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Serial Killers of Mexico: Chilling Stories of Evil Buried Beneath the Narco Drug Wars
A collection of chilling stories of murders from Mexico, one of the world's most prolific hunting grounds for serial killers. "If I was a serial killer looking for new victims, I'd head over the border to Mexico because life is cheap there and the police have got so much other sh*t to investigate, they don't bother with random killings."- A former FBI Agent For decades, America has been considered to be the natural home of serial killers. Infamous names like Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer are internationally known and feared, and rightly so. But what if, just south of the border, there was a far more active network of serial killers? What if the perfect storm of crime, fuelled by this nation's deadly narco wars, has turned Mexico into an ideal hunting ground for many of the most bizarre and blood thirsty serial killers the world has ever seen? Serial Killers of Mexico delves into this criminal underbelly to tell the stories of the psychopathic loners, professional narco assassins and the overwhelmed law enforcement trying desperately to hunt them down.
320 pages, Paperback
Published July 26, 2022
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287 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 28, 2022
#SerialKillersOfMexico – Wensley Clarkson
#Welbeck
#JonathanBall
NOT FOR SENSITIVE READERS
‘If I was a serial killer looking for new victims, I’d head over the border to Mexico because life is cheap there and the cops have got so much other shit to investigate, they don’t bother with random killings.’ – A former DEA officer (9)
The author, a world-renowned author and investigator of serial killings with more than 40 years’ experience, has chosen to investigate serial killers of Mexico ranging from the 1940’s to the present day in this chilling work of non-fiction. Eleven cases illustrate the reality of the bold statement in the first paragraph; the landscape of Mexico has been altered by professional criminals, people disappear and are killed on a daily basis; poverty is rife, and psychopathic killers hide in plain sight under the shadows thrown by drug cartels’ turf wars. The existence of pseudo-religious sects like ‘Santa Morte’ (the god of death) that evolved from the combination of Catholicism, pre-Colombian and African heritages, is another contributing factor for murders, as disciples kill under the auspice of the victims being spiritual sacrifices.
Examples of the consequences of the latter in the book include a so-called high priestess of Yerba Buena who was convicted of 15 such murders after a police raid in 1963, and Adolfo Constanzo, nicknamed the godfather of Matamoros, whose true number of victims during his reign as a Santeria high priest has never been established. Cannibalism played a central role in murders committed by Josè Zepeda, who preferred to either stir fry his victims’ flesh, or to deep fry it pre-battered, and who was in the process of writing an autobiography titled ‘The cannibal poet’ before his untimely death; and the monsters of Ecatepec, Juan Carlos Hernandez and Patricia Martinez, who had a particular taste for human chilli con carne.
Other killers with bizarre twists to their histories include a psychopathic strangler who obtained a Bachelor of Criminal Law whilst incarcerated for the murders that he had committed; the sisters Delfina and Maria Torres convicted of killing 91 people, but who died in weird circumstances: a bucket of cement was accidentally dropped on Delfina’s head whist she was serving her sentence and Maria’s body was only discovered in her cell after it had been partially devoured by rats; Juana Samperio, a masked female wrestler dubbed ‘The silent lady’, who was convicted of killing 42-48 elderly women, and David Ballina, the ruthless killer nicknamed ‘El Hamburguesa’ as a result of his legendary appetite visible in his enormous waist line. Also included are sadistic killers utilizing their positions as hit men (sicarias) for infamous drug cartels as cover and justification for their urges to kill and maim.
The book is highly recommended for those interested in true crime non-fiction, but a warning must be issued: some graphic scenes may be regarded as disturbing by sensitive readers. ‘Serial killers of Russia’, ‘Sexy beasts’; and ‘Gangs of Britain’ are similar publications by the same author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Uitdieperdsebek
#Welbeck
#JonathanBall
NOT FOR SENSITIVE READERS
‘If I was a serial killer looking for new victims, I’d head over the border to Mexico because life is cheap there and the cops have got so much other shit to investigate, they don’t bother with random killings.’ – A former DEA officer (9)
The author, a world-renowned author and investigator of serial killings with more than 40 years’ experience, has chosen to investigate serial killers of Mexico ranging from the 1940’s to the present day in this chilling work of non-fiction. Eleven cases illustrate the reality of the bold statement in the first paragraph; the landscape of Mexico has been altered by professional criminals, people disappear and are killed on a daily basis; poverty is rife, and psychopathic killers hide in plain sight under the shadows thrown by drug cartels’ turf wars. The existence of pseudo-religious sects like ‘Santa Morte’ (the god of death) that evolved from the combination of Catholicism, pre-Colombian and African heritages, is another contributing factor for murders, as disciples kill under the auspice of the victims being spiritual sacrifices.
Examples of the consequences of the latter in the book include a so-called high priestess of Yerba Buena who was convicted of 15 such murders after a police raid in 1963, and Adolfo Constanzo, nicknamed the godfather of Matamoros, whose true number of victims during his reign as a Santeria high priest has never been established. Cannibalism played a central role in murders committed by Josè Zepeda, who preferred to either stir fry his victims’ flesh, or to deep fry it pre-battered, and who was in the process of writing an autobiography titled ‘The cannibal poet’ before his untimely death; and the monsters of Ecatepec, Juan Carlos Hernandez and Patricia Martinez, who had a particular taste for human chilli con carne.
Other killers with bizarre twists to their histories include a psychopathic strangler who obtained a Bachelor of Criminal Law whilst incarcerated for the murders that he had committed; the sisters Delfina and Maria Torres convicted of killing 91 people, but who died in weird circumstances: a bucket of cement was accidentally dropped on Delfina’s head whist she was serving her sentence and Maria’s body was only discovered in her cell after it had been partially devoured by rats; Juana Samperio, a masked female wrestler dubbed ‘The silent lady’, who was convicted of killing 42-48 elderly women, and David Ballina, the ruthless killer nicknamed ‘El Hamburguesa’ as a result of his legendary appetite visible in his enormous waist line. Also included are sadistic killers utilizing their positions as hit men (sicarias) for infamous drug cartels as cover and justification for their urges to kill and maim.
The book is highly recommended for those interested in true crime non-fiction, but a warning must be issued: some graphic scenes may be regarded as disturbing by sensitive readers. ‘Serial killers of Russia’, ‘Sexy beasts’; and ‘Gangs of Britain’ are similar publications by the same author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Uitdieperdsebek
August 29, 2022
Well, I won’t be planning a trip to Mexico anytime soon!
Really enjoyed this (I know that’s not the right way to describe it!) but it was full of some interesting people and what lead them to act the way they did.
Really enjoyed this (I know that’s not the right way to describe it!) but it was full of some interesting people and what lead them to act the way they did.
January 4, 2024
I came across this by chance and it caught my eye. I suppose I felt like reading a bit of a trashy crime book. And, it does what it says on the tin. Although he suggests in the introduction that he is writing this to better understand why people become serial killers and how many could be stopped before the start, he does little of the first and nothing of the second, so for thrilling horrific tales and no required thinking, this is your book.
As he describes, Mexico would appear to be the perfect place for serial killers. Between the landscape, the poverty, life is cheap and the immense drug cartel problem, the police don't have the capacity to deal with everything. And when poor people die, or sex workers die, people don't care as much. As if those lives weren't worth so much.
The sexist, macho culture comes out in this. The killers he tells us about span the last 100 years. One of the first, who killed a number of women around the 30s or 40s actually ended up with a presidential pardon because he was such a nice guy, studied the law in prison and helped some other inmates out. I just.... what the actual... a pardon???? That is for people falsely imprisoned and completely different to the idea of people having served their time. What an awful sexist, disposable woman culture lingering behind that.
The various stories of killers cover all the clichés of Mexico you would expect, drug cartels, macho men, drink and drugs, Mexican wrestlers, ancient death cults and so on. The social problems are immense, with poverty, major lack of education and prolific child abuse, which is cyclical as so many of the mothers are only young teenagers themselves, forced into prostitution to support themselves. It is a book of incredible sadness, not just the murders as if that wasn't enough but also the extremely messed up childhoods and what people will casually do to one another.
And did he have a bet on with someone as to how many times he could get the word heinous in there?
Not a reflection posed by the book itself, but the more of these things I read the more I think that it must be a cry for the need for better children's services everywhere, to nip those potential cases in the bud, and a nod to the importance of education when you see how it is often poverty stricken communities with a lack of education that are often taken in. But all that requires more tax, and you get those who rant, why should I pay that? I am not a child, I am not going to use that service bla bla bla... does no one get that it is an investment in a better future society? Mind you, in a country such as that Clarkson is portraying, just upping the taxes would be like a drop in the ocean as there is so much to be done. Still, you have to start somewhere.
As he describes, Mexico would appear to be the perfect place for serial killers. Between the landscape, the poverty, life is cheap and the immense drug cartel problem, the police don't have the capacity to deal with everything. And when poor people die, or sex workers die, people don't care as much. As if those lives weren't worth so much.
The sexist, macho culture comes out in this. The killers he tells us about span the last 100 years. One of the first, who killed a number of women around the 30s or 40s actually ended up with a presidential pardon because he was such a nice guy, studied the law in prison and helped some other inmates out. I just.... what the actual... a pardon???? That is for people falsely imprisoned and completely different to the idea of people having served their time. What an awful sexist, disposable woman culture lingering behind that.
The various stories of killers cover all the clichés of Mexico you would expect, drug cartels, macho men, drink and drugs, Mexican wrestlers, ancient death cults and so on. The social problems are immense, with poverty, major lack of education and prolific child abuse, which is cyclical as so many of the mothers are only young teenagers themselves, forced into prostitution to support themselves. It is a book of incredible sadness, not just the murders as if that wasn't enough but also the extremely messed up childhoods and what people will casually do to one another.
And did he have a bet on with someone as to how many times he could get the word heinous in there?
Not a reflection posed by the book itself, but the more of these things I read the more I think that it must be a cry for the need for better children's services everywhere, to nip those potential cases in the bud, and a nod to the importance of education when you see how it is often poverty stricken communities with a lack of education that are often taken in. But all that requires more tax, and you get those who rant, why should I pay that? I am not a child, I am not going to use that service bla bla bla... does no one get that it is an investment in a better future society? Mind you, in a country such as that Clarkson is portraying, just upping the taxes would be like a drop in the ocean as there is so much to be done. Still, you have to start somewhere.
July 12, 2022
Fascinating read about some very disturbing cases. Reminded me very much of American dirt which I would also highly recommend.
March 30, 2024
I am a true crime fan and enjoy watching documentaries or reading books on the subject; so when I came across this book on the shelves of B&N I was excited to read it.
Within the first chapter it was clear this author did not take the time to research this subject and the details surrounding the killers, their motives and everything else in between. As I continued to read this book I found great regret in purchasing it and continuously had to do separate research only to discover inconsistent details in this book. I only finished this book to give it a proper review.
Firstly, I found details of the crimes or people named in this story to be incorrect based on what I read in other articles /Wikipedia. In addition, I felt the author glorified the crimes focusing on the grotesque details while also generalizing the "Latinx Diaspora" as poor, immigrants, sexual predators and occult - Devil worshippers.
For example, in the chapter of "The Godfather of Matamoros", he describes his mother's boyfriend as a "Puerto Rican immigrant" when in fact Puerto Ricans have been US citizens since 1917. This might be a minor detail, but if you writing a book, check all your facts please.
He often describes legit religions in this book as occults when in fact many are not. For example, Santeria, is not an occult, it is a religion from West Africa that was brought to the Spanish Caribbean during Slavery / Colonization and is still practiced in many of the Spanish speaking Caribbean countries and the US as a RELIGION.
As a proud Latina with heritage from the Spanish Caribbean Diaspora I was greatly disappointed but not surprised, especially since this book was written by a non-Hispanic/Latino White European author.
Because this book had so much mis-information specific to the subject of the book (serial killers of mexico) but also of the various other details (religion, immigration etc) I found it very hard to believe half of what I was reading and had to look up everything elsewhere to decipher what was true, false or skewed. Besides all this, I also found his storytelling to be flat and lazy. It seemed every chapter started with the same prototype / format ; child sexual abuse, poor families, occult worshipping, prostitution and/or cannibalism etc.
This book had great potential, if it wasn't for the racist tropes and lazy fact checking. I will not be reading anymore books from this author.
Within the first chapter it was clear this author did not take the time to research this subject and the details surrounding the killers, their motives and everything else in between. As I continued to read this book I found great regret in purchasing it and continuously had to do separate research only to discover inconsistent details in this book. I only finished this book to give it a proper review.
Firstly, I found details of the crimes or people named in this story to be incorrect based on what I read in other articles /Wikipedia. In addition, I felt the author glorified the crimes focusing on the grotesque details while also generalizing the "Latinx Diaspora" as poor, immigrants, sexual predators and occult - Devil worshippers.
For example, in the chapter of "The Godfather of Matamoros", he describes his mother's boyfriend as a "Puerto Rican immigrant" when in fact Puerto Ricans have been US citizens since 1917. This might be a minor detail, but if you writing a book, check all your facts please.
He often describes legit religions in this book as occults when in fact many are not. For example, Santeria, is not an occult, it is a religion from West Africa that was brought to the Spanish Caribbean during Slavery / Colonization and is still practiced in many of the Spanish speaking Caribbean countries and the US as a RELIGION.
As a proud Latina with heritage from the Spanish Caribbean Diaspora I was greatly disappointed but not surprised, especially since this book was written by a non-Hispanic/Latino White European author.
Because this book had so much mis-information specific to the subject of the book (serial killers of mexico) but also of the various other details (religion, immigration etc) I found it very hard to believe half of what I was reading and had to look up everything elsewhere to decipher what was true, false or skewed. Besides all this, I also found his storytelling to be flat and lazy. It seemed every chapter started with the same prototype / format ; child sexual abuse, poor families, occult worshipping, prostitution and/or cannibalism etc.
This book had great potential, if it wasn't for the racist tropes and lazy fact checking. I will not be reading anymore books from this author.
August 28, 2025
Informative, though selective, overview of some of Mexico's more infamous serial killers. True crime readers will likely be familiar with some of the cases, such as the 1989 Adolfo Constanzo and Sara Aldrete cult murders down in Matamoros, or Juana Barraza, who was The Old Lady Killer, a luchador wrestler who pretended to be a nurse, killed a series of old women and stole their pensions. The Mexican narco cartels figure regularly into the book, which is a facet of Mexican crime deeply integrated into society. It's fascinating, though perhaps a bit dry. It would have been nice to have other material, such as interviews with key figures in the stories, but it is still a worthwhile read for anyone with any interest in the subject.
January 29, 2024
When reading Serial Killers of Mexico, one forgets that it’s reading true stories and not some horror novel.
Two things one learns from this book: Real life is way more terrifying than fiction. Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers stories seem like children stories compared to this.
Second: It’s quite clear to me that in some way the parents of those serial killers are the real monsters of the stories. This book is a must read to those interested in the study of criminal law and/or criminalistic.
Don’t get discouraged by what I just said, I really enjoyed this book, I like the way it’s written, like a novel.
Two things one learns from this book: Real life is way more terrifying than fiction. Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers stories seem like children stories compared to this.
Second: It’s quite clear to me that in some way the parents of those serial killers are the real monsters of the stories. This book is a must read to those interested in the study of criminal law and/or criminalistic.
Don’t get discouraged by what I just said, I really enjoyed this book, I like the way it’s written, like a novel.
December 8, 2022
Every now and then I like the kind of true crime book that gives a snapshot of different serial killers, which usually makes me want to read more on specific killers.
Serial Killers of Mexico doesn't give any deep examination of the cases or the killers but the overviews are interesting and piqued my interest in Mexican serial killers. I enjoyed the way this book presented a little on a lot of serial killers, including their backstory, their crimes and their sentencing.
I wasn't familiar with any of these cases, so it was unique in that aspect.
Serial Killers of Mexico doesn't give any deep examination of the cases or the killers but the overviews are interesting and piqued my interest in Mexican serial killers. I enjoyed the way this book presented a little on a lot of serial killers, including their backstory, their crimes and their sentencing.
I wasn't familiar with any of these cases, so it was unique in that aspect.
July 24, 2022
6/10 4%. Easy read holiday book. Not really any relevance to drug cartels - these killers could be in any poor country with a less well funded police force so the book is being sold slightly on false pretences. But still an interesting and intriguing read and good for any student criminologists out there!
January 15, 2023
Was very informative regarding how corrupt the government and law-enforcement agencies were in Mexico! I had no idea how much murder and looking the other way occurred in that country. This book isn’t for the faint hearted, the details the author had put in this book was detailed and vivid as of you was standing at each crime scene he was talking about. Very good read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2024
This is one of those books that I carelessly clicked on at my audiobook app, and it didn't disappoint. These are the stories about the lives of various Mexicans who at a certain point start killing and never stop doing that. I thought the often poignant and gruesome stories were well told and they provide an insight into the poverty and corruption of Mexico.
March 28, 2025
An interesting read, but shows some bias in that every man discussed in this book "showed signs of sexual confusion" instead of considering that some men are in fact bisexual. Are all these killers? Probably not all but I'm betting it's not 0.
It was interesting to see how many of these exactly fit profiler "molds" of bed wetting to animal abuse to assault to murders, even across cultures.
It was interesting to see how many of these exactly fit profiler "molds" of bed wetting to animal abuse to assault to murders, even across cultures.
July 7, 2022
Without sounding like a psycho myself, I find these kind of books brilliant to read, and obviously heartbreaking, this book was a fab read it made me feel alot of emotions throughout, also made me feel physically sick, all round well written book, will be purchasing more of Wensley clarkson books 👌
August 6, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved the way it was presented with little vignettes if each serial killers backstory as well as their crimes, offering a glimpse of potential reasons for the offences they went on to commit. I also liked how each concluded with justice in some form.
September 25, 2022
It’s ok. Writing is mediocre, and there is no deep examination of the psychology of these people, but the vignettes of each killer and their crimes is interesting. A quick read which will entertain those interested in serial killers.
June 27, 2023
Excellent read but definitely not for the faint of heart. This book is not only based on truths it is VERY descriptive. I could hardly put it down. If you are interested in any kind of serial killers this is the book for you.
June 16, 2024
Loved this book, it gave me a real invite into the underworld and how these serial killers actually work and plot their attacks (scary how easily it can happen in real everyday life)
I enjoyed how each chapter was about a different killer/s
I enjoyed how each chapter was about a different killer/s
May 22, 2025
Meh, poorly written to be honest, it comes across as someone in a pub chatting to an annoying friend about something they're not that experienced in, and after some Googling I can see some of his information is incorrect.
September 6, 2022
A very well written book. Think I will read more of this authors.
November 19, 2022
Super interesting read. There are some cases In familiar with and some I didn’t know about
December 1, 2022
Fast moving, easy read.
If I ever visit Mexico I'm gonna hire a SWAT team to protect me 😅
If I ever visit Mexico I'm gonna hire a SWAT team to protect me 😅
May 12, 2023
Interesting collection of lesser known Monsters. Chapters are short, but engaging. Focusing on a different Serial Killer in each one. Wensley details what kind of upbringing and environment shaped these killers. Informative and tasteful. While a lot of books on this kind of subject, lack the latter.
J
J
May 22, 2024
Worst book ever
July 19, 2024
Decided México not my choice of an ideal holiday destination
September 2, 2024
Disturbing! I can’t believe people like this exist in our world!
September 13, 2024
Killers from Mexico. Decent read if nothing else.
March 14, 2025
A surprisingly good book but not for the faint of heart.
May 3, 2025
Chilling story about what happens when drug cartels take over a poor country and how difficult it makes law enforcement's job finding serial killers (and even standard criminals)
December 26, 2024
short stories following the lives and crimes of multiple serial killers. interesting to learn about their pasts and how it contributed to their crimes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews