Silence of the Lambs: The True Story of Gary Heidnik

by Frank Stone

Gary Heidnik was a serial killer whose crimes would become the inspiration for the "Buffalo Bill" character in the movie "Silence of the Lambs." He built and designed a torture chamber in the basement of his home in North Philadelphia where he lured both prostitutes and mentally challenged adults, holding them captive for sex. Heidnik constructed this house of horrors over the course of several months. He dug up the basement, bought chains to hold down the women and bars for the windows. Experts are split on the verdict of whether Gary was pure evil or simply insane. What is certain, was that his goal was to have his own harem. A place where he could have his own "farm" of women who would give birth to his children. He realized that no woman would undergo this voluntarily so he decided to begin abducting them, one by one, in the winter of 1986...

72 pages, Paperback

Published September 26, 2016

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short book on Gary Heidnik, the inspiration (if that is the right word) for the character Buffalo Bill in the Silence of the Lambs.

A quick read at 30 pages but it seems a very factual account of Gary and his harem of women chained up in his basement.

A fascinating but sickening read.

The book then has a bonus section of 30 pages on Christa Pike, the youngest woman in the US to be sentenced to death. Pike was sentenced to death in 1996 and is still on death row until this day. Was an interesting insight into her crimes.

Three stars.

For a quick true crime read I enjoyed this book.

[Tasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short read while I forgot my actual book at work today. This should have had a better proof read. Very brief history of the Silence of the Lambs inspiration. Very brief. No referencing so I have absolutely no idea if any of this is true or not so I’m taking it all with a huge pinch of skeptical salt.

[Beth De Leon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice

I like the general information of the cases without going into gruesome details about the victims and by that it shows respect.

[dennis adkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is a frightening account of what happens en

this book is a frightening account of what happens with some people and they aredefinitely wired differently it is a good read and well written

[CJ Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Movie worthy

I see where they thought this would be a good horror film. The story is almost to overwhelming to be true. This was one sick and twisted individual.

[Laura Hermosa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like it. It was like reading a police report about the killer without feelings, just facts

[Megan Beckelhimer · Rating 2 out of 5]

How can you make an interesting story terrible? This book somehow does it.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I understand where someone thought this would make a great horror film. This guy was a sick and twisted individual. To do what he did to those women is almost to overwhelming to believe.