Серийные убийцы. Мотивы и страхи самых известных садистов (Криминология на пальцах)

by Jack Rosewood, Джек Роузвуд

В книге «Серийные убийцы». Мотивы и страхи самых известных садистов» Джек Роузвуд раскрывает самые шокирующие подробности о серийных убийцах. Помимо актуальной информации о текущих делах, вы прочитаете об 11 различных категориях убийц, узнаете шокирующие факты о малоизвестных преступлениях и о самых известных злодеях. Являетесь ли вы фанатом жанра true crime или новичком, каждый найдет для себя что-то новое, шокирующее и ужасающее. Психопаты, дети-убийцы, оккультные серийные убийцы, кровожадные доктора, каннибалы и некрофилы — малая часть того, что ждет вас на страницах книги.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Serial Killer

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2023

About the author

I live in one of the most beautiful places in Florida, Jupiter, with my wife, two kids and our golden retriever, Vincent. I've been a full time author for the last 15 years and I wouldn't trade it against anything in the world!

My father was a journalist and wrote about some of the worst crimes you could ever imagine, and that's where my big interest from serial killers and other horrible crimes comes from. Just to hear my father talk about the evil acts of Ted Bundy as we were out fishing as a kid are some of my best memories.

Reviews

[Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the nonsense spelling and grammar (in other works rookie) errors, this was really interesting but instead of calling it a trivia book it should be Serial Killer FAQs as it's basically a data dump of all things serial killers in compact form. Some facts widely known but many things were new to me which was a surprise!

[Laura Laufman]

Received this as a “stocking stuffer” this Christmas, sooo solid bet I need to reel in the amount of Law & Order and true crime I’m consuming?? 🤷‍♀️

[Zoe Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, mentioned serial killers who are well known and those who I’ve never heard of.

There were some spelling errors which made some sentences confusing but i got over it. Towards the end the pages started detaching and i had to be super careful not to lose any.

Would definitely recommend as some easy enjoyable reading

[Storm The Gremlin Child -Hiatus- · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was something else. I learned a lot more information than I thought I would. Now it's all going to be stuck in my brain for awhile. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes true crime especially serial killers.

[Erin Rumney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was treated to this book as a little stocking filler and quite happily finished this in two short sittings. It is a very interesting book of facts about lots of different serial killers and learnt some interesting things. The world really is a scary place!

One star knocked off due to a few grammar/typo errors but was a good read regardless.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift from a coworker who knows how much I love true crime stuff. While it's definitely an interesting book and there was a lot of trivia/facts I had never heard before, it was a hard read because it was just a running laundry list of serial killer facts and figures. If you read a true crime book, even if it's about a serial killer, there is still other stuff going on in the book - background, other people, etc. This was a LOT of just gruesome facts and cases all in one place. I did like how the author divided the information into chapters by topic (although I could have done without the cannibalism chapter...). Overall, it was an interesting book but maybe I should have read like a chapter a week instead of plowing through it like a regular book/story.

Some quotes I liked:

"The USA has both the highest number of recorded serial killers and the highest rate per capita (0.99% per every 100,000 people). California is the US state that has produced the most serial killers, boasting over 1,000 since 1900. During the 1970s, California was dubbed the 'murder capital of the world.' Canada has only seen 106 serial killers between 1900 and 2016, despite its landmass being 1.6% larger than the United States. This puts its capita rate at 0.29% per 100,000 people." (p. 13-14)

[The Monster of the Andes] "[Pedro] Lopez was finally caught in 1979 after allegedly killing 'three girls a week for years.' It turns out Lopez wasn't lying, as he led authorities to a mass grave in Ecuador containing the remains of 53 girls. Lopez was sent to prison, with authorities believing he could have killed up to 300 people. However, Ecuador has a prison term limit of 20 years, so in 1999, Lopez was released into the world. Since then, no one has seen him." (p. 101)

[Kristin Scearce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Information itself - 4 stars
Editing - 2 stars

Overall rating - 3 stars

I wouldn't say I'm a fount of serial killer knowledge per se, but I do know a pretty decent amount. However, this book had some new information that was quite interesting, and it's written in a pretty accessible way, almost like an FAQ section in some spots.

My biggest problem is that it really needs an editor. Missing/extra words and punctuation; repetition even within the same sentence, as well as repeated sentences within a particular section; and just clunky phrasing that made me have to go back and reread it to make sure I understood correctly. If that were fixed, I'd probably give this a solid 4, because it was pretty good read overall, and it could easily help you prepare for a (quite odd) trivia night.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short book at under two hundred pages that details cases of serial murders. The author touches on the history of serial killers, cultural influences in media and how statistics vary across the world before going on to describe cases where the killer has been identified, and others where they have not. Some cases are only a short paragraph but provide enough to take away some new information with unfamiliar case studies.

The author also describes cases of notorious murders that do not fall within the serial killer category, such as the Aurora movie theatre shooting and the Slenderman stabbing, which is a thoughtful touch as presumably all readers enjoy the true crime genre. While there isn't a great amount of depth to the cases described, this book provides a collection of bite sized informative chapters that make for easy reading.

[GG_Reads]

I read my first ever non-fiction book!! This is a day I promised would never happen...but honestly, of course I made an exception for serial killers.

I'm not really sure how to rate a work of non-fiction. Like, if I found it boring isn't that my own fault for choosing a topic I don't care about? Or is it valid to say: "Your factual information wasn't good enough. Maybe spice it up next time?"

Though really, this was definitely spiced up enough. An entire section dedicated to cannibals!! (Your choice how you take those !!, I could be appalled or excited, you shall never know)(Okay, it was excited)

[Daniel Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read for my first book of 2023 after this was received as a Christmas gift.

While poorly written in places and with some blatant errors, the book did introduce me to a few new cases and individuals which I am interested to learn more about. The book is written as a series of FAQs loosely split into chapters.

[Andrew Kibe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun read. Tons of facts and information that I had no idea about. Definitely not a sit down and just all the way through. With the facts and what it's written I found that I preferred to read it sporadically.

[Amy Helgeson Levi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Alithea King · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book applies a broad brush to the subject and the crimes it covers. I would suggest you look into particular crimes if you found an interesting synopsis in the book.

[Roneisha Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually learned a couple of things which I didn’t think was possible being a true crime junkie.

[Hannah Duckett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting book as a horror and crime fan I learnt a lot. It would have been good if they didn’t use the same murderer more than once, but that’s just a minor issue. Very informative. I also liked that they were also based across the world as well.

[Michelle Fortune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

This book is interesting and will make you think. This compilation of facts will make you want to learn more about this subject.

[Alyssa Keller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I lost track of how many errors, typos, and mistakes were in this book. It was very distracting.
That being said, I devoured this book. Quick and interesting read.

[Dashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be aware of errors. I didn't fact check like most reviewers about the different crimes. I was more interested in the why's and how's. Still it was interesting seeing cases, while not as famous, were no less disturbing.

Most things I thought I knew were apparently misconstrued with movies. What would you think is the #1 weapon for a serial killer? Most would say knife. Most would be wrong. This book definitely cleared up a lot of questions I had. I would also say I feel weird in having a fascination with serial killers, but not so much since there are many more out there like me.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting facts that I had never heard before.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read & kept my very short attention span. Read in about two hours. A lot of interesting information - I don’t know if I would call it “trivia”. Some parts were difficult to read due to the subject nature (obviously).

I would absolutely read more by this author.

[Charlotte Kane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It provides good information about serial killers, a lot who I have not heard from, and those that I have, there were new facts and information I was not previously aware of. Has information on psychopaths, killer kids, occult serial killers, murderous doctors, cannibals, necrophiles and the world’s strangest ever murders. A good book for true crime fans.

[Katie Roman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't normally comment on typos, but some were so glaring I feel the need to point it out. There weren't a ton or anything, but they bravely defined all editors and I found myself rereading certain parts because of them. I know that sort of thing puts a lot readers off. But otherwise this was a very interesting book, with bite sized nuggets of information. Many of the cases mentioned I already knew about in more detail, but some were entirely new and I will be researching them further. As a recent addict of true crime, this was definitely worth the time if you really are just looking for trivia.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Serial killing is more of a mindset than a series of physical acts’ – Amazing facts that terrify

Florida author Jack Rosewood inherited his fascination for heinous crimes from his father, a journalist covering major grim crimes such as Ted Bundy. In this new book Jack details trivial facts about serial killers, most of which are discoveries for the reader – even the Jack Rosewood reader! In addition to his books on individual serial killers he has published collections, such as his fifteen volume SERIAL KILLERS, and TRUE CRIME STORIES: TRUE CRIME ANTHOLOGY. Now he opens our minds with ‘trivial facts’ about these strange people.

As is his forte, Jack opens with an introduction explaining the decision to place these gruesome facts before us: ‘The serial killer has no awareness of the consequences. Instead, his (or her) primary aim is to indulge their sadistic desires, quench their bloodlust, and bask in the high of playing God. Each serial killer has unique reasons for doing what they do, many of which are unfathomable to the non-psychopathic mind…This book delves into dark places, unearthing some of the most obscure pieces of trivia in the whole true crime niche…’

This volume discusses such topics as the psychopathic mind, unsolved murders, cults, and killers inspired by the media (perhaps the most terrifying information in the book!). The serial killers are placed in categories – what drives them, cannibals, uncaptured killers, bizarre non-serial murders, obscure serial killers, kids who kill, and killers in pop culture. From well known figures such as Ted Bundy, Ed Gein and John Wayne Gacy to names we’ve never heard, this is yet another extremely fine anthology by Jack Rosewood.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book as sort of a gag gift. I do love the horror genre and as a younger woman was a little curious about true crime, before true crime became such a big thing.

Aside from questions about whether we should promote or partake of things as entertainment that were real life, painful events for others, I’m mostly curious about connections. I’m curious about how something moves from interest, to obsession, to mimicry or action. I’m also curious about the unexplainable.

Some parts of the book and some trivia facts were more interesting than others. I find it interesting that the laws in some countries are much more lenient, likely from not expecting or being prepared to deal with these types of unimaginable events.

Some of the trivia points I found most interesting:
*Herbert Mullin, who killed because he thought it would prevent earthquakes. There were no earthquakes during his spree, but within weeks of his arrest, there was an earthquake.
*Townsend, MA: Three individuals involved in seemingly different bizarre killings all lived on the same street-Elm Street.
*Elisa Lam: Her disappearance, death, and the coincidence of a TB outbreak where the test kits were named LAM-ELISA.
*Li Yijiang revenge killings.
*The whole chapter on those who didn’t get a chance to become serial killers.
*The chapter on child killers
*Unexplained phenomenon that inspired The Nightmare on Elm Street.

In the end, I don’t know that most of my friends would have any interest, but for those who are, I wouldn’t not recommend it.

[Calli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m your typical true crime person, the psychology behind these monsters and learning about why they do what they do does fascinate me. This book taught me about cases I had never heard of and I think it’s important to learn about lesser known cases so that the victims are not forgotten or swept under the rug by the more sensationalized crimes. I really appreciated the conclusion on the book for mentioning that while true crime is fascinating to many it’s important to remember the victims and take a moment for them. For someone curious about the psychology behind some infamous and not so infamous killers this is a great book. It’s not extremely graphic but I caution people new to true crime that these are real people, real cases, and to be respectful of victims and their families when reading the horrors they experienced as a result of others.

[M. Suzanne Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some errors that should have been caught by editors. IMO it's a decent book and an interesting quick read. Don't expect it to go in-depth about anything because as mentioned it is just a trivia book. It bothered
Some people because the title says Serial Killers and it also includes spree killers, mass murderers etc. I wasn't bothered by this. There is also a bonus where you can be included on a email list and get other snippets of information on different killers. I wish the info on the emails was more in-depth but it's free and it does give you a start so you can research more about killers you might have not previously heard of. If you want something for a quick read, I would recommend. If you want anything in-depth then you should go looking elsewhere.

[Sonya Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: A great companion for writers trying to write serial killers. Mostly unbiased. Gracefully handled in the outro.

"The Ultimate Serial Killer Trivia Book" proves to be a good compendium of information on both historical and modern killers. It sets you up with an understanding of the psychology of serial killing, brief enough to retain layman interest while nuanced enough to illustrate the research that went into the writing of it. Also explores definitions. I was skeptical of this book at first because of the somewhat silly cover aesthetic, but ended up being more than satisfied by the read.

(Consumed the Audio Book. I understand the printed version needs some editing.)

[Brooke Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I consider myself an avid true crime fan and I hadn’t heard of the majority of the killers mentioned in this book so I was happy I was able to learn a lot from this - and I liked how this book talked about killers from all across the world rather than just talking about US/UK killers.

However, with that being said, I didn’t like how this book was organized at all. It ended up being a little repetitive and some serial killers are mentioned in almost every section. There also clearly wasn’t an editor for this because there were multiple parts were the exact same phrase was said multiple times within the same paragraph or even the same sentence.

[Kaili_Nicolee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was jam-packed full of information about mainstream serial killers to information about more obscure killers. I knew about a good bunch of these between my research and murder podcast obsession.

It went into detail about what causes serial killers to be the way they are, motivating factors, psychological factors, jobs they might do, etc. I knew about this before, but it never fails to amaze me how many of these killers were in positions of power. This makes it even more terrifying.

I knew about a lot of these serial killers because I honestly love true crime. I find it horrific yet interesting learning about these men and women. Definitely an interesting read.

[A.Y. Berthiaume · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always been fascinated by the twisted and disturbing behavior of the worlds worst criminals and what must be happening in their mind. For awhile, when I was studying psychology, I thought I might eventually become a criminal psychologist. While that path didn’t end up the one I pursued, my interest hasn’t waned. This book was a perfect quick read to satiate this dark interest of mine. It was super interesting and packed with stuff I didn’t know and had never come across by watching true crime documentaries or even fictionalized TV crime dramas loosely based on fact.