Serial Killers & Psychopaths: True Life Cases That Shocked the World

by Charlotte Greig

This illustrated book provides an extensively detailed look at some of the most dangerous individuals who have ever lived. Starting with examples of some of the earliest recorded psychopaths and serial killers, the authors present a carefully chosen cross-section of history's most infamous criminals. From Jack the Ripper to John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer, these pages contain a series of fascinating life stories which are viewed with an unflinching gaze.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, History, Biography, Horror, Adult

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[J.H. Moncrieff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an odd book. It's understandable that, with so many murderers discussed in one volume, the stories are going to be highly abbreviated. But the chapter on Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold just ends when they go into the library, not mentioning the students they killed there or how Harris and Klebold died. I found that very strange--it was like a page was missing. Every other chapter ended with the death or imprisonment of the killer.

Some of the information was out of date. For instance, the book says David Berkowitz was mentally ill, but years ago, the FBI uncovered that as the killer's attempts to get an easier sentence in a psychiatric facility. All the "Son of Sam" stuff was Berkowitz pretending to be crazy--something the book never mentions. It does mention the FBI in the Robert Hansen case, but doesn't say how they cracked him, which is another bizarre omission. Why include them at all if you're not going to say how they were involved?

The categorizations are weird too. They have Berkowitz down as a spree killer, instead of a serial killer. Same with Robert Hansen. Neither was a spree killer. Ted Bundy is a rape slayer, but Hansen isn't? These categorizations seem random, as if they just wanted to make sure they had enough entries for every chapter.

Despite its flaws, it's an easy-to-read, interesting book. Kind of like a Cole's Notes of serial killers.

[Heather R · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this gruesome but fascinating tome. For starters, I learned about quite a few serial killers I’d never heard of, which is an accomplishment in itself as I’ve listened to way too many true crime podcasts and read too many books on the subject. Also in the plus column is how readable the book was. It managed to hold my interest consistently throughout its entirety.

On the other hand, some of the writing style was clunky and unnatural. Worse, several of the stories (such as the Columbine killers) left off in the middle of the story, without wrapping up what happened. It was bizarre— did a deadline come up and they forgot about finishing that chapter, or did the author just get …bored? That’s an insult to the victims of this horrific crime. I also have a big problem with the complete lack of source materials or “for further reading” information. Didn’t they think it’d be good to cite their sources for something like this? I’m not saying it needs to be in MLA or scholarly format, but they need to credit their major sources.

Lastly, I can’t believe they left out Samuel Little. I know they can’t cover them all, but Little confessed to killing 93 victims, and the FBI calls him the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history, per CBS News (see how I did that there, with citing my source? Too easy.) How’d they overlook that? Hope it’s not because the victims were mostly women of color.

In all, it’s worth reading if you want an overview of the “careers” of some of the world’s worst serial killers. For serious students of the subject, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

[Terri Stokes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed when I started to read Serial killers and Psychopaths, for a starters, on the back cover it tells us that the book 'provides us a concise yet detailed look at some of the most dangerous individuals who have ever lived.'
Yet in my view, the book gives us a few details of where each person was born and what year and a little of their background and a little of their crimes, nothing that I would class as detailed. I was disappointed to find that this book is basically a copy of the authors other books, including some killers who has been repeated within this one.

I was expecting to have a proper insight to the killer and their motives, maybe to give us a little something that other books might not give us. But I felt like I was just re-reading their other books again, but instead of a couple of killers, we're giving a lot more but yet hardly any new information than what we already know, if anything, I think their smaller books actually have more information on each killer than this one held.

[Bryan Nowak · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Serial Killers and Psychopaths” really sums up well what you get in the book by Greig and Marlowe. As I study serial kills for my own writing, I thought it an interesting title. First thing you need to know is that this a non-fiction work and is really a collection of the world’s worst.

I give them a great deal of credit for this book, it is well written, seemingly well researched, and well organized. I picked up a copy of mine at a bookstore and worked my way through it. It is long, but broken up well in smaller vignettes on each of the cases.

I knew some of the cases, but not all. In the ones that I already knew, I found them to be good summaries. Although the re-tellings are a bit wave-top in that they don’t really have time to go into great detail, they do a nice job. There are a couple of notable characters missing, but those cases I know are huge and likely are not really re-countable easily. The case of the BTK killer, Dennis Rader, comes to mind as a notable gap in the collection.

Certainly, there is enough to sink your teeth into to send you to the internet to look up more information on a particular person, or persons.

This is a bit of a time investment, but worth it if the topic of how horrible human beings can be to one another interests you.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read about alot of killers that I hadn't actually heard of before and as I've read many serial killer books it was a change to the killers that are so famously known. I found that some accounts just cut off before it seemed to have an end, and if i hadn't read about them before then it would have been confusing and feel like you haven't finished each person. Some of the accounts aswell seemed rushed and it was like lists of names were just put in a long line to save time and effort. Good book overall but would have liked to have a end to each account and to be better written throughout. I learned about new people aswell I hadn't heard of which is always going to be a winner and keep the pages turning.

[David Priatko · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to know how to feel about this book. It was very interesting to hear about many serial killers that I never knew existed. At the same time though, it was eerie to think people did such horrible things. Also why is the 1960’s to 1990’s such a popular time for serial killers? Like was it that easy to kill people and get away with it? It seems effortless for many of these killers to evade the police for so long. Anyways, I like that it was just a brief overview of the killers and their history. I was disappointed in some of the descriptions for some of the killers.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its hard to write a book about serial killers to give new information to a fan of the genre, but that's what's Greig & Marlowe have managed to do. Smartly curated and interestingly tied to social changes, this look at notorious serial killers and mass murderers is as much a look at society and how it's changes can lead to the conditions that allow for these killers to grow and thrive, as it is a snap shot of the notorious. Using this convention in setting up the book allowed Greig & Marlowe to include killers from other countries that I'd never heard of!

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some cases that I’ve never heard of and was interested in learning more but most cases in the book were only a few pages long. The book states that it is a detailed look at some of the most dangerous individuals who have ever lived and a lot of the cases I knew about but it didn’t include some details that I’ve learned by watching documentaries so a bit disappointed in this read.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Was A Really Good Book. But Darn Didn't Know there was that many sickos that kill people just because they can. Some of Them I Had Never Heard Of And Some I Had. I Love To Read True Crime Books But These Serial Killers And Psychopaths Were To Much To Handle At Times. I would Recommend It To Anyone Who Is Into True Crime. 💙

[Hily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but underwhelming to boot

[Leann Waite · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got through this book very quickly. I actually liked that each chapter was just a very small synopsis of each killer and their crimes, but what brought down the rating so far was the lack of a good editor, the fact that only a few of the stories had pictures, and most importantly (as many other reviewers have called out) how the story about the Columbine massacre ended abruptly like it was unintentional. It never even stated what happened to the boys, although we all know it still should have been included.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not in depth, this is an extensive look at serial killers around the world, bleak reading but a good starting point if you are studying deviant behaviour or psychopathy.

[READERSBEWARE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serial Killers and Psychopaths by Charlotte Greig was a pretty fascinating read. It’s packed with short profiles of some of the most infamous killers in history, along with a bunch of lesser-known ones I hadn’t heard of before. The book doesn’t waste time—it dives right into each case, giving you just enough background and psychological context to understand what made these people tick. I liked that it wasn’t overly graphic or sensational, even though the subject matter itself is obviously dark. The tone felt more matter-of-fact, which helped keep it from feeling too heavy or exploitative.

That said, I did find some of the chapters a little too short. A lot of the profiles felt like summaries rather than full stories, and I was often left wanting more details—especially with the more interesting or complex cases. Also, there were a few weird typos or choppy sentences here and there that broke the flow a bit. It didn’t ruin the book, but it was noticeable. Still, the variety of cases—from medieval times to modern killers—kept things interesting, and I appreciated that it wasn’t just focused on the most famous names like Bundy or Dahmer.

Overall, this book works really well if you’re into true crime and want something you can dip into a little at a time. It’s more of a jumping-off point than an in-depth psychological study, but I found it enjoyable for what it was. It definitely made me curious to learn more about a few of the killers mentioned, and I could see myself following up with deeper books on certain cases. If you’re new to the genre or just looking for a fast-paced overview of a wide range of killers, this is a solid place to start.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serial Killers and Psychopaths - Charlotte Greig and John Marlowe

This book holds many true life cases of serial killers, rapists, murderers and spree killers.
'Serial Killers and Psychopaths' is a great true crime book for anyone interested in learning about the concise information of each convicted killer. Featuring the stories of the infamous killers; Ed Kemper, Ted Bundy, Jerry Brudos, Katherine Knight and Pee Wee Gaskins and many, many more.

The style of writing in this book is brilliant. There is a short but detailed introduction into the early life of every convicted killer. From there, a condensed version of the crimes and outcomes of each victim and criminal is explained, providing an engrossing story for the readers.

This book is perfect for anyone like me who loves to learn about criminals and their crimes, but does not like the amount of unnecessary information that is usually added into books like this one.

[Becca Ellen Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on quantity rather than going into excessive details about each case. I liked that this book included a lot of cases I hadn’t heard off before and the briefer accounts mean that I can just research any particular cases that I want to find out more about. It also means that this book is not saturated with all the already well known details of the famous killers like Gacy and Bundy - if they were to go into more expansive study of every case than these ones would just take over the whole book. And if you’re reading this book than you’re probably already very familiar with those cases and are looking for new content.
I liked the broad reach across time starting with medieval killers rather than just focusing on the 80s onwards.

[Chloe Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As you would guess, this book was deeply disturbing, but as someone who enjoys abnormal psychology and takes an interest in the effects trauma has on the brain (especially as a person with mental illness/disability), I also found this book to be fascinating. It’s very interesting to see how some people can grow up with perfectly normal, privileged lives and do such horrible things. It’s also interesting to see the amount of people who suffered traumatic brain injury, toxic home life, poverty, and bullying and how that potentially influences them to do horrible things. I think if this book taught me anything, it is to be kind. You don’t know the impact your kindness (or your hurtfulness) could have on others.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband and I started listening to true crime podcasts during covid for date nights, we would drive an hour away for takeout listening to them as a way to get out of the house. My manager at work shares the same interest in podcasts, so he lent me this book. I found out very interesting but kept wanting more information on each individual... like a novel type of read. I'm interested in the psychology behind the mind of the killers. They gave a very summarized detail of each person that I kept wishing for more info. My manager also got me into the Netflix show "Mindhunters" which features some of the killers talked about in the book with actors that look identical to the real people. An interesting read overall...shocked at how many women there were.

[Loona Woods · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give it minous stars I would. This is the most insulting true crime book I have ever read. The back cover already but me on guard, making me wonder if this book shock value bate. Unfortunately my fears were confirmed my I started reading. Absolutely grotesque and offensive details added about the killers and the victims. Falsely calling rape sex, talks of specific race and body weight when it was absolutely a non factor. A picture of victim struggling with her restrains right before she was murdered. Absolutely no regard or respect for the victims. They focus only on shock value and quantity. An absolutely deplorable read. I usually give my unread book away but I will trash this one as i believe it to be genuinely dangerous. Shame on involved.

[Vanessa Stronza · Rating 3 out of 5]

The information was basic. The reading was often challenged and not engrossing as there was many grammatical errors that were quite obvious. That wouldn’t normally bother me, however there are a few times when one thought would change within the same sentence. I also think some areas of the serial killers could have been elaborated upon more. And someone tell me, was Charles Manson omitted? Did I miss that? Is he not a psychopath? Are cult leaders not on the cusp of psychopaths? I may have missed Jim Jones too. That’s just a general question I have and I would absolutely invited discussion on it.

[Emma Dargue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at some of most evil and depraved mass killers in history ranging from people like Elizabeth Bathory to more modern killers like Ted Bundy and The Columbine Killers. Although some of the things discussed are distressing to read the authors handle hard subjects sensitively and with great though. Although this book is probably one to give a miss if you are triggered by the topics mentioned in this book. However a good informative book.

[Hayley Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a large book, I wouldn’t call it detailed.
It contained a lot of individuals that I hadn’t heard of which I liked, but the more infamous ones were poorly written.
Some chapters could have been a lot longer and some could have been cut down quite considerably.
It reads more like an index than a novel.

It could have been worse, and while I was reading the chapters on those I’d never heard of, I enjoyed it.

[Gabriela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanna give this one a four because I feel like there were loads of biographies to read in this book. However, I found myself bored with a fair chunk of them. I'd recommend this book though to people who are interested in Serial Killers.

I bought this book when it was on sale at Barnes and Noble. I don't think I would have if it weren't on sale for the price I paid. Do with that what you will :)

[Willow Lezcano · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned 3 main things
1 - avoid head injuries, beatings and abuse in childhood to avoid becoming a serial killer (jk but not really)
2 - psychologists, doctors and police need to be better at their jobs
3 - at least 4 killers/psychopaths were born/lived in/died in Tacoma, WA
Overall it was an interesting read. Thorough for the sheer amount of people/cases in the book BUT not enough or extensive enough with information.

[Tate · Rating 1 out of 5]

This really felt like I was reading a child’s research project. The chapters were formulaic: here’s a bit of background, here’s the year the crime happened, a quick summary of the crimes, and the conclusion. I honestly wondered at points if this was AI generated. The author just seemed to be spitting out as many facts as they could about each individual. One of the chapters abruptly ends. There is no citation to where any of this information came from. Just all around a disappointing read.

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about serial killers I’ve never heard of before, however, this book feels rushed. Some chapters I can actually tell the authors were bored writing. The writing in this book is also not great. I catch myself having to reread sentences that don’t really make any sense. I love how the book is broken down into specific categories but it’s not great. Wish they did better.

[Eleonora · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for beginners who want to take a wider look at the serial killer phenomena: how it developed, where, which were the main causes... This books highlights the relevance of mental health issues and trauma in the making of a killer. A good point to start researching more about the topic. A light read, but with some (gruesome) fascinating details which will take you inside the mind of a paychopath.

[Lakota Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like many of the chapters on each criminal didn’t really go into the crimes very well or really even said anything about the victims. Almost glorifying what each person did and only giving the least about of detail possible. The stories were still interesting but I would’ve liked a little more.

[Emy Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A perfectly condensed collection of killers, however I agree with other reviews that the categories are not entirely accurate and some vital information on infamous cases is strangely left out. I'd recommend this to someone who is JUST getting into true crime and wants a brief introduction to the world's history of monsters. It's like a textbook for psychopathy 101.

[Ashley Cortes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I can’t really give a genuine review in this book because I would read at night before going to sleep.
For what it is, it’s not that bad of a book, I was trying to get back into reading and when I skimmed the pages I thought it was good bc it was sectioned by what the killers movies were. It didn’t feel like a drag though sometimes it kind of did. I will say there some parts of the book that had me ask, “What happened after that?”, I wish there was a little more Info background on certain Serial killers/psychopaths that they wrote about.

[Loredana Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent. Interesting. Choppy. Example of not everyone should turn their true crime hobby into a book. Not everyone was meant to be an author and that’s okay.

Lots of holes, some dead ends, no in depth discussions/comments/insight nothing. However, interesting read that never got borin,… I mean how can it be when 20 year cases are summed up in 4 pages?