Driven to Kill

by Gary C. King

By all appearances, twenty-nine-year-old Westley Allan Dodd was the perfect all-American boy—model high school student, camp counselor and U.S. Navy enlistee. But behind his mask of normalcy lurked a predatory sex fiend with a seventeen-year history of appalling acts of molestation and violence. Children were his victims and the parks of the Pacific Northwest his personal hunting grounds.


On September 4, 1989, his unnatural desires had driven him past simple satisfaction to abduct, torture, and kill two young boys in Vancouver, Washington. Undetected despite his record, Dodd killed a third innocent victim only weeks later near Portland, Oregon. But only when he was caught trying to kidnap a child from a local movie theater was he finally taken into custody by police. Confessing to this heinous murders, he was convicted on all three counts and sentenced to death.


Based on exclusive access to police files and riveting trial testimony, personal interviews with Dodd himself and excerpts from his chilling "diary of death," Driven to Kill dramatically recounts a hideous spree of death and horror that brought every parent's worst nightmare frighteningly to life!

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Serial Killer

333 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Gary C. King is a freelance author and lecturer who has published more than 500 articles in true crime magazines in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He is also the author of several true crime books including: Blood Lust: Portrait of a Serial Sex Killer, Driven to Kill, Web of Deceit, Blind Rage, Savage Vengeance, An Early Grave, The Texas 7, Murder in Hollywood, Angels of Death, Stolen in the Night, Love, Lies, and Murder, An Almost Perfect Murder, Butcher, Rage, The Murder of Meredith Kercher, Crime Scene: True Stories of Crime and Detection, and Murder Most Foul: True Crime Stories of Murder and Mayhem.

Driven to Kill, the story of serial child killer Westley Allan Dodd's killing spree, was nominated for an Anthony Award in the Best True Crime Book category at Bouchercon 25.

Blood Lust: Portrait of a Serial Sex Killer, details the bizarre case of Dayton Leroy Rogers, Oregon's worst serial killer. A German language edition of Blood Lust was published in 1995. Both Blood Lust and Driven to Kill were chosen as featured selections of Doubleday's True Crime Book Club.

King’s television appearances have included Entertainment Tonight, Larry King Live, Inside Edition, Court TV, MSNBC’s Headliners and Legends, E!, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Extra TV, and several other programs. He also frequently provides radio interviews and has given talks at libraries as well as organizations devoted to readers and writers interested in the genre of true crime.

After years of traditional publishing, King recently joined the growing ranks of indie authors.

Reviews

[Misty Marie Harms · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was rough to get through. I had to take a few breaks to cleanse my mind of the details. Westley Allan Dodd molested, raped, and killed three little boys in the fall of 1989. He was finally captured when he tried to kidnap another child from a movie theater. While serving search warrants, the police discovered Dodd's diary and murder photo book. He had big plans to torture, experiment, and kill as many kids as he could. In his confessions with detectives, he holds nothing back. Dodd gives a detail account of his whole history on his previous arrests and the children he molested without getting caught. He was sentenced to death for his crimes and was hung by his neck.

Now I need to go take a series of showers to get the ick off of me.....

😾😾😾😾

[Louveda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't really know what to say about this book except that it's disturbing. This is a true crime novel about a child serial killer. The depiction of the sexual element involved in these murders is graphic. As a parent it was extremely hard to read. As a survivor it was a trigger. A sad reminder of the evil that exists & the consequences of being a less than vigilant parent.

[Jonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, page turning read that graphically told the tale of Wesley Allen Dodd's life of molestation and eventual murders of young boys. I enjoy reading True Crime and this was one of those stories that suck you in because it's hard to believe that people like this exist and it makes you want to understand what makes a person this way.
I think the author did a great job of telling this story and giving you a true feeling of who Wes Dodd was and unfortunately, his disgusting conquests.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming from a lifelong true crime fan, this was an exceptionally well written book that was as impossible to put down as it was disturbing to read. Very vivid and filled with words straight from the killer himself, this was staggering to get thru. Recommended only to those with a strong will. Students of criminal justice and psychology will find a fascinating case study in human depravity. 10/10

[M.E. Franco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Driven to Kill was a very difficult book to read. The horrific insight into the mind of child molester/killer Westley Allan Dodd was truly chilling. Gary C. King did a marvelous job of including enough details of Dodd's crimes to help build the case against him without going overboard. The statements taken from Dodd's own diary were particularly disturbing. This isn't just a book about a child molester and murderer; it is essential reading for parents to help them understand the mind of a molester and to better prepare their children in case they are approached by a stranger. Dodd himself offered tips on how to avoid pedophiles after his arrest. My husband used to say I was paranoid because I would not let our children go the bathroom alone at movie theaters, and that happened to be one of the ways Dodd planned to get children alone. I don't feel so paranoid now.

[Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a look inside the mind of a child molester/murderer. It recounts the crimes of Westley Allan Dodd from police reports and Dodds personal journal. This book is not for the squeamish as it tells exactly what Dodd did to his young male victims. After reading this you will think twice about leaving your children alone anywhere.

[Jill Marquardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

page turner - hard to believe there are such disturbed ppl out there.....true crime book

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graphic Despicable Crimes
This book was extremely well written by Gary King but defiantly not for the faint hearted as this is a very graphic subject. The book is about The horrific insight into the mind of child molester and Serial killer Westley Allan Dodd.
It is a truly chilling book which is very graphic and realistic. Sadly, despite numerous opportunities to catch this man, the police continued to let Dodd of the hook every time he got caught. Nothing changed Dodd’s predatory and ultimately murderous intent.
As Dodd grew more sadistic, he went from rape to planning rape and murder of children and the statements taken from Dodd's own diary which the police recovered and read where particularly disturbing as it tells exactly what Dodd did to his young male victims.
After reading this you will think twice about leaving your children alone anywhere. This is a very difficult book to read, and I think the author did a great job of telling this story and giving you a true feeling of who Westley Allan Dodd was. Sadly, for all of his poor victims who were abused, tortured, and murdered, their family’s nightmare never ends.
I am part of the ARC group for Wildblue Press and BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jessy Munch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me feel nauseous and sick reading it but I wanted to read the story as when it happened I was around 8 and remember going to David Douglas and my friends mom showing us where this happened so close to home so we would understand bad things happen because we ran wild in our Oregon neighborhood. The details are sick and made me feel sick but the book was good and I’m glad to have leaned the story. I think the hanging was on TV or coverage and we watched what we could with my family.

I’m glad he at least attempted to educate kids and because of this sick man since we have a lot of laws and plans for child abductions and sexual predators now.

[Crystal Bearr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am rating this book strictly on the author's skills, and the fact that it was very true to life. However, this was the one and only book I've EVER not been able to finish. Crime and criminology are my life, I write about murder cases Every Single Day. I study them. I am totally desensitized. But this book? It made me sick.
If you decide to read this book, be prepared for a shock.
Seriously dude, I felt Dirty reading this.

[Patricia Atkinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was well done but it was hard to read im not big on child murderers but this guy was one sick person its hard to think that there are ones out like this that prey on the innocent..but westley allan dodd in 1989 changed alot of peoples lives he slipped through the cracks for years with his history of indecent exposure and child molesation and violence. the author did a great job with a very difficult story to tell.....

[Koren · Rating 3 out of 5]

As others have stated in their reviews, this is a very difficult book to read. The molestation and murders of very young children are very graphic. The only reason I stuck with this book is because it helps to get inside the head of the killer. He kept a diary and detailed accounts of his activities and was very forthcoming with his confession. The only thing I didn't like was the last 100 pages were mostly repetitive of what we already know.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sordid and sensationalistic, this covered the crimes of WAD in graphic detail.

Every parent should understand Dodd and his motivations and drive to molest. He is not alone in his depravity. Children are especially susceptible to predators but you can teach them. Yell, run away, disobey any adult who makes them feel creepy.

[Teed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was it too much detail?

Reading this at times I thought I don’t need all the detail in the book. But once finished, I think I did need the detail to grasp the full impact of these crimes.

[Suzanne Kiraly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is very readable, (although a warning that it's rather gruesome in terms of the despicable crimes it focuses on) - and King has certainly done his homework in terms of researching the criminal background of the cases he exposes here.

We get a clear picture of everything that happened and how it happened. What I find is missing, (and I feel that I really wanted to know), is a more in-depth psychological profiling of the criminal. I think that when readers read about gruesome crimes, it's through the interest factor - in other words, it's so far out of their own realm of experience, people are drawn to just why someone could commit such crimes against innocent children! It's certainly what draws me in - the age old question of: "Is there such a thing as pure evil?" is always on my lips and I have yet to come to some sort of decision on the answer to such a question.

Having said this, Gary's writing style is quite smooth. I had no trouble in keeping engaged and maintaining my interest throughout the book and can recommend it to others who are also interested in an exploration of true crimes.

[Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to reading TC books where the victims are children I always feel sick to my stomach. I'm sure most people feel this way. This book written by Mr. King is on such a case. As awful and gruesome this case were. King has managed to tell the story so nobody forget the little victims.

A shirt warning the book is not for the faint of heart

If you would like a deeper review please visit my blog

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like the reactionary tone of the author (monster, vile, and evil are words that don't belong in a work of nonfiction--no matter who the book is about). But the story is intriguing and worth checking out.

[Cody]

so far so good

[Rowan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too reactionary for a non-fiction book. Interesting, but cringe-inducing both in style and content (though it should be noted the content is due to no fault of the author's).

[Micky Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very disturbing book a sick sick man it was a good read but hard to read about what he did to those poor little boys people like wes Allen Dodd should all be put down

[Sharblynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like true crime but with more of personal thoughts narrative from the "characters."

[Shenandoah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrifing and unforgettable, I read this book in 1999 and it still bothers me..

[Jessica Lawhun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent book.

[Tija Addams · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a monster. Excellent book