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Twelve From Hell 2: The Ultimate True Crime Case Collection

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Twelve chilling true crime stories from the best-selling author Ryan Green

Incredible value! Bumper collection of 12 serial killer books with hundreds of 5* Amazon reviewsThis Ultimate True Crime Case Collection contains disturbing accounts of some of the most brutal and bizarre true crime stories in history. Told from the killer’s perspective, Green’s riveting narratives draw the reader into the real-live horror experienced by the victims with all the elements of a classic thriller. Within this collection, you’ll

Kill 'Em A True Story of Abuse, Revenge and the Making of a Monster

Buried Beneath the Boarding A Shocking True Story of Deception, Exploitation and Murder

The Townhouse The Unforgettable Crimes of Richard Speck

The A Shocking True Story of Superstition, Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism

The Texas Tower The Terrifying True Story of Charles Whitman

The Kentucky The True Story of an Outlaw, Murderer and Man-Eater

Vampire A Terrifying True Story of Psychosis, Mutilation and Murder

Gorilla A True Story of Betrayal, Brutality and Butchery

No Place for the A True Story of Deviance, Torture, and Social Cleansing

Doctor A Despicable True Story of Hope, Exploitation, Greed and Murder

The A Chilling True Story of a Psychopathic Child Killer

Crimson The Betrayal, Brutality and Bloodshed behind the French Maid Massacres

This book contains descriptive accounts of abuse and violence. If you are especially sensitive to this material, it might be advisable not to read any further

826 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2022

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Ryan Green

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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Tom Schulte.
3,373 reviews73 followers
October 13, 2023
When I first found about Ryan Green taking on the unrepentant psychopath Carl Panzram, I set it aside to read after watching the James Woods portrayal in film. Well, this time I didn't wait, but I did watch Carl Panzram: The Spirit of Hatred and Vengeance (Docu-Drama, 2011). In Kill 'Em All: A True Story of Abuse, Revenge and the Making of a Monster, Green examines the life and crimes of lifelong criminal and serial killer, Carl Panzram. This was a real fiend. Despite his serial sodomies and multiple prison sentences under differing names, Panzram robbed ex-president Taft's house (taking a pistol and financial instruments), was a strikebreaker, broke strikebreakers, rode with rails with brutalizing hobos (turning tables), and suffered crippling punishments in peonage. One of the things I enjoy about Green's research is exploring possible causes in personal history. This one includes a grisly, kitchen table ersatz ear operation.

Vampire Killer: A Terrifying True Story of Psychosis, Mutilation and Murder is the account of Richard Chase. This is, I think, the most gruesome true crime stories in Ryan Green’s output. The descriptive accounts of abuse and violence include cannibalism, necrophilia, Jack Ripper-like organ play, vampiric blood drinking, Renfield's syndrome, etc. Childhood development figures in here with a recounting of two-thirds of the Macdonald triad - cruelty to animals and fire-setting. No persistent bedwetting past the age of five recounted, but these acts seem to have led to the violent, homicidal behaviors. It actually made me reach out to contact my mom and thank her for keeping pets around when I was a kid: cats, rabbits, birds. Is there any opposite, does have such as a youth foster normative social behavior? At least I think it engenders care and concern for another living thing. Recalling from the Dahmer backstory, there is also it feels a formative prelude through unparenting: Chase was left alone and funded for stretches of time and generally let to develop like a weed.

No Place for the Weak: A True Story of Deviance, Torture and Social Cleansing is an excellent double feature with Vampire Killer matching it for sadistic torture, cannibalism, and a series of gory murders. There is an aside here mentioning that yarn and fact planar representation of a plot as a "rock spider wall". Looking, I see it is not a general or even Aussie term, just used for this case and it takes a presentation like that to track the murder tribe at work. The prime mover emerged as a neo-Nazi would-be killer of pederasts out of his own youthful brutalization in another exegesis of the genesis of murderous motivation.

Other members of this dire dozen which I have reviewed elsewhere include:

* Buried Beneath the Boarding House: A Shocking True Story of Deception, Exploitation and Murder
* The Townhouse Massacre: The Unforgettable Crimes of Richard Speck
* The Curse: A Shocking True Story of Superstition, Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism
* The Texas Tower Sniper: The Terrifying True Story of Charles Whitman
* The Kentucky Cannibal: The True Story of an Outlaw, Murderer and Man-Eater
* Gorilla Killer: A True Story of Betrayal, Brutality and Butchery
* Doctor Satan: A Despicable True Story of Hope, Exploitation, Greed and Murder
* The Beast: A Chilling True Story of a Psychopathic Child Killer
* Crimson Petticoats: The Betrayal, Brutality and Bloodshed behind the French Maid Massacres
Profile Image for Ashley Hedden.
5,259 reviews41 followers
January 27, 2023
Twelve From Hell 2: The Ultimate True Crime Case Collection was a good read by Ryan Green. This True Crime collection consists of; Kill 'Em All: A True Story of Abuse, Revenge and the Making of a Monster; Buried Beneath the Boarding House: A Shocking True Story of Deception, Exploitation and Murder; The Townhouse Massacre: The Unforgettable Crimes of Richard Speck; The Curse: A Shocking True Story of Superstition, Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism; The Texas Tower Sniper: The Terrifying True Story of Charles Whitman; The Kentucky Cannibal: The True Story of an Outlaw, Murderer and Man-Eater; Vampire Killer: A Terrifying True Story of Psychosis, Mutilation and Murder; Gorilla Killer: A True Story of Betrayal, Brutality and Butchery; No Place for the Weak: A True Story of Deviance, Torture, and Social Cleansing; Doctor Satan: A Despicable True Story of Hope, Exploitation, Greed and Murder; The Beast: A Chilling True Story of a Psychopathic Child Killer; and Crimson Petticoats: The Betrayal, Brutality and Bloodshed behind the French Maid Massacres. Kill 'Em All: A True Story of Abuse, Revenge and the Making of a Monster was another good true crime story by Ryan Green. At eleven years old, Carl Panzram stole a revolver from a neighbor. He was sent to a reform school where he was beaten, humiliated and raped. At fifteen, he lied about his age to join the army. He stole army supplies and was not only dishonorably discharged but also sent to military prison. After he left military prison, he started his reign of terror. Buried Beneath the Boarding House: A Shocking True Story and Deception Exploitation and Murder was a good read by Ryan Green. Dorothea Puente was an older lady whoowned a boarding house for the homeless, elderly and mentally ill. She had good standing in the community and was celebrated for her charitable work. In 1988, detectives were sent there while investigating the disappearance of a man who was last known to live there. The Townhouse Massacre: The Unforgettable Crimes of Richard Speck was a good read by Ryan Green. On July 13, 1966, Richard Speck was intoxicated and broke into a townhouse in Chicago. He went to rob nursing students and ended up waking them up and demanded they go into one room. They were willing to give him the money he wanted in exchange for their safety. He had other plans that didn’t include sparing their lives. This was a good read that followed a true crime story that gripped and scared the nation. The Curse: A Shocking True Story of Superstition, Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism was another good true crime read by Ryan Green. Leonarda was born into an abusive household in 1894. She attempted suicide twice to get rid of the pain. She married Raffaele in a way to find stability. Her mother didn’t approve of the marriage and decided to curse the marriage. Throughout their marriage there were many difficulties and disasters. The Texas Tower Sniper: The Terrifying True Story of Charles Whitman was a great true crime read by Ryan Green. Charles Whitman Jr was born and raised in Lake Worth, Florida. It seemed on the outside that they were living the American dream, but inside the house was much different. His father gave the family everything they wanted but also demanded perfection in return. The violence of his upbringing took its toll on Charles Jr. He struggled to control his inner thoughts and temper. This is the chilling account of one of the largest campus shootings in American History. The Kentucky Cannibal: The True Story of an Outlaw, Murderer and Man-Eater was a great true crime read by Ryan Green. In 1850, Boone Helm headed out west after a divorce and a number of encounters with the law. He was chasing the Californian Gold Rush with his cousin. His cousin pulled out at the last moment and Helm was incensed when he stabbed his cousin to death. Helm was detained in an asylum for the mentally disturbed where he managed to escape. He earned the nickname "The Kentucky Cannibal by opportunistically killing and consuming the flesh of adversaries and traveling companions. When he made it to California, violence was the law of the land, where his savage set of skills finally got him recognized and rewarded. Vampire Killer: A Terrifying True Story of Psychosis, Mutilation and Murder (Ryan Green's True Crime) was a great true crime story by Ryan Green. January 23, 1978, David Wallin returned home to find his pregnant wife, sexually assaulted and mutilated. She was missing body parts and large volumes of blood. Four days later the Sacramento Police Department were called to a home near the Wallin residence. They weren't prepared for what they saw. Daniel Meredith and Jason Miroth were shot multiple times. Evelyn Miroth was disembowelled and abused. Two year old David Ferreira, who Evelyn was baby sitting, was nowhere to be seen and it seems at the hands of the deranged mass murderer. This is the gripping account of Richard Chase, one of the most gruesome true crime stories in California's history. Gorilla Killer: A True Story of Betrayal, Brutality and Butchery was a great read by Ryan Green. February 20,1926, landlady Clara Newman opened her door to a potential tenant who asked about the availability of one of her rooms. Although he was a large man, he seemed polite and soft spoken. The moment he stepped into her home, he lunged forward and wrapped his fingers around her throat and forced her to the ground. The Gorilla Killer, Earle Nelson, travelled over 7,000 miles around North America undetected. During a span of two years, he choked the life out of more than twenty women. No Place for the Weak: A True Story of Deviance, Torture and Social Cleansing was a good read by Ryan Green. On May 20, 1999, the South Australian Police were investigating a disused bank in the town of Snowtown. This was in connection to the disappearance of multiple missing people. They found six barrels in the abandoned vault that were filled with acid and the remains of eight people. They also found some tools that were confirmed to have been used for prolonged torture, murder and cannibalism. They found that the torture and murders were committed by a group of killers. John Bunting was the leader of the four men that targeted paedophiles, homosexuals, addicts or the ‘weak’ in an attempt to cleanse society. Doctor Satan: A Despicable True Story of Hope, Exploitation, Greed and Murder (Ryan Green's True Crime) was a great read by Ryan Green. March 1944, the French Police and Fire Brigade were called to investigate a vile-smelling black smoke that poured out of the chimney of 21 Rue La Sueur for days. There was thick black smoke coming from the wood burning stoves throughout the property that were stocked with human remains. They discovered a furnace with larger body parts in the basement. Dr. Marcel Petiot is the homeowner is an admired physician. He claimed he was part of the Resistance and they bodies were of Nazi collaborators. The Beast: A Chilling True Story of a Psychopathic Child Killer (Ryan Green's True Crime) was a great true crime story by Ryan Green. Clifford Olson Junior unleashed hell on British Columbia, in July 1981, just days after his release from jail. He kidnapped, raped and killed six children and teenagers in one month. The police came under scrutiny for failing to connect the previous disappearances. The cases were passed to homicide detectives, and a new investigations began. Clifford became one of the main suspects in the police's hunt for a serial killer. Crimson Petticoats: The Betrayal, Brutality and Bloodshed behind the French Maid Massacres was a good read by Ryan Green. In 1861, police in a rural French village tore through the home of Martin Dumollard. They found chaos, and paths through mounds of bloodstained clothes that reached as high as the ceiling in some places. They thought that he had killed one woman but found out that they were completely off base. They were desperate to find out if the bloody garments belonged to some of the 648 missing women. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.
Profile Image for Kim.
502 reviews5 followers
November 2, 2022
There’s no terror like true terror…

This massive compilation of terrifying tales is, in fact, a true account of various events that shocked and horrified the public across several countries and spanning several decades. All the stories have one unifying characteristic: people are capable of great evil. Anyone with an interest in criminal justice, history, or psychology will, in my opinion, be fascinated by the true stories of these misanthropes, misogynists, and miscreants. Fascinating insights into their childhoods, their psychopathies, their relationships with others and with society, in general, are offered to provide context into the possible motivations for their actions. I appreciate the in-depth background material and I truly enjoy the novel-like presentation of these stories. You get the facts but you are also presented with such a clear and compelling narrative that you can “see” the events unfold and, at times, glimpse the possible underlying mindset allowing for such inexcusable and barbarous actions. I highly recommend this collection to all true crime enthusiasts.

Included within this compendium are:

Kill ‘Em All – A staggering account culled from the subject’s own autobiography detailing the horrifying crimes of Charles ‘Carl’ Panzram, considered to be one of the most sadistic serial killers in history.

Buried Beneath the Boarding House – The scandalous story of California resident, Dorothea Helen Puente, who in the 1980s, under the guise of running a boarding house for the disadvantaged, was found to have been collecting the social security checks for tenants she had murdered and buried on her property.

The Townhouse Massacre - The story of Richard Speck and his brutal acts of misogyny directed toward eight student nurses, shocking Chicago residents, are clearly detailed in all their grim horror as is the nightmarish evolution of a young boy into the infamous monster whose devilish deeds garnered massive national media attention in 1966.

The Curse - A highly detailed and totally absorbing depiction of the life of the infamous Italian serial killer Leonarda Ciancuilli, often referred to as the “Soap-Maker of Correggio”. Though her life was filled with tragedy, misfortune and disappointment, it was her misguided beliefs that led her to kill. She is famous for using her victim’s bodies to make soap and for using their blood to bake teacakes which she served to her unsuspecting family and friends.

The Texas Tower Sniper – An unflinching examination of the incredibly sad, yet sometimes remarkable life of Charles Whitman and his downward spiral culminating in the marine veteran taking several weapons up into the main building tower at the University of Texas at Austin on August 1, 1966, where he opened fire killing 14 people and wounding many others. At the time, the attack was the deadliest mass shooting by a lone gunman in U.S. history.

The Kentucky Cannibal – The American frontier is often presented in a highly glamorized fashion completely inconsistent with the harsh realities which bred a particularly ruthless individual named Boone Helm, the “Kentucky Cannibal”. The grisly details of his life story are the stuff of nightmares.

Vampire Killer – This bone-chilling account of one of humanity’s most ghoulish serial killers, Anthony Richard (Rick) Trenton Chase, will have you reaching for something warm and comforting. While not the most prolific serial killer in history, he did inspire many episodes of popular TV crime shows with his gruesome exploits. Only the strong of stomach should attempt to follow the 1977-1978 Sacramento, California, journey of Richard Chase as he plumbs the depths of mental illness and human depravity.

Gorilla Killer - Earle Nelson roamed over 7,000 miles of North America undetected, all the while satisfying his deranged desires. He choked the life out of more than twenty unsuspecting women, subjected their bodies to the most unspeakable acts, and seemingly enjoyed the entire process. Often cited as America’s first twentieth century serial sex murderer, he became something of a ‘superstar criminal’ before the concept of serial killers was popularized by the likes of Gacy, Bundy, Dahmer, or BTK.

No Place for the Weak - A compelling review of the events that rocked Adelaide, South Australia, between 1992 and 1999 when the stunning details of a series of grisly murders, the “Snowtown murders”, committed by John Bunting and a small group of his acquaintances were discovered by local police.

Doctor Satan – A detailed account of the life and crimes of Marcel Petiot, a sadistic serial killer active in 1940s Paris. Accepted by the community as a beloved and trusted physician, a community leader and politician, and a staunch patriot, his story proves that truth is stranger than fiction. In 1944 police raided one of his homes and what they found within defies belief.

The Beast – A riveting narrative exploring the heinous crimes of the highly charismatic Canadian serial killer, Clifford Olson, Jr. “The Beast of British Columbia” darkened the 80s with his penchant for kidnapping, raping, and killing children and teens. Despite having scored the highest rating ever recorded on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, he somehow managed to charm his unsuspecting victims into his car for a one-way ride to pain, humiliation and an untimely death.

Crimson Petticoats – A profoundly disturbing, yet exceptionally engrossing, exposé detailing the vicious crimes of Martin Dumollard, a French serial killer who, with the help and guidance of his wife, was responsible for numerous brutal deaths of young maids between the years of 1855 and 1861.
Profile Image for Ashley Hedden.
5,259 reviews41 followers
January 27, 2023
Twelve From Hell 2: The Ultimate True Crime Case Collection was a good read by Ryan Green. This True Crime collection consists of; Kill 'Em All: A True Story of Abuse, Revenge and the Making of a Monster; Buried Beneath the Boarding House: A Shocking True Story of Deception, Exploitation and Murder; The Townhouse Massacre: The Unforgettable Crimes of Richard Speck; The Curse: A Shocking True Story of Superstition, Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism; The Texas Tower Sniper: The Terrifying True Story of Charles Whitman; The Kentucky Cannibal: The True Story of an Outlaw, Murderer and Man-Eater; Vampire Killer: A Terrifying True Story of Psychosis, Mutilation and Murder; Gorilla Killer: A True Story of Betrayal, Brutality and Butchery; No Place for the Weak: A True Story of Deviance, Torture, and Social Cleansing; Doctor Satan: A Despicable True Story of Hope, Exploitation, Greed and Murder; The Beast: A Chilling True Story of a Psychopathic Child Killer; and Crimson Petticoats: The Betrayal, Brutality and Bloodshed behind the French Maid Massacres. Kill 'Em All: A True Story of Abuse, Revenge and the Making of a Monster was another good true crime story by Ryan Green. At eleven years old, Carl Panzram stole a revolver from a neighbor. He was sent to a reform school where he was beaten, humiliated and raped. At fifteen, he lied about his age to join the army. He stole army supplies and was not only dishonorably discharged but also sent to military prison. After he left military prison, he started his reign of terror. Buried Beneath the Boarding House: A Shocking True Story and Deception Exploitation and Murder was a good read by Ryan Green. Dorothea Puente was an older lady whoowned a boarding house for the homeless, elderly and mentally ill. She had good standing in the community and was celebrated for her charitable work. In 1988, detectives were sent there while investigating the disappearance of a man who was last known to live there. The Townhouse Massacre: The Unforgettable Crimes of Richard Speck was a good read by Ryan Green. On July 13, 1966, Richard Speck was intoxicated and broke into a townhouse in Chicago. He went to rob nursing students and ended up waking them up and demanded they go into one room. They were willing to give him the money he wanted in exchange for their safety. He had other plans that didn’t include sparing their lives. This was a good read that followed a true crime story that gripped and scared the nation. The Curse: A Shocking True Story of Superstition, Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism was another good true crime read by Ryan Green. Leonarda was born into an abusive household in 1894. She attempted suicide twice to get rid of the pain. She married Raffaele in a way to find stability. Her mother didn’t approve of the marriage and decided to curse the marriage. Throughout their marriage there were many difficulties and disasters. The Texas Tower Sniper: The Terrifying True Story of Charles Whitman was a great true crime read by Ryan Green. Charles Whitman Jr was born and raised in Lake Worth, Florida. It seemed on the outside that they were living the American dream, but inside the house was much different. His father gave the family everything they wanted but also demanded perfection in return. The violence of his upbringing took its toll on Charles Jr. He struggled to control his inner thoughts and temper. This is the chilling account of one of the largest campus shootings in American History. The Kentucky Cannibal: The True Story of an Outlaw, Murderer and Man-Eater was a great true crime read by Ryan Green. In 1850, Boone Helm headed out west after a divorce and a number of encounters with the law. He was chasing the Californian Gold Rush with his cousin. His cousin pulled out at the last moment and Helm was incensed when he stabbed his cousin to death. Helm was detained in an asylum for the mentally disturbed where he managed to escape. He earned the nickname "The Kentucky Cannibal by opportunistically killing and consuming the flesh of adversaries and traveling companions. When he made it to California, violence was the law of the land, where his savage set of skills finally got him recognized and rewarded. Vampire Killer: A Terrifying True Story of Psychosis, Mutilation and Murder (Ryan Green's True Crime) was a great true crime story by Ryan Green. January 23, 1978, David Wallin returned home to find his pregnant wife, sexually assaulted and mutilated. She was missing body parts and large volumes of blood. Four days later the Sacramento Police Department were called to a home near the Wallin residence. They weren't prepared for what they saw. Daniel Meredith and Jason Miroth were shot multiple times. Evelyn Miroth was disembowelled and abused. Two year old David Ferreira, who Evelyn was baby sitting, was nowhere to be seen and it seems at the hands of the deranged mass murderer. This is the gripping account of Richard Chase, one of the most gruesome true crime stories in California's history. Gorilla Killer: A True Story of Betrayal, Brutality and Butchery was a great read by Ryan Green. February 20,1926, landlady Clara Newman opened her door to a potential tenant who asked about the availability of one of her rooms. Although he was a large man, he seemed polite and soft spoken. The moment he stepped into her home, he lunged forward and wrapped his fingers around her throat and forced her to the ground. The Gorilla Killer, Earle Nelson, travelled over 7,000 miles around North America undetected. During a span of two years, he choked the life out of more than twenty women. No Place for the Weak: A True Story of Deviance, Torture and Social Cleansing was a good read by Ryan Green. On May 20, 1999, the South Australian Police were investigating a disused bank in the town of Snowtown. This was in connection to the disappearance of multiple missing people. They found six barrels in the abandoned vault that were filled with acid and the remains of eight people. They also found some tools that were confirmed to have been used for prolonged torture, murder and cannibalism. They found that the torture and murders were committed by a group of killers. John Bunting was the leader of the four men that targeted paedophiles, homosexuals, addicts or the ‘weak’ in an attempt to cleanse society. Doctor Satan: A Despicable True Story of Hope, Exploitation, Greed and Murder (Ryan Green's True Crime) was a great read by Ryan Green. March 1944, the French Police and Fire Brigade were called to investigate a vile-smelling black smoke that poured out of the chimney of 21 Rue La Sueur for days. There was thick black smoke coming from the wood burning stoves throughout the property that were stocked with human remains. They discovered a furnace with larger body parts in the basement. Dr. Marcel Petiot is the homeowner is an admired physician. He claimed he was part of the Resistance and they bodies were of Nazi collaborators. The Beast: A Chilling True Story of a Psychopathic Child Killer (Ryan Green's True Crime) was a great true crime story by Ryan Green. Clifford Olson Junior unleashed hell on British Columbia, in July 1981, just days after his release from jail. He kidnapped, raped and killed six children and teenagers in one month. The police came under scrutiny for failing to connect the previous disappearances. The cases were passed to homicide detectives, and a new investigations began. Clifford became one of the main suspects in the police's hunt for a serial killer. Crimson Petticoats: The Betrayal, Brutality and Bloodshed behind the French Maid Massacres was a good read by Ryan Green. In 1861, police in a rural French village tore through the home of Martin Dumollard. They found chaos, and paths through mounds of bloodstained clothes that reached as high as the ceiling in some places. They thought that he had killed one woman but found out that they were completely off base. They were desperate to find out if the bloody garments belonged to some of the 648 missing women. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.
118 reviews2 followers
December 12, 2022
*I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.*

The book "Twelve From Hell 2: The Ultimate True Crime Case Collection" written by Mr. Ryan Grenn, opens with the story of Fritz Haarmann who was born in 1879 in Hanover, Germany, in the aftermath of the 1872 Treaty of Frankfurt.

This is a biographical novel, which includes some fictionalized scenes and dialogues, the author tells us. But this is a true story!

When Germany surrendered in 1918, the country fell into disgrace, stripped of its dignity following its fallacious lies from which it advocated a resounding victory. It is in ruins and destroyed. The German troops can no longer resist the Allied armies and are collapsing!
The German revolutionary wave spread throughout the Empire and on November 9, 1918, William II was forced to abdicate.
Germany's industrial power (a major element of a nation's strength) is intact, since it has never been attacked on its soil, but the social fabric is dense, highlighting the regime and the wanderings of young men returning from the war, in search of landmarks, stability and work, in an extremely troubled time in the aftermath of this great war.
Germany is mortified and ashamed of her false propaganda of victory over her people.

On August 30, 1924, the paper mark (Papermark), was totally devalued due to hyperinflation during the years 1922 and 1923 due to hyperinflation, was then replaced by a new monetary unit called the Reichsmark
It was then that the golden age of Cabaret was born. His distractions sweeten their daily misery: it's scarcity


(quote)
In 1915, the imperial government had compiled statistics on the fodder of pigs, mainly consisting of potatoes, and had estimated that it would soon be difficult to feed them. At the same time, there was some fear of a shortage of potatoes for human consumption.
Before World War I, 95% meat self-sufficiency was possible in the German Reich. Most of the cattle consisted of pigs, but to feed them they depended on barley imported from Russia. The start of World War I inevitably led to the end of trade with Russia, which was now an adversary of Germany. Without barley imports, there was a shortage of pig feed and the bread supply of the population was also threatened.
In early 1915, the Imperial Statistical Office counted the stock of grain and fodder potatoes. Statistics have shown that there are not enough raw materials for the approximately 25 million German pigs.
The quality of these statistics is questioned in the literature. For fear of being confiscated or to obtain higher prices, farmers often reported that actual forage stocks were lower than they really were. As it was possible to make higher profits with the meat, the hidden potatoes were given to the pigs. The fodder potato survey at the end of 1914 therefore underestimated the actual stock.
Since the stocks of potatoes and grain needed to fatten the pigs could be used directly to supply the population, the slaughter of five million pigs was ordered.
An announcement by the Federal Council required all municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants to stock up on permanent meat products.
More than five million pigs were slaughtered in the first quarter of 1915. The immediate consequences were a flood of the market with durable meat products and a considerable drop in prices. They were forced to preserve them, but since inferior material had to be used for the cans due to a wartime shortage of metal, much of the preserved meat spoiled. However, hog prices rose rapidly in the second half of 1915 due to a severe shortage of cattle for slaughter. At the end of 1915, a maximum price for pork was therefore set, which ultimately only led to the development of a black market in pork and the scarcity of pork on the market.
This is the story of the “Schweinemord”
In addition, due to the slaughter of pigs, there was a lack of animal manure for the fields. This could not be replaced by artificial fertilizers, as the British naval blockade also prevented the import of saltpeter. Thus, grain and potato yields fell by more than half compared to the pre-war period, which ultimately led to a famine disaster.
(quote)


Fritz then uses a genius idea! Get rich on the black market! Even the Police won't suspect him since he blinds them, being a valuable informant who gives him his competitors!
For six years, this serial killer cold-bloodedly murdered more than twenty young men – and young boys – in a particularly gruesome way: he raped them, dismembered them and then cooked them into pies on the black market!
Without a fixed occupation; by turns thrift dealer, junk dealer, butcher, pharmacist's assistant, itinerant merchant, beggar, then private detective in the pay of the Police (who use him as an indicator of the environment in the underworld) he frequents the sordid underworlds of Berlin and from Hanover.
.
Its first victims are young men under the age of 18, who wander out of Hanover station, without any objective.
Fritz comes to "pick" them by choosing them according to his homosexual preferences, and drags them to drink at his house later, in order to rape them by force, then to massacre them, not without having bitten them savagely! Then he makes them disappear using an infallible method: he cuts them with an ax, like cattle, before burying them in a bag that is easier to make disappear.
In 1924, he will be identified after only three months and twenty days of investigation, so much the evidence of bones discovered lying in a bag which goes up from the bottom of a river, will overwhelm him 500 bones belonging to more than 20 victims !

The chapters alternate between these appalling murders that multiply with impunity, a spiral of infernal horrors, ever darker designs and his love for Hans, a pimp greedy for his gifts, who fears him more than he loves him. !

The art of perfectly describing the psychological portrait of the killer is perfect!
Creepyly effective, this novel is all the more gripping as its plot is set in the environment of the aftermath of the First World War, and the theater of events is located in Germany.

I immersed myself in this very gripping biographical novel, in total immersion despite the horror inspired by the protagonist! It's as if the author had wanted his reader to immerse himself in the skin of this serial-killer, homosexual rapist and cannibal, in cold blood!...
This gallery of horrors freezes the blood, revolts and will satisfy thrill seekers! That is to say if the spirit is frightened by its own hauntings!
The great myths of desire are put to death, souls inexorably corrupted, pathological loves, patterns of attachment, repressed.


A remarkable plot, an admirably well-designed suspense, a fascinating analysis, characters at the height of malevolence that are Fritz and his lover Hans... To discover absolutely!

The work of Mr. Ryan Green is very prolific since he has written more than 35 books and he is particularly interested in true crimes, the most horrible ones!

He is not afraid to make the reader uncomfortable from the first pages, plunging him into a world of unimaginable that will leave the most sensitive breathless.


What I liked :
A gripping novel that you won't let go of! Constant tension! The author brilliantly managed to skirt the dark side of the criminal! As if he had inserted himself into it!

The complexity of the characters, especially that of Fritz, a personality with a well-defined identity, which becomes more and more accentuated over the course of the story! Born shy and effeminate, humiliated by his siblings, rejected and cruelly beaten by his father, crushed by everyone except the blind love of his mother, he early cultivates a fragmentation of his personality!

What I did not like :
The quasi-surgical description of the cut-out bodies…

The crudeness of certain details can make you feel uncomfortable because they plunge into hard-to-imagine perversities.

My advice: Read this book!
Profile Image for Rachel S.
95 reviews9 followers
January 15, 2023
Twelve from Hell 2 by Ryan Green is another fascinating true crime collection! Thank you to the author for sending me a copy. We have a lot to cover so let’s get into it: Stars 7/5 overall + Stars 4/5 narrator Steve White + Twisted 4/5 + Intrigue 4/5!

Kill ‘Em All - Carl Panzram 1910 : ** incredibly graphic ** - the definition of how violent trauma can have horrendous outcomes.

Buried Beneath the Boarding House - Dorothea Puente : Reviewed this previously - The sweet old lady next door may not be what she seems.

The Townhouse Massacre - 13 July 1966, “It just wasn’t their night” said Richard Speck. What a mild way to put it.

The Curse - 1894, Leonarda Cianciulli - what would she sacrifice to protect her only child…or who?

The Texas Tower Sniper - 1966, Charles Whitman Jr infamously became the first televised mass killer.

The Kentucky Cannibal - In 1850, Boone Helm traveled cross country killing & consuming with wild abandon & vigor.

The Vampire Killer - 1978, Richard Chase was a case nature vs nurture by his mother gone horribly wrong.

The Gorilla Killer - In 1926, Earle Nelson roamed over 7K miles of North America undetected during a span of almost two years while he choked the life out of more than twenty women & subjected their bodies to atrocious acts.

No Place for the Weak - On 20 May 1999, the South Australian Police found out what happens when a group of vigilantes - four men, led by John Bunting - go devastatingly too far.

Doctor Satan - 1944, Paris, Dr. Marcel Petiot : When people seek asylum & fall into the wrong hands, the results are deadly.

The Beast - In July 1981 British Columbia, Clifford Olson Junior kidnapped, SA’d, and killed six children and teenagers in a single month & that’s barely scratching the surface.

Crimson Petticoats - In 1861 in a rural French village, there’s 648 missing women & the path seems to always lead to Martin Dumollard.
Profile Image for Melissa Akin.
121 reviews
June 7, 2023
I love true crime but this was very very long and most of the stories were from the early 1900’s. Just okay for me
2 reviews
August 14, 2024
You get your money's worth with this book. Every story is well written and good. I loved this book. The stories and long and interesting. The amount of content is amazing.
Profile Image for Hal.
656 reviews5 followers
March 31, 2023
This book profiles twelve notorious and maybe not so notorious killers from the past. The format is in a quite detailed narrative that is not only superbly written but remarkably detailed. In fact when I got into the first profile of a man I had not heard of before I thought is was probably and fictional account as it made it seem like it was from an eye witness. In doing some background research myself on the individual it sure enough related very closely what happened and the perp had left behind a lot of material for reference.

The careers of many here are long and brutal in their depravity of savagery regarding human life. It makes one wonder how do these individuals get so disconnected to human decency? Usually it appears in their early history often with a disjointed family life. Add to this a total lack of basic human empathy and you have the perfect formula for the mayhem that ensues.

True crime aficionados will have a field day with this massive work, each profile is like a book in itself. It will provide you with hours of griping narrative that will leave you on the edge of your seat, and grateful that you never encountered on of these monsters in the proverbial dark alley. Or anywhere else!
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