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The Making of a Serial Killer: The Real Story of the Gainesville Murders in the Killer's Own Words
The man convicted of the vicious murders of five college students in Gainesville, Florida, discusses his motivations and actions in commiting the crimes, reflects on what made him into a killer, and his struggle to come to terms with what he did. Original. IP.
201 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
71 people are currently reading
653 people want to read
About the author
Danny Rolling
4 books2 followersAmerican serial killer who murdered five students in Gainesville, Florida.
Rollings later confessed to raping several of his victims, committing an additional 1989 triple homicide in Shreveport, Louisiana, and attempting to murder his father in May 1990. In total, Rolling confessed to killing eight people.
He was executed by lethal injection in 2006.
Rollings later confessed to raping several of his victims, committing an additional 1989 triple homicide in Shreveport, Louisiana, and attempting to murder his father in May 1990. In total, Rolling confessed to killing eight people.
He was executed by lethal injection in 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 4, 2015
Arguably the sickest book I've ever read, and probably will ever read, in my lifetime. I've only myself to blame for letting my curiosity get the better of me, to see what lengths Sondra London and serial killer Danny Rolling would go to redefine the True Crime genre. There were a few moments when I thought the book might possibly have some value, if only to provide twisted insight on what motivates a homicidal maniac. By the end, though (thanks to Rolling referring to himself in the third person, or by one of several alternate personas like Ennad, Cowboy, or Gemini, or interspersing his account with Ms. London's with little indication who's really telling the story or why) I couldn't discern which of these two was more batshit crazy. If it wasn't for the gruesomeness of Rolling's acts (almost gleefully reenacted in exacting detail) my vote would be on Ms. London for getting this crap published (and falling in love with the guy that admitted to killing 8 people, five of whom murdered in the most heinous manner possible).
(But hey, stick around for the Appendices; the first {a list of "Security Tips" from a helpful Rolling to avoid getting raped and murdered by the likes of him, would be hysterically funny {if it weren't completely disgusting to contemplate a serial killer giving out advice like "don't ever let an attacker get control. Fight for your life! Scream as loud as you can! Spray mace in his face. Kick him in the balls. Scratch at his eyes."})
Pure garbage.
(But hey, stick around for the Appendices; the first {a list of "Security Tips" from a helpful Rolling to avoid getting raped and murdered by the likes of him, would be hysterically funny {if it weren't completely disgusting to contemplate a serial killer giving out advice like "don't ever let an attacker get control. Fight for your life! Scream as loud as you can! Spray mace in his face. Kick him in the balls. Scratch at his eyes."})
Pure garbage.
August 10, 2012
It is a difficult book to discuss because I was a co-worker with this person prior to his crimes. I was not able to bring myself to read it until after his execution. The content is an accurate account of a disorganized mind, including his grasp on time which is in linear disarray. The compulsive and repetitive focus of a narrow scope of thought is accurately demonstrated and is in keeping with what is know about criminal pathology. The misanthropic framing of reality and perception of self as a victim is also clearly evidenced. Warning to any would be readers,this is explicit material.He was not diagnosed as having DID,instead being found to have NPD,Borderline,and histrionic traits,all in the extreme.For this reason the book may be of interest to psychology majors with a concentration in clinical or abnormal psych,or to CJC students.
June 3, 2013
Wow, this book was just awful. It didn't scare me, or give me nightmares, I just found it annoying. Rolling gleely writes about his murders in graphic detail that was just uneccesary. He writes of sexually violating women in the same manner as another author would write in some sick snuff novel. Then, he blames it all on some "demon" named Gemini inside of him. After all of that, he has the AUDACITY to try to save the reader's soul with some "repent now" junk at the end. Don't waste your time on this book.
December 6, 2017
The Gainesville Ripper is the inspiration for Wes Craven's Scream films. His killing spree left 5 students dead and the way he stalked into their homes and brutally raped and murdered his victims was shocking and evil.
I am fascinated with true crime, horror, serial killers and things of that nature and I like to read different accounts. The fact that Rolling was so involved in the production of this version of events intrigued me.
It is not a pleasant read, obviously. There were times I was sucked into the story but that is exactly what it felt like - a story. I felt like I was reading a crime fiction novel rather than something that really happened.
The introduction immediately had me skeptical about the book's quality. Colin Wilson talks about how Danny Rolling was possessed and that he had three separate personalities with the third being a demon that took over. Wilson explains his belief that it is possible for the serial killers who claim to be possessed by a demon, are in fact possessed as they "have been accustomed to swayed by negative emotions" so "they have opened themselves up to the possibility of being influenced by some of the nastier denizens of the 'spirit world'." It isn't something I believe in and I feel it is an insult to his victims to try and shift the blame to imaginary things.
But I am willing to be open-minded and read what Rolling and his fan-girl London have to say. Unfortunately, I am already feeling negative from the outset!
After Wilson's introduction, Ms. London has some author notes for us. She is a journalist who got close to Rolling and "fell in love" with him. She isn't exactly neutral so her angle is to make Danny seem less evil. She explains her efforts to keep Danny's narrative voice as close to what he had written as possible - merely editing here and there. It is a bit of a task to indicate which Danny is writing - is it Danny Rolling the nice guy? Ennad the criminal rapist? Or Gemini, the murdering demon?
It has me wondering as there are parts that are very confused - is it intentional? Or is this Author Notes chapter merely to explain away mistakes and weaknesses in the text (of which there are many)?
I don't want to dwell on this much longer. Yes, Danny had an awful childhood and if even half of what Danny says is true, then his father should have been locked up instead of being a police officer! But it all seemed very extreme and tried to play Danny as a very sensitive soul who was mistreated and so warped into a split personality who grew as time went on.
Ennad was the peeping tom, the rapist, the bank robber. Throughout the book, he is referred to in such terms as you'd think he was played by Clint Eastwood or something. He is handsome, with strong muscles and all the women he meets want him. He can take a bullet. He can kick butt. He scared off the African-American convicts who wanted to rape him. It sounds like overcompensating - like he is rewriting what happened to him to make him sound better. It's a contradiction from the weak and innocent image he tries to portray in his early life.
The murders are described quite early in the book - they are not for the faint-hearted and I'm sure many readers stop reading at this point. The rest of the book is how he got to that point and is followed by some ramblings, and lovey-dovey messages.
It is interesting in terms of hearing the voice of a serial killer but content-wise it seems to be an extension of this killer's delusions as he tries to craft himself into a true American bad boy.
It didn't leave me convinced that he was possessed. He was certainly traumatised by his childhood and had mental issues.
It's a story with ever-changing narrative voices, a chronology that flits about confusingly and so-so writing with many typos.
March 21, 2017
I don’t generally elect to read true crime books for various reasons, number one being the writers often sympathize with the perpetrators. Obviously, this is true in The Making of a Serial Killer, as Sondra London and Danny Rolling express their love for one another.
Secondly, how many incidents can you read of sick-o’s brutally murdering and dismembering their victims? Yes, Danny was tortured as a child, as many inmates have been. He was physically and psychologically tortured. He had an unfortunate childhood. However, not everyone who experiences what he did ends up being labeled a serial killer. I believe there are many times in his younger life where he could have been salvaged. I say salvaged because the damage he incurred at the hands of a frigid and abusive father was likely too extensive and deep to overcome one hundred percent.
That being said, I believe Sondra put into words what few others could have because of her relationship with Danny; he trusts her. Many areas of the book read like a case files (psych reports, etc…).
Having worked in prisons as an Educational Psychologist for many years, I can say much of what Danny writes is typical inmate jargon. Inmates have all of the time in the world to write, draw, and think. He writes the typical inmate poetry, the draws the typical inmate images containing angels, dragons, and naked women. He speaks of Jesus, the underworld, and writes love letters to anyone he can attract (Sondra in this circumstance). Many inmates are like this. It’s kind of their “M.O.” What else do they have to do?
I was captivated by the various personas. It kept me reading.
If I were the victim’s families, I too, would be upset with the bloody details of my loved-one’s murder being broadcast for everyone to read and know. For example, cutting off the nipples, beheading and positioning the head, and the color of guts protruding from the incision.
Danny obviously got off sexually by committing the crimes. I just hope he didn’t have the same pleasure writing the book and reliving the scenes. He says it was a painful process for him, and one could only hope it was.
It would be interesting to have insight into Sondra London and what attracts her to a serial killer. They’ve both admitted they profess their love for each other. My only guess is that she also gains some sexual stimulation knowing that an incarcerated man who’s restricted from any physical contact with women or anyone turns her on. Many women who fall in love with inmates are soothed by knowing their man is behind bars and can never physically hurt them. They enjoy the longing and dreaming of sex, the letter writing, and knowing someone “loves” them, especially when the cases are high-profile. This can be the case with religious volunteers, teachers, self-help volunteers, and other “helping” types… Including sympathetic journalists/writers.
It would have been interesting to read more about Danny’s ideas for revamping the prison system, which I also believe is a great need. As a society, if we choose to lock someone away for life, we must be humane about it. I believe Danny poses some great ideas that could be used to improve the way we do business. Additionally, death row shouldn’t be a place where people sit for 20 or 30 years. Inmates shouldn’t live their lives there until they die from old age. It should be more streamlined.
Even with my objections and questions, I do believe the book is well written.
Secondly, how many incidents can you read of sick-o’s brutally murdering and dismembering their victims? Yes, Danny was tortured as a child, as many inmates have been. He was physically and psychologically tortured. He had an unfortunate childhood. However, not everyone who experiences what he did ends up being labeled a serial killer. I believe there are many times in his younger life where he could have been salvaged. I say salvaged because the damage he incurred at the hands of a frigid and abusive father was likely too extensive and deep to overcome one hundred percent.
That being said, I believe Sondra put into words what few others could have because of her relationship with Danny; he trusts her. Many areas of the book read like a case files (psych reports, etc…).
Having worked in prisons as an Educational Psychologist for many years, I can say much of what Danny writes is typical inmate jargon. Inmates have all of the time in the world to write, draw, and think. He writes the typical inmate poetry, the draws the typical inmate images containing angels, dragons, and naked women. He speaks of Jesus, the underworld, and writes love letters to anyone he can attract (Sondra in this circumstance). Many inmates are like this. It’s kind of their “M.O.” What else do they have to do?
I was captivated by the various personas. It kept me reading.
If I were the victim’s families, I too, would be upset with the bloody details of my loved-one’s murder being broadcast for everyone to read and know. For example, cutting off the nipples, beheading and positioning the head, and the color of guts protruding from the incision.
Danny obviously got off sexually by committing the crimes. I just hope he didn’t have the same pleasure writing the book and reliving the scenes. He says it was a painful process for him, and one could only hope it was.
It would be interesting to have insight into Sondra London and what attracts her to a serial killer. They’ve both admitted they profess their love for each other. My only guess is that she also gains some sexual stimulation knowing that an incarcerated man who’s restricted from any physical contact with women or anyone turns her on. Many women who fall in love with inmates are soothed by knowing their man is behind bars and can never physically hurt them. They enjoy the longing and dreaming of sex, the letter writing, and knowing someone “loves” them, especially when the cases are high-profile. This can be the case with religious volunteers, teachers, self-help volunteers, and other “helping” types… Including sympathetic journalists/writers.
It would have been interesting to read more about Danny’s ideas for revamping the prison system, which I also believe is a great need. As a society, if we choose to lock someone away for life, we must be humane about it. I believe Danny poses some great ideas that could be used to improve the way we do business. Additionally, death row shouldn’t be a place where people sit for 20 or 30 years. Inmates shouldn’t live their lives there until they die from old age. It should be more streamlined.
Even with my objections and questions, I do believe the book is well written.
December 13, 2018
I can’t even classify this as a book. It’s more like the Danny Rolling hour. Frankly, I’m surprised it was ever published because the writing is awful and you never know if it’s the author or Rolling telling the story. Interspersed throughout the book are awful poems and second rate drawings. It is evident that Rollings had a high opinion of himself, which most serial killers do, but thinking that he had anything of value to offer was delusional. Don’t let me get started on the author, a term I use begrudgingly because she is not a writer.
All told, don’t waste your time. If you want to delve into the mind of a serial killer read, The Gates of Janus by Ian Brady. At least that book is legible and easily understood.
All told, don’t waste your time. If you want to delve into the mind of a serial killer read, The Gates of Janus by Ian Brady. At least that book is legible and easily understood.
December 6, 2007
I give this 4 stars for it's level of terror. This book will make your skin crawl and will highten your levels of serial killer paranoia if you have that paranoia. I don't recommend this to peeps who are squeamish or those that have faith that all people are inherently "good".
Currently reading
March 25, 2024My review is for the eBook.
This book is written by Daniel "Danny Rolling" A.K.A the "Gainesville Ripper" he was the real-life inspiration for the Scream horror film franchise.
The book was written by Danny Rolling while he was incarcerated and collaborated with Sondra London.
He is a paranoid schizophrenic-he has visual & auditory hallucinations, due to experiencing trauma, from his abusive father, his psyche was fractured and split into several alters (alternative personalities that represent fragmented parts of Danny Rolling's fractured psyche)
He seemed quite charming and manipulative, feigning ignorance, during the writing process of this book, he seems like the type of person that would say or do anything to gain the sympathy of anyone that would listen to his sob story.
Nothing obviously excuses a parent(s) that are abusive, but Daniel Rolling is responsible for his own behaviour, attitude, poor impulse control, or the way he views or perceives women.
He glorifies rape, murder, robbery and expressed his love & feelings towards Sondra London during the writing of this book, which is a usual situation to be in to write & publish a true crime, real-life account of a serial killer's life, motivation, intention or purpose for their premeditated murderous plan.
I don't really believe the bogus demonic posession narrative that Danny Rolling expects people to automatically believe, so he can justify or excuse what he did.
Although disasosciation and DID-(Diasaociative Identity Disorder) would be believable since it is a real-life mental illness, it's not known as "split-personality anymore though.
Mental illness doesn't automatically mean anyone will automatically become violent, sadistoc, cruel or a murderer.
Danny Rolling is similar to Ted Bundy he was a peeping tom, a voyuer, a rapist, necrophile and a serial killer of women that he hated.
There are a lot of similarities between Danny Rolling and Ted Bundy, which is not something any man should ever feel proud about or boast about, it's not a good thing.
If your a man and you feel the same way about women, or act in a similar way to either serial killer, then go and see a therapist ASAP!
It really disgusted me how Danny Rolling kept referring to one of his female victims as a "little girl" or when he called her "daddies little girl" or a "good girl" for pleasing him sexually, while she is being raped several times and she was unable to defend herself or prevent it from happening or he would stab her to death. 😖😣
It made me feel physically sick.
It must be a common fantasy for men to think of having a child that is their daughter that they want to sexually molest and rape 😐
This book is written by Daniel "Danny Rolling" A.K.A the "Gainesville Ripper" he was the real-life inspiration for the Scream horror film franchise.
The book was written by Danny Rolling while he was incarcerated and collaborated with Sondra London.
He is a paranoid schizophrenic-he has visual & auditory hallucinations, due to experiencing trauma, from his abusive father, his psyche was fractured and split into several alters (alternative personalities that represent fragmented parts of Danny Rolling's fractured psyche)
He seemed quite charming and manipulative, feigning ignorance, during the writing process of this book, he seems like the type of person that would say or do anything to gain the sympathy of anyone that would listen to his sob story.
Nothing obviously excuses a parent(s) that are abusive, but Daniel Rolling is responsible for his own behaviour, attitude, poor impulse control, or the way he views or perceives women.
He glorifies rape, murder, robbery and expressed his love & feelings towards Sondra London during the writing of this book, which is a usual situation to be in to write & publish a true crime, real-life account of a serial killer's life, motivation, intention or purpose for their premeditated murderous plan.
I don't really believe the bogus demonic posession narrative that Danny Rolling expects people to automatically believe, so he can justify or excuse what he did.
Although disasosciation and DID-(Diasaociative Identity Disorder) would be believable since it is a real-life mental illness, it's not known as "split-personality anymore though.
Mental illness doesn't automatically mean anyone will automatically become violent, sadistoc, cruel or a murderer.
Danny Rolling is similar to Ted Bundy he was a peeping tom, a voyuer, a rapist, necrophile and a serial killer of women that he hated.
There are a lot of similarities between Danny Rolling and Ted Bundy, which is not something any man should ever feel proud about or boast about, it's not a good thing.
If your a man and you feel the same way about women, or act in a similar way to either serial killer, then go and see a therapist ASAP!
It really disgusted me how Danny Rolling kept referring to one of his female victims as a "little girl" or when he called her "daddies little girl" or a "good girl" for pleasing him sexually, while she is being raped several times and she was unable to defend herself or prevent it from happening or he would stab her to death. 😖😣
It made me feel physically sick.
It must be a common fantasy for men to think of having a child that is their daughter that they want to sexually molest and rape 😐
December 14, 2023
Author Sondra London has an uncanny knack for picking sick puppies as romantic partners. She lost her virginity at seventeen to Gerard Schaefer, a serial killer who possibly murdered eighty women. She published Killer Fiction, Gerald's musings about his life of crime.
This time around,, the lovesick writer hooked up with Danny Rolling while the man was on death row in Starke, Florida, the same place that held Ted Bundy until his execution in 1989. Ted's name appears on several occasions.
Danny's dad had won a Purple Heart for his bravery in battle in Korea. Unfortunately, the wartime experience turned him into a brutal husband and father who handcuffed and beat his two boys and wife with regularity. He was also a cop.
Like Mr. Bundy, Rolling was a peeping Tom during his adolescence and he eventually turned his sexual fantasies into reality as an adult. He claimed to have been possessed by a gargoyle-like demon during his murderous frenzies. His experiences with LSD while serving in the Air Force was a more likely explanation.
Danny was arrested on numerous occasions and at one point was placed into solitary for 240 days. His descriptions read like Solzhenitsyn's Gulag trilogy. The man was a talented writer and artist and the book alternates between his work and that of London.
It was during that period in the Hole that his murderous alter ego Gemini appeared. The rat and excrement flooded cell would only exacerbate the rage within.
As with the other Starke resident, Bundy, Danny had a long series of girlfriends who were interviewed by London, and they all described a gentle and loving partner. The strangest hookup was with a country singer old enough to be his mother. Bunnie Mills can be found on YouTube singing country songs.
As for London, a web search will uncover a video with her betrothed singing a love song to his intended bride. The meanies of the Florida prison system would not allow a wedding. How sad!
Danny predicted that Bill Clinton would be our final leader and that WWIII would bring about the arrival of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He should have revised his prognostication before his sendoff in Old Sparky in 2006.
The Making of a Serial Killer is a good but overlong(445 page) read.
This time around,, the lovesick writer hooked up with Danny Rolling while the man was on death row in Starke, Florida, the same place that held Ted Bundy until his execution in 1989. Ted's name appears on several occasions.
Danny's dad had won a Purple Heart for his bravery in battle in Korea. Unfortunately, the wartime experience turned him into a brutal husband and father who handcuffed and beat his two boys and wife with regularity. He was also a cop.
Like Mr. Bundy, Rolling was a peeping Tom during his adolescence and he eventually turned his sexual fantasies into reality as an adult. He claimed to have been possessed by a gargoyle-like demon during his murderous frenzies. His experiences with LSD while serving in the Air Force was a more likely explanation.
Danny was arrested on numerous occasions and at one point was placed into solitary for 240 days. His descriptions read like Solzhenitsyn's Gulag trilogy. The man was a talented writer and artist and the book alternates between his work and that of London.
It was during that period in the Hole that his murderous alter ego Gemini appeared. The rat and excrement flooded cell would only exacerbate the rage within.
As with the other Starke resident, Bundy, Danny had a long series of girlfriends who were interviewed by London, and they all described a gentle and loving partner. The strangest hookup was with a country singer old enough to be his mother. Bunnie Mills can be found on YouTube singing country songs.
As for London, a web search will uncover a video with her betrothed singing a love song to his intended bride. The meanies of the Florida prison system would not allow a wedding. How sad!
Danny predicted that Bill Clinton would be our final leader and that WWIII would bring about the arrival of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He should have revised his prognostication before his sendoff in Old Sparky in 2006.
The Making of a Serial Killer is a good but overlong(445 page) read.
February 8, 2023
SKIP IT!!!!!!!
DNF and you shouldn’t either!
I’m going to take 100% responsibility for buying a book I read for all of about 45 min and then deleted off my kindle.
I was on a post about the Idaho student murders, a recent obsession, when someone commented if Kohberger was trying to copycat this thing, Danny Rolling. I did not research or review reading and just immediately bought the book. Hopefully my lesson was learned.
I LOVE true crime. Probably my favorite genre. I love the investigative part, the thorough timeline, solving, I can handle a little graphic detail as long as it’s not about children, and I don’t even mind reading from someone who has personal accounts, connections, or interviews from the killer themselves. But, I have zero interest in reading a book pretty much written directly from the killer himself. I couldn’t care less about what he thinks or why he thinks he did the things he did. He, nor his mind, have anything useful to contribute to society. Nor could I care less about what a supposed author has to say about the sick serial killer she fell in love with (insert gag reflex) or their views and boohooing about the Son of Sam law and how unjust it is.
Admittedly I didn’t get far into this book but, I just can’t. I can’t continue to give this guy or his delusional author lover another precious second of my time. Again, 100% my fault for not checking reviews first. I can only hope my few bucks went to the victims families but I can’t even leave this garbage on my Kindle in case I get deserted on an uninhabited island and me and my kindle are the only thing that survives. They can both eat a bag….may he burn in hell.
DNF and you shouldn’t either!
I’m going to take 100% responsibility for buying a book I read for all of about 45 min and then deleted off my kindle.
I was on a post about the Idaho student murders, a recent obsession, when someone commented if Kohberger was trying to copycat this thing, Danny Rolling. I did not research or review reading and just immediately bought the book. Hopefully my lesson was learned.
I LOVE true crime. Probably my favorite genre. I love the investigative part, the thorough timeline, solving, I can handle a little graphic detail as long as it’s not about children, and I don’t even mind reading from someone who has personal accounts, connections, or interviews from the killer themselves. But, I have zero interest in reading a book pretty much written directly from the killer himself. I couldn’t care less about what he thinks or why he thinks he did the things he did. He, nor his mind, have anything useful to contribute to society. Nor could I care less about what a supposed author has to say about the sick serial killer she fell in love with (insert gag reflex) or their views and boohooing about the Son of Sam law and how unjust it is.
Admittedly I didn’t get far into this book but, I just can’t. I can’t continue to give this guy or his delusional author lover another precious second of my time. Again, 100% my fault for not checking reviews first. I can only hope my few bucks went to the victims families but I can’t even leave this garbage on my Kindle in case I get deserted on an uninhabited island and me and my kindle are the only thing that survives. They can both eat a bag….may he burn in hell.
Read
May 19, 2013I corresponded with this man during his incarceration. While the book is disturbing, it really takes you into the mind of a serial killer, in his own words. This is account is written by him with a coauthor. I recommend this book for criminal justice majors, psychology majors, and those going into social services.
February 13, 2024
3.5
i read this book for a report over rolling assigned by my serial killers professor. there were a few moments of eery self-awareness and discussions of the prison system that i surprisingly sympathized with, but overall there is nothing entertaining or substantial about this book unless it’s being read for academic purposes.
i read this book for a report over rolling assigned by my serial killers professor. there were a few moments of eery self-awareness and discussions of the prison system that i surprisingly sympathized with, but overall there is nothing entertaining or substantial about this book unless it’s being read for academic purposes.
February 18, 2018
If I could give this piece of crap a zero, I would.
September 1, 2014
This is probably one of the most bizarre books I've ever read. The subject has interested me because it all happened so close to home & there was a giant media circus. In addition, the killer was captured in the woods across from the apartment where I'd come to live soon after all this happened.
I have read the book, "The Gainesville Ripper," but Rolling discounts much of the book, calling it fabrication. This book is reportedly the only true account, but you have to decide for yourself whether you can believe the words of a serial killer.
We learn a lot in this book about Rolling's childhood. If these stories are true, it's no wonder he turned out the way he did. That's no excuse for the burglaries & rapes & murders, but it does explain why he became so dark and evil.
The book had an appendix that offers some tips to people to stay safe. I think I'm going to copy it down & stick it on every wall in the house for my teenage daughter to see. She's the age these girls were who were killed at the hands of Danny Rolling in August, 1990. At the time of the murders, I was their age. That's probably another reason all this is so fascinating to me.
The book is filled with artwork & poetry & songs all created by Danny Rolling. I can't say the guy would have been something if he had been raised in a different environment, but he surely had impressive talent and I am impressed by some of his work.
I have read the book, "The Gainesville Ripper," but Rolling discounts much of the book, calling it fabrication. This book is reportedly the only true account, but you have to decide for yourself whether you can believe the words of a serial killer.
We learn a lot in this book about Rolling's childhood. If these stories are true, it's no wonder he turned out the way he did. That's no excuse for the burglaries & rapes & murders, but it does explain why he became so dark and evil.
The book had an appendix that offers some tips to people to stay safe. I think I'm going to copy it down & stick it on every wall in the house for my teenage daughter to see. She's the age these girls were who were killed at the hands of Danny Rolling in August, 1990. At the time of the murders, I was their age. That's probably another reason all this is so fascinating to me.
The book is filled with artwork & poetry & songs all created by Danny Rolling. I can't say the guy would have been something if he had been raised in a different environment, but he surely had impressive talent and I am impressed by some of his work.
September 5, 2013
My experience of this book came back to me when asked by the Bizarro group moderator what was the strangest book I had ever read, but really I thought it stranger for its sheer existence than for its content. Surely I would have seen more like it if I were permitted to. Drawing on the star-rating guidelines, I found it 'amazing' for its presence on a bookshelf and for Danny Rolling's childhood dream, "The Gargoyle of Heaven", which I tout at every turn as the most abjectly beautiful short piece I've ever read. I was a bit less impressed with the soft porn treatment of his earlier career as a rapist, though as a window into a self-deluded mind it remained plenty interesting. Rolling's terrorized mother, at the hands of his father, lashing out blindly from what was it, the bathroom floor (?) when Danny sought to comfort her was an image I won't forget.
August 27, 2008
It's pretty hard to say you liked this book as it is so disturbing. I remember when these killings happended and the terror that spread in the Gainsville community. I saw this book at a garage sale, picked it up and devoured it over one weekend. It was a chilling read as the killer was so unabashedly sadistic to the victims and took such pleasure in their murders. I had trouble sleeping for months after reading this. Very disturbing story, yet fascinating in trying to understand the mind of a such a psychopathic and prolific killer(five gruesome murders in just a few days) such as Danny Rohling.
September 3, 2019
The book is what it claims to be which is told from the perspective of a serial killer. It interested me as I was trying to understand why a serial killer act the way he or she does. Therefore, this book is great in the way of understanding the mindset of the subject.
What I didn’t like was the structure of the book. It jumped around a lot, which makes sense in that it is based on a recollection of someone’s memory. However, I didn’t find the format fit my reading taste. In addition, I noticed an error on one of the first few pages I saw, which stuck with me. I know that is nitpicking, but that was something basic that could have been resolved.
What I didn’t like was the structure of the book. It jumped around a lot, which makes sense in that it is based on a recollection of someone’s memory. However, I didn’t find the format fit my reading taste. In addition, I noticed an error on one of the first few pages I saw, which stuck with me. I know that is nitpicking, but that was something basic that could have been resolved.
January 25, 2014
Fascinating to see the workings of the mind that penned this. Still unsure on Sondra London's role in this, as it reads like a stream of consciousness by the author. No editing or taming the words in evidence.
This is not a book for feint of heart, or those looking for a quick escape. This is a book I will probably come back to over and again, as far too disorganised to read in one smooth sweep; but does give some insight into the disorganised killer's thought process. Fascinating!
This is not a book for feint of heart, or those looking for a quick escape. This is a book I will probably come back to over and again, as far too disorganised to read in one smooth sweep; but does give some insight into the disorganised killer's thought process. Fascinating!
December 27, 2016
This was obviously written by an amateur writer, most likely the murderer it is about. I read it since I live in the area it happened and know people who went to school with him. He comes across as very uneducated and is great at coming up with reasons why he turned out crazy. He takes no responsibility himself, though, but blames the demons that possessed him and apparently have now left him and moved on (?)
July 11, 2007
I read this book 5 years ago and it still gives me nightmares. It's the reason I lock my doors and close my shades at night. Don't ever read it if you're even slightly prone to paranoia. If I believed in burning books, I'd set fire to every copy ever made.
January 2, 2017
Could not put it down
I listen to the podcast sword and scale (download it now if you like true life crime) this story intrigued me.
You just never really know the true someone! From shitty childhood to finding God and then back to your demons. Speechless!
I listen to the podcast sword and scale (download it now if you like true life crime) this story intrigued me.
You just never really know the true someone! From shitty childhood to finding God and then back to your demons. Speechless!
January 28, 2013
Disturbing!!!
January 20, 2017
I just didn't think it was written well enough for me to finish it.
February 12, 2012
This book was everything I expected to read from a book about a serial killer.
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