The Visual Encyclopedia of Serial Killers

by Nigel Blundell, Susan Blackhall

From Jack the Ripper to Jeffrey Dahmer, the serial killer has always had a strang ehold over the public's imagination. They remain a fascinating enigma-how can they carry on apparently normal lives while carrying out acts of the utmost deprativity. Not always axe-wielding madmen, they could be anyone you meet-your neighbor, your colleague, or even your partner.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Horror

448 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 1996

About the author

Nigel Blundell is a journalist who has worked in Australia, the United States and Britain. He spent 25 years in Fleet Street before becoming an author and contributor to national newspapers. He has written more than 40 books, including best-sellers on crime and royalty. He co-wrote the Top Ten exposé Fall of the House of Windsor, which first revealed the so-called ‘Squidgygate’ tape and the infidelity of both Princess Diana and Prince Charles. His other factual subjects have included military history, celebrity scandals, and ghosts and the paranormal.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent comprehensive guide to some of the most notorious serial killers in history. The author dedicates each killer his or her own chapter and, although relatively short, manages to adequately report on the most important aspects of each case.

The author manages to cover a brief history of each killer, and the reader begins to notice patterns in some of the cases - such as a traumatic or abusive childhood. The book features snapshots of some of the killers, although no crime scene photos.

I would have preferred to see some psychological evaluating by a suitably qualified person alongside the authors work, who merely reports the facts.

Overall, a good "starters guide" to those interested in true crime and the phenomenon of serial killings.

[Meaghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I couldn't finish this. I got as far as Jesse Pomeroy (the book lists the killers alphabetically). As I read I noticed some typos and also some inaccuracies, but none of them serious -- until I got to Jesse, where the account said they found "12 corpses in the rubbish heap" in his basement and he "confessed to torturing to death 27 youngsters." Wrong, wrong, wrong. Jesse killed exactly two people. The most cursory research would have shown that. I don't understand why the authors messed this book up so badly.

The only reason I'm giving it more than one star is because it has a lot of excellent photographs, many of which I've never seen before.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this murder-opedia is that it feels like it has a British focus, so there is more detail on European and English murderers, like Fred West, who was apprehended and charged in 1994, apparently when this text was authored. However, the material, already burdened by excessive grammatical errors, feels more dated than it should be, as if Blundell pasted in notes or material a decade or so older in many cases. When this jumps out in the cases I know, it makes me doubt what I am reading about killers I am not as familiar with. For instance, the 1996 book The Boston Stranglers based on the files of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts "Strangler Bureau" argues that those stranglings were the work of several killers rather than solely Albert DeSalvo as still suggested here. Similarly, the Atlanta murders of 1979–81 include only 2 killings for which Wayne Williams was convicted and criminal profiler John E. Douglas told us in 1998 in Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit cryptically: "It isn't a single offender and the truth isn't pleasant." No even real suggestion beyond Williams' protestations of that "truth" here. Also, In May 1996, Chicago television news anchor Bill Kurtis received video tapes made at Stateville Correctional Center in 1988 from an anonymous attorney. Showing them publicly for the first time before the Illinois state legislature, Kurtis pointed out the explicit scenes of sex, drug use, and money being passed around by prisoners, who seemingly had no fear of being caught; in the center was Richard Speck, performing oral sex on another inmate, sharing a large quantity of cocaine with another inmate, parading in silk panties, sporting female-like breasts (allegedly grown using smuggled hormone treatments), and boasting, "If they only knew how much fun I was having, they'd turn me loose." With no mention of that at all in Speck's entry, I believe the text in need of an editor was written in 1995 or earlier despite when the book was published.

[Nicky Vestergaard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not in depth enough, even though encyclopedia is just that

[Cassie Lutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, I'm sure you all think it is weird to have this on my list. However, for those of you that know me well, you know my obsession with serial killers (Not to be one, just to learn about their psyche). This book covers just about any serial killer you could think about. It gives the basic story without the boring details while including the good stuff!

[Shelly Frazer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book an think it so fascinating and so well out put. it shows on how murderers minds cud work also on how evil they can be. this book is not for the wimpy to read as it has gruesome details in it also.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great so far!

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!} · Rating 4 out of 5]

My fiancé owns this. You see why I love her lol

Edit: this is a good starting place for research on serial killers.

[Ryan Blanck · Rating 1 out of 5]

February 27, 2007 -- Rockville High School Library, Vernon, CT -- Sick and horrifying book about serial killers

[NaShay Sunderland · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this book, however there were too many grammar errors. I tried to keep going, but just couldn't. I'm surprised no one caught the mistakes!