Killer Profile

Criminal Minds #2

by Max Allan Collins

An elite team of FBI profilers is called in to help Chicago detectives investigate a series of bizarre murders. Though all are violent and disturbing, the crimes seem unrelated—until profiler David Rossi makes the connection. He recognizes each grisly tableau as one modeled on the crime scenes of three of the country’s most notorious serial killers: David Berkowitz, Ted Bundy, and Jeffrey Dahmer.

Someone is taking the cult of true crime to terrifying extremes, and with so many killers left to emulate, Rossi wonders how he can possibly profile a killer who’s hiding within the killer profiles of others…

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Media Tie In, Mystery Thriller, Adult

276 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.

He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.

Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black

Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ

Reviews

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the past month or so I've watched every episode of Criminal Minds available and that still wasn't enough! The book was just like having another episode, but a little extra awesome because it's a book :) Can't wait to get the other ones!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite agent wasn't in this book as much. I almost put it down but then I decided to keep reading until he reappeared on the scene. Oh and I was (and I think the actress that plays her should be too) slightly offended by the description of Penelope Garcia. They call her pleasantly plump. I think I'd rather be called fat than pleasantly plump. ;) I like her character on the show and I especially like that she's actually a regular sized person instead of Hollywood thin.

Book 1 on my KCPL Readers in the Rue Morgue Adult Winter Reading program reading log.

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was relatively interesting, but it was set up to resemble an episode far too much. I don't read a lot of media tie-ins, but there's a reason different storytelling techniques exist. This was almost like reading a beefed up screenplay.

However, Collins was really on the money with the interpersonal connection in the BAU team. The defense of Reid to anyone who would dismiss him as just a kid, the silent byplay between JJ and Hotch, Morgan's frank relationship with Emily- it's all there. This is actually why I kept watching Criminal Minds past the point where it got to be too much murder porn.

Pro tip: if there's ever a room in your own house that your man doesn't allow you into, refuses to the point of obscene anger - he's probably a serial killer. Sorry.

[Val · Rating 2 out of 5]

The way this book handles race and female characters is atrocious. The women are constantly sexualized and have their worth put on how pretty and skinny they are, and the non white characters are constantly simmered down to just their race. I lost count of how many times the author said "the African American" or "the Hispanic" for already established characters instead of just using their names.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one! I wish there was more Reid tho but maybe I was just spoiled with the first book. The team dynamics and dialogue are so accurate, feels like a real extension of the show. This book made me an expert of the Chicago area god damn like how many places in this town are we going to?? I didn’t really care for the reveal of the killer since we met him chapter one and it was a little obvious when they started describing the crime scene photographer in great detail and we know from the beginning the unsub is a photographer. This case lowkey was giving later seasons vibes like less realistic and more “tv show” but with him being a copy cat killer I guess that’s the point. But shout out to the author for depicting Reid and Rossi playing chess together many many years before they do so in season 10! I’m excited for the next book!!!

[Rob Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read that reads so easily like an episode of the show.
Definitely recommend if you are a fan of the show or want an easy whodunnit.
Like the previous novel, the author seems obsessed with describing what all of the characters are wearing, whilst this would be a great idea for profiling potential suspects, I don't see the point for the main characters. With this and some random detailed descriptions of the furniture layout of various rooms, I suspect this was done to pad the book out.

[kaotickitten · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is an entertaining book, It does have some flaws. It lacks time continuity consistency issues in some parts. I also am usually not a stickler for English but when the word should be and a doesn’t cut it. Nor does calling people who use pronouns in an incorrect manner. Calling some man a she or a woman a he when the characters are the opposite, example calling JJ a he, or Morgan a she. While viewers of the show will get to explore a case in a different format than normal there are some mistakes made. But will be highly entertained by the book , even if the characters are given slight variations of what we know them as. Some what reads as a fanfic.

[Femke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer profile is the second book in the criminal minds series by Max Allan Collins and in my opinion the best one. I've seen the tv show multiple times and this book fits perfectly with the series. I wish there were more books though!

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. almost like watching an episode.

[ween · Rating 4 out of 5]

literally only rated this high cause it’s criminal minds and i love very single character and it was accurate. felt like a proper episode loved it

[Leeanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Criminal Mind: Killer Profile, by Max Allan Collins

Chicago is plagued by a series of seemingly unrelated murders. A couple shot to death in a car. Two women strangled in a park. A male body found in a barrel. Because the crimes are spread out over the city, the different police departments haven't seen any connection, and who would see a connection between such crimes, anyway?

The BAU, or the Behavioral Analysis Unit, does. When one of the members of the unit sees crime scene photos, he knows that the cops are dealing with a copycat killer - someone copying the crimes of famous serial killers. But can the famous FBI agents of the TV series "Criminal Minds" track a killer who's hiding behind the profiles of others?

"Killer Profile" is a tie-in novel and reads like an episode of the TV show it's based on. Collins creates an interesting plot by using the crimes of famous serial killers such as John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy for his suspect, who copies each crime, but also improves on them. This allows for plenty of trivia, and a chance to follow the profiling process as the BAU team attempts to figure out what would drive a person to copycat.

"Killer Profile" is a good book for "Criminal Minds" fans, but it can also be read by someone without knowledge of the show. It's a self-contained book, and Collins describes the characters well enough that you don't have to have seen the show to know what's going on.

4/5.

[E. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh... Geen boek naar mijn criminal minds hart. De boekkarakters vind ik maar een slap aftreksel van de serie en what's with the kledingomschrijvingen? Wat voegt het toe aan het verhaal dat ik weet welk lid van het team welke kleding draagt op elke dag? En sinds wanneer zijn JJ en Prentiss " supermodellen met hersenen" ? Als dat het niveau van de serie was had ik het vast niet zo trouw gevolgd. Het leuke aan de serie vind ik dat het vaak verrast, iets wat de boeken helaas niet zo is. Vanaf het begin weet je al wie de dader is en dat doet the Whodunnit geen goeds. Jammer.

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

I'm finally going through my tv, film etc. tie in library owned book list, to add more older basic reviews. If I liked a book enough to keep then they are at the least a 3 star.

I'm only adding one book per series etc. I'm not going to re-read every book to be more accurate, not when I have 1000s of new to me authors to try (I can't say no to free books....)

First time read the author's work?: Yes

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Ginger Vampyre · Rating 2 out of 5]

I need to write about this in two parts:
First off, it is a pretty good cop and crime story. The killer is recreating famous murders in an effort to outshine them all. The team is In Chicago trying to track down the UnSub while not all the local cops are feeling helpful. A good procedural, with attention to detail about criminal methodology.
Secondly, as a Criminal Minds story it isn't ....right. I admit I am a Criminal Minds superfan with high standards, but the dialogue is just all wrong. No banter with Garcia at all. Hotchner being too unprofessional. Reid, despite being the youngest is not the tech person and would not being doing the computer stuff. Also, does Collins get paid by the syllable? Because every time a new chapter starts the team member is introduced by their full title. Except that Garcia's title is never correct. Its just a let down for such a great series.

[Jayne Subwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was excellent, but the writing kind of got in the way, because so much of it read like a screenplay rather than a book. He also had a penchant for describing in detail what everyone was wearing. What’s that all about? I thought that maybe he was imitating Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware series in that regard.

But again, the story was intriguing. Sometimes all of these serial killer books blend into one, with the various authors getting wilder and grosser in their attempts to come up with the most violent, aberrant and/or gruesome scenes. I can’t say much more without getting into “spoilers”.

The book is really a 3.5, not a 3.0. Goodreads, why don’t you give us more latitude!

[Άρτεμις Γκ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Criminal Minds, μια πολυαγαπημένη τηλεοπτική σειρά που έγινε και σειρά βιβλίων. Έχοντας δει τα επεισόδια της αγαπημένης μου σειράς criminal minds άπειρες φορές δεν θα μπορούσα να μην διαβάσω και τα βιβλία της σειράς. Το βιβλίο διαβάζεται αβίαστα αλλά δεν ήθελα να τελειώσει. Με ταξίδεψε στο Σικάγο μαζί με τα μέλη της ομάδας. Ένιωσα σαν να είμαι μέλος αυτής της τόσο ξεχωριστής αστυνομικής οικογένειας. Νοερά βρισκόμουν δίπλα τους και έλυνα την υπόθεση μαζί τους. Σίγουρα θα αναζητήσω και τα υπόλοιπα βιβλία της σειράς.

[Anton_laufey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cómo una de las mayores fans de Criminal Minds ame este libro por completo, sigue bastante bien la personalidad de cada personaje y es como estar leyendo un episodio del mismísimo programa.

Aunque debo añadir que me encantó que aquí se profundizó un poco más en el personaje de JJ, pues en las primeras temporadas de Criminal Minds la dejaron un poco de lado y no le dieron un transfondo profundo o un desarrollo hasta que se hizo mamá y perfiladora, pero este libro indaga mas a profundidad en lo que es la personalidad de JJ.

Mención honorífica a qué ame cada mención a Gideon 🤧

[WallofText · Rating 2 out of 5]

After enjoying the first book in this series and being a big fan of the TV show, I had high hopes for Killer Profile. Unfortunately I found this to be really unengaging, the case just bored me, that one antagonistic detective pissed me off, and it just didn't pace well. The only thing I loved was the conversation between Rossi and Reid at the end. I'll still read the third book but damn this was such a stepdown.

[Chacha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently, 16 seasons isn’t enough for me, I had to read Criminal minds. It felt exactly like watching an episode. Will definitely read the others as well ! I loved how the dynamic between the members of the team was written, it was very accurate. Now I obviously have to go watch an episode :) Wheels up !

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad story. I've read this author before and he has a bad habit of putting in too much detail. Readers really don't need to know what clothes people are wearing, unless it is somehow relevant to the plot. I could see this story as an episode of the show.

[ella!!! · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a solid read. quick and easy, required no thought, they guided you through the whole thing. i knew who the unsub was from the prologue, but that is also kinda how the show works. we still watch them figure it out though. v entertaining but no literary/mystery masterpiece.

[☽ Chaya ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book! It feels quite faithful to the characters from the series. A few parts of the dialogue sometimes felt a bit out of character but overall it’s quite well done. The plot as such was also quite good.

[Lizz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simple weekend read.
Didn't feel like the author capture the characters personalities all the well. Funny reading this after the original series ended and having similar plots being used on the show.
All in all I've read better unpublished fanfictions.

[Machara Casson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of criminal minds; this was essentially just another episode written as a novel! It was a quick and enjoyable read; however there were a few grammatical errors that had me re-reading some sentences.

[mar · Rating 1 out of 5]

dit was pijnlijk. ik heb betere fanfics geschreven toen ik 13 was en dat zegt veel

[Nyssy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not good. 😕

[Karen Bendzus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love criminal minds. Stays true to the show

[Vidya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm fast becoming a fan of Mr. Collins. The way he can keep his novel true to a series... it's as if he researches and respects the series and it's fans

Another amazing read

[Kathleen Foley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Without a doubt the worst thing I have ever read. The audacity of this author lol, make up your own characters to ruin next time please.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Criminal Minds novel. Very good story. The characters were well written and those in the BAU are true to the characters in the tv show - personalities, physical descriptions, etc.