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The Killer Book of Cold Cases: Incredible Stories, Facts, and Trivia from the Most Baffling True Crime Cases of All Time
A gripping collection that dives deep into the darkest mysteries of unsolved crimes Unleash your inner detective as you embark on a thrilling journey through history's most perplexing cold cases. This meticulously researched compendium brings together a wealth of incredible stories, fascinating facts, and tantalizing trivia, providing you with an unparalleled insight into the enigmatic world of true crime. Featuring notorious cases from various eras and locations, The Killer Book of Cold Cases sheds light on perplexing disappearances, puzzling murders, and baffling heists that have confounded law enforcement and captured the public's imagination for years. From the legendary Jack the Ripper to modern-day enigmas, each case will leave you questioning the limits of human comprehension. Whether you're an avid true crime enthusiast or a curious newcomer, immerse yourself in the mind-boggling complexities of these unsolved mysteries. With each page turned, you'll uncover chilling narratives, unexpected twists, and compelling evidence, carefully curated to captivate both armchair sleuths and seasoned investigators alike.
240 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
About the author
Tom Philbin
69 books26 followersTom Philbin is a writer of numerous books and has also written articles for a variety of magazines, including Parade, Woman's Day, and Reader's Digest. He lives in Centerport, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
April 3, 2022
Packed full of information on cold cases, homicide, DNA and the justice system.
July 28, 2018
I liked this book as a broad reference until I came across the following paragraph (no spoilers):
“What strikes me as very curious is why those women couldn’t at least have sensed what he was really like. Perhaps they did, but their overwhelming need to be dominated-and, in a curious way, loved that way-made them look to the side rather than straight at the man to determine what he was really like.”
As a woman, hey fuck you. You supposedly researched sociopaths while writing this book so you would know they are notoriously good at masking who they are and that they can easily become who the other person wants them to be. This blaming-the-women shit is bull. Many criminals and killers are charming. That paragraph turned me off reading the rest of the book so I didn’t actually finish it but hey, can you blame me?
“What strikes me as very curious is why those women couldn’t at least have sensed what he was really like. Perhaps they did, but their overwhelming need to be dominated-and, in a curious way, loved that way-made them look to the side rather than straight at the man to determine what he was really like.”
As a woman, hey fuck you. You supposedly researched sociopaths while writing this book so you would know they are notoriously good at masking who they are and that they can easily become who the other person wants them to be. This blaming-the-women shit is bull. Many criminals and killers are charming. That paragraph turned me off reading the rest of the book so I didn’t actually finish it but hey, can you blame me?
April 17, 2019
This was my first time reading this author and I am glad that I did!
I thought this book was very good and it covered crimes that I have heard about, but there were some that I hadn't. The book also contains some trivia (Q&A) after each case which lets the reader try to answer questions that maybe they know or think they know. The book was a little different then most crime books, but I thought it was very informative on the cases. There are other books by this author and I after reading this book, I am going to try and track them down. Three stars for this one.
I thought this book was very good and it covered crimes that I have heard about, but there were some that I hadn't. The book also contains some trivia (Q&A) after each case which lets the reader try to answer questions that maybe they know or think they know. The book was a little different then most crime books, but I thought it was very informative on the cases. There are other books by this author and I after reading this book, I am going to try and track them down. Three stars for this one.
July 30, 2021
A mismash of solved and unsolved cases, along with quizzes, and commentary that just felt like filler rather than relevant information.
Visit my new blog "I Love True Crime Books"
Visit my new blog "I Love True Crime Books"
November 3, 2015
This was a nice little book, the cases covered were explained nicely and I liked the included theories on the unsolved ones. The one thing that bugged me was the mini cases thrown into the middle of the chapters. It interrupted the flow on the main story ands would have been better saved for the end.
April 2, 2021
wow
Full thoughts to come.
Full thoughts to come.
March 23, 2012
I found some of the cases to be really interesting by I agree with Tasha about the choppiness. In the midst of a chapter there would be notes on another case or different crime facts. I found it to be very distracting.
I also felt as Tasha did, that these would be cases still cold as the book was called Killer book of cold cases. They weren't cold cases, in most cases the crimes were solved.
I also felt as Tasha did, that these would be cases still cold as the book was called Killer book of cold cases. They weren't cold cases, in most cases the crimes were solved.
June 27, 2025
A cliffs notes covering of some interesting cases. Most I've learned much more about from various podcasts. Worthy of a borrow, would not spend money on this and makes me wonder about his other true crime books.
June 15, 2020
Pretty good
This book was pretty good but not as good as the infamous crimes book. There are some repeat stories in this one.
This book was pretty good but not as good as the infamous crimes book. There are some repeat stories in this one.
February 7, 2020
Writing is clear, but boring. Summaries of a bunch of interesting cases, but maybe too much summary. My main objection is that while the author seems to work hard at showing that he's using the most reliable sources and criminology, he stumbles on the rape issue. After showing with statistics that rape is an all too common crime, he points the finger at "domineering, controlling" women--mothers and wives--as the sources of the violent rapists' urge to assault, hurt, rape, and murder other women. Oh, for f's sake, Philbin. That is an old Freudian piece of BS. Blame women for a man's urge to rape them. I recall reading the comment of a scientist, that we must remember "men got up every morning, for many thousands of years, to kill animals." Men are hunters and killers, at some level in their psyche. No matter how much civilization is at work inside of them.
Men have some innate wiring in their brain, probably affected by testosterone, adrenalin, and other hormones that interact with stress and upbringing, to make each man an individual, with different motivations. To blame a domineering mom on the actions of a rapist is no different than saying a man is gay because of his domineering mom and absent father. No, Tom, no. Most rapes are committed by perfectly normal guys, for the simple reason they are horny as hell and use some mental gymnastics to justify their actions. When a man is also psychotic, the extremes of violence appear. But f you, if you want to make women responsible for the violence against other women. You are no better than the criminals you describe, for supporting such a premise.
Men have some innate wiring in their brain, probably affected by testosterone, adrenalin, and other hormones that interact with stress and upbringing, to make each man an individual, with different motivations. To blame a domineering mom on the actions of a rapist is no different than saying a man is gay because of his domineering mom and absent father. No, Tom, no. Most rapes are committed by perfectly normal guys, for the simple reason they are horny as hell and use some mental gymnastics to justify their actions. When a man is also psychotic, the extremes of violence appear. But f you, if you want to make women responsible for the violence against other women. You are no better than the criminals you describe, for supporting such a premise.
January 7, 2023
I previously read The Killer Book of Serial Killers: Incredible Stories, Facts and Trivia from the World of Serial Killers and I would have to say that it was a lot better than this one. This one was more personalized towards the author in that he included a personal experience with a cold case and throughout the book he adds tidbits of his thoughts about the cases. I thought it was interesting especially for his thoughts about the parachute case since he has expertise in that area, however I think it would’ve been cool to hear opinions from others who have expertise in other areas because he doesn’t know all the ins and outs.
This one was also all over the place when it came to talking about the cases. There were a million stories between the main focuses of each chapter and it was distracting (especially since some of them didn’t seem to be related to the actual case). It made it hard to follow the timeline and keep track of what case the author is writing about.
The book Unsolved Serial Killers: 10 Frightening True Crime Cases of Unidentified Serial Killers (The Ones You've Never Heard of) Volume 1 did a better job at focusing on the victims of these crimes by calling them by their names and telling the reader about their lives. This book on the other hand didn't and I get that this is a different author with different motives to writing about cold cases, but again these are cold cases that haven’t been solved or only recently were solved with little to know about the killers.
This one just didn't live up to the first book of his I read. I will read his other books as I like his writing style, this one just was kind of a let down.
This one was also all over the place when it came to talking about the cases. There were a million stories between the main focuses of each chapter and it was distracting (especially since some of them didn’t seem to be related to the actual case). It made it hard to follow the timeline and keep track of what case the author is writing about.
The book Unsolved Serial Killers: 10 Frightening True Crime Cases of Unidentified Serial Killers (The Ones You've Never Heard of) Volume 1 did a better job at focusing on the victims of these crimes by calling them by their names and telling the reader about their lives. This book on the other hand didn't and I get that this is a different author with different motives to writing about cold cases, but again these are cold cases that haven’t been solved or only recently were solved with little to know about the killers.
This one just didn't live up to the first book of his I read. I will read his other books as I like his writing style, this one just was kind of a let down.
December 20, 2024
I've read several of these books and have always taken them to be quick reads filled with a collection of facts, stories, and intrigue around the darker side of humanity-- arson, rape, murder, etc. There's some personal commentary in this one that I don't remember being as apparent in the others, however it wasn't super intrusive, just a bit distracting though I understand Philbin's need to share a bit of his background.
Either way, the insights and stories are always fascinating. Some more well-known than others. The one I don't think I knew was about Dian Fossey, the zoologist "who observed and studied gorilla groups for eighteen years in Rwanda. She was brutally murdered in the bedroom of her cabin on December 26, 1985. Her skull had been split by a native panga, a type of machete that she had confiscated years earlier from poachers and hung as a decoration on the wall of her cabin. Fossey was found dead beside her bed, two meters from a hole that had been cut in the cabin wail on the day of her murder."
"Amber Hagerman was the victim of an abduction and murder. On January 13, 1996, the nine-year-old was riding her bike near her grandparents' home in Arlington, Texas. She was kidnapped soon thereafter. Four days later, a man walking his dog found her body in a creek bed. An autopsy revealed that her throat had been cut. Although a $75,000 reward was offered for information leading to Hagerman's killer, the perpetrator was never found. Her murder would later inspire the creation of the AMBER Alert system, which provides alerts about child abduction emergencies."
... I didn't realize that it has only been around since 1996!
Either way, the insights and stories are always fascinating. Some more well-known than others. The one I don't think I knew was about Dian Fossey, the zoologist "who observed and studied gorilla groups for eighteen years in Rwanda. She was brutally murdered in the bedroom of her cabin on December 26, 1985. Her skull had been split by a native panga, a type of machete that she had confiscated years earlier from poachers and hung as a decoration on the wall of her cabin. Fossey was found dead beside her bed, two meters from a hole that had been cut in the cabin wail on the day of her murder."
"Amber Hagerman was the victim of an abduction and murder. On January 13, 1996, the nine-year-old was riding her bike near her grandparents' home in Arlington, Texas. She was kidnapped soon thereafter. Four days later, a man walking his dog found her body in a creek bed. An autopsy revealed that her throat had been cut. Although a $75,000 reward was offered for information leading to Hagerman's killer, the perpetrator was never found. Her murder would later inspire the creation of the AMBER Alert system, which provides alerts about child abduction emergencies."
... I didn't realize that it has only been around since 1996!
January 31, 2021
Two stars, that's it.
Okay, hear me out. this is a good book. The Killer Book of Cold Cases is a book compiling some of cold cases, some that I haven't heard before. If you're a big fan of cold cases, you'll know much about some cases written in this book. This book provides enough information with a different format and you'll find trivia and quizzes being thrown in the middle of the explanation of cases. But this is what I dislike. First thing first, this book does provide enough information, but it also leaves out many important points that could've been there if the author cares to dig deeper into the case. This, of course, bugs me the most as I'm such a big fan of cold cases. The information being left out are usually important and vital, hence I couldn't find it in this book. The other cases I haven't heard before, well, I cannot say much about the information being provided.
Secondly, I'm down with quizzes and trivia being included here but I find this format a little bit confusing. The explanation is boring and too lengthy, eventhough I could make it until the end.
Lastly, I really despise how, at certain point, the writer decides to give his opinion on a matter talking about rape and woman. I don't know if it's just my guts speaking, but I feel like the writer couldn't stop himself from making such an uncalled for remark for cases, and that's quite disappointing.
Thus, I decide to give this two stars.
December 12, 2025
Interesting cases, but some were overdone.
The cases were not the issue; however, his casual sexism really shines in several passages that grossed me out and made me not want to continue reading several times.
For example, he describes how serial killers absolutely fooled the world, but then somehow thinks their girlfriends or wives simply turned a blind eye to who the killer really was, rather than being like the rest of the world and were simply fooled and manipulated like everyone else.
Also, when describing a thirteen year old who died, said she was “spectacularly curvaceous”. I completely understand they mistook this child as an adult because they thought she looked like an adult; however this type of description is in extremely poor taste. He could have said she simply looked like an adult; the readers would have understood. To me, this makes a poor writer. Eww.
Also several typos. Distracting.
The cases were not the issue; however, his casual sexism really shines in several passages that grossed me out and made me not want to continue reading several times.
For example, he describes how serial killers absolutely fooled the world, but then somehow thinks their girlfriends or wives simply turned a blind eye to who the killer really was, rather than being like the rest of the world and were simply fooled and manipulated like everyone else.
Also, when describing a thirteen year old who died, said she was “spectacularly curvaceous”. I completely understand they mistook this child as an adult because they thought she looked like an adult; however this type of description is in extremely poor taste. He could have said she simply looked like an adult; the readers would have understood. To me, this makes a poor writer. Eww.
Also several typos. Distracting.
August 8, 2019
Important note: Most of these cases are cases that were cold but have been solved, and the author discusses how they went from being unsolved to solved. That's fine--but may not be what you're expecting. I know I was expecting something a little different.
There are several little Q&A and random fact pages and inserts that can be distracting--you would have to skip past them to finish a paragraph (or passage) before going back to them. While interesting, it seems like something that would be directed to a teen audience not adults. Maybe this would be a great intro to 'true crime' for teens though!
Overall, a quick read.
There are several little Q&A and random fact pages and inserts that can be distracting--you would have to skip past them to finish a paragraph (or passage) before going back to them. While interesting, it seems like something that would be directed to a teen audience not adults. Maybe this would be a great intro to 'true crime' for teens though!
Overall, a quick read.
January 25, 2018
This is quite a fascinating book, though a little outdated; it was published in 2012. It provides the known information on some of the more famous unsolved cases as well as some cold cases that have been solved.
Of particular interest is the 5,300-year-old cold case at the beginning of the book. Then there's Judge Crater, D.B. Cooper, New York's Mad Bomber, Jimmy Hoffa, the Chicago Tylenol poisonings, and much more, including the first time DNA was used to eliminate a suspect and the first time DNA was used to catch a killer --in the same case.
Of particular interest is the 5,300-year-old cold case at the beginning of the book. Then there's Judge Crater, D.B. Cooper, New York's Mad Bomber, Jimmy Hoffa, the Chicago Tylenol poisonings, and much more, including the first time DNA was used to eliminate a suspect and the first time DNA was used to catch a killer --in the same case.
February 13, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. There are multiple 'stories' inside, and each are written in good detail - not too much, but enough to whet your appetite. The author presents facts and figures clearly, and even has quotes from the killers, and sections about Who Am I which you get to guess who the killer was. A very informative book.
September 24, 2024
Two things not described about this book: 1) It is written at the teen level. It does not seem like a book oriented toward adults-- particularly adults who have been to college. 2) The cases in the book are all baffling to the police at some point, but they are not all cold cases. Some were solved within a few years after they happened.
June 4, 2017
I would have given this another star but the format of the book drove me CRAZY! You would be reading along and then there would be a sidebar, but not your normal sidebar, a sidebar that took three pages.
Very well researched and gave a lot of info.
Very well researched and gave a lot of info.
December 13, 2017
An interesting mix of cases- but you'll be heading to the internet to dig a little deeper. The author inserts his self a lot in the narrative, but it's a decent book for any true crime buff or murderino!
June 4, 2018
It was an interesting and quick true-crime read, but I disliked the format. The mini-cases, quizzes, and bits of trivia thrown in just created choppiness and made it difficult to read on my e-reader.
June 24, 2025
There is some neat and thoughtful information in the book. Sometimes, it was hard to follow as the author added extra info into places he was already talking about something else. Overall, I liked the book though!
May 22, 2017
Not as interesting as I thought, but good read.
June 6, 2017
review to come
August 27, 2017
Blah.. Had more famous solved cases than unsolved ones. Not as fun as I expected.
September 10, 2018
A good assortment of cases marred by a weird format (sidebar articles that appear in the middle of stories, quizzes, etc.), and an author with a tendency to insert himself into the proceedings.
November 28, 2018
A fairly light "True Crime" read. Glas I read it, not amazing, but enjoyable.
December 4, 2018
Very Interesting.
I watch a lot of crime shows and pray they find the right people that did this to them. So sad that some cases haven't been solved.
I watch a lot of crime shows and pray they find the right people that did this to them. So sad that some cases haven't been solved.
January 27, 2022
Abrupt and boring.
June 12, 2022
Interesting for the subject matter
This is a book about some famous cold cases. It was interesting as crime novels and police procedural are my favorite types of book.
This is a book about some famous cold cases. It was interesting as crime novels and police procedural are my favorite types of book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews