Conversations With a Killer

by Alec Wilkinson

On March 12, 1980, John Wayne Gacy was convicted in Chicago of killing thirty-three boys. The murders took place between 1972 and 1978, when he was caught and arrested. No one else in America has ever been convicted of killing so many people. Twenty-seven of the bodies were buried in a crawl space beneath the house where Gacy lived, in a neighborhood out by O’Hare Airport. About many of the murders there was a suggestion of sexual torture. Twenty-one of the murders were committed before Illinois had enacted a death penalty, and for those Gacy was sentenced to twenty-one terms of life in prison. For the others, he was sentenced to death. He is to be killed on the tenth of May.Published just a month before Gacy’s execution, Alec Wilkinson’s Conversations With a Killer presents a chilling portrait of one of America’s most heinous killers as he sits on death row and maintains his innocence. At once too close for comfort and impossible to put down, Conversations With a Killer is a must-read for true crime fans. Conversations with a Killer was originally published in The New Yorker, April 18, 1994.Cover design by Adil Dara.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime

39 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 18, 2016

Reviews

[Lör K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5

I'm torn between a rating of 3.5 and 4 stars for this. I just got Kindle Unlimited and saw this on there, and decided to give it a try and see what it was like. As someone who knows quite a bit about JWG from previous criminal studies, I was surprised to find this was actually quite accurate about the facts on him. The information was well studied, and well laid out, easy to follow.

However, as accurate and interesting the information was, the formatting of this was horrendous. The writing itself, considering it was written by a journalist for the New York Times, is just horrible. There was nothing but short sentences, very, very basic vocabulary, and I wonder if the author of this - what I believe to have been an article, back in 1991 - has actually done a journalist course.

If you can get past bad writing and annoying formatting, then definitely give this a read for the information. If bad formatting is a spoiler for you, then miss this.

[Jeff Swystun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 1994 longread from The New York Times is extremely well written. So well, in fact, it simultaneously makes the subject matter compelling and detestable. The sub title is, “John Wayne Gacy murdered thirty-three boys and became America’s most notorious killer. In the weeks before his scheduled execution, he was far from reconciled to his fate.”

It is one of those pieces that explores how a reporter’s subject can impact their own mental health. Let it be known, I am not a true crime aficionado nor am I interested in serial killers. However, this article intrigued given Gacy’s obvious guilt and shocking denials.

When it comes to the innocuously fascinating, it tosses out this fact, Gacy attended “Kentucky Fried Chicken’s K.F.C. Chicken School, in Louisville. In Waterloo, Gacy helped run three Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises owned by his father-in-law.” That just adds to the weirdness.

[Hebz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a fan of how this book was written or formatted and definitely not a fan of its subject.. like not even in a bewildered fascinated sort of way

Gacy was a sick man and not even an interesting or complicated one at that
Just plain sick

Where most people are within a gradient of greys and rarely do you fine white or black characters, this dude was plain black area

Honestly while reading this I was thinking well this is a person that you hope God would send to hell and you have this thought without any qualms, you're not even worried about any humane side to this character that might deserve a consideration of kindness

I felt really sorry for the unnamed victims.. sorry for how their lives came to an end and that end defined them instead of how they lived their lives, because no one even knows these boys.. and sad because they were boys robbed of their future by this monster

[Dan Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I happened to be reading Mindhunter by John Douglas and I ran across this short essay. I'm a former police officer and forensic psychologist so these subjects are right up my alley! I felt that Conversations was basically well-done, with the only comment I have being that the material would be better handled in a full length book which analyzes the killer's comments in depth. Best be done by someone with intimate knowledge & experience.

[Brendan Alexander Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Wayne Gacy was truly sick

Brought me into his mind. Very descriptive. What an experience. To sit across from such an evil man. To look into his face. I'm kind of jealous. I'm sure that this has haunted him since.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story on John Wayne Gacy, but the writing style was confusing. It didn't flow well. Also, I was expecting to learn more about the case and Gacy's twisted mind, but the book didn't go in depth.

[Harriet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love true crime so this was super interesting. I just wish it went into more detail about the crimes themselves. I don't know if it couldn't because of lack of information or whether it was more to do with the contradictory figure of the killer himself.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

I would have liked more direct information from Gacy, however, I understand and appreciate what has been given here. If only we could have all been flies in the wall. This is fairly close though.

[dirk nowits · Rating 4 out of 5]

don't read often but I enjoyed looking into the mind of Gacy

I liked how the story kept dragging you in, I kept wanting to read the next page. It's crazy how this man thinks.. Good read for anyone interested in looking into the mind of a madman (?)

[Denise Jacobs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not formatted very well.

Composition of the book wasn't very professional. Not well written. I found myself wanting to retype the entire book. Could have been a much better book

[Harman Deol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

It really gives an insight into a killers mindset being able to read conversations had between the offender and the author.

[RJ Milner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read

Short, but good interviews. Included Some things i didn't know about Gacy. You could finish it during lunch time. Or maybe not.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book, to mix things up.

[Fiona Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It disturbing to think this man thought he did nothing wrong

[David Etmanski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm david

So so was pretty good but not riviting overall killed an hour. Glad it was a free book. Thank you

[Ashley Hoyte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This format and style wasn’t doing it for me. It got confusing with the third person, first person perspective, not a big fan!

[Stephanie Sala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but creepy

I thought this book had a very interesting story. The story of John Gacy is supposed to be maniacal and disturbing. But, after reading it, I feel that I have already heard this story but with a different name.

[Arlene Gutierrez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting article

I guess I expected more because I began reading this thinking that it was a book. When I realized it was only an article that was written even before Gacy had been executed, I was quite disappointed. I would have liked to have learned more about the case, not read more of the same.

[Electric · Rating 3 out of 5]

The way that this article is written can sometimes be confusing, but I think that it gives a good example of how John's lack of acceptance and responsibility for his actions molded him, as well as how life with his father's drunken brutality affected John. Perhaps if John had been born with a different, more accepting father, he would have turned out differently.

[Melanie Wojtulewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sick in the Head

An easy read. Gives you some insight into the twisted mind of John Wayne Gacy.
What puzzles me is why it took so long to catch this creep. His neighbors must have had olfactory fatigue, been been blind and deaf.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting

This article on Gacy was an interesting look into a very sick man. Gacy clearly suffered from some terrible mental disorder, as he sees himself as fully innocent despite everything.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different take

"He lives with the knowledge of having done something horrible by refusing to live with it."

This was a fascinating look into Gacy. I've read a quite a but about him but never heard his own opinions about himself.

[AWB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting perspective of Gacy, written by his interviewer before his death.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disturbing

Gacy was a sadistic killer who got what he deserved. Just reading his stories and quotes made my stomach turn. I ended up skimming a lot of it.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good

I've read others on him...this one was OK. A little older material than I'm used to but still an interesting read nonetheless.

[Sabra Cuchens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

It gives you more insight to just how deluded John Wayne Gacy really was. It was a very informational read.

[Candace Applebee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good easy read

It was a food book to read too short if you ask me I wanted more about the life of gacy

[Dan Meador · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediocre suspense

Great read, short and to the point with highlighted facts provides adequate insight from both perspectives. Great read that keeps the readers interest.