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The Devil's Cinema: The Untold Story Behind Mark Twitchell's Kill Room
"A detailed, well-constructed account of a diabolical real-life Dexter. Lillebuen has written a riveting, true crime page-turner about aspiring filmmaker Mark Twitchell, who turned his obsession with fantasy into horrible reality." -- Robert Remington, co-author of Runaway Devil
On the night of October 10, 2008, Johnny Altinger was heading to his first date with a woman he had met online. He was never seen again. Two weeks earlier, aspiring filmmaker Mark Twitchell, a young father with a devotion to the television series Dexter , began a three-day shoot for his latest short film. His horror story featured a serial killer who impersonates women on an online dating site to lure unsuspecting men to his suburban kill room. But was his script actually the blueprint for a real-life murder? And what of Twitchell's other writings, including the elaborate and shocking document titled "S. K. Confessions"? Was it a work of fiction or a diary detailing his dark transformation into a would-be serial killer?
A powerfully gripping narrative, The Devil's Cinema is the definitive account of the notorious "Dexter Killer," a case and trial that captured the world's attention. Steve Lillebuen takes us deep into the extraordinary police investigation and the lives of everyone involved, while unveiling never-before-revealed details, all drawn from extensive and exclusive interviews -- including months of contact with the killer himself.
On the night of October 10, 2008, Johnny Altinger was heading to his first date with a woman he had met online. He was never seen again. Two weeks earlier, aspiring filmmaker Mark Twitchell, a young father with a devotion to the television series Dexter , began a three-day shoot for his latest short film. His horror story featured a serial killer who impersonates women on an online dating site to lure unsuspecting men to his suburban kill room. But was his script actually the blueprint for a real-life murder? And what of Twitchell's other writings, including the elaborate and shocking document titled "S. K. Confessions"? Was it a work of fiction or a diary detailing his dark transformation into a would-be serial killer?
A powerfully gripping narrative, The Devil's Cinema is the definitive account of the notorious "Dexter Killer," a case and trial that captured the world's attention. Steve Lillebuen takes us deep into the extraordinary police investigation and the lives of everyone involved, while unveiling never-before-revealed details, all drawn from extensive and exclusive interviews -- including months of contact with the killer himself.
360 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 9, 2024
4.0 Stars
This is such a dark true crime account that happened right here in Canada. The author did a good job creating a narrative. I found the part surrounding Dexter particularly interesting.
This is such a dark true crime account that happened right here in Canada. The author did a good job creating a narrative. I found the part surrounding Dexter particularly interesting.
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January 8, 2023Well like I said at the end of 2022 ( I think) I’ve stopped rating my true crime reads. I had been rating them strictly on writing style and expression, but I finally determined that can’t always be seen that way. I don’t want to be misunderstood and make it seem like I’m passing judgment on the victims or even worse the criminals by rating a book 4 stars. So I’ll just give a bit of a review.
This book was amazingly ridiculous. It just goes to show that if someone wants to kill someone else, they will find a way to do it. How it’s possible for psychopaths to grow up seemingly “normal” and then BAM “how y’all doing im now triggered and ill kill a dude now” is forensically fascinating to me. This guy as far as could be determined had no brain trauma, no child abuse. In fact his childhood if im remembering correctly was perfectly normal. He was in his thirties before he cracked according to the author. Personally I found Twichwell extremely narcissistic and a pathological liar. This is one of those criminals that leave victims strung for miles behind themselves. Not just the one attacked but family and friends on both sides. Then as usual he denies most of the details and responsibilities. AND PEOPLE WONDER WHY I DONT USE DATING SITES. BECAUSE THEY ARE JAM PACKED WITH PSYCHOS !
This book was amazingly ridiculous. It just goes to show that if someone wants to kill someone else, they will find a way to do it. How it’s possible for psychopaths to grow up seemingly “normal” and then BAM “how y’all doing im now triggered and ill kill a dude now” is forensically fascinating to me. This guy as far as could be determined had no brain trauma, no child abuse. In fact his childhood if im remembering correctly was perfectly normal. He was in his thirties before he cracked according to the author. Personally I found Twichwell extremely narcissistic and a pathological liar. This is one of those criminals that leave victims strung for miles behind themselves. Not just the one attacked but family and friends on both sides. Then as usual he denies most of the details and responsibilities. AND PEOPLE WONDER WHY I DONT USE DATING SITES. BECAUSE THEY ARE JAM PACKED WITH PSYCHOS !
June 9, 2022
The Case:
The Devil's Cinema follows the story of Canadian filmmaker, Mark Twitchell (a.k.a "The Dexter Killer") who is obsessed with and wanted to be like the fictional serial killer Dexter Morgan of the Dexter tv show. He is later charged and convicted of first degree murder for the murder of Johnny Altinger, and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years in 2011.
My thoughts: This was a case that happened in Edmonton, which is only a 3-hour drive from where I live. It is fairly close to me and this creeped me out. Eeek.
The author started off the book by giving us a brief history of Edmonton and how this city which was once a prosperous city because of the oil boom , became the most violent city back in 2005. And in that same year, Mark Twitchell moved back to Edmonton from the States. We learned about his childhood, married life and his unhealthy obsession with the fictional character Dexter that eventually drove him to set up his kill room and murdered Johnny Altinger in 2008.
The writing is engaging, and it reads like a fiction despite the plethora of information. There is also some stomach-turning graphic details of the murder, so be warned! It was really not easy to read.
I think this was a well-written and well-researched book about this horrific crime. I really liked that the author did not over sensationalize this case, but present the information in a respectful manner and focused on the victim. As always, reading the victim impact statements is always difficult.
I would recommend this book if you want to know more about this case. It was really scary and shocking to read about Twitchell's obsession with Dexter and his slow progression to becoming a killer.
My thoughts: This was a case that happened in Edmonton, which is only a 3-hour drive from where I live. It is fairly close to me and this creeped me out. Eeek.
The author started off the book by giving us a brief history of Edmonton and how this city which was once a prosperous city because of the oil boom , became the most violent city back in 2005. And in that same year, Mark Twitchell moved back to Edmonton from the States. We learned about his childhood, married life and his unhealthy obsession with the fictional character Dexter that eventually drove him to set up his kill room and murdered Johnny Altinger in 2008.
The writing is engaging, and it reads like a fiction despite the plethora of information. There is also some stomach-turning graphic details of the murder, so be warned! It was really not easy to read.
I think this was a well-written and well-researched book about this horrific crime. I really liked that the author did not over sensationalize this case, but present the information in a respectful manner and focused on the victim. As always, reading the victim impact statements is always difficult.
I would recommend this book if you want to know more about this case. It was really scary and shocking to read about Twitchell's obsession with Dexter and his slow progression to becoming a killer.
March 27, 2012
Without giving too much away, I have to say that Steve Lillebuen did a fantastic job researching and writing The Devil's Cinema. He was there at the beginning as a reporter, and then dedicated several years of his life putting this book together, with unique access to all the people involved in the story and investigation. He writes the story expertly, saving some surprises along the way so that the reader enjoys an almost novel-like experience as they read this incredible account.
See my full review here - http://livinginthekitchenwithpuppies....
See my full review here - http://livinginthekitchenwithpuppies....
July 17, 2023
Mark Twitchell was born in Canada in 1979. He had aspirations of becoming a big name filmmaker, and attended the Radio and Television Arts Program at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He ultimately graduated from there in 2000. Twitchell was using the popular dating site, Plenty Of Fish, where he found John Brian Altinger. He posed as a woman to lure Altinger to a garage he had set up as a kill room. I won't get into the murder here, how he was found out, or what happened at trial, but it was a wild ride.
This book is included on The Last Podcast On The Left's reading list, which corresponds with an episode about Twitchell. I had heard all of the information about this guy from the episode, but I do like to read the books on the reading list to get more details. I thought it was ridiculous that Twitchell said he was influenced by the old television show Dexter, but I suppose anything is possible. What is a stone cold fact is...this guy is a scumbag. If you are into true crime and learning about scumbags, put this one on your TBR.
This book is included on The Last Podcast On The Left's reading list, which corresponds with an episode about Twitchell. I had heard all of the information about this guy from the episode, but I do like to read the books on the reading list to get more details. I thought it was ridiculous that Twitchell said he was influenced by the old television show Dexter, but I suppose anything is possible. What is a stone cold fact is...this guy is a scumbag. If you are into true crime and learning about scumbags, put this one on your TBR.
April 21, 2012
This is one of the better written, researched and interesting recent true crime stories. Some may recall a bizarre, and gruesome murder case in Edmonton, Canada in 2008. It involved the case of 38 year old Johnny Altinger, who disappeared after being lured to a rendezvous with what he thought was a beautiful woman he had met online. He was to follow directions to the meeting place he was e-mailed just before leaving to go there. He e-mailed a copy of these directions to a friend just before exiting his apartment and then vanished.
Mark Twitchell had turned his obsession with Star Wars into making a fan film. He was now obsessed with the TV show Dexter. Two weeks before Altinger's disappearance he shot a low budget horror film about a man using an online dating service to lure victims to their deaths. He proved himself highly disorganized and erratic during the filming. He chronicled on his computer his plans to make a high budget film on the same subject, promising investors that he had some well known Hollywood actors interested in the project. At the same time he was communicating with men on the internet, taking on the persona of an alluring woman and using a photo of beautiful woman he had found online.He quit his day job and to deceive his wife, pretended to go to work, spending all the investors money on monthly bills and other items unrelated to film making.
Twitchell visited normal social websites under assumed names, he also called himself "Dexter" on darker sites where people went to talk about fantasies of torture and murder, often hinting at or revealing his future plans.
Among other internet activities he called "S.K. Confessions" (S.K. standing for serial killer) he wrote about plans to carry out murders based on killings by TV character Dexter, with innocent men as victims. He even designed a room in a garage, complete with metal dissecting table, large plastic sheets to line walls and floor, electric prod to stun victim and lots of duct tape.
After Altinger vanished, his friends began receiving e-mails and seeing on Face Book that he had met a gorgeous, wealthy woman and had gone to her summer home in Costa Rica for a romantic holiday. At first the Edmonton police felt this was not a missing person case, but with the growing alarm and suspicion of his friends, they began to investigate. It is thankful to the diligence of the Edmonton police force that a self-described psychopath and future serial killer was stopped before he killed again. There was also much stupidity on the part of Twitchell, describing all his murderous obsessions and plans. We also learn that he attempted a prior murder before killing Altinger in the same manner. He also described this online. The victim escaped as the electric prod didn't work as planned, so he decided to substitute heavy metal rods to stun his next victim. The injured victim got away, but was too embarrassed and traumatized to come forward earlier. Part of Twittinger's defense was that his writing were fiction aimed at publicity for his planned high budget movie.
The author was granted interviews by the killer's acquaintances who had worked on his amateur films, friends of the victim and also interviews with the killer himself. 4.5 starshh
Mark Twitchell had turned his obsession with Star Wars into making a fan film. He was now obsessed with the TV show Dexter. Two weeks before Altinger's disappearance he shot a low budget horror film about a man using an online dating service to lure victims to their deaths. He proved himself highly disorganized and erratic during the filming. He chronicled on his computer his plans to make a high budget film on the same subject, promising investors that he had some well known Hollywood actors interested in the project. At the same time he was communicating with men on the internet, taking on the persona of an alluring woman and using a photo of beautiful woman he had found online.He quit his day job and to deceive his wife, pretended to go to work, spending all the investors money on monthly bills and other items unrelated to film making.
Twitchell visited normal social websites under assumed names, he also called himself "Dexter" on darker sites where people went to talk about fantasies of torture and murder, often hinting at or revealing his future plans.
Among other internet activities he called "S.K. Confessions" (S.K. standing for serial killer) he wrote about plans to carry out murders based on killings by TV character Dexter, with innocent men as victims. He even designed a room in a garage, complete with metal dissecting table, large plastic sheets to line walls and floor, electric prod to stun victim and lots of duct tape.
After Altinger vanished, his friends began receiving e-mails and seeing on Face Book that he had met a gorgeous, wealthy woman and had gone to her summer home in Costa Rica for a romantic holiday. At first the Edmonton police felt this was not a missing person case, but with the growing alarm and suspicion of his friends, they began to investigate. It is thankful to the diligence of the Edmonton police force that a self-described psychopath and future serial killer was stopped before he killed again. There was also much stupidity on the part of Twitchell, describing all his murderous obsessions and plans. We also learn that he attempted a prior murder before killing Altinger in the same manner. He also described this online. The victim escaped as the electric prod didn't work as planned, so he decided to substitute heavy metal rods to stun his next victim. The injured victim got away, but was too embarrassed and traumatized to come forward earlier. Part of Twittinger's defense was that his writing were fiction aimed at publicity for his planned high budget movie.
The author was granted interviews by the killer's acquaintances who had worked on his amateur films, friends of the victim and also interviews with the killer himself. 4.5 starshh
August 15, 2023
Well organized. Dark and twisted.
February 14, 2020
The first time I heard about this crazy scary and sad story was on an episode of dateline. I remember sitting on the edge of my seat because every time some other weird part of the story was told.
So glad I managed to get my hands on the ebook and am reading now. Very weird story that is thankfully very well told
Finished the day before yesterday and was sadI was done. Very well written and interesting true crime book that I do recommend to other true crime readers.
So glad I managed to get my hands on the ebook and am reading now. Very weird story that is thankfully very well told
Finished the day before yesterday and was sadI was done. Very well written and interesting true crime book that I do recommend to other true crime readers.
July 1, 2023
Outstanding book I love this because it tells the story, but it does not glorify the killer. Focus is more on the victim. The way he lived And the sense of loss. From those left. behind I also like the fact that the author explains. His research for the book
December 5, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. A lot. It is a fascinating story and is incredibly engrossing. The effort made to convey details, mannerisms, and personalities allows us to "get to know" the people involved, so they become more than "characters" in a story. There is no sensationalism, which is greatly appreciated, especially in the true crime genre. It is so easy to make these stories into hyperbolic drama, and Lillebuen does a fantastic job of steering clear of that and presenting the story as it is: a tragic horror story that reminds us that we may not know everyone as well as we think we do, that everyone we meet online may not be who they say they are, and that, under some "good men's" squeaky-clean exteriors, slumber monsters. This case truly disturbed me, and I consider myself seasoned in true crime. It is hard to faze me, yet this case did just that.
Everything in the book is meticulously researched, allowing for even tiny mannerisms to be detailed. This book is all about those little details, and I think it is these details that upset me so much. After all, it is in the details that we discover the human side of the people involved. Including these details, and weaving them into the narrative overall, really showed who those involved were. Twitchell and Altinger also kept pretty prominent internet personas, and the public nature of Facebook and internet forums has made whatever they posted on the internet accessible. The inclusion of snippets of these documents just compounded the disturbing nature of the case.
In terms of more technical aspects: often this book read as a novel. In my opinion, this really helped to exacerbate the horrific nature of the case and made the book hard to put down. Several times I had to remind myself that this book is not a work of fiction: it is the true story of an innocent man who wandered into a predator's lair. Lillebuen's writing style is clear and vivid; it enables the reader to get a picture of what was happening and the progress of the investigation. The way he organizes the book may seem very disjointed, but I found it satisfactory as it progresses the narrative and switches between perspectives, so we see Altinger's final days and Twitchell's descent into homicide. The juxtaposition between these perspectives just exacerbates the disturbing nature of the story.
Everything in the book is meticulously researched, allowing for even tiny mannerisms to be detailed. This book is all about those little details, and I think it is these details that upset me so much. After all, it is in the details that we discover the human side of the people involved. Including these details, and weaving them into the narrative overall, really showed who those involved were. Twitchell and Altinger also kept pretty prominent internet personas, and the public nature of Facebook and internet forums has made whatever they posted on the internet accessible. The inclusion of snippets of these documents just compounded the disturbing nature of the case.
In terms of more technical aspects: often this book read as a novel. In my opinion, this really helped to exacerbate the horrific nature of the case and made the book hard to put down. Several times I had to remind myself that this book is not a work of fiction: it is the true story of an innocent man who wandered into a predator's lair. Lillebuen's writing style is clear and vivid; it enables the reader to get a picture of what was happening and the progress of the investigation. The way he organizes the book may seem very disjointed, but I found it satisfactory as it progresses the narrative and switches between perspectives, so we see Altinger's final days and Twitchell's descent into homicide. The juxtaposition between these perspectives just exacerbates the disturbing nature of the story.
January 22, 2016
Disturbing true story of a crazed STAR WARS and DEXTER fan who wasn't satisfied making crummy fan-based movies and moved into the realm of real-life crime. I found this well-researched book often unpleasant but always fascinating.
August 22, 2022
Wow this is a really tough one to review. Loved that it is based on a true story and well researched and from verified sources (according to statements the author makes in the afterward.)
I definitely liked the telling of the events and in depth descriptions of those involved, whether directly or indirectly. What happened impacted a lot of people, friends, family, law enforcement, the jury, the judge, other inmates and even corrections officers. I loved having that wide array of viewpoints throughout the book.
I will say that in capturing all of the details, it was definitely tedious at certain parts. There were times that I wanted to jump past long scenes that were drawn out by so much detail. But when writing a non-fiction book like this it must be especially difficult to leave anything at all out.
It is a morbid topic, as the title itself reveals with the words "Kill Room." So a certain morbid curiosity goes along with that. It is such a bizarre crime pattern that I wanted to understand what happened that would allow someone to do that to other human beings. I especially appreciated hearing what the police who were investigating the incidents were thinking along the way and how they approached the investigation.
Having finished the book, I know that it will stay with my for quite a while. I would be worried if it didn't and I could just let it pass and go on to the next book. I am a voracious reader of fiction, including a lot of mystery, thriller and legal genres. I don't read non-fiction very often, but it being a true crime book was at least in those same fictional genres, just non-fiction this time.
It certainly heightened my awareness of everyone and everything happening around me. It was a harsh reminder that very bad people are out there and they can be very charismatic and charming. Also, those very bad people can do very bad acts. I am not super trusting by nature, more of a skeptic, but in terms of my safety, I am definitely going to be even more careful. That goes for my family as well.
I recommend this book if you are interested in the true crime genre and are prepared to get deep into the details.
I definitely liked the telling of the events and in depth descriptions of those involved, whether directly or indirectly. What happened impacted a lot of people, friends, family, law enforcement, the jury, the judge, other inmates and even corrections officers. I loved having that wide array of viewpoints throughout the book.
I will say that in capturing all of the details, it was definitely tedious at certain parts. There were times that I wanted to jump past long scenes that were drawn out by so much detail. But when writing a non-fiction book like this it must be especially difficult to leave anything at all out.
It is a morbid topic, as the title itself reveals with the words "Kill Room." So a certain morbid curiosity goes along with that. It is such a bizarre crime pattern that I wanted to understand what happened that would allow someone to do that to other human beings. I especially appreciated hearing what the police who were investigating the incidents were thinking along the way and how they approached the investigation.
Having finished the book, I know that it will stay with my for quite a while. I would be worried if it didn't and I could just let it pass and go on to the next book. I am a voracious reader of fiction, including a lot of mystery, thriller and legal genres. I don't read non-fiction very often, but it being a true crime book was at least in those same fictional genres, just non-fiction this time.
It certainly heightened my awareness of everyone and everything happening around me. It was a harsh reminder that very bad people are out there and they can be very charismatic and charming. Also, those very bad people can do very bad acts. I am not super trusting by nature, more of a skeptic, but in terms of my safety, I am definitely going to be even more careful. That goes for my family as well.
I recommend this book if you are interested in the true crime genre and are prepared to get deep into the details.
June 22, 2024
Billy Loomis says it all in Scream: "Movies don't create psychos. Movies make psychos more creative."
This book is clear and comprehensive, and pretty concise, if also pretty dry. The author seems like a great journalist, but unfortunately that makes for a book that sounds like an 11-hour long news story and it loses its shine quickly. It's not like I WANT a book full of embellishments or the Edmonton version of Silence of the Lambs. I want the truth and I don't want an editorial opinion on the killer, lest he be glorified or portrayed like a victim. And maybe my style of true crime needs to have more of an angle of investigation to hold my interest? Or explore more psychology?
I'm interested to see if any other writer delves more deeply into Twitchell's sociopathy. To me, what is frightening is similar to how I felt reading Dave Cullen's book on Columbine: Twitchell seems like he was raised in a stable home with a supportive family, but was just a bad seed, similar to how Eric Harris seems to have been. I guess, like Billy Loomis says, it's scarier not to have a motive. But of course, Billy Loomis did have a motive despite his posturing.
This book is clear and comprehensive, and pretty concise, if also pretty dry. The author seems like a great journalist, but unfortunately that makes for a book that sounds like an 11-hour long news story and it loses its shine quickly. It's not like I WANT a book full of embellishments or the Edmonton version of Silence of the Lambs. I want the truth and I don't want an editorial opinion on the killer, lest he be glorified or portrayed like a victim. And maybe my style of true crime needs to have more of an angle of investigation to hold my interest? Or explore more psychology?
I'm interested to see if any other writer delves more deeply into Twitchell's sociopathy. To me, what is frightening is similar to how I felt reading Dave Cullen's book on Columbine: Twitchell seems like he was raised in a stable home with a supportive family, but was just a bad seed, similar to how Eric Harris seems to have been. I guess, like Billy Loomis says, it's scarier not to have a motive. But of course, Billy Loomis did have a motive despite his posturing.
December 30, 2023
I was never a Dexter fan, and I don't remember this incident. However, knowing that it happened in Edmonton, I was curious to read about it. It was interesting - the author did his homework, and though it doesn't read like an Erik Larson book, it held my interest nonetheless. Twitchell was a despicable man, and to be introduced to someone who has no conscience, no remorse, only a habitual liar with the intent of manipulating circumstances to his benefit, regardless of the consequences - I've heard of people like this, but to get a glimpse into the mind of one was gripping. Like Paul Bernardo, I hope this man is never released back into the public.
December 5, 2019
really good as true crime goes. steve lillebuen did a fantastic job in not oversensationalizing dialog, motives, and he never glorified the killer, rather he delivers facts as they were and made sure to point towards how pathetic a man like twitchell is. lillebuen also did wonderfully in paying tribute to victims and treating them as humans, never as bodies or kill counts like other corners of true crime sometimes sink to. absolutely would recommend to anyone interested in real-life cases like this, but obviously be cautious of graphic details of murder.
March 11, 2021
This is a well written book about a killer that I had not read or heard about before. The author does a very good job with the writing and the research behind the book. The book lacked for me though in the fact that I really didn't care about the subjects. Mark Twitchell is just another narcissistic psychopath and I've had my fill of narcissism for the past 4 years. I did like the whole Dexter twist to it though. And the book didn't get me to care for Johnny Altinger. Will look to see what other books author may have written though.
October 1, 2024
Absolutely brilliantly written & exceptionally researched. This is the best book I’ve probably ever read. It is intriguing & page turning. I literally could not put this down. The fact that so many people were willing to share their sides of this story & how well this was researched makes it not only a wild account of this crime but also a love letter to the victim involved & his life. This is how you were true crime people! 5 STARS! CANNOT RECOMMEND ENOUGH! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 1, 2021
Engaging, intriguing and factual. I somehow missed this happening in my own city. Fascinated by true crime, this sated my desire to learn more about this particular criminal.
September 1, 2022
Reading about your brother's old baseball coach arresting one of your city's most notorious murderers is certainly a new lens to a true crime book. Well-written, to the point, and captivating.
April 3, 2024
Just OK
March 27, 2012
The Good Stuff
Fast paced & truly fascinating
Very detailed and obviously very well researched
Not too sensational or descriptive of the more gruesome aspects of the case (I would have liked a lot less, but I am sensitive)
Author really tries hard not to put in his own opinions -- slips a little sometimes, but it would be hard not to
Impressed with the dedication of the Edmonton police force on making sure he didn't have the opportunity to kill again
Also impressed with the fact that justice system tried to protect his wife and child and I very much hope that they have a chance to have a decent life
Learned some interesting information on the work done by the police to catch someone like Twitchell
Writing style is easy to read, story sucks you in and disturbs you, but keeps you wanting to know what happened
Could lead to some fascinating discussions
I had never even heard of this case before I got the Random House list of books for review
You get a little glimpse into Jeff Lindsay's thoughts on what he thinks about this case
Good index (I know I am such a nerd, but hey it helped when I forgot things while I was writing this review)
The Not So Good Stuff
Could have done with a bit less of the gruesome descriptions (I am sensitive 'kay)
I am concerned that Twitchell will get attention from the publications of this, which he obviously gets off on
Concerned with the fact that the thought of him getting killed in prison wouldn't be all that bad to me& that disturbs me
The constant mentions of the comparison between Twitchell and the fictional Dexter were almost to the point that the author was saying that if it wasn't for Dexter, Twitchell never would have killed - think that is a cop out
Might be moving to Alberta and the crime statistics are very scary to me - definitely not moving to Deadmonton now!
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"Edmonton is not the end of the world -it's just easier to see it from there; Once quipped Ralph Klein, a colourful and well known politician. Many have adopted a similar self-deprecating attitude, wielding such ethos like an invaluable tool while residing in the northernmost major city of North America."
"Antsey had been waiting for lab results for three days, trying to be patient, but he was frustrated. Detectives started rolling their eyes when told the lab results for the new items taken from Johnny's condo still weren't back. They would joke that lab techs from television crime shows like CSI could get DNA results in an hour. In real life, there were city cases that had been stalled on DNA analysis for weeks, sometimes months.
"The burn lasted only a few minutes and died down as the fuel disappeared. Twitchell might have been smarter to mix some oil with the gasoline to make it burn longer, but he was a city boy and some things can't be learned on the internet."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Obviously fans of true crime will eat this up
Those living in Edmonton might be a little offended by the less than stellar comments about their city
Fabulous book for a book club or classroom discussion
4 Dewey's
I received this from Random House in exchange for an honest review
Fast paced & truly fascinating
Very detailed and obviously very well researched
Not too sensational or descriptive of the more gruesome aspects of the case (I would have liked a lot less, but I am sensitive)
Author really tries hard not to put in his own opinions -- slips a little sometimes, but it would be hard not to
Impressed with the dedication of the Edmonton police force on making sure he didn't have the opportunity to kill again
Also impressed with the fact that justice system tried to protect his wife and child and I very much hope that they have a chance to have a decent life
Learned some interesting information on the work done by the police to catch someone like Twitchell
Writing style is easy to read, story sucks you in and disturbs you, but keeps you wanting to know what happened
Could lead to some fascinating discussions
I had never even heard of this case before I got the Random House list of books for review
You get a little glimpse into Jeff Lindsay's thoughts on what he thinks about this case
Good index (I know I am such a nerd, but hey it helped when I forgot things while I was writing this review)
The Not So Good Stuff
Could have done with a bit less of the gruesome descriptions (I am sensitive 'kay)
I am concerned that Twitchell will get attention from the publications of this, which he obviously gets off on
Concerned with the fact that the thought of him getting killed in prison wouldn't be all that bad to me& that disturbs me
The constant mentions of the comparison between Twitchell and the fictional Dexter were almost to the point that the author was saying that if it wasn't for Dexter, Twitchell never would have killed - think that is a cop out
Might be moving to Alberta and the crime statistics are very scary to me - definitely not moving to Deadmonton now!
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"Edmonton is not the end of the world -it's just easier to see it from there; Once quipped Ralph Klein, a colourful and well known politician. Many have adopted a similar self-deprecating attitude, wielding such ethos like an invaluable tool while residing in the northernmost major city of North America."
"Antsey had been waiting for lab results for three days, trying to be patient, but he was frustrated. Detectives started rolling their eyes when told the lab results for the new items taken from Johnny's condo still weren't back. They would joke that lab techs from television crime shows like CSI could get DNA results in an hour. In real life, there were city cases that had been stalled on DNA analysis for weeks, sometimes months.
"The burn lasted only a few minutes and died down as the fuel disappeared. Twitchell might have been smarter to mix some oil with the gasoline to make it burn longer, but he was a city boy and some things can't be learned on the internet."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Obviously fans of true crime will eat this up
Those living in Edmonton might be a little offended by the less than stellar comments about their city
Fabulous book for a book club or classroom discussion
4 Dewey's
I received this from Random House in exchange for an honest review
June 11, 2014
This was another case hitting close to home. Surprisingly, I hadn't even heard of it, yet the media attention was outstanding when you look back at media archives. I was quite surprised to find out that my hometown news paper was even there for some piece of the coverage.
What I found most fascinating is the complete break from reality that Twitchell clearly experiences. This obsession with creation and promoting projects is one I am familiar with. There is a fine line between fact and fiction, and one with a creative mind, such as Twitchell, sometimes has a very hard time distinguishing the two. Especially when your own dark desires are mirrored back at you.
That said, I want to make it very clear that his obsession with the TV and book series Dexter in no way influenced his actions - this is a position I firmly believe. Having studied psychopathy, sociopathy, and anti-social personality disorder to an extent, it is highly likely he harboured these desires prior to seeing them reflected to him through the media representation of Dexter Morgan. It is where he may have been inspired, but they did not, in any manner, give him the ideas to commit his crimes in the first place.
Twitchell further expresses his disinterest in reality by creating his own concept of his inability to express empathy. In this way, he is free to absolve himself of guilt by, for lack of a better term, pretending his is not responsible for his own actions. He takes none of the blame.
Reading through the case in this manner was fantastic. All information and dialogue are taken from court documents, police records, and interviews conducted by the author himself. It's this type of case I love reading. Facts - sheer facts, with little speculation. No fancy attention-getting scenarios. Just straight facts.
Another thing I found fantastic about this book was the connection the author tried to make between reader and victim. Johnny wasn't just another name on a list. He was a gentle, kind person. We connected with him, we got to know him, his friends, his family, his life. I haven't read very many true crime novels that express, to this extent, a want for a connection to the victim. It was refreshing.
The media may have sensationalized the crime to extremes - for it was quite the extreme crime. As extreme and sensational as it was, it is clear that Twitchell will never fully come to terms with his actions. I highly doubt that he will ever take full responsibility. He will also hide behind some semblance of his imagination, some lie, some fabrication. It's where is mind is most at ease.
What I found most fascinating is the complete break from reality that Twitchell clearly experiences. This obsession with creation and promoting projects is one I am familiar with. There is a fine line between fact and fiction, and one with a creative mind, such as Twitchell, sometimes has a very hard time distinguishing the two. Especially when your own dark desires are mirrored back at you.
That said, I want to make it very clear that his obsession with the TV and book series Dexter in no way influenced his actions - this is a position I firmly believe. Having studied psychopathy, sociopathy, and anti-social personality disorder to an extent, it is highly likely he harboured these desires prior to seeing them reflected to him through the media representation of Dexter Morgan. It is where he may have been inspired, but they did not, in any manner, give him the ideas to commit his crimes in the first place.
Twitchell further expresses his disinterest in reality by creating his own concept of his inability to express empathy. In this way, he is free to absolve himself of guilt by, for lack of a better term, pretending his is not responsible for his own actions. He takes none of the blame.
Reading through the case in this manner was fantastic. All information and dialogue are taken from court documents, police records, and interviews conducted by the author himself. It's this type of case I love reading. Facts - sheer facts, with little speculation. No fancy attention-getting scenarios. Just straight facts.
Another thing I found fantastic about this book was the connection the author tried to make between reader and victim. Johnny wasn't just another name on a list. He was a gentle, kind person. We connected with him, we got to know him, his friends, his family, his life. I haven't read very many true crime novels that express, to this extent, a want for a connection to the victim. It was refreshing.
The media may have sensationalized the crime to extremes - for it was quite the extreme crime. As extreme and sensational as it was, it is clear that Twitchell will never fully come to terms with his actions. I highly doubt that he will ever take full responsibility. He will also hide behind some semblance of his imagination, some lie, some fabrication. It's where is mind is most at ease.
July 20, 2012
I picked this book up yesterday around 11 am, and finished reading it around 12:30 pm, what a spell binder what a horrific story about the evil that can live amongst us. I have read many true live murder stories, however this is Steve Lillebuen's first book, which is pretty amazing.
Steve's background is veteran Journalist and he has written for the Edmonton Journal, The National Post, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the Sydney Morning Herald, and many other publications.
This story deals with the "Dexter Killer" Mark Twitchell, and not wanting to give away the whole story, since this is a "must read" Steve takes us deep into the extra ordinary police investigation and the lives of everyone involved telling all about details which he researched, and many from contact he had with the killer. Twitchell's own account in "S.K. Confessions" found on his pc, this is a book which is really worthwhile read, written in a to my way of thinking "Ann Rule style", giving one personal insights of the characters in the story, based on facts which often take a great deal of time and patience to obtain.
Being a mystery reader, I hate being told most of the story in a review, the only thing I can say, get the book, allow yourself a day or so, to sit back and become involved in the telling of this well pretty horrific, but very real story.
I am keeping my eyes out for the next book from Steve Lillebuen.
Steve's background is veteran Journalist and he has written for the Edmonton Journal, The National Post, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the Sydney Morning Herald, and many other publications.
This story deals with the "Dexter Killer" Mark Twitchell, and not wanting to give away the whole story, since this is a "must read" Steve takes us deep into the extra ordinary police investigation and the lives of everyone involved telling all about details which he researched, and many from contact he had with the killer. Twitchell's own account in "S.K. Confessions" found on his pc, this is a book which is really worthwhile read, written in a to my way of thinking "Ann Rule style", giving one personal insights of the characters in the story, based on facts which often take a great deal of time and patience to obtain.
Being a mystery reader, I hate being told most of the story in a review, the only thing I can say, get the book, allow yourself a day or so, to sit back and become involved in the telling of this well pretty horrific, but very real story.
I am keeping my eyes out for the next book from Steve Lillebuen.
June 12, 2013
Steve Lillebuen recently took home the 2013 Arthur Ellis Crime Non-Fiction Award for this book, documenting his research and coverage in the fascinatingly strange story of Mark Twitchell. Having grown up in Edmonton, I found some of the scenery familiar as he described the events and locations. I was however startled by some of the city's more modern folklore - having dubbed itself "Deadmonton", which certainly played well into the book's central theme, but was not the case twenty years ago. I also noted that he mentioned only the Oilers when casting the long defunct "City of Champions" reference, overlooking the Eskimos who were equally impressive in those days. Whether football or hockey though, his point is not lost. As a former Edmontonian, the reference to Calgary as the "big sister city" was also enough to trigger old rivalries. These however are all minor distractions in this tale of one man's descent into embracing an apparent psychopathy, triggered/supported by pop culture and a cadre of people reinforcing the normalcy of his dark fantasies. The outcome is tragic from beginning to end but it is evident that the police prevented a much larger murderous spree through a combination of good work and the trail left by Twitchell's delusional sense of grandeur. A good read for those who enjoy this genre.
March 31, 2012
I could not put this book down!! Steve Lillebuen did a fantastic job researching and investigating a factual, non-fiction version of this case and presenting it as a fascinating look at a twisted killer. As an Edmontonian, I was already familiar with the Mark Twitchell case through the media coverage here, but this book did a great job of covering the story in depth utilizing not only the trial proceedings and facts of the case, but also interviews with family, friends and Mark Twitchell himself. I learned a lot about the case that I didn't already know. I also really appreciated that he did a wonderful job paying tribute to and respecting the memory of Johnny Altinger.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
November 25, 2023
What a dive down the rabbit hole along the dark road of a real-life murderer! The book is based upon the court transcripts and public records of Mark Twitchell's descent into committing murder and trying to lie to everyone that he is not at fault for such egregious behavior. The narrative writing style is a docudrama that toggles back and forth from an omnipotent viewpoint and the internal struggle of the story's lead character. I found this story fascinating because of the murderer's interest in movie-making. I enjoy watching movies and find the topic of filmmaking interesting. But it's shocking to hear someone be inspired by television shows and films to commit murder.
September 9, 2013
Good book.
Well-written, fairly unbiased, fairly non-sensational.
I appreciate that most of the information was gathered from sources besides Twitchell himself, though, it was glaringly obvious when stories were coming from the horse's mouth- very narcissistic.
Recommend to people who wish to hear the ins-and-outs of the Twitchell case- from the original occurrence, to how he was convicted and sentenced.
A warning to some: near the middle of the book, pieces of Twitchell's own account of the murder is quoted in gory detail- not over the top, but certainly stomach-turning.
Well-written, fairly unbiased, fairly non-sensational.
I appreciate that most of the information was gathered from sources besides Twitchell himself, though, it was glaringly obvious when stories were coming from the horse's mouth- very narcissistic.
Recommend to people who wish to hear the ins-and-outs of the Twitchell case- from the original occurrence, to how he was convicted and sentenced.
A warning to some: near the middle of the book, pieces of Twitchell's own account of the murder is quoted in gory detail- not over the top, but certainly stomach-turning.
July 10, 2012
Fascinating and well researched. I did follow this case when it was in the media, since so many of my friends were reporting on it, and I know a guy who went to school with Mark Twitchell.
I learned a lot about the case and the investigation, but felt that the organization of the book was TERRIBLE. There was also a lot of really bad writing in this book too.
Interesting, but poor execution.
I learned a lot about the case and the investigation, but felt that the organization of the book was TERRIBLE. There was also a lot of really bad writing in this book too.
Interesting, but poor execution.
May 2, 2013
There's a good mix in this book of journalistic observation, court and police proceedings which makes for a horrific story. The only query I had was with the chronolgy of the story. There seemed to be an amount of to-ing and fro-ing which I found annoying.
I think it would have worked better as a story if it was told in a chronologically straight line.
A good book to skim through quickly, especially because of some of the horrific details.
I think it would have worked better as a story if it was told in a chronologically straight line.
A good book to skim through quickly, especially because of some of the horrific details.
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