Entering Hades: The Double Life of a Serial Killer

by John Leake

"I was a greedy, ravenous individual, determined to rise from the bottom to the top . . . It wasn't me!"--Jack Unterweger's final words to his jury Serial killers rarely travel internationally. So in the early 1990s, when detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department began to find bodies of women strangled with their own bras, it didn't occur to them at first to make a connection with the bodies being uncovered in the woods outside of Vienna, Austria. The LAPD waited for the killer to strike again. Meanwhile, in Austria, the police followed what few clues they had. The case intrigued many reporters, but few as keenly as Jack Unterweger, a local celebrity. He cut a striking figure, this little man in expensive white suits. His expertise on Vienna's criminal underworld was hard-earned. He had been sentenced to life in jail as a young man. But while incarcerated, he began to write--and his work earned him the glowing attention of the literary elite. The intelligentsia lobbied for his release and by 1990, Jack was free again. He continued writing, nurturing his career as a journalist. But though he now traveled in the highest circles, he had a secret life. He was killing again, and in the greatest of ironies, reporting on the very crimes he had committed. With unprecedented access to Jack's diaries and letters, John Leake peels back the layers of deception to reveal the life and crimes of Jack Unterweger, and in unnerving detail, exposes the thrilling twists--both in the United States and Europe--that led to Jack's capture and Austria's "trial of the century."

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Biography, Psychology, Thriller

368 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Born in Dallas, Texas, John Leake went to Vienna, Austria on a graduate school scholarship and ended up living in the city for over a decade, working as a freelance writer and translator. His first book, Entering Hades: The Double Life of a Serial Killer (Sarah Crichton Books, FSG) was a New York Times Sunday Book Review "Editors' Choice," a Men's Vogue "Best Book of 2007," and the inspiration of The Infernal Comedy, starring John Malkovich.

Reviews

[Jlsimon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best true crime books I have read in a long time. Absolutely incredibly well researched. The sources were fantastic. Leake covers the crimes, the locations, the investigations, the trials, and the aftermath. I would recommend this book to individuals who enjoy the full length books written by Ann Rule.

Jack Unterweger's was very reminiscent of "The Stranger Beside Me." Mostly I think because you get the idea that his mask was very firmly in place like that of the early crimes of Ted Bundy. Like Bundy he was charming, and had many women supporters even after his arrest. Like Bundy he spoke to the jury in his trial and even made his own final arguments. For all I know the men may have been nothing alike, but... something tells me they would have had a lot in common.

This book is exceptionally well done. I would recommend this book to individuals who are looking more toward the procedural side of a true crime writing and less so to those who look for the sensationalism. Though this case is not unheard of in the USA, the name is not as well known and you will not get the salacious details stories that headline "sex and murder in a small town."

[Fishface · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, what is it about Austrians? They elect a Nazi war criminal prime minister, then make a murderer into a beloved playwright. Wonderful portrait of what they accurately call a "malignant narcissist." Also a fascinating look into a totally different court system, in which the judge, jury, and defendant are all allowed to chime in at will, and the defendant even gets to make a closing statement. Great bombshell ending, too. REALLY well written, never slow. This is one of the best I've read in some time.

[caruh · Rating 4 out of 5]

very well written, takes a little to get into the reading style as it is so full of information and great research. so frustrated while reading as seeing how this guy got such large support at the beginning is insane, but made me much more attached to seeing how the story ends and made it a more addictive read. would recommend to people interested in true crime stuff! now onto a cozy read hopefully, hit a little to close to home

[Ileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vorrei tanto che tra gli anobiani questo libro fosse più diffuso, invece siamo solo in 57 a possederlo. Come sempre dietro ogni libro c’è una storia che ti ha portato fin lì… mesi fa, sarà stato maggio, curiosando sul sito di Repubblica avevo trovato questo libro tra i suggerimenti. La storia mi aveva catturato immediatamente. Mi sono segnata il titolo e via. Peccato che a distanza di altri mesi non ricordassi più né il titolo né dove avessi scritto l’appunto ma solo di cosa parlasse il libro… vi evito la parte delle mie disperate ricerche in Google. Volevo fortemente leggere questo libro. Chi ha trent’anni come me ha visto i vari CSI, Criminal Minds, Bones, The Closer, N.C.Y.S…. ma questa è finzione, siamo abituati alla finzione. Io non potevo credere che la vicenda narrata in questo libro fosse vera. Semplicemente non mi era possibile credervi. Esistono da sempre errori giudiziari, ma la storia di Jack Unterweger è a dir poco allucinante. E non in senso positivo. Badate bene che questo libro parla di svariati omicidi commessi da un serial killer, è un libro che si divora in 24 ore ma non è assolutamente truce, lo dico per chi ne avesse il dubbio; vengono si descritti i cadaveri ritrovati, ma tutto qui. Non servono particolari cruenti o crudi poiché questo libro narra di una psicologia, quella di Jack, che da sola basta ad inquietare molto più di un cadavere. La lettura è fluidissima nonostante il tema, capitoli molto ben scritti e, vi garantisco, è assolutamente impossibile metterlo giù fino a quando non lo avrete finito.
Ma veniamo a Jack..

Austria 1974, il ventiquattrenne Jack Unterwager viene arrestato per l’omicidio della giovane Margaret Schäfer, brutalmente percossa, strangolata con il suo reggiseno e lasciata in un bosco. A inchiodarlo è Barbara, l’allora fidanzata d Jack, ma lui negherà sempre di aver ucciso Margaret. Unterwager viene condannato all’ergastolo. Negli anni trascorsi in carcere l’uomo si avvicina alle lettere e comincia a scrivere varie storie, da storielle per bimbi a poesie. Ma il suo successo massimo è Fegefeuer – eine Reise ins Zuchthaus (1984 circa), che narra la sua versione personale della sua storia. Ne il “Purgatorio” Jack parte dalla sua condizione di prigioniero nel carcere di Stein, racconta quanto triste fu la sua adolescenza, maltrattato da un nonno violento ed alcolizzato dopo essere stato abbandonato dalla madre, una misera prostituta. L’unica figura ricordata con affetto è una zia, morta brutalmente assassinata dall’ultimo cliente di una serata, anche lei prostituta. Il povero Jack è allo sbando, solo, e arriva a perdere il controllo di sé compiendo furtarelli e qualche aggressione. Lo arrestano per furto. Peccato che non accenni minimamente all’omicidio di Margaret. La sua buona capacità di scrivere congiunta da un carisma straordinario ed ad un viso di una dolcezza disarmante compiono il miracolo. La gente, in particolar modo l’élite dei letterari viennesi si convince che Jack è cambiato, che gli anni e il pentimento lo hanno reso diverso dal giovane irruente e scapestrato che ha ucciso la povera Margaret. La gara di solidarietà per chiedere la libertà condizionata di Jack comincia nel 1985, ma per le leggi austriache un condannato all’ergastolo può chiedere la libertà vigilata (a patto che gli venga data) solo dopo aver trascorso almeno 15 anni in carcere. Così mentre il movimento per la sua libertà cresce sempre più, Jack ha altri cinque anni per fare sfoggio della sua personalità ed ammaliare tutti. Ora è una persona diversa, ha capito i suoi errori e li ha pagati, rappresenta il reinserimento nella società di un carcerato, di un assassino; dimostra che il recupero è possibile e Jack ne è la prova. Unterwager viene rilasciato con la libertà vigilata il 24 maggio 1990.

Ora però vi dirò come comincia il libro:

Los Angeles, luglio 1991. Nell’arco di due settimane vengono ritrovati tre cadaveri di tre prostitute, ai margini di L.A., di Hollywood, di Malibù, in boschi isolati, supine, legate, mezze vestite e con la propria biancheria stretta attorno al collo a mo di corda. L’ispettore Miller indaga sui tre omicidi ma pur avendo capito il legame che li unisce, un serial killer, non riesce a comprendere chi possa essere stato. Tutti i sospettati hanno un alibi e per di più gli omicidi si fermano. Forse l’assassino è morto, forse non è di lì, forse è stato arrestato per altro… I serial killer non viaggiano per il mondo e certamente Miller non può immaginare che nella vecchia cara Europa, a Vienna, i colleghi della polizia hanno tra le mani ben 7 casi identici a quelli di Los Angeles. Stesso modus operandi, stessa mano, stesse vittime: prostitute sole, di basso livello, appartate in angoli bui e poco frequentati. La prima vittima scompare a novembre del 1990, l’ultima il 7 maggio del 1991. Tutte le vittime vengono ritrovate, ma non subito subito, no, il killer le porta fuori mano, fuori dall’abitato, vicino a boschi o ruscelli, le uccide e le abbandona. Le copre con dei rami, ma non troppo; vuole nasconderle ma vuole che vengano trovate. Come quelle di Los Angeles.
Il lettore sa già chi è stato, sa anche della vacanza di Jack a Los Angeles, per fare alcune ricerche sull’ambiente della prostituzione; sa delle sue ronde coi poliziotti, sa delle sue domande. Quello che il lettore deve imparare è quanto sarà difficile per degli uomini straordinari come Giger, Schenner, Wladkowski, strappare all’opinione pubblica la propria creatura. Jack è la prova della manipolazione mediatica (e non solo) delle genti; come anche il più infido uomo di questa terra possa vendersi come un piccolo uomo bisognoso di affetto, di qualcuno che creda in lui. Jack sembra essere irresistibile, dolce, simpatico, un po’ malinconico per la sua vita difficile, Jack finalmente è libero, perché dovrebbe aver fatto tutto questo e giocarsi la sua chance di libertà? Ha una nuova reputazione, nuovi amici, ricchezza, donne che non sanno resistergli, macchine, serate… eppure il caro vecchio Schenner sa che Jack è patologico. Schenner aveva presentato una richiesta negli anni 80. Accusava Jack di aver ucciso, oltre a Margaret anche Marica Horvarth, aveva molte analogie ed indizi tra le mani, ma non aveva prove. Schenner sapeva bene che Jack era uno stupratore e lo sapeva da quando una vittima era riuscita a sfuggirgli e a raccontare tutto. Ma ovviamente il piccolo Jack aveva la sua versione dei fatti. Ogni sacrosanta volta. Forse se la richiesta di Schenner fosse stata accolta e visionata si sarebbe trovata la prova per incastrare Jack e non avrebbe mai potuto avere diritto alla libertà condizionata. Non sarebbe tornato libero, acclamato da una folla in delirio che invece di temerlo lo idolatrava come buon esempio della pena che porta al pentimento ed alla rinascita.Il piccolo uomo vestito da dandy è un bugiardo incontrollabile, un uomo molto lucido che inizialmente sceglie di collaborare con la polizia per sviare ogni sospetto. È lui a rispondere a domande non ancora fatte, con dovizia di particolari. Si mostra collaborativo. Ha bisogno di fare vedere a tutti che lui non è la persona di 15 anni prima. Lui collabora perché non ha nulla da temere. Vi accorgerete di quanto sia complessa la sua persona e la sua psiche, di quanto le persone accanto a lui, come Bianca, Margit e Astrid non riescano proprio ad immaginarlo nei panni di un serial killer. Non vi voglio raccontare quanto in questo libro le donne siano importanti, quanto il magnetismo di Jack sia riuscito svariate volte rimandare quello che alla fine, grazie a Dio, è accaduto lo stesso.

Il 29 giugno 1994, dopo una staffetta di quasi due anni tra Los Angeles, Vienna, Graz e Praga, Jack viene condannato per 9 omicidi su 11. Chiederà il ricorso in appello. La notte stessa alle 03:40 si impicca nella sua cella.

Questo libro è scritto in un modo stupendo e racconta una storia che tutti dovrebbero conoscere ed analizzare. Se la mia recensione porterà anche solo una persona a cercare questo libro per curiosità, avrò raggiunto il mio scopo.

Se vi interessano altre info, controllate sul mio blog.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read very little nonfiction but when I saw this one on a blog I was intrigued. This book is the true story of Jack Unterweger, a serial killer from Vienna, who beat and strangled prostitutes with their own stockings or bras and then wrote about it for the papers. He then traveled to Los Angeles where he did "research" with the police and killed more prostitutes.

Jack had already been convicted and imprisoned for the gruesome murder of a woman in 1974. While in prison in Vienna he wrote his "autobiography" and became part of the literary scene and was paroled based on the state of mind portrayed in his book. He then went on to murder 11 more women in the early 1990s before he was caught.

The interesting thing about this book was that much of the evidence was circumstantial--the police knew he did it but could never come up with definitive proof (like DNA, fibers, etc).

This read almost like fiction--I could not put this down.

[Jade Lopert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alright, so as snobby as I am about my books (and as good or bad as it may be, I definitely am that), I firmly believe that everyone needs crap in their life. Crap for me tends to be true crime books and books on serial killers. To be completely honest, I'm fascinated with the psychology of it.
Unfortunately this book didn't much delve into the psychology of it and was more about the process of bringing in Jack Unterweger with enough evidence to prosecute him. It's a quick read and it's entertaining enough, but for me, it's just not what I wanted from it.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars The double-life of this man - publicly perceived as the model of rehabilitative justice, a murderer who became a literary star - while murdering a string of prostitutes from Europe to L.A, is the stuff of crime fiction. Fascinating story - I only wish the author had been able to delve a little more into the killer's psyche - the elusive "why" of how a man like him comes to be. But still a good true crime read about a story most Americans aren't familiar with.

[Donna Landon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish the book. Didn't like the author's writing style at all. Too convoluted and boring.

[Bill reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entering Hades does just that in the first chapter with a body being devoured by maggots. Another dead hooker with a bra used to strangle the woman to death in the hills of Malibu. The fingerprints matched those of Shannon Exley, a working girl with an extensive arrest record for soliciting. Two other women were killed in the same manner in the summer of 1991 within a two week period and then stopped.
A flashback to Austria and four prostitutes are discovered strangled, only this time, panty hose was the murder weapon. Jack Unterweger had been released from an Austrian prison after serving fifteen years for murder and was working as a journalist after completing a few novels and plays while in jail. Ironically, he went on a ride-along with the LAPD at the same time as the bra killings.
What follows is one of the most bewildering books that I have ever read. Unterweger is a Svengali-like figure who was able to convince a series of women to do his bidding. While being investigated by police in Vienna, Jack brought along his eighteen-year-old girlfriend Bianca to Miami and, under his influence, she worked as a stripper to support him. Several other women were intimate with him simultaneously.
Astrid Wagner, a radical lawyer came to his defense, believing the little five-foot-six man to be innocent. The trial became a circus with Austrian law allowing the accused to address the jury and be questioned by them the opposing lawyers and the judge. Jack was quite eloquent but the jurist cut through his BS.
Most of the evidence was circumstantial and DNA was at an early stage in 1992. An eight person jury needs a majority of five for a verdict. I looked up the love-struck Astrid Wagner online and she later took up the case of Josef Fritzl, the notorious rapist who fathered children with his daughter.
Entering Hades is one hell of a good read.

[MonicaEmme · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grazie a Dio l’ho finito! Non è scritto male eh, ma che palle!!!
La storia è quella di Jack Unterweger che “Non era soltanto un assassino. È un’ assassino intelligentissimo, un attore, riparatore.
Compie un’omicidio per il quale sconta una pena di quindici anni, scrive un libro poi esce (in Austria vige un solo ergastolo che, se si tiene un buon comportamento, viene ridotto e sostituito con la libertà vigilata) e compie ben altri undici omicidi in Austria, Cecoslovacchia e a Los Angeles.
Le sue vittime sono tutte prostitute che dopo essere state abbordate vengono portate in boschi, ammanettate, picchiate e strangolate con i propri reggiseni.
È un tipo dai modi molto attraenti e le donne non sanno resistere al suo fascino a volte fanciullesco, altre diabolico.
Lui scrive così delle donne: ”Non c’è tema più poetico della morte di una bella donna. Le donne sono come i soufflé al formaggio. Quando sono appena usciti dal forno sono croccanti e appetitose di fuori, ma interno non è cotto altrettanto ed è difficile da digerire. Quando invecchiano, la crosta forse non è così bella aiutarlo, ma l’interno si sviluppa. C’è un’età in cui una donna deve essere bella per essere amata, e c’è un’età in cui una donna deve essere amata per essere bella.” Un po’ paraculo, no?
In soldoni, interessante quanto pesante.
Me ne sono liberata, ecco fatto!

[Trzcionka · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cóż to była za męka..
Ciężko ta pozycję nazwać "książką", jak dla mnie jest to suchy opis życia i zbrodni popełnionych przez bohatera. Zastanawiam się co skłoniło autora do opisania historii właśnie tego człowieka, na moje oko jego historia nie różni się od wielu innych, o których się słyszy. Nic wartego tak szerokiego i szczegółowego opisu. Jakby tego było mało, część sytuacji została powtórzona po wielokroć. Dobrnęłam do końca tylko dlatego bo byłam ciekawa przebiegu procesu Jacka.. Nie polecam.

[Matt Kolbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this because I'd finished watching season 2 of Mindhunter and it was available at the library.

Had never heard of Jack Unterweger as a writer or killer. Perhaps primed by Mindhunter, the thing that stood out most to me was Unterweger's desire to control the public narrative even as it became clear that numerous holes in his alibis threatened to undo his apparent redemption as killer turned artiste.

[Angela Winters · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not finish it after picking it up several times!

[Marina Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the incredible amount of detail about the catching of the killer and the trial, I found it oddly lacking in local Viennese flavour. Perhaps because it was written for an American audience.

[Alex Knipp · Rating 4 out of 5]

👁👄👁

[sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

ew . well written though a well researched serve presented very readable

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. It reads mostly well but is also all over the place after times. The story is crazy, though, so that's a plus. More like 3 1/2 stars

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mildly interesting subject told in a rather dull, perfunctory way.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. Only kept going for bookclub. Wouldn't have picked it up otherwise.

[Hamna · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really good true crime book written very well but it was soooo long =)

[Nolan Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well-written a thorough true crime book. What a fascinating and unique tale.

[Lord Bathcanoe of Snark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A warning to do-gooders. This case has similarities to that of Jack Abbott. Abbott had stabbed a man to death, and during his incarceration wrote a best seller entitled In the Belly of the Beast. Norman Mailer championed Abbott's cause and he was paroled. Within a short time he had stabbed another man to death in a New York Restaurant.
Jack Unterweger's story runs along similar tracks. While serving time for the particularly vicious murder of a teenage girl he becomes a writer. Austrian intellectuals decide his talent is such that it must be liberated to flourish in society. Jack unleashed becomes a serial killer.
This is a well written account of a self absorbed, sadistic, manipulator who fooled some of the people most of the time, but luckily not all of the people any of the time.

[Joely · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is a fascinating story about Jack Unterweger, but this book didn't find it. It's written in a way that makes the narrative very muddy, and the prose doesn't capture your imagination. There is a lot of information, but much of it is ancillary to the story of the murders and serial killer. Unfortunately, other sources about Unterweger are few and far between, so this book is the definitive source. I'd recommend keeping murderpedia/wikipedia open while you read to keep track of the timeline.

[Steffi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Als ich kürzlich eine Diskussionsrunde des Österreichischen Fernsehens zu dem Film „Jack“ und dem sich dahinter verbergenden Jack Unterweger, Österreichs vermeintlich schlimmsten Serienmörder, wurde ich neugierig. Ich konnte mich dunkel daran erinnern, dass er in den 90er Jahren verurteilt wurde, seine Schuld bis zum Ende abstreitend, und in der Nacht nach dem Urteil Selbstmord beging.

John Leake, ein Amerikaner, der viel Zeit in Österreich verbrachte, hat ein Buch über den Fall geschrieben, dass spannend ist und nicht allzu effektheischend verfasst ist. Übersetzt hat es der österreichische Schriftsteller Clemens J. Setz, der kürzlich erst auf der Shortlist für den Deutschen Buchpreis stand. Leake beschreibt vor allem das Leben Unterwegers nach seiner Begnadigung 1991 (viele Intellektuelle hatten sich für ihn, den inzwischen schreibenden und in seinen Werken sein Leben und Tun reflektierenden Mörder mit schwerer Kindheit, eingesetzt) und parallel das Geschehen vieler Frauenmorde in Österreich, in Prag und sogar in L. A. und die Ermittlungen der Polizei.
Das lässt sich alles in einem Zug lesen, dennoch fehlt mir da einiges, z B. eine genauere Beschreibung der Kampagne der Intellektuellen für Unterweger: Um wen es sich dabei handelte, wie wurde das in der Öffentlichkeit thematisiert– auch hier muss es Schriftwechsel, Artikel und Stellungnahmen geben, die Leake sonst reichlich nutzt für sein Buch. Waren sie wirklich getrieben von der Vorstellung der Resozialisierbarkeit durch Kunst oder überwog die Faszination des Bösen? In welchem gesellschaftlichen Klima fand das statt?

Auch wird nur kurz erwähnt, dass beim Prozess erstmals in Österreich ein DNA-Beweis verwendet wurde – hier wären mehr Hintergrundinformationen spannend gewesen: Wie zuverlässig waren diese ersten Beweise einer damals noch neuen Methode? Wie anerkannt war dieser Beweis in der Öffentlichkeit?

Insgesamt fehlt eine Einordnung in die Gesellschaft dieser Zeit, geprägt vom Interesse am Rotlichtmilieu und an Psychopathen (mehrmals wird der Eindruck des Films „Das Schweigen der Lämmer“ beschrieben), vom Wunsch der österreichischen Schickeria sich mit einem Exknacki zu schmücken; aber auch einer Zeit in der Tätowierungen vielen auf den ersten Blick noch als Indiz einer Gefängnisvergangenheit erschienen und SM-Praktiken leicht als Beweis für Perversität und vielleicht gar Hinweis auf einen Mörder galten (Shades of Grey-Leser von heute dagegen wird das kaum noch erschüttern).

Für mich ist es immer weniger der Fall selbst, der mich fasziniert, sondern das was man anhand der Beschäftigung mit ihm über eine Zeit und eine Gesellschaft erfährt. Auch die Figur des Jack the Ripper ist nicht halb so interessant wie das, was man an diesem Fall über die sozialen Probleme des bettelarmen East End und seiner verzweifelten, schlecht integrierten Bewohner lernen kann. In dieser Hinsicht hätte ich mir von diesem Buch mehr erwartet.

[Jannelies (living between hope and fear) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2008 zond Discovery Channel een reportage uit over het even zonderlinge als ijzingwekkende verhaal van de Oostenrijkse seriemoordenaar Jack Unterweger. Wellicht zullen ze het in de toekomst nog eens herhalen. Het mooie is dat je in die reportage ook echte beelden ziet van Jack, de man waar het in Jachtgebied allemaal om draait.
Jack Unterweger was een Oostenrijker die op de jeugdige leeftijd van 26, in 1976, veroordeeld werd voor de moord op een jonge vrouw. In de gevangenis begon hij met het schrijven van boeken, verhalen en toneelstukken. Hij was zo goed dat hij beroemd werd met zijn pennenvruchten. Het maakte ook dat een aantal mensen zich inzette voor zijn vervroegde vrijlating. Dat lukte, en begin 1990 kwam Jack dan ook vrij. Hij begon onmiddellijk een succestournee door heel Oostenrijk, maar hij reisde ook naar andere landen, waaronder Amerika, voor het plegen van onderzoek voor nieuwe artikelen.
In diezelfde tijd werd de politie in Hollywood geconfronteerd met enkele brute moorden op prostituees. Bovendien werd ook de politie in Oostenrijk met een aantal lugubere moordzaken geconfronteerd. Al redelijk snel bleek dat de moorden door één en dezelfde persoon gepleegd moesten zijn. Dit was af te leiden aan de manier waarop de arme vrouwen benaderd werden en de manier waarop ze vermoord en achtergelaten werden.
John Leake is diep in alle mogelijke documentatie gedoken. Hij heeft, als enige, mogen lezen in de dagboeken van Jack Unterweger, en uiteraard heeft hij alle politierapporten gelezen en gesprekken gevoerd met de betrokkenen. Leake heeft uit de grote hoeveelheid materiaal een uiterst spannend (maar helaas dus waar gebeurd) verhaal gedistilleerd. Jack Unterweger was een allervriendelijkste, intelligente en knappe man, die naast het schrijven van artikelen en boeken zijn grootste passie, het vermoorden van vrouwen, nooit heeft losgelaten. Uiteindelijk werd hij beschuldigd van, en veroordeeld voor, maar liefst elf moorden.
Jachtgebied leest als een trein, en presenteert alle feiten zonder te vervallen in ‘droge kost’. De lezer kan meeleven met het lot van de vermoorde vrouwen, maar krijgt ook inzicht in de gedachtewereld van Jack Unterweger. Daarnaast is het onvoorstelbaar dat de gehele Oostenrijkse maatschappij zo in de ban was van de 'charmante' moordenaar dat ze haar ogen sloot voor het monster dat ze loslieten.
Jachtgebied is een bijzonder interessant verhaal, waarin goed tot uiting komt hoe gestoord een seriemoordenaar kan zijn. Maar ook: hoe goed de politie internationaal kan samenwerken als het écht nodig is!

[zoh^ · Rating 4 out of 5]

;*#)-#"8:#)&:#)+&)#+39-+/@%')@):_(#+&9#'8':@9*)@

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was OK. Organization was pretty good. Really though I think the subject was a little beyond this writer. I don't blame him for not being able to put it in the best order--it's an incredibly complex and bizarre case: A highly functional sociopath convinces Austrian literati to help get him paroled, then embarks on a sadistic killing spree while living a well-publicized high life and being ridiculously promiscuous. The investigation involved investigators from multiple countries and U.S. states. Considering all that, it's pretty well-researched and put together.

Still, sometimes when the writer would reveal something late in the game that wasn't really a secret to the investigators (like 3/4 of the way through the book we find out that Jack has a daughter), it feels sloppy, like the writer couldn't find a way to mention her earlier because of all the other information he had to cover.

So, I wish it had been maybe more tightly edited or written by a more seasoned writer, but the subject made it well worth the read. I hadn't encountered a criminal quite like Jack before in all my true-crime reading.

[Erika Nerdypants · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid account of the crimes of Austrian serial killer Jack Unterweger, who murdered eleven prostitutes in several countries. Unterweger killed for the first time as a young adult, and spent many years in prison where he educated himself, became a writer, and was championed by Austria's intellectual community as the poster child for prison rehabilitation. After winning early release, he killed seven women in two years before being re-apprehended. The book is well researched, but I would have liked more psychological background on Unterweger. He was clearly a very disturbed, narcissistic individual, yet somehow he remains flat and one dimensional in this account. I didn't feel any of the charm and charisma that so enthralled almost everyone who met him. To students of psychopathy, Unterweger continues to be a fascinating subject. As one of my professors used to say, "You can't rehabilitate a sociopath. Prison only teaches them new skills". This certainly seems to be the case here. Of additional interest to me was the setting. I grew up in Austria, and always enjoy reading about familiar places and people.

[Helen Robare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was readable and was about a serial killer I had no knowledge of. However, I was disappointed that there were few (if any) pictures of the victims. THEY are the reasons I read true crime for. Yes, there has to be a biography of the killer but the victims are the ones who did nothing to get killed. The fact that all the pictures were of the killer himself was strange. (IMO). The writing was okay but quite "wordy" and the author jumped back and forth so it was a little hard to understand. Some characters (like the killer's mother) were never involved whatsoever and most of the stories about the killer came from the killer's own mouth! Since he was not only a serial killer but an accomplished liar, I found myself wondering how we were supposed to believe this "biography"? Only after the trial started did the book pick up speed. I am a fast reader and read at least one book a day but it took me three days to finish this book. Unless you are truly into true crime reads, I would not recommend this book for you. For true serial buffs, give it a try. At the very least you will learn about the Austrian law system and learn about a lesser known serial killer.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a journalist, I'm wildly impressed by all of the research that went into this book, the story of an Austrian serial killer. John Leake did an amazing job of compiling an incredible amount of information, detailing the lives of dozens of people and outlining how Jack Unterweger lived.

At times, the book succeeded mightily. Jack, a journalist of sorts himself, creeped me out as he interviewed police about the very crimes he'd committed. He was cocky in a nearly unimaginable way, leaving a trail of dead women behind as he lived a very public life. The number of people -- from the highest level of government to the women he preyed upon -- he conned was astounding. Right to the very end, as the trial played out, there were still people who believed in him.

For all that was good, though, the book never drew me in that much. I never felt inside Jack's head or understood his followers. I was glad Leake didn't fall into the true-crime genre (with re-creation of the murders and such), but at times, he felt a little too far removed. It was a 368-page news story.