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TERROR TOWN, USA: The Untold Story of Joliet's Notorious Serial Killer
New From The Bestselling Author Of WRECKING CREW!
During the early morning hours of July 17, 1983, fatigue became a factor for the young couple from central Illinois who spent their day under the hot sun at Marriott’s Great America amusement park north of Chicago. On their drive home, the tired teenagers pulled to the shoulder of Interstate 55 to get a restful sleep. As the teens slept inside their car under the moon and the stars, a dangerous force of evil lurked in the shadows, parking directly behind them. The summer of 1983 was like no other for Joliet, Ill., a hard-working, rough-and-tough blue-collar industrial city an hour’s drive southwest of Chicago. This was one of the hottest summers on record for Joliet, and an elusive serial-killing madman kept piling up the body count as he showed no signs of being caught. One overnight killing spree claimed five victims, including members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office. The following month brought more a quadruple murder inside a small Joliet shop best known for its pottery classes. The plague of senseless violence sparked the controversial New York City-based Guardian Angels to mobilize foot patrols in Joliet, generating more unwanted news media attention for the community. Even the National Enquirer produced its own sensational piece, labeling Joliet “Terror Town, U.S.A.” Residents shuddered with horror. Determined detectives worked in overdrive, trying to find an overlooked clue or two. Finally, when an arrest seemed to come out of nowhere, area citizens breathed a sigh of relief. Authorities linked the so-called stone-cold killing machine to a chilling count of 14 homicides, plus three women who miraculously survived their agonizing encounters. But with multiple murder trials on the horizon, it remained anyone’s guess whether Milton Johnson, whose family nicknamed him “Big’un,” short for “Big One,” was guilty of mass murder and if so, would he die by means of lethal injection at the Illinois Department of Corrections?
During the early morning hours of July 17, 1983, fatigue became a factor for the young couple from central Illinois who spent their day under the hot sun at Marriott’s Great America amusement park north of Chicago. On their drive home, the tired teenagers pulled to the shoulder of Interstate 55 to get a restful sleep. As the teens slept inside their car under the moon and the stars, a dangerous force of evil lurked in the shadows, parking directly behind them. The summer of 1983 was like no other for Joliet, Ill., a hard-working, rough-and-tough blue-collar industrial city an hour’s drive southwest of Chicago. This was one of the hottest summers on record for Joliet, and an elusive serial-killing madman kept piling up the body count as he showed no signs of being caught. One overnight killing spree claimed five victims, including members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office. The following month brought more a quadruple murder inside a small Joliet shop best known for its pottery classes. The plague of senseless violence sparked the controversial New York City-based Guardian Angels to mobilize foot patrols in Joliet, generating more unwanted news media attention for the community. Even the National Enquirer produced its own sensational piece, labeling Joliet “Terror Town, U.S.A.” Residents shuddered with horror. Determined detectives worked in overdrive, trying to find an overlooked clue or two. Finally, when an arrest seemed to come out of nowhere, area citizens breathed a sigh of relief. Authorities linked the so-called stone-cold killing machine to a chilling count of 14 homicides, plus three women who miraculously survived their agonizing encounters. But with multiple murder trials on the horizon, it remained anyone’s guess whether Milton Johnson, whose family nicknamed him “Big’un,” short for “Big One,” was guilty of mass murder and if so, would he die by means of lethal injection at the Illinois Department of Corrections?
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2021
242 people are currently reading
961 people want to read
About the author
John Ferak
13 books76 followersA native of Joliet and Plainfield, Illinois, John Ferak chronicled the awful tragedy in rural Murdock while serving as an investigative journalist from 2003-2012 for the Omaha World-Herald, Nebraska's largest news organization. Ferak appeared on Investigation Discovery's "Cold Blood."
These days, Ferak is an award-winning investigative team member for Gannett Wisconsin Media, based at The Post-Crescent in Appleton, Wis. He also has worked as a reporter or editor at the South Bend Tribune in Indiana, The Daily Herald based in Arlington Heights Ill., and the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Although Ferak takes his writing and journalism seriously, he enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Andrea, and their three children. Ferak roots for the Green Bay Packers and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He is a devoted follower of Major League Baseball and the Chicago White Sox. He is also known to enjoy a can or two of his favorite canned beer, Pabst Blue Ribbon, “The people’s beer,” as he likes to call it.
These days, Ferak is an award-winning investigative team member for Gannett Wisconsin Media, based at The Post-Crescent in Appleton, Wis. He also has worked as a reporter or editor at the South Bend Tribune in Indiana, The Daily Herald based in Arlington Heights Ill., and the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Although Ferak takes his writing and journalism seriously, he enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Andrea, and their three children. Ferak roots for the Green Bay Packers and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He is a devoted follower of Major League Baseball and the Chicago White Sox. He is also known to enjoy a can or two of his favorite canned beer, Pabst Blue Ribbon, “The people’s beer,” as he likes to call it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 31, 2021
True crime books always hit hard.
While reading about fictional crimes and victims, people agree that it's only a product of imagination, and after putting the book down, one goes back to everyday life. In this case, fear is an illusion of the brain that wants a little dose of adrenaline. A killer, no matter how believable, is just a character created by an artistic mind. Horror creeps in when one realizes that names on the paper in a true crime book are not just letters but once were breathing people with their hopes and dreams; somebody's mother or daughter, son or father.
'Terror Town USA: The Untold Story of Joliet's Notorious Serial Killer' by John Ferak covers June 1983 till April 1984 (and further, after the arrest) in Will County, Illinois. A serial killer Milton Johnson terrorizes the citizens, his assaults senseless and brutal. No one is safe; both men and women are under attack, and it had taken long months until a group of detectives put a stop to the killing spree.
The book is definitely a page-turner, one of the easiest to comprehend. In great detail, the author describes the victims, scenery, and circumstances of the crimes. His insides are based on deep research and interviews of the victims' families, detectives, and neighbors. Moreover, John Ferak is a native of Will County. Thus, the choice of the topic is not coincidental as the author remembers the terror that dawned on the town in that hot summer of 1983.
For me, the main flaw of the narrative was a strange combination of neutral language with a desire to shock a reader. I don't have other words to describe the style. Eventually, I got used to this way of presenting things (or sentences became lovelier), but in the beginning, it was unnerving.
This is one bright example:
The two passing motorists, who had never met before, men of different races, lifted the badly injured woman off the grassy median, where someone put her to die. (p.78)
The first one hundred or so pages consist of such short paragraphs.
The sensational title of the book was the reason to remove another star from my rating. Even in 1983, Joliet's citizens, a small city in Will County where some murders happened, didn't want their town to be associated with a serial killer. It was Chicago news that invented the nickname Terror Town USA. Despite knowing this fact and mentioning it in the book, John Ferak still decided to put it on the cover. I don't think Joliet's residents would approve the move.
In some way, the pearl of the book is the last chapter where the author goes to great lengths, listing the pros and cons of getting serial killers paroled due to new regulations or their age. Undoubtedly, a release of aged criminals would ease the financial burden of ordinary taxpayers, but would they live happily knowing that their neighbor spent most of his life in prison?
I'd recommend the book to lovers of true crime, but advise readers with mental problems to refrain from reading: the book contains detailed descriptions of rape, sexual assault, and murders.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
While reading about fictional crimes and victims, people agree that it's only a product of imagination, and after putting the book down, one goes back to everyday life. In this case, fear is an illusion of the brain that wants a little dose of adrenaline. A killer, no matter how believable, is just a character created by an artistic mind. Horror creeps in when one realizes that names on the paper in a true crime book are not just letters but once were breathing people with their hopes and dreams; somebody's mother or daughter, son or father.
'Terror Town USA: The Untold Story of Joliet's Notorious Serial Killer' by John Ferak covers June 1983 till April 1984 (and further, after the arrest) in Will County, Illinois. A serial killer Milton Johnson terrorizes the citizens, his assaults senseless and brutal. No one is safe; both men and women are under attack, and it had taken long months until a group of detectives put a stop to the killing spree.
The book is definitely a page-turner, one of the easiest to comprehend. In great detail, the author describes the victims, scenery, and circumstances of the crimes. His insides are based on deep research and interviews of the victims' families, detectives, and neighbors. Moreover, John Ferak is a native of Will County. Thus, the choice of the topic is not coincidental as the author remembers the terror that dawned on the town in that hot summer of 1983.
For me, the main flaw of the narrative was a strange combination of neutral language with a desire to shock a reader. I don't have other words to describe the style. Eventually, I got used to this way of presenting things (or sentences became lovelier), but in the beginning, it was unnerving.
This is one bright example:
The two passing motorists, who had never met before, men of different races, lifted the badly injured woman off the grassy median, where someone put her to die. (p.78)
The first one hundred or so pages consist of such short paragraphs.
The sensational title of the book was the reason to remove another star from my rating. Even in 1983, Joliet's citizens, a small city in Will County where some murders happened, didn't want their town to be associated with a serial killer. It was Chicago news that invented the nickname Terror Town USA. Despite knowing this fact and mentioning it in the book, John Ferak still decided to put it on the cover. I don't think Joliet's residents would approve the move.
In some way, the pearl of the book is the last chapter where the author goes to great lengths, listing the pros and cons of getting serial killers paroled due to new regulations or their age. Undoubtedly, a release of aged criminals would ease the financial burden of ordinary taxpayers, but would they live happily knowing that their neighbor spent most of his life in prison?
I'd recommend the book to lovers of true crime, but advise readers with mental problems to refrain from reading: the book contains detailed descriptions of rape, sexual assault, and murders.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 17, 2021
Milton Johnson terrorized the town of Joliet in the summer of 1983. When released from prison he vowed to get revenge on the town for sending him to jail. He slaughtered 14 victims plus 3 women who managed to live despite his brutal assault. He falls into the rare category of being a spree killer, mass murderer, and serial killer. Milton also killed outside his race which is rare for a serial killer. He left nothing, but destruction in his wake. Milton was sentenced to death. However it was overturned to life in prison. Hopefully he dies behind bars because he will kill again.
July 27, 2021
The summer of 1983 was like no other for Joliet, Illinois. This was one of the hottest summers on record ...and the heat wasn't the only thing keeping people awake at night.
An elusive serial killer kept piling up the body count. One overnight spree claimed five victims,including members of the Sheriff's Office. The following month brought more bloodshed, a quadruple murder inside a pottery store.
Determined detectives worked day and night trying to find some kind of clue. They arrested a local man and authorities finally linked the killer to 14 homicides, plus 3 women who miraculously survived.
But with multiple murder trials on the horizon, it remained anyone’s guess whether Milton Johnson, whose family nicknamed him “Big’un,” short for “Big One,” was guilty of mass murder and if so, would he die by means of lethal injection at the Illinois Department of Corrections?
This is a well-written novel of evil authored by a man who grew up in Joliet and experienced all the panic of the community.
Terror Town USA takes the reader back to that horrible summer, walking through each of the killings in detail.... the horror seems to jump off the pages. The fear and apprehension is palpable. On a personal note ... I lived in Illinois that summer, however, not in Joliet.. not even close. I remember people discussing the murders, and saying prayers for all the victims and their families and friends. The biggest question .. who could have done these horrific things ..and why?
Many thanks to the author / Wild Blue Press for the digital copy of this True Crime. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
An elusive serial killer kept piling up the body count. One overnight spree claimed five victims,including members of the Sheriff's Office. The following month brought more bloodshed, a quadruple murder inside a pottery store.
Determined detectives worked day and night trying to find some kind of clue. They arrested a local man and authorities finally linked the killer to 14 homicides, plus 3 women who miraculously survived.
But with multiple murder trials on the horizon, it remained anyone’s guess whether Milton Johnson, whose family nicknamed him “Big’un,” short for “Big One,” was guilty of mass murder and if so, would he die by means of lethal injection at the Illinois Department of Corrections?
This is a well-written novel of evil authored by a man who grew up in Joliet and experienced all the panic of the community.
Terror Town USA takes the reader back to that horrible summer, walking through each of the killings in detail.... the horror seems to jump off the pages. The fear and apprehension is palpable. On a personal note ... I lived in Illinois that summer, however, not in Joliet.. not even close. I remember people discussing the murders, and saying prayers for all the victims and their families and friends. The biggest question .. who could have done these horrific things ..and why?
Many thanks to the author / Wild Blue Press for the digital copy of this True Crime. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 14, 2023
Needs an editor
This book was clearly never reviewed by an editor. It could have been 1/10 the length it was and still got the same information across. It was repetitive and the story was all over the place. There were an excessive amount of grammatical errors and quotations were almost never used correctly. It was so tedious to read.
This book was clearly never reviewed by an editor. It could have been 1/10 the length it was and still got the same information across. It was repetitive and the story was all over the place. There were an excessive amount of grammatical errors and quotations were almost never used correctly. It was so tedious to read.
July 29, 2021
I’ve really liked Ferak’s previous books, so I grabbed this one when I had the chance to. It reads like a horror film, but is all true. This guy Milton Johnson really had the area in a panic. His crimes put me in mind of the Zodiac killer from long ago. It’s well written, and one I hadn’t heard of before, so I was really surprised by it.
July 18, 2021
Terror Town U.S.A.
Wills County JOLIET Serial Killer Reigns Havoc And Murder Over Three Months.
John Ferrack would be one of my favourite authors who researches his true crime books and from the first page of his latest book John does not disappoint. The book is fast paced, and a very disturbing story of a true psychopath called Milton Johnson who at 20 on February 15th, 1970, stalks a young couple who are parked up and taps on the car window with a shotgun. He then goes on to Terrorise the couple and rapes and tortures the young man’s girlfriend whilst he has to listen to her screams and can do nothing to help. Eventually he is caught and spends only 13 years of a 25–30-year sentence.
The authorities did not inform anyone of Johnson’s release back into the Wills County where he terrorised the young couple as he is released in the summer of 1983. The Joliet serial killer has honed his skill whist in prison from the best serial killers and manages to slip back into Joliet under the radar of the police. Over 3 months Johnson reign of terror on the city Is unleased as he terrorises the city and rapes, shoots, stabs, and murders 14 people. Amazingly three women despite their injuries will miraculously survive their agonizing encounters with this mad man but it will change their life’s forever.
Shuddering with horror as the murder count start adding up nobody is safe as the people start locking doors for the first time and looking at everyone sideways wondering is the murderer among them and who is he.
The detective’s work extensively day and night, trying to find an overlooked clue or two but finally after three months of terror the arrest then seemed to come out of nowhere, as a break comes from a phone call in which a lady wrote down the car number from a suspicious car which kept following her and her friend. She handed the number into the police but somehow it got overlooked and had been buried among so many tips, with the fingerprints and shoe prints evidence preserved by the police for months. This evidence among others eventually led to the arrest of Milton Johnson,
This book is an insightful and graphically detailed account of another one of the most horrific serial killers. This horrific story in a professionally written. It was an exceptionally fascinating read, and the author gave a perspective to these horrific crimes that was both fascinating, intriguing, and new to me as I had never heard of Milton Johnson. I only hope for everyone’s safety Johnson is never released as I am sure like most of Joliet, he might be in his 70’s but he can still reign havoc and murder again.
I would highly recommend this read to all fans of the true crime genre.
I received an advance review copy for free from Wildblue Press and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wills County JOLIET Serial Killer Reigns Havoc And Murder Over Three Months.
John Ferrack would be one of my favourite authors who researches his true crime books and from the first page of his latest book John does not disappoint. The book is fast paced, and a very disturbing story of a true psychopath called Milton Johnson who at 20 on February 15th, 1970, stalks a young couple who are parked up and taps on the car window with a shotgun. He then goes on to Terrorise the couple and rapes and tortures the young man’s girlfriend whilst he has to listen to her screams and can do nothing to help. Eventually he is caught and spends only 13 years of a 25–30-year sentence.
The authorities did not inform anyone of Johnson’s release back into the Wills County where he terrorised the young couple as he is released in the summer of 1983. The Joliet serial killer has honed his skill whist in prison from the best serial killers and manages to slip back into Joliet under the radar of the police. Over 3 months Johnson reign of terror on the city Is unleased as he terrorises the city and rapes, shoots, stabs, and murders 14 people. Amazingly three women despite their injuries will miraculously survive their agonizing encounters with this mad man but it will change their life’s forever.
Shuddering with horror as the murder count start adding up nobody is safe as the people start locking doors for the first time and looking at everyone sideways wondering is the murderer among them and who is he.
The detective’s work extensively day and night, trying to find an overlooked clue or two but finally after three months of terror the arrest then seemed to come out of nowhere, as a break comes from a phone call in which a lady wrote down the car number from a suspicious car which kept following her and her friend. She handed the number into the police but somehow it got overlooked and had been buried among so many tips, with the fingerprints and shoe prints evidence preserved by the police for months. This evidence among others eventually led to the arrest of Milton Johnson,
This book is an insightful and graphically detailed account of another one of the most horrific serial killers. This horrific story in a professionally written. It was an exceptionally fascinating read, and the author gave a perspective to these horrific crimes that was both fascinating, intriguing, and new to me as I had never heard of Milton Johnson. I only hope for everyone’s safety Johnson is never released as I am sure like most of Joliet, he might be in his 70’s but he can still reign havoc and murder again.
I would highly recommend this read to all fans of the true crime genre.
I received an advance review copy for free from Wildblue Press and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 9, 2022
Very poorly written
October 10, 2021
While it was just an aside about an unrelated incident, I enjoyed reading of the 1983 Mary Mae Johnson slaying by workers. I saw a remarkably similar case from Pennsylvania as an the "A Case of the Flue" (2006) episode of Forensic Files. The Mary Mae Johnson slaying here fits in as a trigger to bring the Guardian Angels to town as a reaction to a series of murders culminating in a ceramics store mass killing.
Of course the main thrust of the book is the crimes, capture, and imprisonment of rapist and murderer Melvin Johnson. I like that the author brings in the false leads, missed opportunities, etc. that bring life to this multiple year arc of an obvious psychopath.
Of course the main thrust of the book is the crimes, capture, and imprisonment of rapist and murderer Melvin Johnson. I like that the author brings in the false leads, missed opportunities, etc. that bring life to this multiple year arc of an obvious psychopath.
August 22, 2021
This was about a serial killer I had never heard of. Milton Johnson was one of the worst true crime books I have ever read, Not the worst but close very close. Even the nearest scapes had me cringing. Also, I thought the prosecutors closing arguments in this book were so good and done so well. Just a few words he put everything the defense attorney had said into question. This whole book was good it was interesting and by the timeMilton Johnson is on trial do you know he’s guilty and that his defense attorney Swanson is also a criminal. So they had criminals defending a criminal and you couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried. This is a book I highly recommend to any true crime fan I really think this book was well researched and an awesome read. I received this book from Books sirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 5, 2022
Listening to the story of this serial killer from where I currently live was horrific and completely unbelievable. Hearing the names of streets and roads I travel on daily- and thinking about how frightful this time must have been from people who lived here, kept my captivated in this story.
August 8, 2023
This book desperately needed a good editor. Lots of typos and grammatical errors!
June 15, 2023
What is truly terrifying is that this man was sentenced to death and then had his sentence commuted to life in prison -because because the death sentence was outlawed in Illinois- could potentially get out of jail in his 70s. That is fucked.
Milton Johnson barely even has a Wikipedia page. It is believed that he killed more than 10 people but who was heard of him? It is terrifying that he could potentially be released. 70-year-olds are still capable of brutalising people. Of kidnapping, raping and torturing women. How the hell is this justice?
I listen to the audiobook of Terror Town USA which was not a bad book. I did find myself losing focus at the start because I think the author looked at all of the red herrings from the police investigation, therefore I didn't know what was relevant and what wasn't to the case. It's amazing that Milton Johnson was released from a prison sentence of 25 to 35 years after only 13 years, and the police were not warned that he was returning. When similar crimes were occurring the police did not know that he was back in town which is crazy.
I know this happened back in the 80s, but I really hope that the communication between law-enforcement and prison officials has improved to the point were people convicted of extremely violent crimes that are released early back into the public are informed to police offices. Also, how was it that Milton Johnson's latest parole officer had only met with him once? He was a dangerous, dangerous man who had only been out of prison less than a year, and his latest parole officer couldn't comment on him because he's only met him once? How fucked is that?
I think it's always interesting to see how cases in the 80s and early 90s were solved when technology was changing so quickly. Here we see the mention of DNA and hair and fingerprints, however it's in a rudimentary way. For example, they were able to identify hair as coming from a black person but they weren't able to determine whose hair it was. I believe this is still the case unless the root is attached. They also were able to use a receipt from several months ago to attempt to link Milton Johnson with one of the victims.
I think that Milton Johnson is a monster I think he didn't need to kill any of the people that he did, most of them were crimes of opportunity to steal a couple of dollars? He didn't rape all of his victims, he didn't kidnap all of his victims, he was just a sick, sadistic man who I believe enjoyed killing.
I do think more needs to be written about this man, particularly if he is being released into the public. I really hope that those in Joliet, Illinois are still aware of this man and that if he is released he's not able to resume a normal life because that just is not justice. You were sentenced to death so either you should be getting the death penalty or you should be spending your life behind bars. You should not be getting released in a twilight years to go and be a productive member of society because you are not a productive member you would never have been you're a disgusting sick man.
Milton Johnson barely even has a Wikipedia page. It is believed that he killed more than 10 people but who was heard of him? It is terrifying that he could potentially be released. 70-year-olds are still capable of brutalising people. Of kidnapping, raping and torturing women. How the hell is this justice?
I listen to the audiobook of Terror Town USA which was not a bad book. I did find myself losing focus at the start because I think the author looked at all of the red herrings from the police investigation, therefore I didn't know what was relevant and what wasn't to the case. It's amazing that Milton Johnson was released from a prison sentence of 25 to 35 years after only 13 years, and the police were not warned that he was returning. When similar crimes were occurring the police did not know that he was back in town which is crazy.
I know this happened back in the 80s, but I really hope that the communication between law-enforcement and prison officials has improved to the point were people convicted of extremely violent crimes that are released early back into the public are informed to police offices. Also, how was it that Milton Johnson's latest parole officer had only met with him once? He was a dangerous, dangerous man who had only been out of prison less than a year, and his latest parole officer couldn't comment on him because he's only met him once? How fucked is that?
I think it's always interesting to see how cases in the 80s and early 90s were solved when technology was changing so quickly. Here we see the mention of DNA and hair and fingerprints, however it's in a rudimentary way. For example, they were able to identify hair as coming from a black person but they weren't able to determine whose hair it was. I believe this is still the case unless the root is attached. They also were able to use a receipt from several months ago to attempt to link Milton Johnson with one of the victims.
I think that Milton Johnson is a monster I think he didn't need to kill any of the people that he did, most of them were crimes of opportunity to steal a couple of dollars? He didn't rape all of his victims, he didn't kidnap all of his victims, he was just a sick, sadistic man who I believe enjoyed killing.
I do think more needs to be written about this man, particularly if he is being released into the public. I really hope that those in Joliet, Illinois are still aware of this man and that if he is released he's not able to resume a normal life because that just is not justice. You were sentenced to death so either you should be getting the death penalty or you should be spending your life behind bars. You should not be getting released in a twilight years to go and be a productive member of society because you are not a productive member you would never have been you're a disgusting sick man.
August 23, 2024
Let me start by saying, I grew up and lived in Lockport and was 18 years old when this was happening. It was terrifying, not only did I know the brother of one of the victims, we used to hang out on some of the backroads where these happened, as well as the killer living 4 miles from my house. However, for some reason this author thought he needed to sensationalize the book even more than the truth provided. This book could have been at least 100 pages less, I counted 6 times where he states the killer just got out of prison, repeats in graphic detail one of the tortures again in a later chapter...., I could go on. He keeps harping on the murders happening in Joliet (assuming for the title of the book), but 5 people were killed in Homer Twnship/Lockport area including the 2 police officers. Using words that are meant to sensationalize (ie monstruous nature center...um no its not) only takes away from the story. Constant repeats to add extra words/pages. This story needed no over dramatization at all, it was horrific and scary. I would not read another book of his due to this writing style, it was tedious to read, definitely needed an editor/review. The story however if you like true crime if really something.
Read
August 26, 2021Well, let's see
The story itself was actually one I've never read, which is a HUGE PLUS because there isn't much new true crime out there.
My problem with this book is the amount of filler. Take that out and it would literally only be half the number of pages. The filler is RIDICULOUS! Here and there is fine, but any time this author sets out to say something, he starts with a paragraph of info about what he's going to say, then continues to say it again.
And he's very repetitive. I feel like I've read three books about the same subject because he's repeated everything three times - in the beginning, middle and end. Again, more filler.
I don't want quantity, I want quality. I realize authors price their books according to page count, and that's why I'm so adamant about mentioning filler. Adding the same information over and over to boost page count and is not the way to charge more for a book. Getting more quality content is. A good editor would have torn this apart. Or maybe one did and Mr Derek didn't like the suggested changes.
Either way, my rating and review is honest, as always. Give me more quality content and I'll give you a better review but I won't recommend a book that repeats the same thing again and again.
The story itself was actually one I've never read, which is a HUGE PLUS because there isn't much new true crime out there.
My problem with this book is the amount of filler. Take that out and it would literally only be half the number of pages. The filler is RIDICULOUS! Here and there is fine, but any time this author sets out to say something, he starts with a paragraph of info about what he's going to say, then continues to say it again.
And he's very repetitive. I feel like I've read three books about the same subject because he's repeated everything three times - in the beginning, middle and end. Again, more filler.
I don't want quantity, I want quality. I realize authors price their books according to page count, and that's why I'm so adamant about mentioning filler. Adding the same information over and over to boost page count and is not the way to charge more for a book. Getting more quality content is. A good editor would have torn this apart. Or maybe one did and Mr Derek didn't like the suggested changes.
Either way, my rating and review is honest, as always. Give me more quality content and I'll give you a better review but I won't recommend a book that repeats the same thing again and again.
August 30, 2022
Milton Johnson is the title character in this true crime book. His first known crime was in 1970 when he was 19 years old. He robbed a couple in Joliet's Pilcher Park and violently raped the woman also brutally torturing her with a hot cigarette lighter. He was sentenced to 25 years but was released early having spent slightly less than 13 year in jail. Being released in 1983 was a huge mistake of the Illinois Prison System. His release was followed by the summer of terror in Joliet, Illinois.
Between June and August of 1983, the following occured.
1. Two elderly sisters were murdered in their next-door-to-each-other-homes. (2 dead)
2. A couple was shot and killed during a home invasion.(2 dead)
3. Five people were killed including two auxiliary police officers.(5 dead)
4. A young couple was accosted. The man died, but the woman, while injured, was alive. She was raped, stabbed, pushed out of a moving car, and left for dead. (1 dead)
5. It is also believed that he murdered 4 women in a ceramics shop. (4 dead)
6. Three more murders occured in neighboring Cook County, but were not linked directly to Johnson. (3 dead)
His murders are a matter of public record, but in this true-crime novel, the author brings them to life in vivid detail. They are not just names and places on a piece of paper. Ferak humanizes them and gives them a voice. The reader will think of brothers, husbands, mothers, wives just like the ones Johnson killed, and see the randomness of this killer. Home invasions, sneaking up on parked lovers, using knives and guns, raping females, shooting at cars and chasing them... he had multiple MOs. He was also African American whereas 82% of serial killers are Caucasian. The author takes the reader through all of the crimes, the investigation, the evidence, and the trials. He doesn't leave you hanging at the end like some authors.
I had never heard of Milton Johnson, but I have no idea why! I guess his crimes were not publicized as much as say, John Wayne Gacy's crimes, although they were similarly horrifying.
Ferak kept my interest throughout the book for the most part. A lof of information is repeated over and over in different parts of the book, and I would have preferred it to be streamlined into chronological order so there wouldn't be a need for repetitiveness of basic details which would also make it easier to read. It is well-written for the most part.
Thankfully Milton Johnson remains in jail. He was sentenced to death multiple times, but the sentences were commuted to life in prison, supposedly without parole, but he has been allowed to request parole anyway. His appeals for parole have thus far been denied, and for that, I am grateful.
Between June and August of 1983, the following occured.
1. Two elderly sisters were murdered in their next-door-to-each-other-homes. (2 dead)
2. A couple was shot and killed during a home invasion.(2 dead)
3. Five people were killed including two auxiliary police officers.(5 dead)
4. A young couple was accosted. The man died, but the woman, while injured, was alive. She was raped, stabbed, pushed out of a moving car, and left for dead. (1 dead)
5. It is also believed that he murdered 4 women in a ceramics shop. (4 dead)
6. Three more murders occured in neighboring Cook County, but were not linked directly to Johnson. (3 dead)
His murders are a matter of public record, but in this true-crime novel, the author brings them to life in vivid detail. They are not just names and places on a piece of paper. Ferak humanizes them and gives them a voice. The reader will think of brothers, husbands, mothers, wives just like the ones Johnson killed, and see the randomness of this killer. Home invasions, sneaking up on parked lovers, using knives and guns, raping females, shooting at cars and chasing them... he had multiple MOs. He was also African American whereas 82% of serial killers are Caucasian. The author takes the reader through all of the crimes, the investigation, the evidence, and the trials. He doesn't leave you hanging at the end like some authors.
I had never heard of Milton Johnson, but I have no idea why! I guess his crimes were not publicized as much as say, John Wayne Gacy's crimes, although they were similarly horrifying.
Ferak kept my interest throughout the book for the most part. A lof of information is repeated over and over in different parts of the book, and I would have preferred it to be streamlined into chronological order so there wouldn't be a need for repetitiveness of basic details which would also make it easier to read. It is well-written for the most part.
Thankfully Milton Johnson remains in jail. He was sentenced to death multiple times, but the sentences were commuted to life in prison, supposedly without parole, but he has been allowed to request parole anyway. His appeals for parole have thus far been denied, and for that, I am grateful.
August 2, 2021
I received this book free from Booksirens for a fair and honest review.
Anyone who knows me, knows I love true crime. I have been fascinated with the genre since I was a young teen, starting with Ted Bundy.
This is one true crime story I had not heard of. The town of Joliet, Illinois is gripped with fear one summer in 1983 by a crazed serial killer. The killings are random, no one knows who will be next. The body count keeps rising and there seems no end in sight.
Three months before the spree began, a man named Milton Johnson was released from prison after serving just 13 years for the brutal rape and torture of a young girl. He was released on good behavior and the prison didn't inform his home town, Joliet, of his release. You have to remember this was the mid-80s. There was no sex offender registry and the parole system was not what it is today.
The author was a child when these murders occurred but even he was not unaffected by these events. Terror town is a well written book with fast pacing. There were a few chapters I felt could have been left out as I felt they just rehashed things that had already been discussed but overall, the book is very good.
Milton Johnson was sentenced to death, but unfortunately his sentence was commuted to life without parole after a governor got rid of the death penalty. The last chapter of the book discusses the fact that several elderly inmates convicted of horrible crimes were let go when they were deemed "too old" to be incarcerated anymore. Should age be a factor in release? I do not believe so. No matter the age, if someone wants to commit a crime, they will. And it is my belief that someone who could inflict this kind of damage, not only on the town but the people as well, is not able to rehabilitated.
Thank you to Booksirens for this book. I will definitely be checking out more from this author.
Anyone who knows me, knows I love true crime. I have been fascinated with the genre since I was a young teen, starting with Ted Bundy.
This is one true crime story I had not heard of. The town of Joliet, Illinois is gripped with fear one summer in 1983 by a crazed serial killer. The killings are random, no one knows who will be next. The body count keeps rising and there seems no end in sight.
Three months before the spree began, a man named Milton Johnson was released from prison after serving just 13 years for the brutal rape and torture of a young girl. He was released on good behavior and the prison didn't inform his home town, Joliet, of his release. You have to remember this was the mid-80s. There was no sex offender registry and the parole system was not what it is today.
The author was a child when these murders occurred but even he was not unaffected by these events. Terror town is a well written book with fast pacing. There were a few chapters I felt could have been left out as I felt they just rehashed things that had already been discussed but overall, the book is very good.
Milton Johnson was sentenced to death, but unfortunately his sentence was commuted to life without parole after a governor got rid of the death penalty. The last chapter of the book discusses the fact that several elderly inmates convicted of horrible crimes were let go when they were deemed "too old" to be incarcerated anymore. Should age be a factor in release? I do not believe so. No matter the age, if someone wants to commit a crime, they will. And it is my belief that someone who could inflict this kind of damage, not only on the town but the people as well, is not able to rehabilitated.
Thank you to Booksirens for this book. I will definitely be checking out more from this author.
March 8, 2022
*Warning - this book contains graphic scenes, and some of them are not for the faint of heart.*
They say nothing good happens after dark, and the residents of Joliet, Illinois were about to discover how true that actually was.
During the summer of 1983, a serial killer stalked the streets, killing almost at random. The residents were scared, people started locking their doors, and young couples thought twice about visiting lovers lane. But they soon discovered that it wasn't only the dark they had to be fearful of. When four women were murdered on a Saturday morning, the realization that true evil was in their midst, was very plain to see. The townspeople wanted answers. They were angry that their terror was being splashed across the pages of newspapers across the nation. But the serial killer was not quite finished yet.
What law enforcement, and many residents were unaware of, was that a convicted rapist had been released back into their midst. He was careful to lay low, and stay off the radar, but throughout the investigation, he surfaced.
Serial killers can often blend to their surroundings, leave very little trace evidence behind, and elude law enforcement - for a time. While DNA and forensics were not as strong as they are today, there were still things that could be done in 1983. With the help of a witness, a survivor of the bloodbath, the serial killer was eventually identified.
Join the hunt for a killer, the twists, unknowns, and brutal summer that visited Joliet, Illinois. This book is one that true crime fans are going to enjoy!
They say nothing good happens after dark, and the residents of Joliet, Illinois were about to discover how true that actually was.
During the summer of 1983, a serial killer stalked the streets, killing almost at random. The residents were scared, people started locking their doors, and young couples thought twice about visiting lovers lane. But they soon discovered that it wasn't only the dark they had to be fearful of. When four women were murdered on a Saturday morning, the realization that true evil was in their midst, was very plain to see. The townspeople wanted answers. They were angry that their terror was being splashed across the pages of newspapers across the nation. But the serial killer was not quite finished yet.
What law enforcement, and many residents were unaware of, was that a convicted rapist had been released back into their midst. He was careful to lay low, and stay off the radar, but throughout the investigation, he surfaced.
Serial killers can often blend to their surroundings, leave very little trace evidence behind, and elude law enforcement - for a time. While DNA and forensics were not as strong as they are today, there were still things that could be done in 1983. With the help of a witness, a survivor of the bloodbath, the serial killer was eventually identified.
Join the hunt for a killer, the twists, unknowns, and brutal summer that visited Joliet, Illinois. This book is one that true crime fans are going to enjoy!
November 15, 2025
Awesome book! I live near where Milton Johnson started his crime spree. It's a place I visit frequently and now as I walk past it, the thought of what happened there in the 70's always crosses my mind. I also recall as a teen visiting the crime scene at 147th and Gougar. Today it is a four way intersection among distribition centers. But back during Johnson's crime spree it was not an intersection at all, just a 90 degree bend where 147th Street turned into Gougar Road. It was a desolate gravel road at the time but I can still picture it. And, one of the homes where he committed a murder still stands and is occupied. Whenever I drive past it I wonder if the occupants know of its history.
Up until I read this book, I had no idea of the Joliet serial killer nor had I recalled ever hearing Milton Johnson's name. For us locals, being able to picture and see the areas where he committed his brutal acts makes the book much more impactful. As as result, I could not put it down. It is also a bit un-nerving knowing there are people capable of such atrocities. Whether you are a local or not, this is a great book!
Up until I read this book, I had no idea of the Joliet serial killer nor had I recalled ever hearing Milton Johnson's name. For us locals, being able to picture and see the areas where he committed his brutal acts makes the book much more impactful. As as result, I could not put it down. It is also a bit un-nerving knowing there are people capable of such atrocities. Whether you are a local or not, this is a great book!
October 7, 2021
Being a big fan of true crime books, I jumped at the opportunity to read about murder in my home state of Illinois. It was eerie for the fact that this killer did not target any specific group of people, just the ones who looked like an easy target and were in the wrong place at the wrong time (teenagers parking, broke down on the highway, in a ceramic shop). He struck at any time, anywhere. I shuddered when I read about the teenagers driving in the dark, noticing they were being followed and barely escaping back to safety. It was also frustrating and all these murders could have been prevented if they had determined after his first crime (rape) that he was a menace to society. However, he knew how to play the system and got out on good behavior. The book mentions that there is a possibility he could be released at any time due to his advanced age, and I would not put it past the state of Illinois to put another murderer/rapist back out on the streets. It lagged in the middle, but overall it was an interesting read.
December 14, 2021
Is it possible for someone to hide their true persona from those closest to them? According to Milton Johnson's mother and stepfather, Milton didn't do drugs or drink alcohol, was an enormous help around the house and never gave them a lick of trouble. It's hard to reconcile their description of Milton with the opportunistic, viscous and sadistic killer that he is.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of Terror Town USA: The Untold Story of Joliet's Notorious Serial Killer through BookSirens and have chosen to leave a review.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of Terror Town USA: The Untold Story of Joliet's Notorious Serial Killer through BookSirens and have chosen to leave a review.
October 2, 2023
I will say right off, I really liked this book. It was well-written, the story flowed well, and then made everything very interesting. The author, John Ferak, made the story easy to understand. He first talked about the murder, the victims and then the killer. It was well presented. The narrator spoke clearly and it was easy to understand what he was saying. The book itself is very good. Before this I did not know that there was a serial killer in Joliet, so it was very interesting to me. I found this to be one of my favorite books of this year! I highly recommend it!
October 23, 2023
I was in Joliet visiting my grandparents on August 20th when the ceramic shop murders took place, just on the other side of Hickory Creek. I didn't know about the prior or following murders nor anything about the trial as I was living in Texas at the time. This was a fascinating and horrific read - I am familiar with all the locations mentioned in the book as I grew up on the East side of Joliet. I think the scariest thing about this account is Milton Johnson could possibly one day be set free simply because he's now in his 70s.
January 23, 2024
I was graduating college in 1983, but I remember all of this as if it were yesterday. My grandparents lived about two blocks from the ceramic shop and my father's place of business was down Cass Street, just minutes away. Before it was a ceramics shop, the building was a mom-and-pop convenience store. When were kids, Grandma used to send my sister and I there with some change to buy candy - decades before the 1983 murders. It was one of a few terrible, terrible times in Joliet's long history.
August 13, 2021
Excellent storytelling about a crime spree in Joliet, IL. I lived in Chicago at this time and yet don’t remember anything about this.
Ferak does a solid job of describing the events and bringing them to life. The last chapter is perhaps the strongest of the book in terms of addressing the general corruption in the state.
If you are a true crime fan, I recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ferak does a solid job of describing the events and bringing them to life. The last chapter is perhaps the strongest of the book in terms of addressing the general corruption in the state.
If you are a true crime fan, I recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 2, 2022
This is one of those good ones! Real good ones. Grabs you early, keeps hold of you, and before you know it your invested in these terrible tragedies as well. I realize we’re talkin’ about true crime hear and that these cases are real. People actually experienced these tragedies and still cope with what we’re gobbling up as “great reads…” lol. Kind of shitty. But this was done masterfully. Like I said…..every step of the way, sick bastard n
June 10, 2024
A grim recitation of the crimes of Milton Johnson, how he was caught and what happened afterwards. He's a horrifically dangerous man and it's good to know he's never going to hurt anyone again. I wish I had learned more about how he is when he's not actively bent on killing someone; his creepy relationship with a prison social worker makes me wonder just how reassuring he can be when he's not pointing a gun at your face.
February 20, 2025
A great story but far to repetitive
The author pulls you in from the beginning & maintains your interests throughout the story. It was frustrating reading that 5 people told the police the culprit was a large black man & yet they pursued leads of white guys whom had no connection with the case. The story was embellished with interesting facts about various crimes committed in Illinois. I gave only 4 stars because of the redundancy.
The author pulls you in from the beginning & maintains your interests throughout the story. It was frustrating reading that 5 people told the police the culprit was a large black man & yet they pursued leads of white guys whom had no connection with the case. The story was embellished with interesting facts about various crimes committed in Illinois. I gave only 4 stars because of the redundancy.
August 8, 2021
Wow
All I can say is wow!! The author did a great job with his research and pulling me in. The horrible acts that Milton Johnson committed once he was released from prison the first time he should not be released again. It would be a huge mistake to release him into society again.
All I can say is wow!! The author did a great job with his research and pulling me in. The horrible acts that Milton Johnson committed once he was released from prison the first time he should not be released again. It would be a huge mistake to release him into society again.
April 6, 2025
This is the true crime story of Milton Johnson, Joliet, Illinois notorious serial killer. When you think of Chicago serial killers, John Wayne Gacy comes to mind, but less is known about Milton Johnson until this true account of his life, crimes and victims. I highly recommend this book to all true crime lovers.
April 16, 2025
I feel weird giving true crime books positive ratings. this was very well written, and as someone who reads true crime, this hands down is one of the top 3 disturbing serial killers. it's not really a who dunnit, readers know early on. this monster should never be released. the fact his sentence was reduced to LWOP, should be just that. I pray the victims and families
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