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Killer Collections: Dark Artifacts from True Crime
Delve into the dark and dangerous side of humanity with this intriguing collection of artefacts and evidence relating to some of the world's most infamous criminals and criminal acts.
From an 18th Century hangman's noose to Charles Manson's cremation ashes, a document signed by Lizzie Borden and the circular saw confiscated from the home of The Kansas City Butcher – many of these pieces will be shown outside private collections for the very first time.
This unique book offers a rare opportunity to explore numerous personal archives, showcasing murder weapons, crime scene evidence, police files, diaries, letters and other criminal ephemera, alongside the fascinating and often disturbing stories behind them. Discover new insights into the psychology and crimes of dozens of dangerous and disturbed perpetrators including Gacy, Bundy, Dahmer, Ramirez, Berkowitz and Shawcross.
From an 18th Century hangman's noose to Charles Manson's cremation ashes, a document signed by Lizzie Borden and the circular saw confiscated from the home of The Kansas City Butcher – many of these pieces will be shown outside private collections for the very first time.
This unique book offers a rare opportunity to explore numerous personal archives, showcasing murder weapons, crime scene evidence, police files, diaries, letters and other criminal ephemera, alongside the fascinating and often disturbing stories behind them. Discover new insights into the psychology and crimes of dozens of dangerous and disturbed perpetrators including Gacy, Bundy, Dahmer, Ramirez, Berkowitz and Shawcross.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
208 pages, Hardcover
Published June 23, 2022
6 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Paul Gambino
22 books27 followersPaul’s first book, SCRAP CITY: SCRAPBOOKING FOR SUBURBAN DIVAS AND SMALL TOWN REBELS (SOHO Publishing, 2006), was a semi-finalist for the Independent Publisher Book award in the Hobby/Crafts category and was touted as giving the craft of scrapbooking a youthful, cutting-edge makeover.
Paul has been an avid collector of the bizarre for over 20-years with an extensive collection of Victorian memorial photographs, antique funeria, mug shots and vintage religious items (including a life sized St. Sebastian and Virgin Mary salvaged from a 19th century church in Pennsylvania). The past two decades of serious collecting has allowed Paul to gain the trust of some of the world’s largest macabre collectors. These relationships have allowed Paul to have his second book published, MORBID CURIOSITIES: COLLECTIONS OF THE UNCOMMON AND THE BIZARRE. Amazon sums the book up like this; Morbid Curiosities is an insight into the strange world of collectors of the macabre. Centered on 18 collections, with extensive interviews with each collector and specially shot imagery detailing their objects, this is a fascinating showcase of bizarre and intriguing objects.
Included are collections of skulls, mummified body parts, occult objects, and various carnival, sideshow and criminal ephemera. Detailed captions tell the curious stories behind each object, many of which are being shown outside the private world of their collections for the first time.
Included are collections of skulls, mummified body parts, occult objects, and various carnival, side-show and criminal ephemera. Detailed captions tell the curious stories behind each object, many of which are being shown outside the private world of their collections for the first time.
Paul has been an avid collector of the bizarre for over 20-years with an extensive collection of Victorian memorial photographs, antique funeria, mug shots and vintage religious items (including a life sized St. Sebastian and Virgin Mary salvaged from a 19th century church in Pennsylvania). The past two decades of serious collecting has allowed Paul to gain the trust of some of the world’s largest macabre collectors. These relationships have allowed Paul to have his second book published, MORBID CURIOSITIES: COLLECTIONS OF THE UNCOMMON AND THE BIZARRE. Amazon sums the book up like this; Morbid Curiosities is an insight into the strange world of collectors of the macabre. Centered on 18 collections, with extensive interviews with each collector and specially shot imagery detailing their objects, this is a fascinating showcase of bizarre and intriguing objects.
Included are collections of skulls, mummified body parts, occult objects, and various carnival, sideshow and criminal ephemera. Detailed captions tell the curious stories behind each object, many of which are being shown outside the private world of their collections for the first time.
Included are collections of skulls, mummified body parts, occult objects, and various carnival, side-show and criminal ephemera. Detailed captions tell the curious stories behind each object, many of which are being shown outside the private world of their collections for the first time.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 16, 2023
I found this to be really interesting, however, I truly felt that some of the collectors glorified these people (even though they claimed they didn’t) and it just felt a little off.
August 10, 2024
This was interesting but I didn’t care for the book being organized by collector - it felt clunky and repetitive.
February 5, 2023
"𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚" 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬
This book is about true crime crime collectors (A.K.A "𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚") that buy & sell items that are associated with or were once owned by a serial killer, it is a sensitive & controversial type of collecting, dark tourism of true crime.
It's not for everyone for a reason.
This book is about true crime crime collectors (A.K.A "𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚") that buy & sell items that are associated with or were once owned by a serial killer, it is a sensitive & controversial type of collecting, dark tourism of true crime.
It's not for everyone for a reason.
August 26, 2022
Chilling. I can’t understand why anyone would want to collect artifacts from serial killers but it’s fascinating to see photos of this stuff, I would t want it in my house.
December 8, 2025
The items featured in the book are very interesting, but it was hard to shake the biased commentary by the writer. This book should have taken a more historical, unbiased approach instead of trying to justify why some people collect murderabilia. Some of the collectors say they aren’t trying to glorify murderers and that they respect the victims, but I think the justifications presented by several of the collectors feels disingenuous and an attempt to wash away some of the guilt they probably feel about collecting murderabilia.
A couple of the collectors featured in the book mention not being fans of cancel culture and that they are trying to preserve history, but it rings a bit hollow considering that some of the collectors spend years cultivating close relationships with some of these narcissistic serial killers. One collector says he found Charles Manson to be very wise (really?!?) and shared several photos of him hanging out with Manson. One collector even says he commissioned a wedding ring from Susan Atkins. While I did find the book to be very fascinating, it’s hard to believe that all of these collectors just care about preserving history. I wish more of them just owned it. They are people who are extremely fascinated with serial killers and the macabre (as are many including myself), but what sometimes felt cringy, and maybe immoral, is the process (and inevitably money) that many of the collectors went into buying these items, like the prison visits, funds to help killers buy stuff from the commissary, and many times leaving out the details of how some of these murder artifacts were procured.
The BTK killer Dennis Radar even refers to one of the collectors as a “viper” who he believes may be trying to profit off of the murderabilia he acquires. I still enjoyed the book and recommend it, but it could have been more honest about the nature of collecting what is literally police evidence.
P.S. Fuck the cops who illegally sell crime scene evidence to private collectors.
A couple of the collectors featured in the book mention not being fans of cancel culture and that they are trying to preserve history, but it rings a bit hollow considering that some of the collectors spend years cultivating close relationships with some of these narcissistic serial killers. One collector says he found Charles Manson to be very wise (really?!?) and shared several photos of him hanging out with Manson. One collector even says he commissioned a wedding ring from Susan Atkins. While I did find the book to be very fascinating, it’s hard to believe that all of these collectors just care about preserving history. I wish more of them just owned it. They are people who are extremely fascinated with serial killers and the macabre (as are many including myself), but what sometimes felt cringy, and maybe immoral, is the process (and inevitably money) that many of the collectors went into buying these items, like the prison visits, funds to help killers buy stuff from the commissary, and many times leaving out the details of how some of these murder artifacts were procured.
The BTK killer Dennis Radar even refers to one of the collectors as a “viper” who he believes may be trying to profit off of the murderabilia he acquires. I still enjoyed the book and recommend it, but it could have been more honest about the nature of collecting what is literally police evidence.
P.S. Fuck the cops who illegally sell crime scene evidence to private collectors.
June 11, 2025
I have an interest in true crime and I collect curiosa, some of it of a dark nature ... but I ask myself would I collect murderablia? I don't know, I don't think I would. Despite the moral questions the objects may just carry too much bad energy, particularly the personal items belonging to serial killers or paintings by them.
However I do find books on murderablia very interesting and this one, like Paul Gambino's other books on strange collections, is visually captivating. Only the bare bones of the crimes are given but it's often enough and a deep dive can be taken elsewhere if a particular case captivates.
Gambino's books are more about the collectors - some of whom, just from a brief resume give my Spidey-sense a tingle. Most try to justify their collection as historical objects, which they are and some people are curious about morbid stuff, I am. But some of the collectors seem like they want to be seen as edgy or are seemingly not as disapproving of the often horrific murders as maybe they should be. At times there's a hint of glorification of some of the heinous killers perhaps?
But that's me judging from their one page introductions. Whilst there's a wonder why people collect the things they do - it's the collections that are ultimately far more interesting than the collectors.
There's some very interesting objects in the collections featured and some frankly very odd ones like serial killers' underwear or nail pairings.
Really, I think this and Gambino's other collectors books should be considered as a whole or at least a series, rather than seen in isolation (though they work perfectly fine that way too). I understand the controversy of the work and it makes total sense for people to feel grossed out, sad or even angry at such collections, and I found the stuff uncomfortable sometimes and so I should. It should disturb, but I also found it fascinating and aesthetically well presented. It also gave me food for thought.
However I do find books on murderablia very interesting and this one, like Paul Gambino's other books on strange collections, is visually captivating. Only the bare bones of the crimes are given but it's often enough and a deep dive can be taken elsewhere if a particular case captivates.
Gambino's books are more about the collectors - some of whom, just from a brief resume give my Spidey-sense a tingle. Most try to justify their collection as historical objects, which they are and some people are curious about morbid stuff, I am. But some of the collectors seem like they want to be seen as edgy or are seemingly not as disapproving of the often horrific murders as maybe they should be. At times there's a hint of glorification of some of the heinous killers perhaps?
But that's me judging from their one page introductions. Whilst there's a wonder why people collect the things they do - it's the collections that are ultimately far more interesting than the collectors.
There's some very interesting objects in the collections featured and some frankly very odd ones like serial killers' underwear or nail pairings.
Really, I think this and Gambino's other collectors books should be considered as a whole or at least a series, rather than seen in isolation (though they work perfectly fine that way too). I understand the controversy of the work and it makes total sense for people to feel grossed out, sad or even angry at such collections, and I found the stuff uncomfortable sometimes and so I should. It should disturb, but I also found it fascinating and aesthetically well presented. It also gave me food for thought.
May 16, 2023
This wasn't at all what I expected. It's actually about people who collect true crime artifacts, often acquired through developing relationships with the perpetrators. Their desire for such objects and the lengths they are willing to go to get them are the most disturbing part of the book.
September 1, 2022
This stuff fascinates me! Cool book.
January 6, 2023
interesting
January 16, 2024
It is crazy that there our people out there that actually want to collect stuff from some of the most heinous and evil individuals to ever exist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2025
SUPER interesting read!
October 13, 2025
“I’m pretty selective about what I’ll add to my collection. I have passed on plenty of true crime items offered to me; either it’s overpriced, in my opinion, or I think it’s fake, or I don’t know enough about the case to make it relevant in my collection. And I don’t buy fingernails, toenails, earwax, penis tracings, things like that. I know it sounds crazy that some inmates even do this, but they do.” - Devin Shomper
Killer Collections is a fascinating deep dive into the world of true crime artifact collectors. The people who own and preserve some of the most chilling pieces of criminal history. Through colour photographs and personal stories, Paul Gambino explores not just the collections, but the psychology behind them.
It’s an intriguing read that raises big questions about morality, obsession, and historical preservation. While some may be quick to judge those who collect such macabre memorabilia, Gambino challenges us to ask: how is this any different from what museums do? In an era of censorship and selective history-telling, this book reminds us that confronting the darker side of humanity is often more enlightening than erasing it.
A thought-provoking and visually compelling addition to any true crime enthusiast’s shelf.
Killer Collections is a fascinating deep dive into the world of true crime artifact collectors. The people who own and preserve some of the most chilling pieces of criminal history. Through colour photographs and personal stories, Paul Gambino explores not just the collections, but the psychology behind them.
It’s an intriguing read that raises big questions about morality, obsession, and historical preservation. While some may be quick to judge those who collect such macabre memorabilia, Gambino challenges us to ask: how is this any different from what museums do? In an era of censorship and selective history-telling, this book reminds us that confronting the darker side of humanity is often more enlightening than erasing it.
A thought-provoking and visually compelling addition to any true crime enthusiast’s shelf.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews