Cold North Killers: Canadian Serial Murder

by Lee Mellor

Canada is seen as a peaceful place, but this wake-up call shows us that there have been more than 60 serial killers in our history.

There are more than 60 serial murderers in Canadian history. For too long awareness of serial murder in Canada has been confined toWest Coastbutcher Clifford Olson and the "Schoolgirl Murderers" Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, along with the horrific acts of pig farmer Robert Pickton. Unlike our American neighbours, Canada has been viewed as a nation untouched by the shadow of multiple murder. Then came Colonel Russell Williams and his bizarre homicides and serial home invasions, which were sensational news worldwide on the Internet and television and in scores of newspapers and magazines. The reason for Canada’s serial killer blackout is until now such information has never been compiled and presented in a single concise work. ColdNorth Killers is a wake-up call. This detailed and haunting account of Canada’s worst monsters analyzes their crimes, childhoods, and inevitable downfalls. It is an indispensablecompendium for any true crime lover, criminologist, or law-enforcement officer.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Serial Killer

472 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2012

Reviews

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have marked this book as unfinished but will go back to it at a later date. I had too many problems with the book’s structure to continue, but it contains much of interest. Its focus is on Canadian serial killers, which have been more prevalent than we like to think. We are much aware of the notorious cases of Clifford Olsen, Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, Colonel Russell Williams, and pig farmer Robert Pickton. The author also includes the horrific acts of serial killers throughout Canadian history which are little known. The book was written before another deranged killer was identified and recently brought to justice. This is Bruce McArthur who killed eight victims from the gay village area of Toronto. I expect his horrific crimes will be included in a reissued book.

I thought a great deal of research went into the book but found it poorly edited, and did not care for its organization. It is the sort of book where I want to skip around while reading, and not read entirely straight through from beginning to end. Unfortunately, this is not possible in the Kindle edition since the chapters are not named in the index. I intend eventually to read it all, but not in the order in which it laid out.

Another problem I had with this book was something which made it seem very rushed to get into print. Drawings of the serial killers were included. Occasionally they were identified by the subjects’ names, but more often they only had the name of the artist who did the sketch. The same applied to the photographs. It took me a while to realize the names under the illustrations were those of the artist and photographer, and not the serial killer pictured.

The author attempts to present a scholarly explanation for the causes of this type of killer and to find similarities and differences between their different methods and mindsets. Also, placing these serial killers in separate categories and comparing them with American and British murderers added little to the understanding of these vicious acts. This became repetitive.

[Amandajane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is infinitely researched and written not simply as an informational text, but factual book about Canadian serial killers with interwoven bits of narrative to set the scene and place you there. He includes quite a lot about the psychology of serial killers, which is quite scary and fascinating at the same time.
He includes some Americans that killed in Canada (which I still don't know if I would have included in a book subtitled 'Canadian Serial Murder'), but explains why he does this.
The author is well versed in criminology and psychology and put forth a great effort for his first book.
If you are a CSI-Criminal Minds-true crime buff (or a Canadian-we remember well the shock and horror of the revelation of Russell Williams' crimes or the summer spent as a child in the Toronto area looking out for the elusive "cream Camaro") you will enjoy this compendium.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at serial killers, some famous and others not so famous. The author sometimes seemed to rush through some chapters. It would have been better if there were better pictures of the killers and more info on the crimes. Still a good read if this type of book interests you.

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read about, not only Canadian SKs, but SKs from the United States who slipped across the border to do a few more killings and, to my surprise, more than a few Canadians who went south of the border to do all their killings in the US. The overall impression he left me with was that there just weren't enough serial killers in Canada to fill up his book, so he borrowed a few. I like some of his turns of phrase, for instance saying Clifford Olson's eyes were "like two cigarette burns." I wish he has dug up more details on some of these guys, though. Tge bios range from very satisfying to vaguer than vague. Overall well-written despite some Spellchecky errors here and there.

[Kaitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense and well written. This book had me hooked from page 1.

[Bill reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our neighbors to the north have their very own cast of colorful killers, although I am insulted by the frequent inclusion of Ted Bundy with inferior Canucks. My G.O.A.T. is as American as apple pie. We are clearly #1! My personal favorites are the Ken and Barbie couple, Paul Bernardo and Karla Komolka, who abducted young women for fatal threesomes, and Colonel Russell Williams, a military man who flipped his lid. Robert Pickton, a serial killing pig farmer is another psychopath who will provide future books for my reading list. Cold North Killers is a comprehensive compilation of sixty Canadian serial killers. It is a highly entertaining read.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book! All the cases and information in this book is well presented and researched very well. It doesn't sensationalize anything and is very respectful towards the victims of the crimes presented. Highly recommended.

[Rochelle Benoit · Rating 5 out of 5]

So detailed! It was interesting to learn about all the lesser known serial killers across Canada. I loved the way the chapters we're separated and the background that was provided between the murder descriptions. I would recommend, but warn of graphic content.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic!!

This is one of those books a person just can’t put down.
Very well researched and written, it is a fantastic read and a call for a total revamping of Canadian criminal justice.

I hope the author writes a sequel to this book

[Jessica Chapman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The information was good, but the style of writing was sometimes difficult to follow. I kept having to look back to figure out what time period the author was writing about.

[Shannon Streahorn-Viau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it the writing sucks you write in.

[Genea Darlene Carroll · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very dry reading but we'll researched

[Nate Hendley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book might make you sad, sick or infuriated. But that's kind of the point.

Academic and crime author Lee Mellor profiles a series of horrible Canadian serial killers, from Robert Pickton (of pig farm fame) to Clifford Olson, Peter Woodcock, etc. Given Mellor's academic credentials, this is no mere murder gallery, however; the book offers insights on different types of serial killers ("organized/disorganized/mixed"), covers historical crimes that have hopefully disappeared (such as homicidal baby farming) and examines murders that were aided and abetted, to an extent, by Canada's vast geography (such as the unusually high number of women who disappeared or were killed along British Columbia's notorious "Highway of Tears").

Recommended!

A worthy addition to any true-crime library covering serial killing in a country often regarded as a polite, boring backwater.

[Aimee Holland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a well written compilation of horrific crimes committed by Canadians or on Canadian soil. It shows both the great police work that quickly put an end to some serial murder cases but also sheds light on some of the blunders that have either released dangerous offenders into the public to offend again or allowed some murderer's to continue their crimes. All together it is an interesting read. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in either true crime or observing the Canadian justice system, however, it does go into detail about the crimes committed so it is not for everyone.

[Patricia Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

stories of Canadian murders and their stories with some information on united states killers also that have done the same mo some of the most dangerious killers even ones that you have never heard of great book to read for true crime buffs has stories on bernardo and robert picton and other local murderers

[Tom K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not follow many of the tales.

[Jocelyne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe true crime just isn't my genre, so I can't hold anything against the book for its journalistic style, but the editing errors and messed up endnotes in the e-reader version are inexcusable.

[Courtney]

Mom/gran would read, too.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: digs into 60 serial murderers in Canada's history: Clifford Olson, Paul Bernardo, Robert Pickton, Colonel Russell Williams, etc.