Catch Me a Killer: A Profiler's True Story

by Micki Pistorius

‘Serial killers experience the power over life and death as omnipotence … When I interrogate a serial killer, I dive into the abyss of his soul.’

From 1994 to 2000, when South Africa was a young democracy, the country was stalked by a succession of brutal serial killers. Psychologist Micki Pistorius became the first profiler for the South African Police Service, playing a vital role in identifying and interrogating these killers, as well as training detectives nationally and in other countries. She broke ground with her theory on the origin of serial killers and is considered a trailblazer in her field.

            Catch Me a Killer details the cases she worked on – from the Station Strangler and the Phoenix Cane Killer to Boetie Boer and the Saloon Killer. The book also features legendary detectives such as Piet Byleveld and Suiker Britz, as well as the FBI’s Robert Ressler.

            Released alongside a major TV series based on the book, this new edition of Catch Me a Killer includes a new chapter and up-to-date information about some of the cases, such as the parole of Norman Afzal Simons in 2023. This is essential reading for all true crime aficionados.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

Micki Pistorius, who has a doctorate in psychology, spent six years as a profiler with the South African Police Service. As head of their investigative psychology unit, she was involved in more than thirty serial killer cases and participated in the training of more than a hundred detectives in the investigation of serial homicides. She is regularly invited to lecture in France and still acts as a consultant to different South African agencies.

She is the author of Catch me a Killer, Strangers on the Street, Fatal Females, and Profiling Serial Killers and other crimes in South Africa,all published by Penguin. Her first novel, Sorg, was published by Penguin in 2006.
Micki’s official website is available at www.mickipistorius.co.za.

Reviews

[Ari Damoulakis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly the only reason you would want to read this book is for old, South African crime memories or ‘nostalgia.’ And what a crap idea to turn it into a tv show. She hardly gives any insights on how she constructs her profiles or procedures, spends half the book going on about how she had to ‘look into the killers’s souls’ as if she is some kind of magician with secret powers. As if she doesn’t want to give secrets away, this book is an absolutely shallow and mostly pointless autobiography that will hardly give any insight into forensic profiling in the unique South African context. Don’t waste your time reading it.

[Carol Farrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I looked for it after watching the series on Britbox. The book covers several of the same cases as the series. The writing style was frustrating at times as she would write a chapter/story about one person then move on to the next chapter. At the end of the second chapter she would revert to discussing the person from the previous chapter. I think this may have been because of the timeline the events happened in life and the number of cases she was working at a time, I would have preferred her to finish one story completely before moving on. I did appreciate her open and in depth discussion of how the cases affected her personally. This is a side rarely discussed.
I saw in a previous review that someone felt she did not discuss how her profiles were developed. I disagree. There were brief discussions as each case was presented because she often had to explain to others how and why she determined a certain killer’s traits and how each was different from others they dealt with through time. The final chapter was also a discussion of how, why and when, they developed their traits. I believe some of this is considered out of date now 24 years later.but it was interesting. The psychology or psychopathology is what fascinates me about true crime so this was very satisfying.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely riveting! An in-depth look into the complexities of the minds of serial killers and the way profilers go about figuring them out.
Micki Pistorius is a legend in the world of SA true crime, and following her journey was eye-opening.
Reading about cases that I remember hearing about when they were all over the news years ago and now getting to see them from this perspective was fascinating!

NB: NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED!!

Thank you to Penguin Books South Africa for sending me a copy for review.

[Max Riedel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I brought this book as a holiday read because I typically love anything true crime. I have to say I was very disappointed in this book.

Firstly the author is quite strange. Always babbling on about the abyss was pretty ridiculous. Also she drones on about not receiving kudos that she thinks she deserves for her work. The weirdest thing is that she gets butt hurt when police won’t let her talk to the serial killers once they’ve been caught. As a profiler it feels as though she’s overstepping the boundaries of her role.

She mentions that she talks to a famous FBI profiler and he tells her that prostitutes are perfect victims for serial killers because they will go anywhere with anyone. Wow. What a genius insight.

In terms of the content of the book South Africa sounds like a lawless hell hole. They catch these guys who they know have killed 20 women, let them out on bail where they kill another 5 women and then decide not to prosecute due to lack of evidence. I’m sorry but the SA police force sounds pretty inept. You get the feeling reading this that it’s no bother because it’s just poor black men killing poor black women.

Overall not what I expected and not that great.

[Tresia O'shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really thought I was going to be completely wowed by this book.

Micki is certainly brilliant and has an amazing story to tell, but I really believe she should have had a professional biographer work with her on this. The subject matter is riveting and terrifying, the language at best is sloppy. The phrase, “curled up like a kitten” to describe Micki sleeping in a car just made me uncomfortable. The novel shifted from multiple crime scenes, to her personal life, and it wasn’t fluid.

Micki’s ability to join the serial killers in the abyss was very interesting and it’s easy to understand how someone could burn out, but it was hard for me to connect with the author.

I didn’t hate the book but it’s not going to be something I reread again.

[anjela waterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully Done

This was so well written. I usually have to take a break in between genres, but I could read twenty more books exactly like this and not even flinch. I thoroughly enjoy reading true crime— I find the entire subject of crime interesting, but specifically the psychology of it. This was one of the best books I have ever read. I love that this was written from the perspective of a profiler. Pistorius will make you feel like you are right there, experiencing each thought and feeling with her. I highly recommend that you read this book!

[Rene Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fasanating Insight

I found this book both fascinating and frightening. As a parent, I regret not having the knowledge to develop my children's physici into more rounded mentally strong individuals. this book certainly highlighted my mistakes as a parent. I will indevour to encourage more people to read books like this so we don't as a society breed a generation of children that are without a moral compass, we do have an obligation as parents and grandparents to do so

[Yolandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting read about her experiences in the SA Police Force from 1994 - 2000. Working alongside the greats like Suiker Britz and Piet Byleveldt, Pistorius took me on this journey as to how they caught the suspects. It took me close to a month to complete, which is hard to understand as this was an easy read as well, unlike Strangers on the Street and Profiling Serial Killers, which will be much more technical.

But all in all, I recommend this to all the true crime addicts.

[Ceri Geldenhuys · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly what a disappointing book. I was hoping to obtain insight into South African serial killers but all I got was a “diary account “of her life and emotions and constant reminders of affirmations she received for her brilliance, which really didn’t shine through in the book. The style of writing was immature and basic. It was a frustrating read.

[Carmelita Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable read into the daily grind of a Profiler. What made it even more interesting was that the places and serial murders were known to me as I live in South Africa and fully understood the challenges that the Profiler faced. Educational and a real page turner.

[Marli Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!! Couldn't put down!

I have watched the TV series and now after reading the book I am fascinated by Mickis work and her contribution to figuring out the minds of serial killers. This book is well written and I couldn't put it down. It is detailed and thorough.

[Francois Bouwer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re interested in criminal investigation or anything “crime”, this book is for you. I found the book to be informative and fairly well written.