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Charmer: The True Story of a Ladies' Man and His Victims
Follows the story of George Russell, Jr., a charismatic young African American from an affluent Seattle suburb who targeted and killed three beautiful women and whose charming outward appearance kept him from suspicion. Reprint.
376 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 18, 2010
The late Jack Olsen came back to his home base to tell this story of a young sociopath's escalation from housebreaking to homicide on deceptively bucolic Mercer Island and in the trendy suburbs east of Seattle. Always a thorough fact-gatherer and a comprehensive interviewer, Olsen skillfully wove one puzzling anecdote after another into a near-seamless tapestry of narrative that clearly shows the increasingly antisocial behavior of George Russell. And most important, he helps us understand just how Russell, who used to be able to mask his dark side with a convincing veneer of charm, turned to murder once his strange rage slowly began to overtake his disguise and alienate his friends.
Olsen's strengths are his refusal to leave no fact uncovered, his tough-but-tender prose style and his remarkable ability to get a wealth of intimate information from everybody he interviews — no matter whether they're teen girls, modest old folks or people who have long sat on embarrassing information about their intimacies with evildoers. George Russell left dozens of such people in his wake, preying cannily on their naiveties and pushing them aside once they pushed too hard to know the man behind the mask.
Having known Olsen personally, I can testify that he simply had "it" — that X factor that makes you want to spill your secrets to him. He is a great listener, and great because he wasn't putting on an act to get what he wanted for a book. He took on projects like these because he thought that we are better know if we know how to recognize and understand the everyday faces of evil in our midst, and because he genuinely cared about the damages lives of the bewildered survivors these hateful people leave behind.
"Charmer" will mesmerize you, will shock you ... and will fulfill Olsen's mission by making you look up at some point and say, "My God. I KNOW somebody like that." Because, statistically, chances are that you do.
Olsen's strengths are his refusal to leave no fact uncovered, his tough-but-tender prose style and his remarkable ability to get a wealth of intimate information from everybody he interviews — no matter whether they're teen girls, modest old folks or people who have long sat on embarrassing information about their intimacies with evildoers. George Russell left dozens of such people in his wake, preying cannily on their naiveties and pushing them aside once they pushed too hard to know the man behind the mask.
Having known Olsen personally, I can testify that he simply had "it" — that X factor that makes you want to spill your secrets to him. He is a great listener, and great because he wasn't putting on an act to get what he wanted for a book. He took on projects like these because he thought that we are better know if we know how to recognize and understand the everyday faces of evil in our midst, and because he genuinely cared about the damages lives of the bewildered survivors these hateful people leave behind.
"Charmer" will mesmerize you, will shock you ... and will fulfill Olsen's mission by making you look up at some point and say, "My God. I KNOW somebody like that." Because, statistically, chances are that you do.
January 17, 2018
Listened to in audio format.
George Russell Junior moved to Mercer Island when he was 8 years old with his mother and stepfather. George was a small child but had a charismatic personality. George had a high IQ but found school work boring and preferred to play the trickster. He was friends with the popular kids at high school and was taken under the wing of the local police department. George enjoyed working at the station and often answered the phone, he decided he wanted to be a detective when he he was older.
In his teens George's parents split up and his mother moved state to take up a job in academia taking his little sister. George did not want to leave his friends behind so he decided to live in the family home with his stepfather. It was then his behaviour started to change and began burglaring houses and taking cars. It was then he joined the prison system, because George was charming he was only given 1 or 2 days prison sentences. When he did not change his sentences were lengthened to 7 months.
His dreams of joining the police shattered he started working in the clubs on Mercer Island. Good looking and a great dancer George quickly became popular with the customers and was generous with his money. However there was a dark side to him including having a relationship with a 14 year old girl and getting her pregnant. He later moved in with a girlfriend he was nice at first paying the rent and food shopping. Months later he found another girlfriend and inviting her back to their house. Later George stopped paying the rent and refused to leave until he payed her back.
When a barmaid at a local club got George banned he threatened to kill her. Days later a barmaid from a different bar was murdered in their shared car park. The police could not find her killer but George was the last person they suspected. Two more young women were to be murdered before he was caught.
This was another well researched book by the late Jack Olsen. The background to George and his victim's was fascinating. However I was disappointed more of the court
case was covered. A big five stars from me.
George Russell Junior moved to Mercer Island when he was 8 years old with his mother and stepfather. George was a small child but had a charismatic personality. George had a high IQ but found school work boring and preferred to play the trickster. He was friends with the popular kids at high school and was taken under the wing of the local police department. George enjoyed working at the station and often answered the phone, he decided he wanted to be a detective when he he was older.
In his teens George's parents split up and his mother moved state to take up a job in academia taking his little sister. George did not want to leave his friends behind so he decided to live in the family home with his stepfather. It was then his behaviour started to change and began burglaring houses and taking cars. It was then he joined the prison system, because George was charming he was only given 1 or 2 days prison sentences. When he did not change his sentences were lengthened to 7 months.
His dreams of joining the police shattered he started working in the clubs on Mercer Island. Good looking and a great dancer George quickly became popular with the customers and was generous with his money. However there was a dark side to him including having a relationship with a 14 year old girl and getting her pregnant. He later moved in with a girlfriend he was nice at first paying the rent and food shopping. Months later he found another girlfriend and inviting her back to their house. Later George stopped paying the rent and refused to leave until he payed her back.
When a barmaid at a local club got George banned he threatened to kill her. Days later a barmaid from a different bar was murdered in their shared car park. The police could not find her killer but George was the last person they suspected. Two more young women were to be murdered before he was caught.
This was another well researched book by the late Jack Olsen. The background to George and his victim's was fascinating. However I was disappointed more of the court
case was covered. A big five stars from me.
April 20, 2012
This is among the most detailed and best researched True Crime books I have ever read. It tells the grim tale of George Russell Jr., an upper class black man who started out as a prowler/burgler that took out his homicidal rage on white women in my home state (Washington). Very chilling book with a thorough analysis of Russell with lots of interviews with people that knew him, including an ex-girlfriend he seduced at age 14 when he was 28.
September 27, 2017
Jack Olsen is my new favorite crime writer and I can't wait to read all of his books. I don't know how many stars to give this book because it had me hooked and I loved the writing, but I wanted a lot more about the trial and the evidence against Russell. The book is 90% background on Russell and 10% crimes and aftermath. It was still a great book, though.
February 26, 2008
I've read this book multiple times but it's been almost ten years...it's one of my favorite true crime books. It delves into the deep history of George Russell, a Mercer Island man. A truly intriguing read, and chilling for anyone that lived in the Seattle area in the 1980's.
September 14, 2021
I'm sorry to say that whereas I'm not getting tired of Jack Olsen, I feel like I can now do without the audiobook narrator they use for what seems like 90% of his books. He's a good narrator, but there's something about the whiny quality of his voice when he speaks for the victims that takes away some of the gravity. For all I know, it may be Olsen's writing that does it.
One day after I finished this book I read an article about a suspected Norwegian (possible) serial killer with 2 or 3 dead women on his track record, and how his "beginnings" were eerily like those of Russell: breaking into people's houses over and over again, stealing insignificant things, being totally underestimated by law enforcers and the courts... And then all of a sudden they're killing women.
With this book, I feel like I didn't really get a real ending though. There were lots and lots of details about his life until he started killing, and then... not much. Writing this I'm starting to question if I ever finished the book, so the ending must have been very unmemorable.
One day after I finished this book I read an article about a suspected Norwegian (possible) serial killer with 2 or 3 dead women on his track record, and how his "beginnings" were eerily like those of Russell: breaking into people's houses over and over again, stealing insignificant things, being totally underestimated by law enforcers and the courts... And then all of a sudden they're killing women.
With this book, I feel like I didn't really get a real ending though. There were lots and lots of details about his life until he started killing, and then... not much. Writing this I'm starting to question if I ever finished the book, so the ending must have been very unmemorable.
October 1, 2022
This book kept me wanting more!
I grew up in WA and so was very interested in all the areas he was in. He went to my high school his senior year. I went to all the same clubs, many years later of course.
I grew up in WA and so was very interested in all the areas he was in. He went to my high school his senior year. I went to all the same clubs, many years later of course.
Read
August 10, 2010This book will open your eyes to how the serial killer can be your best friend, but be the vulture in the night. Jack Olsen is amazing with the details, and I look forward to reading many more of his works.
January 26, 2016
What a fascinating book that was to read and I couldn't put it down. He has such a talent for detailing all the people, their growing up years, if they knew the defendant and the circumstances that brought them to court. I highly recommend this book.
December 6, 2018
An excellent true crime book about a serial killer and the impact he had on various lives. Most of the book takes place before any murders occur and there are comparatively few pages devoted to the crimes and subsequent trial--yet it still manages to be fascinating.
Read
April 2, 2020The stars are for the story - NOT THE EDITING!
If I were reviewing on editing alone, I'd have to give this ZERO STARS.
Unless you can get this book FREE, I WOULD NOT PAY A PENNY FOR THE HORRIBLE QUALITY!
Wait until the publisher fixes the plethora of errors in this book.
The writing is great. He could have made us feel for the victims a bit more by giving us more background on their family, how loved they were, etc, but other than that, the story was told fairly well.
There are a lot of characters so it could use a "cast of characters" page in the front, or it could utilize X-Ray, to help readers keep track. Otherwise, be prepared to highlight names so you can easily find who the people are. He frequented nightclubs, and was popular there, so be prepared for many unimportant characters to enter the picture
It appears this book was scanned from paper to be reprinted to ebook and not a SINGLE bit of it was checked to be sure it scanned right. When books are scanned things happen such as an f turning into a t, or an at turning into a d. Strange characters appear on the page just because the scanner glass was dirty or there was something on the page like a cigarette ash. ALL of these things are corrected by EDITORS.
It seems ever since Amazon added the "report problem" feature for us readers to basically 'act as editors' publishers and indie writers are COMPLETELY BYPASSING the editing step in order to SAVE MONEY, which causes QUALITY ISSUES LIKE IN THIS BOOK.
Not only that, but MANY editors are FREELANCE or have to compete with a very large pool of other editors for jobs to work, and are paid very cheap because they believe the writers should get the largest share of the royalties.
Amazon - a VERY LARGE COMPANY - asking its END BUYERS to correct and edit the product AFTER they've already PURCHASED IT - yet giving us ONLY 3 DAYS to return it if it's of poor quality, is HIGHLY UNETHICAL in my opinion!
FIRST: Their return policy for purchased books is buried and people don't normally know they CAN return them, as long as they read them quickly enough.
SECOND: Asking IS to correct the errors AFTER we purchase, WHILE we read, makes it take LONGER for us to read, so all of those errors, ALL OF THAT POOR QUALITY, all of that FREE EDITING we gave, and now we cannot return that book because it took us too long to read after reporting all of those errors that should have been fixed BEFORE it was even put up for sale!
I'm EXTREMELY upset with Amazon, & with the publishers who cannot even be sure that a basic spell check has been run! I'm getting irritated at the poor quality I have been seeing lately.
PLEASE DO NOT SPEND MONEY ON THIS BOOK UNTIL YOU SEE A NOTICE THAT THE BOOK WAS FRESHLY EDITED! IT IS BY NO MEANS READY FOR SALE!
If I were reviewing on editing alone, I'd have to give this ZERO STARS.
Unless you can get this book FREE, I WOULD NOT PAY A PENNY FOR THE HORRIBLE QUALITY!
Wait until the publisher fixes the plethora of errors in this book.
The writing is great. He could have made us feel for the victims a bit more by giving us more background on their family, how loved they were, etc, but other than that, the story was told fairly well.
There are a lot of characters so it could use a "cast of characters" page in the front, or it could utilize X-Ray, to help readers keep track. Otherwise, be prepared to highlight names so you can easily find who the people are. He frequented nightclubs, and was popular there, so be prepared for many unimportant characters to enter the picture
It appears this book was scanned from paper to be reprinted to ebook and not a SINGLE bit of it was checked to be sure it scanned right. When books are scanned things happen such as an f turning into a t, or an at turning into a d. Strange characters appear on the page just because the scanner glass was dirty or there was something on the page like a cigarette ash. ALL of these things are corrected by EDITORS.
It seems ever since Amazon added the "report problem" feature for us readers to basically 'act as editors' publishers and indie writers are COMPLETELY BYPASSING the editing step in order to SAVE MONEY, which causes QUALITY ISSUES LIKE IN THIS BOOK.
Not only that, but MANY editors are FREELANCE or have to compete with a very large pool of other editors for jobs to work, and are paid very cheap because they believe the writers should get the largest share of the royalties.
Amazon - a VERY LARGE COMPANY - asking its END BUYERS to correct and edit the product AFTER they've already PURCHASED IT - yet giving us ONLY 3 DAYS to return it if it's of poor quality, is HIGHLY UNETHICAL in my opinion!
FIRST: Their return policy for purchased books is buried and people don't normally know they CAN return them, as long as they read them quickly enough.
SECOND: Asking IS to correct the errors AFTER we purchase, WHILE we read, makes it take LONGER for us to read, so all of those errors, ALL OF THAT POOR QUALITY, all of that FREE EDITING we gave, and now we cannot return that book because it took us too long to read after reporting all of those errors that should have been fixed BEFORE it was even put up for sale!
I'm EXTREMELY upset with Amazon, & with the publishers who cannot even be sure that a basic spell check has been run! I'm getting irritated at the poor quality I have been seeing lately.
PLEASE DO NOT SPEND MONEY ON THIS BOOK UNTIL YOU SEE A NOTICE THAT THE BOOK WAS FRESHLY EDITED! IT IS BY NO MEANS READY FOR SALE!
November 28, 2017
** Review of Audio Format **
Not a Charmer
Sad true crime biography of a man who never grew up. Many people are abandoned by their parents, physically or mentally. Few grow up to be serial killers. Was his mother an ugly person only concerned with herself? Yes. Did she abandon George twice to uncaring, indifferent people? Yes. Did she choose to take her daughter the second time but not her son? Yes. Should George's mother take responsibility for being a poor mother to George? Yes. Did this mean she created George the serial killer? No. At some point, children must grow up and take responsibility for their actions. Which George still does not appear to do. He could have done many things with his life and his 180 IQ. Instead, he chose to use his intelligence to commit petty crimes and manipulate young girls. Then he pitted himself against the police he idolized...and lost.
This book is a faithful telling of the life of George Waterfield Russell Jr. from his birth to incarceration as a serial killer. It really gives voice to his victims, those still living as well as those murdered in cold blood. One thing it's missing is his mother's voice. What does she think of her son? What does she think made her son a serial killer? Does she acknowledge her choices about George? In the end, it doesn't matter, probably, as there are still three dead women and countless manipulated victims trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after encountering George Russell.
I mainly read this book because it was provided for free from the publisher, author or narrator and only because it is narrated by Kevin Pierce who could narrate every story I ever read and I would not get tired of hearing his voice. It is perfect for true crime material but he also does an excellent narration for fiction as well. This is another wonderful example of his voice talents.
Not a Charmer
Sad true crime biography of a man who never grew up. Many people are abandoned by their parents, physically or mentally. Few grow up to be serial killers. Was his mother an ugly person only concerned with herself? Yes. Did she abandon George twice to uncaring, indifferent people? Yes. Did she choose to take her daughter the second time but not her son? Yes. Should George's mother take responsibility for being a poor mother to George? Yes. Did this mean she created George the serial killer? No. At some point, children must grow up and take responsibility for their actions. Which George still does not appear to do. He could have done many things with his life and his 180 IQ. Instead, he chose to use his intelligence to commit petty crimes and manipulate young girls. Then he pitted himself against the police he idolized...and lost.
This book is a faithful telling of the life of George Waterfield Russell Jr. from his birth to incarceration as a serial killer. It really gives voice to his victims, those still living as well as those murdered in cold blood. One thing it's missing is his mother's voice. What does she think of her son? What does she think made her son a serial killer? Does she acknowledge her choices about George? In the end, it doesn't matter, probably, as there are still three dead women and countless manipulated victims trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after encountering George Russell.
I mainly read this book because it was provided for free from the publisher, author or narrator and only because it is narrated by Kevin Pierce who could narrate every story I ever read and I would not get tired of hearing his voice. It is perfect for true crime material but he also does an excellent narration for fiction as well. This is another wonderful example of his voice talents.
March 9, 2021
When I saw that Jack Olsen wrote this book, I thought I would love it. But I didn't. It was just 'okay' to me.
He takes such a long time to get to the actual crimes. In a book that is 364 pages (of actual story), it takes him until page 170 to get to the first murder.
Usually, I value reading about the murderer, and the victim, before they became a murderer/victim, but he just seemed to dwell too long on things we already knew from previous pages. Just to give you a tiny example, without any spoilers ... George (the murderer) lives in a condo with four young women. He likes to have a lot of foreplay with one of them, but never lets it proceed to intercourse, etc. She's frustrated with this. Okay. Fair enough. But do we need to know about each, and every time, they 'almost do it, but don't'. Telling us once, and informing us that it is a repeated pattern, would have sufficed. Instead, we go through 'he is in her bed again, she is frustrated', over and over and over. It is much the same with other happenings in George's life, they are far too many examples of each habit, over and over.
Also, the trial is just lightly sketched out for us, and in some areas, a bit confusing.
3 Stars = Okay. Glad I read it.
He takes such a long time to get to the actual crimes. In a book that is 364 pages (of actual story), it takes him until page 170 to get to the first murder.
Usually, I value reading about the murderer, and the victim, before they became a murderer/victim, but he just seemed to dwell too long on things we already knew from previous pages. Just to give you a tiny example, without any spoilers ... George (the murderer) lives in a condo with four young women. He likes to have a lot of foreplay with one of them, but never lets it proceed to intercourse, etc. She's frustrated with this. Okay. Fair enough. But do we need to know about each, and every time, they 'almost do it, but don't'. Telling us once, and informing us that it is a repeated pattern, would have sufficed. Instead, we go through 'he is in her bed again, she is frustrated', over and over and over. It is much the same with other happenings in George's life, they are far too many examples of each habit, over and over.
Also, the trial is just lightly sketched out for us, and in some areas, a bit confusing.
3 Stars = Okay. Glad I read it.
February 6, 2019
As always, Jack Olsen is a pleasure to read. Rather than focus on the gore or the horror, his description of Russell's brutality flirts with the clinical whilst maintaining the true horror of what occurred. There's no sensationalism, no shock for the sake of it; it's a respectful recounting of the violence the victims suffered that reminds the audience these women were real.
While this is the story of George Russell, it is also the story of his victims, friends, and family. A story that provides explanations for his behaviour without excusing him. Something that may provide closure for those who knew him, and highlights warning signs the justice system--and his friends--had missed.
Truly, the best thing about this novel is how none of the victims are blamed, even partially, for what happened to them. They are assigned no blame in their demise, and are written as people instead of statistics.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in the inner workings of a killer, and to any crime writers looking for an example of how to write. Brilliant.
While this is the story of George Russell, it is also the story of his victims, friends, and family. A story that provides explanations for his behaviour without excusing him. Something that may provide closure for those who knew him, and highlights warning signs the justice system--and his friends--had missed.
Truly, the best thing about this novel is how none of the victims are blamed, even partially, for what happened to them. They are assigned no blame in their demise, and are written as people instead of statistics.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in the inner workings of a killer, and to any crime writers looking for an example of how to write. Brilliant.
January 11, 2019
3.5 I enjoy this author’s writing and have been avoiding Ann Rule, Robert Ressler and John Douglas’ books because I hear that much of the books include needless self boasting and not much in content. Spare me.
It seems 2019 has been so far predominantly included true crime books, with a special focus on sexually sociopathic acts. I suspect some of this interest stems from my own firsthand experience/close interaction with a man whom I thought I knew well but was found guilty of raping and attempted murder. At the time of his arrest I was working at an inpatient psychiatric unit while finishing up my dissertation. So it was not just a reality check professionally but a very personal injury to my judgement of character in general. But on to my next true crime read. As an afterthought- I fully admit to using a nightlight now.
I would like to transition to forensic psychology as this genre scares the fuck outta me.
May 21, 2025
I've read a fair amount of true crime about local or in state criminals compared to national stories.
Due to my bias I may have increased my rating by a star, but this story, this criminal, his crimes, struck a chord. I was frequenting some of the same nightclubs at the time he was stalking his victims.
Even more strange was finding out years later that a good friend had likely been dating someone who lived in the same small apartment building as one of the victims.
This story also differed significantly from other serial offender tales without the same early signs of psychopathy.
I really connected with this one, especially having possibly been near this person during some random night out.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Due to my bias I may have increased my rating by a star, but this story, this criminal, his crimes, struck a chord. I was frequenting some of the same nightclubs at the time he was stalking his victims.
Even more strange was finding out years later that a good friend had likely been dating someone who lived in the same small apartment building as one of the victims.
This story also differed significantly from other serial offender tales without the same early signs of psychopathy.
I really connected with this one, especially having possibly been near this person during some random night out.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
August 17, 2018
Minus one star for the misleading (and arguably offensive) title and subtitle. The only way "Ladies' Man" applies is if you are looking at the "Charmer" as an incel pickup artist. Which may be the point--I don't know. He's a scam artist, a profligate user of young women, and a rapist/murderer. So perhaps the title and subtitle are in supremely bad taste, or just ironic. I know that if the man in question had raped or used me, or murdered someone I love, I would not be pleased with such irony. This guy is a fast-talking charmer in the fact that he got his own ways for so long--but still. As the victim of sexual and domestic violence myself, it just sticks in my craw. I'm usually not so sensitive to such things, so when something like this really does bother me, I pay attention.
November 14, 2025
The book has a great flow. I really enjoyed the fact that the author provided more of the graphic details about the crime scenes. Not enough true crime books do that. You can really form sympathy and connection to the victims in this case with how he managed to use their own words. He gave those involved in the case a chance to narrate their own story. There are points in the book that I was livid right along with these people. George Russell Junior is a waste of a human life. With a lot of killers, you can find sympathy in the child upbringing stage. But this dude was empty from day one. I digress. Definitely worth taking the time to read.
November 14, 2017
Charmer: A Ladies' Man and His Victims
: Jack Olsen
This is a very in depth recounting of George Russell, Jr from pett thief to serial killer. Jack Olsen gives the listener an inside look at this bright young black man's life. Amazing how someone can fool so many people.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Kevin Pierce does an excellent job with true crime narration.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
: Jack Olsen
This is a very in depth recounting of George Russell, Jr from pett thief to serial killer. Jack Olsen gives the listener an inside look at this bright young black man's life. Amazing how someone can fool so many people.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Kevin Pierce does an excellent job with true crime narration.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
February 8, 2018
Another brilliant piece by Jack Olsen. I love how deep he gets into the background, life, and humanity of the killers he writes about. He focuses on how these ARE real people, and what happened from the beginnings of their lives that lead them to that point. In this book, the people whose lives George touched were real as well - from the police to the people he consistently used (that still loved him). They weren't all good, nor was the killer all bad. This is reality, not the hype of overblown gotcha phrases seen on television and all too many true crime books. Beautifully done.
December 8, 2024
Jack Olsen really was a master of his craft, and I don't know if I ever have found a true crime writer that does it better.
Charmer is a riveting story of a charismatic youth from an affluent neighborhood who just made really bad choices in his life, culminating in multiple murders. Olsen manages to capture the depravity and violence of the crimes committed, but also the raw likeability of the criminal. A likability that allowed him to hurt a lot of people over a surprisingly long time.
Disturbing and a little scary, but treated with grace and dignity, Olsen not only tells the story of the criminal, but his victims as well.
Charmer is a riveting story of a charismatic youth from an affluent neighborhood who just made really bad choices in his life, culminating in multiple murders. Olsen manages to capture the depravity and violence of the crimes committed, but also the raw likeability of the criminal. A likability that allowed him to hurt a lot of people over a surprisingly long time.
Disturbing and a little scary, but treated with grace and dignity, Olsen not only tells the story of the criminal, but his victims as well.
May 17, 2017
Washington certainly seems to have more than their share of serial killers. This one is George Russell, an African-American male from a dysfunctional upbringing. George was a charmer, who had young girls all a twitter. Until he started killing the ones whose attitudes he didn't like.
Jack Olsen is an excellent true crime author. He gives us the facts without too much embellishment. Even so, his books read like novels.
Jack Olsen is an excellent true crime author. He gives us the facts without too much embellishment. Even so, his books read like novels.
September 30, 2019
Excellent!
This is a "must read" for all true crime buffs! The man who turned out to be a serial killer could have been almost anyone you know. His personality, when he wasn't on the hunt, was fun, likable, and inviting. He could have been your neighbor, a friend at work, and even someone you meet at church. BUT...
He was not what he seemed. This book is easy to read and a book that I didn't want to put down. It gets an easy 5 stars! Get it!
This is a "must read" for all true crime buffs! The man who turned out to be a serial killer could have been almost anyone you know. His personality, when he wasn't on the hunt, was fun, likable, and inviting. He could have been your neighbor, a friend at work, and even someone you meet at church. BUT...
He was not what he seemed. This book is easy to read and a book that I didn't want to put down. It gets an easy 5 stars! Get it!
January 13, 2019
Kept me engaged
I like the authors style of giving the background of the killer,from early life on , working up to the events and then the trial. I like analyzing how his early life and experiences got him to the point of murder. The book did drag on parts trying to cover a little too much of all the people he came into contact with. Like the authors style liked the book!
I like the authors style of giving the background of the killer,from early life on , working up to the events and then the trial. I like analyzing how his early life and experiences got him to the point of murder. The book did drag on parts trying to cover a little too much of all the people he came into contact with. Like the authors style liked the book!
August 11, 2025
Not one of Olsens better works. I’m guessing this was one of his earlier books, as the captivating storytelling just wasn’t there. Usually after reading one of his books, I’m bothered by the victims, crimes and offenders for hours if not days after reading it. After closing the final page of this book, I just moved onto another true crime novel.
January 28, 2019
My overall impression of the story was that it was ok.
I’m so used to the detail of an Ann Rule story that I found this writing very repetitive. Also the main questions that I had going in were not answered in the end. I would encourage this author to get a better editor. The editing was horrible!
I’m so used to the detail of an Ann Rule story that I found this writing very repetitive. Also the main questions that I had going in were not answered in the end. I would encourage this author to get a better editor. The editing was horrible!
March 15, 2023
good read.
This is written like Thomas Thompson”s book serpentine.
It is a case study of one individual. It’s an in-depth study and would be useful for sociology or criminology students.
This is written like Thomas Thompson”s book serpentine.
It is a case study of one individual. It’s an in-depth study and would be useful for sociology or criminology students.
December 11, 2025
It was just barely okay. I did not find "The Charmer" that interesting. It was about a kid growing up in the Seattle area that took advantage of many, many people. I have read other Jack Olsen books that were much better.
March 13, 2018
Never read a Jack Olsen book that I didn't love.
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