Serial Killers of the ’70s: Stories Behind a Notorious Decade of Death

by Jane Fritsch

From Ted Bundy to John Wayne Gacy and David Berkowitz, the 1970s were a time of notorious and brutal serial killers. Find out more about them, along with some you may never have heard of.
 
The Co-Ed Killer, Son of Sam, Hillside Strangler, and Dating Game Killer—in many ways, terrifying serial killers were as synonymous with the 1970s as Watergate, disco, and the oil crisis. This fascinating collection of profiles presents the most notorious as well as lesser-known serial murderers of that decade. Beyond Ted Bundy and David Berkowitz, it includes more obscure killers like Coral Eugene Watts, known as “The Sunday Morning Slasher,” who killed 80 women; Edmund Kemper, the "Co-Ed Killer"; and Rodney Alcala, who is believed to have killed between 50 and 130 people between 1971-1979.

Profiles will include:
Rodney Alcala: The Dating Game Killer
David Berkowitz: The Son of Sam
Kenneth A. Bianchi and Angelo Buono, Jr: The Hillside Strangler
Ted Bundy
John Wayne Gacy: The Killer Clown
Coral Eugene Watts: The Sunday Morning Slasher
Vaughn Greenwood: The Skid Row Slasher

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, History, Audiobook

265 pages, Paperback

Published May 5, 2020

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is basically a bunch of short, poorly organized chapters about serial killers who were active in the 70s. The author picks a random point of entry for each case and then stumbles awkwardly forward or back, leaving readers to piece together a more coherent timeline than the one we're being given. The writing style is also too choppy and flat for my taste; it tackles all these horrors in a way that depersonalizes them.

The book as a whole seems packed with information, but an early error left me doubting the quality of the rest of the research. And the stories all just kind of lie there. Other than quick, occasional references to the highway systems or shifting social mores, the author fails to tie her subjects to any broader context, theme, or sense of the era. I assumed that she might be saving that kind of thing for the book's epilogue, but nah. That's just a brutal list of quick facts about post-70s cases.

I guess I just don't get the point of this one. It isn't thorough or authoritative enough to work as a quick reference, it doesn't present any thesis, and it isn't evocative enough to have an emotional impact. It's totally skippable.

[Misse Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

A brief history of a tumultuous decade of over a dozen serial killers who terrorized men, women, and children in the 70s. Many of whom are well known and a few that I was not as familiar with.

While many of the serial killers reigned in the late ‘60s and ‘70s, known as the “Golden Age of Serial Killers”, it would be the last decade that they would essentially roam free. As law enforcement began to digitize case files and create databases to share across agencies, the 80s would prove to be a pivotal turning point. Especially with the invention of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit and later the use of DNA evidence and testing criminal justice would finally begin to appear to take the lead.

I would have liked to see more emphasis on the psychological profiles of the serial killers and less focus on the legal proceedings themselves.

[Christian Wiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5. This book was very interesting and grasped me in deeply. It wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read and not the worst. I think out of the books I’ve read about the topic, it is up there with the top ones for being so widespread but also informative. My main issue with the book is at times it felt shortened or rushed, I think the author did go into detail but there could have been more detail and imagery of how these situations played out. It felt like a times a train of consciousness and not a cohesive book dwelling in the details of each person. I do respect though that this book tackles many prolific serial killers in one book but I just wish there was a tad more of the story played out. However, the book was very intriguing due to the small facts sprinkled in that made the book so much better. I also like how this book still viewed these killers even thought what they did was awful, as humans. The book goes into why there were so many serial killers in the 70’s, and how gay rights being frowned upon and the dumping of people out of mental institutions due to crowding or low funds really had some background in there being so many serial killers at the time. If you are a crime junkie and want some more factual based reading this is a good one for you!

[Taylor Nicke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this was organized better. Each chapter starts off at an odd point in time and rambles on in some places. In my opinion, it would’ve been easier to read if it had started off with the early life/ early adulthood of each killer and then moved on into their crimes and potential motivations before finishing each chapter with either their death or if they’re still in prison awaiting parole. I did like that the victims were usually named and listed in each chapter. More often than not, the victims of these crimes are forgotten and it’s been made a point in this book to remember them.

[Brittany Carlson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book itself is often disorganized or rushed. It can be hard to follow, especially when it jumps between dates or topics. The content is interesting and provides a glimpse into the golden age of serial killers by breaking down a new killer each chapter.

Personally I felt like this book had a lot of potential but just missed the mark due to writing style and organization.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was essentially going into somewhat -extreme detail based on some serial killers that were well known and not so well known during the 70s. The ones that are most prominent were Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Edmund Kemper, and Jefferey Dahmer. There were definitely lesser known serial killers which were very interesting reading and they committed heinous crimes just as much as the infamous serial killers of this time period committed. I enjoy books that are about serial killers especially non-fiction ones and this one was definitely one that satisfied my liking ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Autumn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Learned about some new bad guys, but…

1) This book was poorly organized (within the chapters)
2) The writing was boring. It’s nonfiction, not a fucking textbook
3) The book felt rushed? I get that each chapter is a blurb into the crimes committed by a different serial killer, but jesus christ, make it a little less obvious that there was a time constraint in the completion of this lol
4) No fact checker??? Maybe get on that next time

2/5 because there were things I actually learned AND found interesting

[ShanKL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books on serial killers throughly fascinate me. The level of detail in this novel was often times harsh but warranted when speaking of the crimes. While I knew the famous ones, there were many I was aware that are featured in this novel. Fascinating read.

[Letsreadagoodbook · Rating 2 out of 5]

C For effor I guess!! I never heard of the Zerba case but would that even be considered a serial killer!? Since it was a group of people killing each night? Or multiple people at a time?! Also some of the stories just all over the place! But it was a quick read

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Dawn Leitheuser · Rating 4 out of 5]

A history lesson through your 70’s and early 80’s serial killer! Terrifying and tragic

[Matthew Whittington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serial Killers of the '70s by Jane Fritsch offers a broad, compelling roll call of the era's most infamous murderers, capturing the grim atmosphere of a decade often dubbed the golden age of serial killers. It’s a great surface level overview with an impressively wide array of subjects. That said, much of the content feels like it could be gleaned from a quick Wikipedia search and while readable, it’s lacking the deeper insight or fresh perspective that might justify a full length book. Still, as a true crime enjoyer, it’s an engaging and efficient read.

[Clay Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Serial Killers of the ‘70s* by Jane Fritsch delves into one of the most chilling decades in the history of crime. This book provides an in-depth look at some of the most notorious serial killers of the 1970s, exploring their crimes, psychological profiles, and the societal impact they had. Fritsch's work is a compelling addition to the true crime genre, offering both detailed accounts and broader analyses.

The book is structured around detailed profiles of various serial killers from the 1970s, including infamous names such as Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and the Zodiac Killer. Each chapter focuses on a different individual, providing a chronological account of their crimes, the investigation processes, and their eventual capture or escape. Fritsch does an excellent job of weaving in psychological insights and contextual information, which helps readers understand not just the "what" and "how," but also the "why" behind these heinous acts.

Jane Fritsch's writing is both engaging and accessible. She manages to maintain a balance between providing graphic details necessary for understanding the gravity of the crimes and ensuring that the content is not overly sensationalized. Her journalistic background is evident in the meticulous research and factual accuracy that underpin the narrative. The book is well-paced, with each chapter building suspense and providing new revelations, making it hard to put down.

*Serial Killers of the ‘70s* by Jane Fritsch is a must-read for true crime aficionados and anyone interested in the darker aspects of human psychology and criminal behavior. The book is a well-researched, well-written account of one of the most notorious decades in the history of crime, providing both a comprehensive overview and detailed insights into the minds of some of the most infamous serial killers.

This book is highly recommended for those who can handle its graphic nature and are looking for a thorough exploration of 1970s serial killers.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like always I would like to start off by saying a big thank you to Hachette Audio, author Jane Fritsch as well as to Nita Basu and Jasmine Normall for gifted me it.And second if you've been around long enough you will know by know that I don't hardly every listing to audiobooks , and if I do then its on something that I knew I'll pick up in a heart beat that what happened here, in fact last month I didn't even do it because when I got the email from them I didn't see anything I would read, and I read just about anything that catches my eye. So this time I was like lets just go take a look and see what they have, and this time around they had not one , not two but six audio books that I would either listing to or pick up in a heartbeat , one romance, to non fictions, and three thrillers , but we're here to talk about this one first so let's get this chat started.
Like I said I love reading , watching or even listing to podcast about true crime as well as about serial killers, there just something about that makes them both in frightening and interesting at the same time . And no matter how many times I read or hear about them or cases I always learn something new. And that's what the author Jane Fritsch did with her book, she not only re introduced me to 3 of the serial killers she writes about , but also new ones that I've never heard about, which is great because when that happens it makes me want to learn more about them. And she does it in a way that its easy and simple to read and listen to , by breaking down the cases as if your in a class so its easy to understand better. As for the narrator he did an amazing job of talking you though each case , and made it ease to just set back and listing to the story, he help bring to life not only the victims but also the time period he was talking about . If I was taking a class on true crime then I would want him as my teacher because of how he made you want to learn as much as you can about them and even more.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars.
This book is an incredibly brief overview of the serial killings that took place in the '70s. While a good jumping off point for anyone interested in getting the baseline knowledge of said serial killers, and discussing some cultural aspects of the '70s which affected their presence, it doesn't really go into any depth on either of these topics.

It was written more similar to a textbook than most nonfiction books I have read. I didn't personally mind it, but the writing itself was not particularly interesting. There were a lot of numbers and court details which didn't particularly stick. I'll also note I think there were a few inaccuracies throughout the book. That feels more problematic, particularly since this is already pretty much just a collection of facts. Most general details were perfectly fine, but the specifics were sometimes inconsistent with other discussions of these crimes.

I do however appreciate that every victim was typically listed, so as to ensure that the book was tied to facts and those who lost their lives, not to the glorification of serial killers.

Overall it's fine. I got it for free from a relative, but I wouldn't pay full price for it. Not a stand out in any way, but not egregiously bad.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't the worst book of its kind but definitely not the greatest.

I enjoyed the mix of well known serial killers and lesser known ones. The author cites many sources showing she put in an extensive amount of work, but each killer's focus was primarily on the killing(s) and the trial(s)/appeals. It would have been much more interesting if childhood or family life had been included as part of the research.

Many cultural and pop culture topics were discussed, but the layout in which it was done was rather confusing. One paragraph would be about the serial killer, and the next was about a tie to cultural experiences during the time period. I felt the two needed a little more separation or better segues.

The epilogue made no sense, however. The author has a second book ("Serial Killers of the '80s), and all the epilogue really discussed was serial killers from the 80s. I'm assuming this was a way to tie into the next book. The last sentence of the epilogue felt unfinished, as if there was no real wrapping up to the book.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

Details Schmetails.
This aggregator pulls together a couple crimes and creates a book about it.

Then claims Ted Bundy killed five students at the University of Florida. This is incorrect.

Then claims the ubiquitous rumor that Ronald Reagan closed down all mental health facilities in California. Wrong.

Then actually covers the Zebra murders, unlike nearly all other media, which generally ignores the spree of black men killing white people in the 70s in hopes of starting a racial war. But finishes the chapter about Manuel Moore, Larry Green, Jessie Lee Cooks, and J. C. X. Simon being convicted, by then discussing Patty Hearst who was kidnapped by the SLA and was eventually brainwashed into becoming a radical.

Not sure how these crimes or criminals relate, except that perhaps SLA and the Nation of Islam both hate white people? Love leftist ideology? They really have nothing in common, except perhaps they all spent time in the same prison. Good grief.

[Sephorah Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Juan Corona to John Wayne Gacy, each and every chapter of this book is filled to the brim with an interesting premise worded and articulated so well to the point where I could barely put it down! Jane Fritsch managed to create the perfect nonfiction book about the subject- which is, of course, serial killers of the 70’s. She kept me intrigued from beginning to end with accurate and exciting information, including appropriate images such as Son of Sam notes and simple photographs of the killers themselves. I love how Fritsch kept each chapter an appropriate length, not carrying on about unimportant information or dragging on topics and ideas that have already been clarified. My only complaint about that is that I finished the book in a day because of how good it was! Please, if you’re interested in serial killers, this is one of the best books you can read on the topic.

[Evelin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ll be honest and say the way the stories start and how it was jumping back and forth with the timeline of each case… just had me a bit confused. Just kinda seemed all over the place. I found myself putting this book down and not wanting to pick it up for a couple of days between each chapter.

Some positive things I can say, I enjoyed learning about some of these serial killers I hadn’t heard of before.

I really wanted to love this book, but again I wasn’t glued to the pages. With all this being said, I will be picking up Serial Killers of the 80s because I want to believe the author will do better.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

We all known the well known killers in this country that have become well known names like famous people. I got to learn about a few new characters that I hadn't heard before. I definitely did a lot of eye rolling in this book due to the way some of these cases have been handled. If there were multiple male victims, it automatically made the the killer an "acknowledged homosexual" or something ridiculous. Also, the amount of time and money these cases wasted because they continued to get drawn out. It is nice though to learn that some of these killers have been brought to justice years later due to DNA technology.

[Michelle Graf · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a book about serial killers. You get what you get. The focus on one decade helped cover some lesser known cases alongside ones like Bundy and Gacy. The author also mentions every victim from each killer - even the unidentified, even when the list gets to the 20s or 30s. With a certain amount of glorification of serial killers in pop culture, I find it important to remember the lives lost because of them, remember that they were real people with loved ones that continue to mourn them. The one negative from this is that each chapter feels like it's cut short. They end on a weird note, a sentence that doesn't feel like the conclusion to the subject, and suddenly move on to the next.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

All short chapters about each serial killer during the 70s, some I knew about and some I didn’t. A random point was picked for each one to start their chapter and then it either went forwards or backwards leaving you to have to try and piece together a timeline for it.

Writing was just choppy and not well put together. And then tries to go into a bit more details at the end which doesn’t really help the books case much.

Was really looking forward to reading this when I got it but have to say it was a disappointment. Was cool to read a bit about some that I didn’t know.

This definitely could have been written so much better.

[Mark Taverna · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of those e-book-only quickies probably dashed off to capitalize on the serial killer blogspot fad or the Dahmer miniseries.

Bland writing, only covers the most commonly known cases, lots of misinformation and the author feels the need to scold 1970s culture at every opportunity for not living up to modern Progressive mores. I had been thinking of getting the companion volume about killers of the '80s, but I don't want to waste my time and money.

Ms. Fritsch. Do better. Develop a more interesting writing style, do your research (Not just on Wikipedia), cover some lesser known killers and leave the moralizing out of the book and stick to the facts.

[Henry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected more from this book. This book was poorly organised and felt rushed. Although there are interesting facts about the killers in the book and I did learn of some killers I hadn’t heard of before it left like I was reading a textbook. I found the book to repeat itself at times to the point where I was questioning if I was losing it. Lots of different killers thrown into each chapter where I believe if each killer had a chapter each containing a detailed story of their case it would have been a more enjoyable read. But if you enjoy a factual straight to the point read then this is more aimed towards you.

[Shannan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I already knew about half of the serial killers in this book and was hoping to find some new cases and investigations or new insight to the killers I already know about. Unfortunately that was not the case. This book was so boring and the author had to keep reminding us that the cases took place in a time where there were no cell phones, no internet and DNA wasn't a thing. Even though the book states that the cases take place in the 70s and has a huge 70s on the cover. Many of us already know what was and was not available in the 1970s, so there was no reason for her to include it in the book several times.

[Jenn T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just kind of forgot everything as soon as I finished the chapter. Felt like a long list of numbers, names, and ages rather than a synopsis of the crimes and investigation. When writing, the author did not talk about evidence used to convict these men so it seemed like these men were executed without evidence which is untrue. Also contains many typos. A great concept for a book, but not well executed.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was pretty bad. The writing was not good. Wikipedia is better written, in my opinion.

And nothing that was in this small compendium was nothing I didn’t know already. In fact, I’m pretty sure some of the smaller details were not correct in a number of these killer stories.

Kind of a waste of time, but I’m a sucker for anything true crime or about serial killers of the 70’s. So. I had to read it. But there are so many better books out there on the same subject. Just skip this one.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just okay…
Lots of typos, lost in details, doesn’t give a synopsis of the criminal or the investigation. Ehhhh…. Just not my favorite. I was sad because in this age of true crime there is a vast array of different platforms to get information, but I was disappointed that my tried and true format fell flat. It honestly was more summary and less details, which is not the best for a true crime based book. It got the point across about the killer, but this book was not my favorite.

[Meg Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive overview of infamous serial killers of the 1970’s such as John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy.

I preferred the layout and structure of the 1980’s volume better. Furthermore, I wish there was a list of victims at the end of each chapter, just like there was for the 1980’s version, because it was a nice way to remember the names and the poor people who lost their lives at the hands of the evil.

[Carlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this because I like the topic, Jane skims the surface of these serial killers and their stories and gives an interesting overview of the time period. If you are looking for a lot of details this isn't going to satisfy. I did like that she lists all the victims for most of them.