Spree Killers: Devastating Massacres by Unpredictable Gunmen

by Nigel Cawthorne

This investigation into spree killing analyses the psychology of this chilling and relatively new phenomenon. Cawthorne carefully examines each case and shows how the killers suppress their rage and violent fantasies until a small incident sparks off their fatal rampage.

The cases include that of Michael Ryan, who slew sixteen in the quiet English town of Hungerford; Wade Frankum, who went berserk with a rifle in a shopping plaza in Sydney, Australia; teenage students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold and their killing spree at Columbine High School in Colorado, USA; Seung-Hui Cho, responsible for the Virginia Tech massacre, the deadliest shooting frenzy by a single gunman in the history of the USA; and the incident with Isaac Zamora in Mount Vernon, Washington State.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2009

About the author

Nigel Cawthorne is an Anglo-American writer of fiction and non-fiction, and an editor. He has written more than 80 books on a wide range of subjects and has contributed to The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph Daily Mail and The New York Times. He has appeared on television and BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Many of Nigel Cawthorne's books are compilations of popular history, without footnotes, references or bibliographies. His own web site refers to a description of his home as a "book-writing factory" and says, "More than half my books were commissioned by publishers and packagers for a flat fee or for a for a reduced royalty".

One of his most notable works was Taking Back My Name, an autobiography of Ike Turner, with whom he spent a number of weeks working with him on, taking up residence in Turner's house. The book caused much controversy, resulting in court cases for three years following its release.

Cawthorne currently lives in Bloomsbury, London with his girlfriend and son, Colin (born 1982).