Couples Who Kill

by Carol Anne Davis

What drives attractive male cousins to rape and kill ten young women? Why do an altar girl and her boyfriend lure innocent victims into their customized torture van? Couples who kill comprise only twenty percent of killers—but they often murder serially and are responsible for particularly inhumane deaths. Sadistic friends, twisted sisters and an increasingly pathological mother-son team are amongst those profiled in the world’s most deviant duos. There are notable British cases, such as the Moors Murderers, as well as equally scandalous but less publicized ones. Carol Anne Davis explores the formative influences of these killers and their deadly dynamics. She also interviews one of the Wests’ surviving female victims and a man who spent time with a serial co-killer now on Death Row.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

398 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2005

Reviews

[Nick Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do enjoy very much Carol Ann Davis' fiction, but as with a couple of other non fiction books of hers I have read, making use of her professional expertise, this left me with a mix of opinions needing balancing. On the one hand, excellently researched and detailed without all the emotional language which can make some descriptions of crime feel biased, but this did lead to a slight feeling that all this grim murder was being discussed too quickly and too even-handedly (as if there should somehow have been a little more acknowledgement that three people had been brutally killed on that page, but the author just described it with an unemotive journalistic style).

As with 'Parents Who Kill', the number of grimly similar examples described at times in the even tone meant there felt like a lack of emotional depth at times, though of course reading the book made me feel sad and question our society. Though there were attempts in later chapters to explain and apply reasoning, to suggest causes and preventative measures (I maintain that some folk really shouldn't breed!) this came after a first three hundred or so pages of stuff of such tragic nature, I was a little flat by then. It'd be nice to know why certain people commit certain crimes and others in the same circumstances do not, it'd be great to have a way of preventing the social disadvantages which lead to the contents of this book. I know these are outliers and it's important to not see the case studies in this book as the norm, but yeah...

[Roxy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it was an interesting read, it fell flat for me. It is basically just a catalogue of bios and crimes. This person teamed up with this person, they were born then and there, their upbringings were as follows ,and then they did this list of horrible things to people. I was hoping for a bit more of a psychological lean. Some insight into why they did what they did, or what could lead to this. It is informative but I would have preferred some psychological profiling or similar medical theorising as to the why of it all.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read but..

It would be nice for authors not to pad their multi-crime books with killers that have been covered over and over again. Anyone who reads true crime can write their own chapters on the ' usual ' criminals like Hindley or West.

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read. A lot of killer couples. Famous ones like Ian Brady and Myra Hindley or Leonard Lake and Charles NG to name a few of which I have already read books but also about less known couples and ones that are dated. I liked those the best.

Very interesting and not as preachy and opinionated as in Children who Kill.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in true crime this is a good read. Obviously it is brutally honest and sometimes disturbing, but fascinating at the same time.

[Abbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much to review at a later date when I have the time to rant..

[teleri · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was good, but not hold onto for 8 years good. my bad 😞

[Rachael Fair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thank you

[A.L. Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good and well written account. This one is certainly not for the faint-hearted but the author provides an unbiased and factual account of these crimes. If you enjoy true crime I would recommend this and the other titles by same author.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think this should necessarily be called 'couples' as not all of them were romantically involved. Partners maybe? But just another oversight the author makes in her research and depiction of murderers and their victims.

[Viv]

Another fantastic book with some surprising information about some of the most infamous serial killing couples known

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh... Just another killer book with the writing more designed to shock than inform. Save your time and read something good instead.

[Vee Villanueva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fascinating subject; badly executed writing.