremes to do so, killing all the ladies of the night. The serial killer's style makes it apparent that when the state executed a killer, they killed the wrong man. A slayer who years ago terrorized the city is back, giving JD Damascus a new chance to avenge the wife and children he lost in the first spree.

This new rash of slayings also brings Holly Jones to town, determined to rescue her best friend from the night life she herself escaped. Her quest brings her and JD together, in more ways than one. It also threatens to reveal Holly's dangerous secret. She is on the run for her life, and her new lover is the man who can set her free to begin a new life... if she continues to live, that is.

***** From page one, you will be on the very edge of your seat. Thrilling is only a mild word to describle this one. Holly could easily be one of the top ten heroines of all time. Her scars have made her a force to be reckoned with, without detracting from her feminity. JD is the kind of man who makes you think of Harrison Ford or Mel Gibson. If BAD MOON RISING fails to be a best seller, the public will really be missing a bet. Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Sutcliffe has been generally on target for many of her books and seems to improve with each one. This one has so much going for it, and yet...

A great locale, done well, New Orleans gives an eerie backdrop without too much of the "party-on-down, Cher". She has a gritty story (maybe a wee bit too gritty for romance) and unfortunately not enough romance to balance it. Everything felt forced, abrupt, not with her usual finesse. Some of the characters were a little trite, overdone. But where the book hurts mosts is the play between the leads. It's just a little too contrived, like forcing that square peg into a round hole. Something are never fully explained...

So this one leaves you with mixed feelings. Just a shame a few of these nagging problems could not have been ironed out for it is still a powerful read despite them.

I do think criminal profiling is a valid service, and this book has some interesting moments detailing the author's career in that field, what his childhood and young adulthood were like that might have led him to such a career. I also thought his late-life foray into priesthood was fascinating. Basically, he's a good writer, however, the book is spotty. There are parts that drag and don't mesh with the rest of the book. And though I have no experience whatsoever, personally, with satanic cults, I have met a few credible, tragically damaged people who claim, with complete sincerity, the things that the author says are "impossible," because the FBI has looked into them for years and has never substantiated a case of, for example, child sacrifice/homicide. I, too, was skeptical at one time, and never gave it a second thought, but I must say - again - that a few people who seek no media attention for their stories, have confided some hair-raising stories that are quite similar in nature, though the parties telling them had no knowledge of each other, and were from different parts of the country. In a way, it reminds me a little of alien abduction stories - I'm sure the author would negate these, too, but there are just so many of them that have uniqely similar aspects, and credible witnesses. Still out on this subject...

I am sure I have read the 'life story' type books of most of the well known profilers. I have to admit Roger L Depue was not a name I had come accross in any like books written in the same era. In fact I discovered only one well know book where his name appeared, then only a brief mention.
That aside if you have an interest in this type of book this one is worth the read.
The book essentially follows the life of Roger Depue from his childhood through his career as a rural police officer to the FBI. As most peoples' lives have there interesting aspects certainly anyone with the live experience of the author could not miss out in this area. Therefore I would see this book as esentially a biography. Certainly, in the book, there are many interesting examples of how profiling works and written in a style that is very easy to understand. The book also delves off into how his career and life events produced many 'turnings in the road'.
One of the more interesting parts of the book I found was the author's brief summation of a number of the 'big name' profilers of that era. I found it interesting some get mentioned by their christian names and others by surname only. I guess we can form our own opinions as to why.
Overall, yes 'Another Profiler's Life Story', but if you have an interest in that area, and don't mind a good dose of his personal life, go ahead and have a read. Might not be the best of these books but I found it interesting enough to go cover to cover in three 'sittings'.

I enjoy profiling books and recommend John Douglas' Mindhunters and Obsession . This book has very little for the reader to learn except minor tidbits like how to tell (via "overkill") that the unsub was known to the victim. The book has a long backstory on the authors childhood, dating, marines, etc. and he seems like a bully. The last 1/3 of the book is his religion taking over which is boring. None of the life story or seminary time relate to criminal investigations, which is probably why you are interested in this type of book. The John Douglas books cover fascinating, yet horrible crimes while giving insights into clues to the traits of the criminal - thus are far more interesting than this book by Depue.

I just can't say enough GOOD about this book!!!!! It was a great page turner and hard to put down once started. I thought it would be primarily about profiling, but the added twist of how that affected his life and faith is phenomenal....

He gives the insights of a profiler fine and good. But he is sickeningly boastful the whole book, not just in his description of profiler work, but before he even gets to that point. Its nothing but obvious delusion. Of course you have to try to make the book interesting, but you're NOT Charles Bronson, you're NOT Mike Tyson. I had to stop reading and skip forward in the book because I got tired of reading about how he won a fist fight in high school and then he said Claire Michigan was the closest thing the state had to the wild west, how he got beat up by two guys but should have paid attention because he could have taken them. That aspect of the book is nauseating. You would think he knocked out Muhammed Ali. I would skip this book if I had it to do over.

Not only is this a great true crime story, it's also extremely well written, not your typical dry rehashing of facts. I hope Burke writes more, I'll be waiting for his next!! I read this in one sitting.

Sounding like a non-fiction Mystic River, this is an excellent book about the darker side of the human psyche and one assistant DA's effort to protect society from it. Despite a previous reviewers' contention to the contrary, the author's case against a human predator is carefully laid out, citing corroborating testimony and evidence in a tightly constructed presentation. I found the writer's style refreshing and innovative. Facts from the author's experience and testimony are interspersed with minimalist best estimations of events and there's an interestingly variable boundary between a third and first person point of view. Its a real-life detective story that's difficult to put down.

This book is a chilling story and makes one think about who we let into our lives and why. My husband knew this guy and is mentioned in this book and still has a hard time believing the WHOLE thing, but does say that he did find some of The Quohogs comments over the years to be strange to say the least. Very well written and enjoyed reading what was found. Good Job.Looking forward to more information on this intriguing life of Lenny Paradiso.

I could not put this book down. A fluid read of Massachusetts crime history, this portal into the Law & Order/CSI type relationship between a motivated DA and "biker" trooper was gripping. Only the love of family member could blind a reader from seeing Paradiso for the monster that he was in life. The always playing radio anchored the chapters to the events and offered a moment of reflection for the reader. This is a must read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found myself regreting to turn the last page. I thank Tim Burke and his team for taking this animal off the streets. Tim Burke has a true gift of writing. I have recommended the book to several friends. I look forward to his next book.

Basically, if you're looking for a compelling mystery thriller with a twist, this is decidedly not that book. Kerr's book is a more highfalutin' version of "Silence of the Lambs", which itself was of course very popular back when Kerr wrote this book, in the early nineties. And though Kerr has some interesting ideas here, he ultimately can't seem to fit them into a compelling thriller. As one reader notes, the flow of the story is regularly interrupted by the pseudo-philosophical musings of the killer himself, which only minimally add to the story. The whole thing is frustrating because the premise and the slightly futuristic context are tantalizing in their promise, but in the end Kerr can't deliver. Chockfull of philosophical ideas, the story suffers. The character of Jake is alternately sympathetic and annoying. She harbors much of the same rage (due to her father's psychological abuse) as the serial killers that she pursues, although she is generally able to keep it in check. She hates men, and eventually realizes (a la Clarissa Starling) that the one man she finds the most interesting is the killer himself. Her character and her own story end up undeveloped. One of the better twists in the book is that the killer eventually understands that he has turned into exactly what he has been trying to prevent - a serial killer of potential serial killers. He has viewed himself as a kind of vigilante, convincing himself of the rightness of his actions with his philosophical ideas. But he has too much self-awareness to sustain that, and he himself eventually becomes dispirited and suicidal. Then Jake takes on the task of trying to "save" him, primarily because of her fascination with him. Unfortunately, all of these interesting ideas remain underdeveloped, and the book comes to resemble a sketch of a story onto which Kerr can hang his own philosophical musings. It appears that Kerr tightened up his writing style in subsequent books, but in this early one, the story comes up short.

an excellent insight in to dystopia that seems all too real now, and provides rudimentary lectures for students who should know better, get it.

Unlike Dark Matter, which I thoroughly enjoyed, this book deals with the internal mindset of a serial killer, and I found the premise to be a bit gruesome for my taste. Still it is a well written account, and might be of interest to readers who thrive on psycological horror.

Book Review by C. Douglas Baker

London 2013. Genetic typing has allowed the British government to identify men with a predisposition to serial killing. Now, someone is going around murdering all the men on the list! Thus is the setting for Kerr's A Philosophical Investigation.

As a science fiction work, Kerr has painted a very believable future with a variety of insights on the day-to-day ramifications of modern technology. Gene typing allowing the government to identify potential serial killers could be used for nefarious purposes by an over zealous government. In this case Kerr avoids the "big brother" syndrome, instead showing that the existence of this information becomes dangerous, despite the government's humane intentions. An example of the everyday affect of new technology: a female detective gets a call in the middle of the night from a colleague, answering her picta-phone without thinking she inadvertently exposes herself and the caller makes a lecherous comment about her (...). Homosexuals now use a new, thicker condom less likely to break. Overuse of "reality approximation devices" (virtual reality), is likened to the overuse of LSD; many who overuse such devices begin to lose touch with reality. None of these tidbits are at all central to the story, but along with other small insights, build up a believable future environment.

Readers will recognize many of the developments in 2013 London, both technologically and socially. [NOTE THESE CULTURAL VIEWPOINTS BELOW ARE EXPRESSED BY CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK, THEY ARE NOT VIEWPOINT OF THIS REVIEWER.] Women continue to advance in social equality. Cynically Kerr depicts governmental organizations, such as police forces, as being forced to accept women equally. One British Minister is a black female but a former Olympic sprinter with good looks, which no doubt immensely helped her rise to this position. Again a pessimistic, although realistic, depiction of the social advancement of women. While the women may not always be looked upon as equals by their male colleagues, they continue to prove themselves the equal of men in most cases, and in some tasks they are deemed even better.

Unfortunately, as a mystery novel, A Philosophical Investigation does not come off as well. Kerr could have done much more to add to the suspense of the novel. The culprit is found out early on and the conclusion seems preordained from that point forward. The tracking and catching of the killer is mildly entertaining at times but for the most part is mundane.

The real strength of this book lies in its setting and the creation of a recognizable 2013. Kerr's understanding of the ramifications of technological advances allows him to depict the use of technology in a realistic, day-to-day fashion that is not common in the science fiction genre. The plot and story itself are less satisfying but there is enough of interest here to entertain the casual reader.

A Philosphical Investigation borrows part of its inspiration from Alfred Bester's sf novel, The Demolished Man, in which the chief protagonist must find a way to murder his business partner in a future where all police are telepaths and premeditation is a crime. Kerr's novel takes place in a London overrun by violent crime, particularly serial murder. In an effort to combat these problems the government has developed a test to screen men for a predisposition to such behavior. Now one of the men on their list is systematically killing the others. Mixing philosphy (each of the victims is comprised of those potential killers code named after famous philospohers) and the elements of a taut thriller, this is an usually thought provoking novel that is also Kerr's best.

Briskly paced and exhaustively researched tale of Saucy Jack's legendary reign of terror. Holmes and Watson are at their best here, their amusing--sometimes pointed--personality conflicts as much fun to experience as the chase itself. Very well done.

Like other reviews here, I agree that this is the best Holmes novel outside the originals. Loved the story...loved the notes...just a absolute pleasure.
I'm left with only one complaint: That Mr. Hanna has made us wait all these years before giving another Holmes adventure.
Please, Mr. Hanna....more!

At first I was caught off guard by a third person narrative in a Holmes novel, but once I adjusted I found this a very enjoyable read. The author does nothing new with either the Holmes Canon or with popular theories on the identity of the Ripper, but he creates vivid characterizations and an authentic feeling to his recreation of Victorian London that more than makes up for some of the novels flaws.

The novel draws its suspense and intrest from the strength of the characterizations and skillfulness of the writing. This is one of the better Holmes novels I have read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys novels about Holmes or The Ripper.

Fusion of truth and fiction is fascinating for several reasons, foremost among them being the efforts on part of the author(s) to resolve the inconsistencies related to dates and events. Edward B Hanna's "The Whitechapel Horrors" is doubly fascinating because it brings together two of Victorian England's iconic figures: the beloved Sherlock Holmes and the hated Jack the Ripper! Although this particular brand of fusion has been attempted at in several previous works, beginning with Ellery Queen's "A Study in Terror" and reaching an astounding pinnacle (or nadir, since opinions do differ in such cases) in Michael Dibdin's "The Last Sherlock Holmes Story", this work amazed me due to several reasons:
1. The amount of research put into it would astonish several Ripperologists, while earning admiration from the followers of "The Game"(assuming that both Sherlock Holmes and John H. Watson were real persons) propounded by late William S. Baring-Gould.
2. Inconsistencies in the chronolgy deduced from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works have been neatly fit into the calendar of Ripper-murders.
3. The story is eminently readable, despite the author's steadfast attachment to the Royal conspiracy theory.
My only grievance is that Mr. Hanna could have given the work some sort of finality, rather than trying to be too tactical and keeping Watson as well as us in animated suspension (Holmes KNEW!). It is for this last minute shifting of thrust towards the truth of Ripper remaining elusive that I am taking one star away from my ratings. Otherwise, it is a very-very good novel. Recommended.

There was a piece in the New York Times on 02/14/04 revealing that many authors have stooped to writing reviews of their own books on Amazon.com and publishing those reviews anonymously. I want to assure the reader that I am not one of those authors and that I deplore the practice.

The fact is, most of the reviews of "The Whitechapel Horrors" were complimentary, I am pleased to say, so I didn't have to attempt to pump up sales by writing my own. However, I admit there were a few stinkers -- only a few, I am also pleased to say -- but I have no intention of sharing those with you.

I may be honest, but I am not stupid.

If you are interested, you can read what some of the professional reviewers had to say about "The Whitechapel Horrors" on my web site,
.

Let me know what you think. I'd enjoy hearing from you.

No one could have invented Randy Kraft, as fiction it would be too unbelievable. It boggles the mind that he literally got away with murder for 13 years. The author does a fine job laying out the facts of the case giving us a balance between the victims, their families, Kraft, his family and friends, the police and other serial killers who were operating in southern California at the same time. The plotting was well done and flowed smoothly making it a quick read. The only thing missing for me, was some analysis of what made Randy Kraft do such horrific things to people. But life isn't always tied up into neat resolutions. For anyone interested in serial killers or true crime, this book is a must!

For someone who claims to be a "writer for the Los Angeles Times", Dennis McDougal's implied expertise falls terribly flat on many objectives in this narrative. While definitely a compelling read, I was struck by the amazing number of recurring mis-spellings, incorrect dates, lack of better descriptions of autos and other examples of careless proofreading that, unfortunately, proliferate. One example, a 1974 Mustang is not a "classic", even by today's standards, and it certainly wasn't when it was a year old in 1975. This is just plain "yellow journalism" at its best. In another instance, Mr. McDougal refers to a body that was "pushed out the rear door of a Mustang", implying the vehicle is a 4-door model. Again, this is tabloidism at its best, since no Mustang ever was built with 4-doors. We are given police report numbers, so why not license plate numbers of Kraft's vehicles? The referenced bars in Sunset Beach, The Buoy Shed and The Sable, are repeatedly mis-identified, as is the Rumour Hazzit club in Garden Grove. It makes me wonder how much other innacuracies Mr. McDougal parlayed? And if that is the case, is his research to be trusted? Or, like other reviewers have observed, was he in a rush to be the first kid on his block out with a book deal? Recommended only if you are a casual observer.

Having no special interest in serial killers, I read this book only because I once hired Randy, I was asked to give a deposition after he was arrested, and I hadn't followed his story beyond that. I was amazed to find that he might be responsible for as many killings as he is now suspected of.

Although the content of this book is excellent, I thought the writing was mediocre. Possibly this is because the approach was to "novelize" it. I would have preferred a more straightforward, factual approach, in which I would know which cases were actually attributed to Randy and which ones were not. As I realized that the author wasn't going to provide that information in context, I hoped that he would at least provide it after the fact, either during the trial coverage or possibly in some summary form at the end of the book. He did neither.

While the content makes for a compelling read, and I would therefore recommend the book, I obviously wouldn't recommend the author.

Dennis McDougal is no Jack Olsen. Jack Olsen is a very deft and talented writer of true crime books. Dennis McDougal claims to be a journalist, but after reading this book, I have to seriously question his abilities.

Angel of Darkness is supposed to be a factual account of the horrors that serial killer (the Freeway Killer) Randy Kraft dealt to southern California in the late 1970's and early 1980's. It should be compelling reading and it should make our hearts quake at the loss to families and friends of the poor, undeserving victims. It should make us realize that killers such as Kraft are unrelenting and uncaring monsters (as psychological profiles have revealed serial killers don't despair their victims like we do - they think of them as things rather than people).

On both counts, McDougal fails.

McDougal's approach is to throw facts out along with personal opinion. It is one that confuses and disguises the facts.

This is a very difficult book to read. It is so jumbled in its structure that the reader must take great pains to glean information from the book. It's almost as if McDougal wrote his galleys (the draft of the book) on 3 x 5 note cards and then dropped them all, mixing them up, and never bothered to put them back in order again. Great shifts in time and great changes in reference take place in a single paragraph and enormous chunks of time and references are moved about in chapters. One minute you are reading about the Freeway Killer and his exploits and the next McDougal has switched to speak about the Bonin case and/or the Kearney case (both were serial killers with similar motus operandi operating in southern California at the same time as Kraft). The effect is confusion rather than enlightenment.

It is painfully apparent this book was dashed together around the time of Kraft's capture. Unfortunately, McDougal didn't really bother to try to learn anything about the victims. He focuses almost soley on Kraft and his life. It's easy. It's all there in court transcripts and witness interviews -all available to the press.

McDougal's book is emotionally devoide of any concern for the victims - he gives us only the smallest amount of information necessary and never really lets us connect with the victims or their families.

It would have been preferrable to have simply had the court transcripts etc. copied and printed than to read this mish mash of poor writing.

Jack Olsen's "The Man with the Candy" is probably the benchmark against which all other true crime books should be compared. If so, this one - Angel of Darkness - comes us severely lacking.

Randy Kraft does not receive the same notoriety as some serial killers, but this is not due to a insignificant criminal career. Kraft is believed to have killer as many as 67 people, putting him in a league with only the Green River Killer. Dennis McDougal does a commendable job of capturing the madness of Kraft's 67 murder in "Angel of Darkness".

Randy Kraft's killing spree spanned more than a decade. While evidence could only convict him of sixteen murders, the log of his murderous activities leaves many unanswered questions. The author recounts the stories of as many victims as evidence allows. Some victims remain "John Doe's", while other stories have yet to be ascertained. While this sets limits on the evidence, it does not take away from the story. Kraft, a confessed homosexual, began a spree killing gay men in the 1970's. Before his streak would end, teenage boys only guilty of hitch-hiking would compose a significant number of victims. The seemingly normal behavior Kraft displayed on most days makes his rampage more frightening. Not even his long term boyfriend suspected his crimes. While most people know better than to hitch-hike, the story brings the realization of the vulnerability of our loved ones to darker forces.

Dennis McDougal proves to be an accomplished storyteller in the book. He lends the story and its victims proper respect while maintaining a interesting story. I commend McDougal for telling the story without constant repetition of tedious facts or writing on irrelevant sidebars. This is one of the best true crime books available. It is a shame that it is out of print.