Rampage

by P. William Wood

Faced with vanishing evidence, fugitive witnesses, and conniving psychiatrists, District Attorney Tony Fraser will risk anything, even to go beyond the letter of the law, to convict--and get the death penalty for--a savage and sly killer

Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Marina Walter]

ohhhhhhhhh snap crackle and pop this was good

[Jonathan Trinder · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some spoilers below.

I read this to see how it had been adapted into the Friedkin film. Some of the issues the movie had stem from the source material - the murderer's psychology is barely explored except through legal arguments, and the Fraser character's relationship problems with his wife quickly become tedious. Still, the book commits no major sins until the end, when the protagonist lawyer (who had earlier manufactured evidence) decides to act as judge, jury and...you know the rest. It left a bad taste in my mouth.

Also, in the preface the author tells us that his characters are entirely fictitious, when it's obvious (at least in the age of Google) that the murderer is based on Richard Chase. To use real atrocities to sell a book without acknowledging the real victims is despicable. Stick with Thomas Harris.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good story of crazed killer, trial, prison, and faked suicide.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

good, but disturbing