Into the Minds of Madmen: How the Fbi's Behavioral Science Unit Revolutionized Crime Investigation

by Don DeNevi, John H. Campbell, John E. Otto (Foreword)

When law enforcement struggles to solve a serial murder, arson, rape, or child abduction, and is making little headway, it turns to the FBI's legendary Behavioral Science Unit (BSU) at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Over the past three decades, more than thirty members of this elite team have worked to capture countless elusive criminals. Rarely have they been appreciated. Never has their story been told.Now, at the suggestion of Stephen Band, the current Chief of the BSU, the inside story has been written by John Campbell, former BSU Chief (1989-1992) and Don DeNevi, author of many highly acclaimed true-crime books. In a fascinating account, full of quiet heroics and grisly criminal details, the authors describe the difficult work of the tireless professionals who have devoted their careers to investigating and analyzing the deeds and personalities of the macabre psychopaths who haunt our streets.In contrast to well-known fictional depictions, like The Silence of the Lambs and The X-Files, DeNevi and Campbell's real-life perspective shows that the true story is more engrossing, indeed astonishing, than any movie or novel. The authors reveal how this crack unit developed a new technique, from a combination of psychological profiling and old-fashioned detective work, which succeeded in cracking a host of difficult cases, including serial murders, hostage taking, and terrorism. Readers experience what it is like to crawl into the twisted minds of notorious criminals, as psychological profilers must do to learn their motivations, patterns, and probable next move.This unique oral history will provide fascinating reading for fans of C.S.I., Profiler, and other similar dramas, and is also a long overdue and fitting tribute to the heroic men and women of the Behavioral Science Unit, who fight everyday to keep Americans safe.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Psychology

438 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is *not* a true crime book.

The title doesn't do any favors...since it seems most think this is going to be about serial killers or profiling in particular. This is more a history of the BSU and it's much, much more than just profiling. Reviewing it for what it is, it is impeccably researched and detailed. At times that leads to dull reading about development of some programs within the FBI, but as a historical account, that's expected.

Overall this would be of interest to FBI history buffs, or anyone with interest in how the BSU came about and all the programs in the FBI that were a direct result of the BSU.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a little too detailed on who did what and when. I like to learn in general about how the behavioral unit evolved and other programs in the FBI, but it focused too much on the people who were involved. While I appreciate their participation... I don't need to read all the details about them.

[ian witham · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you want to learn how the BSU caught murderers, rapists, terrorists, and arsonist, this is not the book for you. There is very little of that. It is like a collection of essays by men who taught at a school I did not go to. There is more about where this teacher was taught, what he taught and when, but they skip backwards and forwards in time. People appear, retire, and then reappear years earlier.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

This e-book was too difficult to read based on the way it was presented. It looks like it was scanned in and I found it too difficult to finish.