Best books about serial killers? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

CuriousMind90 · 05-20-2011, 08:57 PM

Any recommendations?

JamesG · 05-20-2011, 09:25 PM

I don't know if this is the "best", but it's one that I own:

Jason K · 05-20-2011, 09:44 PM

Bind, Torture, Kill: The Inside Story of BTK, the Serial Killer Next Door

It's very disturbing, but that much should be obvious.

UMFaninMD · 05-20-2011, 10:05 PM

Definitely Ann Rule's "Green River, Running Red" about The Green River Killer:

http://www.amazon.com/Green-River-Ru.../dp/0743238516

Tighthead · 05-21-2011, 02:03 AM

I find Jack Olsen to be the best.

Not a big Ann Rule fan, I found Green River to be tedious and unquestioning.

kdog1 · 05-21-2011, 12:25 PM

'Ted Bundy: Conversations With a Killer' by Hugh Ayensworth and Stephen Michaud. Not easy reading by any means, but an excellent book.

Orange_Sody_84 · 05-24-2011, 08:23 AM

I enjoyed "The Last Victim" by Jason Moss. at the time Moss was a college student who became pen pals with several serial killers including John Wayne Gacy. the book was adapted into a movie called "Dear Mr. Gacy". in my opinion the book and movie were very good.

Corky Kneivel · 05-24-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tighthead

I found Green River to be tedious and unquestioning.

How so? Which Jack Olsen books would you recommend?

@ CuriousMind90: I dunno if you like podcasts or audiobooks but blogtalkradio.com has a fantastic podcast in which Dan Zupansky, himself an author of true crime novels and articles, interviews authors of upcoming or newly released books in the genre. I highly recommend it.

Other true crime podcasts I've enjoyed are Burl Barer's ((some grisly tales told on this one but Burl is a character and a natural showmnan)) and Denny Greene's ((more mob/Las Vegas focused but he covers crime in general))

Tighthead · 05-24-2011, 02:53 PM

Misbegotten Son is a good Olsen book. None I wouldn't recommend, although some think that Son ( a different one) has some factual errors.

I found Green River formulaic. 10-15 pages on each victim, all of which seemed a little too positive. Seemed to whitewash their families and upbringings a little.

I also thought that Rules' LE bias came through. The police work was lacking and she was not critical enough as I recall.

05-20-2011, 08:57 PM	#1
CuriousMind90 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2010 Posts: 244	Best books about serial killers? Any recommendations?

05-20-2011, 09:25 PM	#2
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,039	I don't know if this is the "best", but it's one that I own: Attached Images

05-20-2011, 09:44 PM	#3
Jason K Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 05, 2010 Posts: 59	Bind, Torture, Kill: The Inside Story of BTK, the Serial Killer Next Door It's very disturbing, but that much should be obvious.

05-20-2011, 10:05 PM	#4
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	Definitely Ann Rule's "Green River, Running Red" about The Green River Killer: http://www.amazon.com/Green-River-Ru.../dp/0743238516

05-21-2011, 02:03 AM	#5
Tighthead Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 15, 2006 Posts: 199	I find Jack Olsen to be the best. Not a big Ann Rule fan, I found Green River to be tedious and unquestioning.

05-21-2011, 12:25 PM	#6
kdog1 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 23, 2011 Posts: 10	'Ted Bundy: Conversations With a Killer' by Hugh Ayensworth and Stephen Michaud. Not easy reading by any means, but an excellent book.

05-24-2011, 08:23 AM	#7
Orange_Sody_84 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 05, 2010 Location: Myrtle Beach Posts: 234	I enjoyed "The Last Victim" by Jason Moss. at the time Moss was a college student who became pen pals with several serial killers including John Wayne Gacy. the book was adapted into a movie called "Dear Mr. Gacy". in my opinion the book and movie were very good.

05-24-2011, 02:53 PM	#9
Tighthead Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 15, 2006 Posts: 199	Misbegotten Son is a good Olsen book. None I wouldn't recommend, although some think that Son ( a different one) has some factual errors. I found Green River formulaic. 10-15 pages on each victim, all of which seemed a little too positive. Seemed to whitewash their families and upbringings a little. I also thought that Rules' LE bias came through. The police work was lacking and she was not critical enough as I recall.