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The Face of Evil: The True Story of Serial Killer Robert Black
In 1994, Robert Black was convicted of the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of four young girls, and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of thirty-five years. He died in HMP Maghaberry, Northern Ireland, in January 2016, aged sixty-eight, unmourned, and entirely unrepentant of his repellent crimes.These bald facts, horrific as they are, do not begin to scratch the surface of the truth about Robert Black, a Scottish-born serial killer who undoubtedly committed further murders for which he was never tried, both in this country and on the Continent.
In this ground-breaking account, Robert Giles, who has spent years tracing the killer’s movements and sifting through all the evidence, including transcripts of the trials, convincingly argues that Black was an habitual serial killer over many years, and quite certainly responsible for more than the four child murders for which he was convicted.
Co-written with Chris Clark, a former police intelligence officer whose tireless work into the Yorkshire Ripper produced convincing new evidence of other murders that went unnoticed or unrecorded, The Face of Evil shows once and for all that Robert Black was a serial killer whose crimes went far beyond what is generally believed. In doing so, it paints a portrait of human cruelty at its worst.
In this ground-breaking account, Robert Giles, who has spent years tracing the killer’s movements and sifting through all the evidence, including transcripts of the trials, convincingly argues that Black was an habitual serial killer over many years, and quite certainly responsible for more than the four child murders for which he was convicted.
Co-written with Chris Clark, a former police intelligence officer whose tireless work into the Yorkshire Ripper produced convincing new evidence of other murders that went unnoticed or unrecorded, The Face of Evil shows once and for all that Robert Black was a serial killer whose crimes went far beyond what is generally believed. In doing so, it paints a portrait of human cruelty at its worst.
288 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2017
24 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 19 reviews
August 5, 2018
Boring and repetitive
January 28, 2019
Very cold individual. Was uncomfortable reading this book
December 25, 2022
😱😥
Absolutely vile man.
I remember hearing about Robert Black but never knew the extent of his depravity and crimes.
The 5 stars are for the writing, investigation and everywhere capture of this very sick vile man.
Absolutely vile man.
I remember hearing about Robert Black but never knew the extent of his depravity and crimes.
The 5 stars are for the writing, investigation and everywhere capture of this very sick vile man.
January 2, 2020
I found for me that this was a very informative book on the evil child killer Robert Black. I can remember clearly my working days in the Police when Susan Maxwell and Caroline Hogg were missing and weeks later found murdered and dumped hundreds of miles away. Although not in my area, all Police in Scotland and the UK were alert to what was happening. The authors of this book have done a thorough job in research and publishing of this book. It confirmed to me that Black was such an evil character who prowled the country and beyond looking for victims. While there are descriptive facts that are disturbing to read and think about, the authors do well to remember the families pain during the time and even so many years later. The Police teams did a painstaking job of work in piecing together the bits and pieces of evidence linking Black with the areas involved and linking the motive and opportunities he had to do those evil acts.
January 20, 2019
A well-researched, well-written and important book about the child serial killer, Robert Black. Black was convicted of 4 child murders and suspected of many more. One of the co-authors wives was believed to be the victim of an attempted abduction by Black in my home county of Cambridgeshire.
The book covers the known victims and examines cases where Black was strongly suspected.
There are a couple of minor factual inaccuracies and a few typos but not to the extent that they became an issue.
As an aficionado of true crime books there is little pleasure in reading books like this. There is simply too much sorrow and sadness for lives cruelly cut short to actually enjoy them.
But its vitally important that they are published and read by as wide an audience as possible. Sadly, life is not all wine and roses.
The book covers the known victims and examines cases where Black was strongly suspected.
There are a couple of minor factual inaccuracies and a few typos but not to the extent that they became an issue.
As an aficionado of true crime books there is little pleasure in reading books like this. There is simply too much sorrow and sadness for lives cruelly cut short to actually enjoy them.
But its vitally important that they are published and read by as wide an audience as possible. Sadly, life is not all wine and roses.
August 18, 2019
Harrowing
A well written and well researched account of the awful life and crimes of Robert Black.I liked the way the book was set out in separate accounts of each crime and also the way accounts of crimes he may have committed were listed at the end
What a truly awful man whose sole purpose in life was the torture and destruction.of innocence.I shall look for further titles by this author in future.
A well written and well researched account of the awful life and crimes of Robert Black.I liked the way the book was set out in separate accounts of each crime and also the way accounts of crimes he may have committed were listed at the end
What a truly awful man whose sole purpose in life was the torture and destruction.of innocence.I shall look for further titles by this author in future.
November 17, 2017
Every parents worst nightmare.
Nothing but admiration for the Cardy’s and the incredible dignity shown throughout their own living nightmare.
Incredibly well researched book, putting the jigsaw pieces of Black’s movements and crimes together.
Nothing but admiration for the Cardy’s and the incredible dignity shown throughout their own living nightmare.
Incredibly well researched book, putting the jigsaw pieces of Black’s movements and crimes together.
November 6, 2018
This book broke my heart. What an evil b*stard Robert Black was. I wish he wasn't dead....so that he could be tortured constantly.
December 30, 2018
Great true crime story. Very interesting telling of an amazingly evil killer. Great respect of victims and families. Incredible detail. These guys really put a lot into this.
July 3, 2019
Started off well enough, but was very repetitive as if they didn’t really have enough material to fill a book. Lots of supposition, with no real evidence for cases thought to be linked with Black.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2020
The first 100 pages are really easy to get through; and interesting enough, the next 100 pages were quite boring and the final 100 pages or so, were a mix of good / repetitive.
May 5, 2022
What an evil man
June 8, 2023
***DID NOT FINISH***
Sadly, this is potentially the first book in my almost 30 years which I didn't manage to finish. Contacting a medium to try and solve the murder of a young girl? No, thanks.
Sadly, this is potentially the first book in my almost 30 years which I didn't manage to finish. Contacting a medium to try and solve the murder of a young girl? No, thanks.
May 27, 2025
what a harrowing and horrific tale of events. very well researched true crime book and well written for the most part - ended up being quite repetitive.
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October 2, 2020I found this to be a very informative and well researched book. I felt that the authors didn’t push their opinions on what happened onto the reader and made it very clear when they were describing their theories of what could’ve happened. Being a psychology student, I appreciated the authors explanations for how and why Black behaved the way he did (not in terms of the murders but how he dealt with them). Overall, the empathy and thoughtfulness, by the authors, towards the child and families involved truly make the book worth reading to shed some light on the cases that haven’t been solved yet.
July 10, 2020
5/5 This book BLEW ME AWAY! Superb; Exciting; It will be forever An unforgettable read that will stay with me!
4/5 GREAT book! Awesome; intriguing; captured my interest throughout!
3/5 Really GOOD book! Aspects had me hooked. Curiousity piqued! I will definitely be looking out for your books!
4/5 GREAT book! Awesome; intriguing; captured my interest throughout!
3/5 Really GOOD book! Aspects had me hooked. Curiousity piqued! I will definitely be looking out for your books!
May 2, 2025
Started off well enough, but was very repetitive as if they didn’t really have enough material to fill a book. Lots of supposition, with no real evidence for cases thought to be linked with Black.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 19 reviews