Serial Murder 101: Killer Timothy Krajcir

by Bridget DiCosmo

The shocking true account of a man who learned everything there was to know about getting away with murder.

Thirty years ago, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, became the hunting ground for a predator. Women were being brutally raped and murdered in a series of savage-and seemingly unconnected-crimes.

Not until 2007 would the truth come to light, when DNA evidence pointed the finger at Timothy Krajcir, a convicted sex offender who'd never even appeared on a suspect list. He was a man who had pursued a degree in criminal justice and psychology-alongside the very investigators who would later use those same criminal sciences to finally stop him.

Genres: True Crime

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 29, 2009

Reviews

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a series of VERY cold cases finally solved with DNA fingerprinting. There are a few unexpected elements in this story and the only reason it dragged for in places was the author's decision to tell the whole story once, from the police point of view, and then have the killer tell you all again from his own perspective -- without really adding anything to the story that way.

[Kyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Chillingly, however, detectives discovered that Krajcir had an unusual advantage when it came to avoiding detection: not only had he pursued a degree in criminal justice and psychology--subjects that would enable him to unleash a reign of terror for years--but he'd done so alongside the very investigators who would later use those same criminal sciences to finally stop him..."

Reading the back synopsis of the book was probably the most misleading thing one could do.

This book talks about Timothy Krajcir, a serial murderer and rapist who tormented women for thirty years in Missouri, Pennsylvania, and other states. Reading the back of the book if you're in your local library or bookstore makes you think that you're going to read about a serial offender who was studying criminal justice, being alongside the cops, and committing crimes while the police were trying to hunt him down.

The book was interesting. I'm not sure if I enjoy DiCosmo's writing style. She writes in a crude, repetitive way. She repeats herself like I'm watching a sixteen-part DBZ episode or some old-timey radio special. She writes in a circular fashion that often times I was skipping paragraphs because she had just said that same thing just a couple pages ago. But she was engaging for the most part. At least until the last three or so chapters. Then it just droned on, so boring. If you're interested in the cases and don't want to read the whole book just read the last few chapters because you pretty much get the book all over again.

Krajcir studying criminal justice and studying it alongside the investigators is just so briefly mentioned I forgot that was the whole selling point of the synposis. DiCosmo presents that as the whole reason Krajcir was able to elude police for so long instead of the actual fact that he really had no specific target for his victims. He had no consistent pattern in choosing victims other than just picking one at random and stalking them for a week or so. In fact, why would DiCosmo even mention this as the highlight to him getting away when in her book she clearly points out all of the mistakes he made and even claims that the reason he began killing was not because of his criminal justice and psychology experience but the fact someone he knew from prison told him if he was going to do something then "leave no witnesses".

"The shocking true account of a man who learned everything there was to know about getting away with murder..."

I guess it's something with journalism and click-baity headlines. But this book wasn't about that. Krajcir left behind witnesses, DNA evidence, and so much more that it doesn't really give me the idea of "psychological criminal mastermind". DiCosmo is more graphic and descriptive of Krajcir's rapes than she is of his "criminal justice and psychology" background.

Overall, it was an okay book. I wouldn't read it again. I felt like the synopsis was misleading and her circular way of writing was so repetitive that towards the end I was just so bored because she had literally said the exact same thing several different times before.

[Linda Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style wasn’t for me. It was repetitive and seemed to drone on about nothing. I found myself skipping ahead saying yup got it the first 18 times this was mentioned. To be honest, I wound up googling the story of this vile POS because I wanted to read about the criminal justice degree he pursued to help him get away with murder as the back of the book lead me to believe. Fun fact: the book briefly mentioned this and it wasn’t really the degree that helped. It was DNA not being a think and scoping out places & victims where he wouldn’t be suspected of visiting a la Israel Keyes (way better to read about that story IMHO)

[Jayne Hollensbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insane

Being a child during his murderous rampage and series of rapes, I don't remember much about it from that time. I'm sure my parents and grandparents shielded me from the knowledge at the time that this was happening in my hometown. After reading this and knowing all of the places and many of the people that were affected by these horrendous crimes, it scares me that this happened while I was growing up in this town. This book was riveting. I read it in two sittings. This man was the boogeyman we were all warned about growing up.

[Kelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love true crime books but this one was hard to finish. Found it very redundant and boring. Put it down half way through to take a break and read something exciting. I do think the author did well at portraying who the victims were. That is the only reason why I gave it 2 stars. The 2nd half of the book was the same as the first just with an interview process.

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting true crime story, but I did not care for the writing style. It was very repetitive at several points, making stretches of the book drag.

[Izabela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title is a little misleading, as the book doesn't really focus on Krajcir's studies and knowledge of psychology and criminology. It is, however, one great read. The details of Krajcir's crimes are chillingly described. This is an awesome book for the die-hard true crime fans who enjoy blood and guts.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Case study of serial killer Timothy Krajcir who terrorized southern Illinois and Cape Girardeau, Missouri 30-35 years ago. Presentation is matter of fact without sensationalizing the murders. Well done. Recommended to fans of true life crime.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had never heard of this series of crimes before (assaults and murders in Missouri, Illinois, Pennsylvania), so it was interesting learning about them, but the book is not so hot.