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Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters
In this unique book, Peter Vronsky documents the psychological, investigative, and cultural aspects of serial murder, beginning with its first recorded instance in ancient Rome, through fifteenth-century France, up to such notorious contemporary cases as cannibal/necrophile Ed Kemper, Henry Lee Lucas, Ted Bundy, and the emergence of what he classifies as the serial rampage killer such as Andrew Cunanan. Exhaustively researched with transcripts of interviews with killers, and featuring up-to-date information on the apprehension and conviction of the Green River Killer and the Beltway Snipers, Vronsky's one-of-a-kind book covers every conceivable aspect of an endlessly riveting true-crime phenomenon.
412 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 2004
702 people are currently reading
13947 people want to read
About the author
Peter Vronsky
32 books358 followersPETER VRONSKY is an author, filmmaker, and forensic-investigative historian. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in the history of espionage in international relations and criminal justice history.
Peter Vronsky is the author of a series of books on the history serial homicide: Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters (2004); Female Serial Killers: How and Why Women Become Monsters (2007); Sons of Cain: A History of Serial Killers From the Stone Age to the Present (2018)- a New York Times Editors' Choice; and most recently, American Serial Killers: The Epidemic Years 1950-2000 (2021).
He is also the author of Ridgeway: The American-Fenian Invasion and the 1866 Battle that Made Canada, the definitive history of Canada's first modern battle and the subject of his 2010 doctoral dissertation at U of T.
He lives in Toronto and Venice, Italy.
Peter Vronsky is the author of a series of books on the history serial homicide: Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters (2004); Female Serial Killers: How and Why Women Become Monsters (2007); Sons of Cain: A History of Serial Killers From the Stone Age to the Present (2018)- a New York Times Editors' Choice; and most recently, American Serial Killers: The Epidemic Years 1950-2000 (2021).
He is also the author of Ridgeway: The American-Fenian Invasion and the 1866 Battle that Made Canada, the definitive history of Canada's first modern battle and the subject of his 2010 doctoral dissertation at U of T.
He lives in Toronto and Venice, Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
April 21, 2011
This is absolutely the best book out there on serial killing. The way it is written you can crack open the book at any page and read through, like a tv show. He repeats sometimes a thought or a sentence in case you missed an important point in this random approach, but it does not hurt even if you read it from page one straight through to the end. I really like that he does not present himself as some kind of profiler expert but approaches the phenomenon of serial killers with fear and wonder from our own amateur points of view, but beneath it is the expertise of a historian and story teller. This is a really well written and gripping book without the usual bragging that so-called 'expert' profilers indulge in. Many 'experts' huff and puff how sick and depraved their serial killing subjects are, but Vronsky almost objectively slips into their minds revealing what is really going on. Absolutely brilliant book with some amazingly scary stories. The last chapter, on how to survive a serial killer if you are unlucky enough to be captured by one, is the scariest--how thin the line can be between death and survival.Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters
December 12, 2011
This was a very interesting & intriguing book. It discussed an array of topics surrounding serial killers including what you can do to survive should you ever encounter one. I was really interested in the stories of some well known & some not so well known serial killers. However, what I was most interested in reading about was the chapters that talked about the different types & the proposed reasoning behind why they committed their crimes. Anyone who likes reading books about serial killers or who is simply intrigued by the psychology behind their crimes & motives will enjoy this book.
May 31, 2022
Peter Vronsky’s “Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters” is a very thorough compendium on everything serial killer; from the different types and classifications, the concept of ‘insanity’, the evolution of serial killers from children, and of course, he does not exclude actual information collected from the FBI’s BSU unit.
In spots, this novel can be quite thick and hard to get through, but it really depends on where your interests lie. Vronsky uses well known serial killers (such as Ted Bundy) as examples throughout the book but also some lesser known ones, and, most importantly, he gets down to the nitty-gritty, with the “hows” and “whys” serial killers do what they do. There are even serial killers from as far back as the seventeenth century (more than just Jack the Ripper) and Vronsky is very detailed in his research, yet he still manages to write a digestible story that had me turning the pages.
The most interesting part of Vronsky’s story, and definitely the most useful, was his section on How to Escape a Serial Killer. Of course, Vronsky is quick to remind us that it is not possible in all cases and in fact, you are more likely to fail (and die) than succeed, but his tricks and tips will definitely provide some thought-provoking water cooler topics.
“Serial Killers” has everything that a true crime, serial killer obsessive would want. The book was published in 2004, so some of the information is out of the date (including the outcomes of some of the criminals involved in the stories, as there cases were before the courts at the time of publication) but Vronsky provides a creepy, terrifying look into the minds of the most disturbed among us. “Serial Killers” is not for the faint of heart!
In spots, this novel can be quite thick and hard to get through, but it really depends on where your interests lie. Vronsky uses well known serial killers (such as Ted Bundy) as examples throughout the book but also some lesser known ones, and, most importantly, he gets down to the nitty-gritty, with the “hows” and “whys” serial killers do what they do. There are even serial killers from as far back as the seventeenth century (more than just Jack the Ripper) and Vronsky is very detailed in his research, yet he still manages to write a digestible story that had me turning the pages.
The most interesting part of Vronsky’s story, and definitely the most useful, was his section on How to Escape a Serial Killer. Of course, Vronsky is quick to remind us that it is not possible in all cases and in fact, you are more likely to fail (and die) than succeed, but his tricks and tips will definitely provide some thought-provoking water cooler topics.
“Serial Killers” has everything that a true crime, serial killer obsessive would want. The book was published in 2004, so some of the information is out of the date (including the outcomes of some of the criminals involved in the stories, as there cases were before the courts at the time of publication) but Vronsky provides a creepy, terrifying look into the minds of the most disturbed among us. “Serial Killers” is not for the faint of heart!
September 19, 2019
3.5 stars - I liked this one, but I do think it is rather outdated at this point in terms of its attitudes and understanding of the psychology of non-cis, non-straight people. Still, I appreciate the sweeping scope of this history, and I think it is an interesting read, albeit a book of its time
March 19, 2012
Repetitious, similar to a cable TV show that keeps breaking for commercial and then returning to repeat the last 10 minutes of what the viewer saw just before the commercial. The book could have been cut by a third and been more effective. Also, I sensed a bias by the author (or his research) against women. There are many references to "domineering mothers" as a common characteristic of serial killers but only one that I can remember that made reference to the possible role of fathers in a child's development. Even if Vronsky had said, "There is no data linking a boys relationship with his dad to his likelihood of becoming a serial killer" it would have been an improvement, but to just leave the dads out of it made me skeptical. It also doesn't help that Vronsky has written a forward to the book letting his readers know in the first paragraph that he doesn't have any qualifications as an expert on serial killers. Credibility is important in works of non-fiction.
April 6, 2010
A rather scary read, with many 'scary' moments for me personally. The two episodes of the writer encountering two serial killers on separate occassions give me goosebumps. Many of the quotes Vronsky chooses to open his chapters make me shudder. A few examples:
These crimes and offenses I committed solely for my evil pleasure and evil delight, to no other end or with no other intention, without anyone’s counsel and only in accordance with my imagination.
—GILLES DE RAIS, Confession, 1440
When we remember that we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.
—MARK TWAIN
Take it from one who knows: It pays to be paranoid.
—DANNY ROLLING (The Gainesville Ripper)
Considering the resent surge of indonesian serial killers, someone should translate and publish this book into Indonesian!
These crimes and offenses I committed solely for my evil pleasure and evil delight, to no other end or with no other intention, without anyone’s counsel and only in accordance with my imagination.
—GILLES DE RAIS, Confession, 1440
When we remember that we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.
—MARK TWAIN
Take it from one who knows: It pays to be paranoid.
—DANNY ROLLING (The Gainesville Ripper)
Considering the resent surge of indonesian serial killers, someone should translate and publish this book into Indonesian!
January 11, 2019
I have been intrigued by serial killers for years, and every once in a while I pick up a book that focuses on them. I just recently started watching Mindhunter on Netflix, and that resulted in me wanting to pick up another book on this subject. I was curious to see how serial killers have changed over the last decades. We'll probably never know what makes them do the things they do, however there are many factors that play important roles in their buildup to actual murder/violence. This book gave a great view into the minds of several serial killers, and how they think and behave. It's very gruesome but it's also was very intriguing. This book was easy to read, and kept me interested. I was glad it didn't focus too long on one particular subject/serial killer.
February 13, 2010
A gift from David to fuel my weird interest, and it's working. This one has taken me away from A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN and a personal account of the Bataan Death March. That's a compliment!
Finally done - took long enough, but this was some dense material. The statistics in the early part of the book almost made me give up, but the author's short descriptions of select serial killers made up for it. Edmund Kemper will be a new interest for future reading. The pathology sections were interesting detailing how FBI specialists categorize and profile these killers, but I only remember the parts that listed actual serial killer examples.
Lesson learned - most organized serial killers get their victims with "nice acts." Never be afraid to say no to a stranger - it might save your life.
Finally done - took long enough, but this was some dense material. The statistics in the early part of the book almost made me give up, but the author's short descriptions of select serial killers made up for it. Edmund Kemper will be a new interest for future reading. The pathology sections were interesting detailing how FBI specialists categorize and profile these killers, but I only remember the parts that listed actual serial killer examples.
Lesson learned - most organized serial killers get their victims with "nice acts." Never be afraid to say no to a stranger - it might save your life.
September 15, 2010
This is possibly the best book on serial murder. The author's style is clear and flows very well, so it's easy to read despite the subject material. The history and psychology of serial murder are also worked out very well. My usual complaint with books on this subject is that they are written in some sort of sensationalist style. With this book, that is not the case.
The only thing that can be dazzling to the reader is the amount of (now dated) statistic used. When I read this book for the second time, I just skipped those numbers.
The only thing that can be dazzling to the reader is the amount of (now dated) statistic used. When I read this book for the second time, I just skipped those numbers.
August 17, 2014
Much like a common newspaper report, the book is broad in scope and full of sensational details, but lacks depth and thoughtfulness. After a few chapters, Vronsky’s background as a journalist becomes evident.
I may have come into this book with high expectations. I had earlier done some research on serial killers (god knows there is tons of material online), and thought that a book that claims to “document the psychological, investigative, and cultural aspects of serial murder” would take me a step further. Instead, Serial Killers: the Method and Madness of Monsters provided a cursory overview of many disparate aspects of the phenomenon, briefly covering everything from famous serial killers in history to how to escape a killer. This might be helpful for those who have had no exposure to the topic, but it’s also something that could be picked up from several google searches with relative ease. Disappointingly, I did not leave with a better understanding of the workings of the serial killer’s mind – “of the method and madness of monsters” (damn, I wish Oliver Sacks or someone of his caliber would run with this topic).
Even more frustrating was the feeling that this book needed a proper edit. Perhaps it’s my own logic that works in a peculiar way, but I feel that the book would have hung together better as a whole if it flowed chronologically – from the historical roots and early evidence of serial killing, to the evolution of the modern-day definition of the term, branching off from there into the psychology of serial killers, to how they are classified and profiled based on this psychology. Instead, the book begins with the modern day, jumps back in time to early killers, forward again to the modern day. Then, before we are told anything about what moulds a serial killer, Vronsky discusses how psychiatrists (and the authorities) classify serial killers, only then describing their psychology, before jumping back into criminal profiling. As a result of the illogical organization, the book frequently references itself (“as you have read…” or “as you will read…”) and, what’s even worse, repeats things again and again. As a result of the illogical organization, the subject matter can’t be neatly filed into the reader’s head.
Moreover, Vronsky the journalist shows in the book’s taste for the sensational. Though the writer at one point laments the media frenzy and corresponding fame achieved by some killers, Vronsky himself feeds the media monster. He recounts some serial killers’ crimes one by one, in unnecessary detail – the goal can only be to shock and awe.
The three star rating, nonetheless, is because the book is not without redemption. Written in simple, fairly vivid style it was an easy read. The author’s personal chance meetings with two serial killers made for an interesting anecdote. The section on avoiding serial killers was definitely good to know (I got my younger sister to read it), and the nightmares this book elicited were, on occasion, exciting.
I may have come into this book with high expectations. I had earlier done some research on serial killers (god knows there is tons of material online), and thought that a book that claims to “document the psychological, investigative, and cultural aspects of serial murder” would take me a step further. Instead, Serial Killers: the Method and Madness of Monsters provided a cursory overview of many disparate aspects of the phenomenon, briefly covering everything from famous serial killers in history to how to escape a killer. This might be helpful for those who have had no exposure to the topic, but it’s also something that could be picked up from several google searches with relative ease. Disappointingly, I did not leave with a better understanding of the workings of the serial killer’s mind – “of the method and madness of monsters” (damn, I wish Oliver Sacks or someone of his caliber would run with this topic).
Even more frustrating was the feeling that this book needed a proper edit. Perhaps it’s my own logic that works in a peculiar way, but I feel that the book would have hung together better as a whole if it flowed chronologically – from the historical roots and early evidence of serial killing, to the evolution of the modern-day definition of the term, branching off from there into the psychology of serial killers, to how they are classified and profiled based on this psychology. Instead, the book begins with the modern day, jumps back in time to early killers, forward again to the modern day. Then, before we are told anything about what moulds a serial killer, Vronsky discusses how psychiatrists (and the authorities) classify serial killers, only then describing their psychology, before jumping back into criminal profiling. As a result of the illogical organization, the book frequently references itself (“as you have read…” or “as you will read…”) and, what’s even worse, repeats things again and again. As a result of the illogical organization, the subject matter can’t be neatly filed into the reader’s head.
Moreover, Vronsky the journalist shows in the book’s taste for the sensational. Though the writer at one point laments the media frenzy and corresponding fame achieved by some killers, Vronsky himself feeds the media monster. He recounts some serial killers’ crimes one by one, in unnecessary detail – the goal can only be to shock and awe.
The three star rating, nonetheless, is because the book is not without redemption. Written in simple, fairly vivid style it was an easy read. The author’s personal chance meetings with two serial killers made for an interesting anecdote. The section on avoiding serial killers was definitely good to know (I got my younger sister to read it), and the nightmares this book elicited were, on occasion, exciting.
April 16, 2010
Informative. I found the case histories fascinating, and there were even some tips on what to do if you're ever unlucky enough to be caught by a serial killer (hint: don't get in the car). I enjoyed learning about the pathology of psychopaths, although at times I felt Vronsky inserted his own biases too far into the text. For instance, I thought he was a bit defensive when it came to the possible role porn might play in developing serial killers. It's pretty clear he doesn't believe porn is detrimental, which is fine, but when an author, who has up to that point been pretty fair and even handed, suddenly gets a bit touchy about pornography it's just a bit...icky. And I thought his assertion that the Bible is more harmful to sociopaths than porn a little smug for my taste. Other than that, it's a great book for someone interested in abnormal psychology. I recommend it.
March 8, 2009
So far, I've learned not to read this book before bed. Disturbing, but hard to put down.
July 24, 2012
Really interesting book! Good for those who like or are studying psychology or criminology!
December 14, 2018
One of my fave books. I need a new copy... mine is so beat up that I use the loose pages as a bookmark in other parts of the book.
April 14, 2012
Really a book designed for those who really want to learn about serial killer workings, histories, and brain patterns. There is so much more to the monsters than meets the eye. You will find yourself Googling murders and news articles. A pretty disturbing book, but worth it. It took me a long time to finish this book because there isn't an adventure, and it's pretty rare for this type of book to find its way into my hands. I really did enjoy it.
November 29, 2020
Very interesting book. I would really recommend it to anyone that's interested in such matters.
It is very well-structured, also including chapters about how you can protect yourself from such people or how you can identify them, all information taken from FBI agents that have worked on cases and even from the offenders themselves.
If you feel like you want to explore this domain of true crime and you are a beginner, I think this book is perfect for you!
It is very well-structured, also including chapters about how you can protect yourself from such people or how you can identify them, all information taken from FBI agents that have worked on cases and even from the offenders themselves.
If you feel like you want to explore this domain of true crime and you are a beginner, I think this book is perfect for you!
May 23, 2011
Very thorough. Peter Vronsky writes with flair, and doesn't just spit out the facts. Plus, he's had two random encounters with serial killers himself. Sometimes I skip the Introduction in books - don't do it with this one! The best book I've read on the subject.
January 25, 2019
It's a very informative and contemplating book. The part that scared me the most is serial killers aren't always isolated, with low intelligence and crazy, they are sometimes very normal people with normal behaviour.
July 26, 2007
So much interesting, great information! You will not get bored reading this book!
July 17, 2008
I highly recommend this book that has any interest or fascination into true crime, particularly serial killers. Lots of information.
October 2, 2008
Sick and twisted and an informative awesome history of serial killers
October 2, 2008
thanks to this book, i now know how to avoid being serial killed.
December 30, 2011
Disturbing, insightful, and fascinating. Everything I love in a book- especially a non-fiction one!
December 4, 2014
Serial killers have always fascinated me.
*I know I'm not right in the head!*
This book goes deep into why they do what they do. I don't think we will ever truly know the exact reason.
*I know I'm not right in the head!*
This book goes deep into why they do what they do. I don't think we will ever truly know the exact reason.
March 6, 2018
As anyone with even the vaguest idea of my reading habits will have noticed, I’m fascinated by true crime – and serial killers in particular. I can’t tell you why that is (although I’ve read lots of theories about why women, and in particular women with anxiety, are so drawn to the subject), but what I can tell you is that Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters is an excellent book on the history of serial killing, the psychopathology of these types of killers and the profiling methods available to investigators (along with the pros and cons of these tools).
Vronksy has clearly done an awful lot of research and his own fascination comes through in his writing, which has enough detail to keep amateur criminal psychologists happy whilst also being written simply enough for the layman to understand. Looking at FBI categorisations such as organised/disorganised/mixed killers, as well as some of the sub-categories such as mission-oriented, power-control oriented, hedonistic etc, Vronksy makes sure to illustrate each of these through the examples of some of the heavy-hitters in each category, making some of the more scientific elements easier to comprehend.
What was most fascinating for me was some of the statistics that have arisen through researching serial homicides – the surges in so-called serial killing epidemics (apparently 45% of all recorded serial killings occurred in the 20 year period between 1975 & 1995) and why that might be (Vronsky’s theory, which works for me, is that incidences of serial killing increase when the public at large has more leisure time – no-one had time for serial killing when they were constantly labouring simply to survive, whereas the nobles did – and gave us some of the only recorded incidences of historical serial killers in the forms of Gilles de Rais and Countess Bathory) as well as setting out the differences between female and male serial killers (unlike their counterparts, female serial killers largely fall into the ‘killing for financial gain’ group (74%) while those who fall into other categories often do so as accomplices to men).
Vronsky also looks at the changing trends in serial killing and what that may hold for the future, with the prevalence of spree killings and mass shootings being on the rise, although quite why that may be (other than the fact that anyone who wants one seems to be able to get a gun in the States) is still open for debate.
If you’re at all interested in true crime, you would do well to pick this up. I already have Vronksy’s next book on female serial killers lined up.
**Also posted at Cannonball Read 10**
Vronksy has clearly done an awful lot of research and his own fascination comes through in his writing, which has enough detail to keep amateur criminal psychologists happy whilst also being written simply enough for the layman to understand. Looking at FBI categorisations such as organised/disorganised/mixed killers, as well as some of the sub-categories such as mission-oriented, power-control oriented, hedonistic etc, Vronksy makes sure to illustrate each of these through the examples of some of the heavy-hitters in each category, making some of the more scientific elements easier to comprehend.
What was most fascinating for me was some of the statistics that have arisen through researching serial homicides – the surges in so-called serial killing epidemics (apparently 45% of all recorded serial killings occurred in the 20 year period between 1975 & 1995) and why that might be (Vronsky’s theory, which works for me, is that incidences of serial killing increase when the public at large has more leisure time – no-one had time for serial killing when they were constantly labouring simply to survive, whereas the nobles did – and gave us some of the only recorded incidences of historical serial killers in the forms of Gilles de Rais and Countess Bathory) as well as setting out the differences between female and male serial killers (unlike their counterparts, female serial killers largely fall into the ‘killing for financial gain’ group (74%) while those who fall into other categories often do so as accomplices to men).
Vronsky also looks at the changing trends in serial killing and what that may hold for the future, with the prevalence of spree killings and mass shootings being on the rise, although quite why that may be (other than the fact that anyone who wants one seems to be able to get a gun in the States) is still open for debate.
If you’re at all interested in true crime, you would do well to pick this up. I already have Vronksy’s next book on female serial killers lined up.
**Also posted at Cannonball Read 10**
February 3, 2018
I have read hundreds of books about serial killers (for work purposes). This is one of the best.
One startling fact is that Vronsky had bumped into a couple of the serial killers he later writes about, in hotel lobbies, before they were arrested. These predators are more plentiful than we care to acknowledge. Why do we refuse to accept the evidence of our eyes? I suspect because it's just too damn scary.....
One startling fact is that Vronsky had bumped into a couple of the serial killers he later writes about, in hotel lobbies, before they were arrested. These predators are more plentiful than we care to acknowledge. Why do we refuse to accept the evidence of our eyes? I suspect because it's just too damn scary.....
January 3, 2013
This was a good book with some interesting case histories on serial killers. The best feature was learning the different ways that are used to classify serial killers and the different types. There is a lot more variation than we see on TV and in the movies.
I had some issues with long stretches of statistics that just felt plopped into the text. They would have been better served if the number could have been worked in as part of the narrative flow.
Overall, not bad if you are interested in the topic.
I had some issues with long stretches of statistics that just felt plopped into the text. They would have been better served if the number could have been worked in as part of the narrative flow.
Overall, not bad if you are interested in the topic.
February 1, 2013
Once I started this book I could not put it down!! There is so much information within the pages that it is almost a mind overload. There are so many killers throghout history. This book makes you wonder who you are talking too, what is in the mind of every stranger around you and how on this Earth we live in that there are so many demented and broken people who want to kill and do harm.
Great read for any true crime or serial killer fan out there.
Great read for any true crime or serial killer fan out there.
November 4, 2017
Me in the midst of being stabbed- "You must be a disorganized spree killer." This book is so like a text book, I kept expecting MCQs at the end of each chapter.
I wouldn't call this a wholesome read. Let's say it doesn't skimp on the details. Read it in parallel with Fincher's Mindhunter. Each feeding off each other, both feeding on me. Have I now become a person of interest?
""When we remember that we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained."- Mark Twain."
I wouldn't call this a wholesome read. Let's say it doesn't skimp on the details. Read it in parallel with Fincher's Mindhunter. Each feeding off each other, both feeding on me. Have I now become a person of interest?
""When we remember that we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained."- Mark Twain."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews