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Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil
On an internationally acknowledged Scale of Evil, these are the worlds worst serial killers. The qualifications for entry to this list of the vilest criminals of all time are a propensity for sadism, torture and murder without a shred of remorse.
Using expert evidence, this book looks behind the shocking headlines and delves into the minds of monsters. What drove them to crime? What turned seemingly ordinary members of society into sick slayers. How did they self-justify their heinous deeds? And, quite simply, how did they get away with murder?
Included in this catalog of the worlds most evil killers are men who committed crimes so monstrous that they almost defy belief yet to their neighbors and work colleagues seemed quite normal.
Dennis Rader was a respected pillar of society yet set out on nightly killing sprees. David Parker Ray was just an average working guy but had a torture chamber in his backyard. Fred and Rose West raised a large extended family yet violently abused and murdered their own children.
These are examples of the killers who sank to the darkest depths of depravity. Find out what made them such monsters in Serial The Worlds Most Evil.
Using expert evidence, this book looks behind the shocking headlines and delves into the minds of monsters. What drove them to crime? What turned seemingly ordinary members of society into sick slayers. How did they self-justify their heinous deeds? And, quite simply, how did they get away with murder?
Included in this catalog of the worlds most evil killers are men who committed crimes so monstrous that they almost defy belief yet to their neighbors and work colleagues seemed quite normal.
Dennis Rader was a respected pillar of society yet set out on nightly killing sprees. David Parker Ray was just an average working guy but had a torture chamber in his backyard. Fred and Rose West raised a large extended family yet violently abused and murdered their own children.
These are examples of the killers who sank to the darkest depths of depravity. Find out what made them such monsters in Serial The Worlds Most Evil.
190 pages, Hardcover
First published March 18, 2010
42 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Nigel Blundell
92 books20 followersNigel Blundell is a journalist who has worked in Australia, the United States and Britain. He spent 25 years in Fleet Street before becoming an author and contributor to national newspapers. He has written more than 40 books, including best-sellers on crime and royalty. He co-wrote the Top Ten exposé Fall of the House of Windsor, which first revealed the so-called ‘Squidgygate’ tape and the infidelity of both Princess Diana and Prince Charles. His other factual subjects have included military history, celebrity scandals, and ghosts and the paranormal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 22, 2020
This is an ARC Review - release date is 30 May 2020
This book had some very interesting takes on serial killers from around the world. I found it interesting to read about serial killers outside of the United States. This is obviously a dark topic and not everyone will be in the mood to read such a novel. I found the writing a little bit choppy and sometimes the story is hard to follow. It was also interesting to me that Jeffrey Dahmer was not included in this book of serial killers. Overall there were some interesting facts that I learned from this book but it just didn’t flow as well as I would’ve hoped
This book had some very interesting takes on serial killers from around the world. I found it interesting to read about serial killers outside of the United States. This is obviously a dark topic and not everyone will be in the mood to read such a novel. I found the writing a little bit choppy and sometimes the story is hard to follow. It was also interesting to me that Jeffrey Dahmer was not included in this book of serial killers. Overall there were some interesting facts that I learned from this book but it just didn’t flow as well as I would’ve hoped
April 22, 2020
This book had some very interesting takes on serial killers from around the world. I found it interesting to read about serial killers outside of the United States. This is obviously a dark topic and not everyone will be in the mood to read such a novel. I found the writing a little bit choppy and sometimes the story is hard to follow. It was also interesting to me that Jeffrey Dahmer was not included in this book of serial killers. Overall there were some interesting facts that I learned from this book but it just didn’t flow as well as I would’ve hoped.
May 25, 2020
SENSATIONALIST NON-FICTION WITH NO POINT WHATSOEVER
I this this quote is was offended me the most about this book - because the author points the finger at others while committing the exact same crime as he accuses them of. He calls those, who are fascinated by serial killers 'sick and warped' - I would say the same about him, but add that he's offense is worse, because he uses that fascination to make money.
👎 WHAT I DISLIKED 👎
Nothing new: There is absolutely nothing in this book that hasn't been said before - better - by others. It contributes nothing new to the study of serial killers.
Why?: No explanation is ever given for why this book was 'necessary' - why was it written? What is the reader supposed to learn from it? What need does it satisfy?
Sensational: The stories in this book are written for one purpose and one purpose only, to recount the horrors that these people committed. There's no other purpose here. No examination of why, these killers committed their crimes. No study of patterns. Nothing useful at all. Just a collection of terrible deeds committed by terrible people.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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"A notorious murder site always presents a problem. It attracts attention from sick and warped minds and often becomes a regular tourist attraction."
I this this quote is was offended me the most about this book - because the author points the finger at others while committing the exact same crime as he accuses them of. He calls those, who are fascinated by serial killers 'sick and warped' - I would say the same about him, but add that he's offense is worse, because he uses that fascination to make money.
👎 WHAT I DISLIKED 👎
Nothing new: There is absolutely nothing in this book that hasn't been said before - better - by others. It contributes nothing new to the study of serial killers.
Why?: No explanation is ever given for why this book was 'necessary' - why was it written? What is the reader supposed to learn from it? What need does it satisfy?
Sensational: The stories in this book are written for one purpose and one purpose only, to recount the horrors that these people committed. There's no other purpose here. No examination of why, these killers committed their crimes. No study of patterns. Nothing useful at all. Just a collection of terrible deeds committed by terrible people.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: 0 'You Are Not Alone' Books with Isolated Characters
November 27, 2020
Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil is absolutely fascinating. This is the second book I have read by Nigel Blundell and I am far from disappointed. I was ecstatic to learn of the serial killers in other countries. Some I actually had not heard of and others made my jaw drop. That doesn't happen too often anymore. As macabre as it sounds, I really enjoyed this book.
Thanks to Netgalley, Pen & Sword, and Nigel Blundell for an ARC in return for an honest review
Thanks to Netgalley, Pen & Sword, and Nigel Blundell for an ARC in return for an honest review
June 8, 2020
I absolutely loved reading this book. It has been exactly what I have been looking for. It is only a very short read so really quick to read. It doesn't mess around with any waffle, it is straight in and gives you all the hard facts. Some serial killer books give, I think, too much information that I don't necessarily need to know/ not interested in. This is to the point, and gives you the right amount of information on loads of different serial killers around the world. There has been some really interesting serial killers included in this which I have never heard of, and it is refreshing to not revisit some of the "classic" serial killers that we normally read about.
I would say this read is more like a starter read to then go on and do more research and reading on a particular serial killer that you are interested in. Which I will be doing. Loved it, I will definitely be reading more from this author.
Thanks to Netgally for my ARC copy.
I would say this read is more like a starter read to then go on and do more research and reading on a particular serial killer that you are interested in. Which I will be doing. Loved it, I will definitely be reading more from this author.
Thanks to Netgally for my ARC copy.
May 10, 2020
Ok... It's really hard to review something like this.
I think most people want to know what makes murderers and serial killers tick. What makes a human being kill another human being. And then another. And another... Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil takes a look at some of the worst people that have walked this earth.
I had to take breaks while reading this book. Yes, I've heard about most of the cases that this book covers but it still hits hard. Especially when the victims are kids. That being said - some chapters seemed unfinished, in some places text seemed repetitive, text overall needs some polishing up. This is a really short book - 190 pages. I wish the author had either expanded each chapter of picked the worst of the 27 cases he covered.
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think most people want to know what makes murderers and serial killers tick. What makes a human being kill another human being. And then another. And another... Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil takes a look at some of the worst people that have walked this earth.
I had to take breaks while reading this book. Yes, I've heard about most of the cases that this book covers but it still hits hard. Especially when the victims are kids. That being said - some chapters seemed unfinished, in some places text seemed repetitive, text overall needs some polishing up. This is a really short book - 190 pages. I wish the author had either expanded each chapter of picked the worst of the 27 cases he covered.
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2020
I had a fascination about serial killers’ stories.
I want to know how they think. And what drove them to commit such unthinkable acts.
It was a fast and easy read.
Most of the stories in it, I already know.
The way it was written was a bit hurried I believe.
The author wants to dump all the information in a few paragraphs so it felt forced.
But it’s an interesting read all in all. .
I want to know how they think. And what drove them to commit such unthinkable acts.
It was a fast and easy read.
Most of the stories in it, I already know.
The way it was written was a bit hurried I believe.
The author wants to dump all the information in a few paragraphs so it felt forced.
But it’s an interesting read all in all. .
December 15, 2021
I already knew about most of the serial killers covered in this book, so it wasn't really surprising (apart from the fact that some names were missing *Dahmer* hello?).
Real-life serial killers are a really interesting subject, but this turned out to be an average, okay read for me. Most of the chapters were too short and they read like a transcript of an average video you can find on YT. This book brought absolutely nothing new to the table.
Still, the subject is fascinating so it is an interesting read, especially for true crime lovers.
3 stars.
May 16, 2020
The best book on serial killers yet!
If you love reading about serial killers, then you are going to LOVE this book! I was drawn in from the first page and could not stop reading! Nigel Blundell goes into the crimes of the selected serial killers, giving a complete rundown, to the arrest and trial of each killer.
The many different killers that are profiled in this book are among some of the worst that we have ever seen, and they are drawn from all over the globe. In this book, you can travel from one end of the globe to the other, getting insights and some of the processes of each of the killers.
This book was seriously beyond amazing, and I honestly loved it. I have long been interested in serial killers, and what pushed them into becoming the monsters that they are. This book is one of the best that I have read on the subject, and I look forward to seeing what this author comes out with next!
If you love reading about serial killers, then you are going to LOVE this book! I was drawn in from the first page and could not stop reading! Nigel Blundell goes into the crimes of the selected serial killers, giving a complete rundown, to the arrest and trial of each killer.
The many different killers that are profiled in this book are among some of the worst that we have ever seen, and they are drawn from all over the globe. In this book, you can travel from one end of the globe to the other, getting insights and some of the processes of each of the killers.
This book was seriously beyond amazing, and I honestly loved it. I have long been interested in serial killers, and what pushed them into becoming the monsters that they are. This book is one of the best that I have read on the subject, and I look forward to seeing what this author comes out with next!
May 1, 2020
The world is full of some sick and twisted people and within these pages Nigel Blundell has collected some of the very worst.
Well written without playing to the subjects ego's so as to limit the notoriety most of these killers strive for, it is an interesting look at some of the most heinous crimes and the perpetrators the world has ever produced and seen the likes of such depravity.
Well written without playing to the subjects ego's so as to limit the notoriety most of these killers strive for, it is an interesting look at some of the most heinous crimes and the perpetrators the world has ever produced and seen the likes of such depravity.
April 27, 2020
The book was very informative and interesting. I know alot about the serial killers in The United States, but I knew very little about serial killers from other countries. It was nice to learn some new facts that I was not aware of until I read the book!!
April 23, 2020
I have a little obsession with true crime and serial killers but it mainly those in the US. I loved reading about other serial killers from the different countries. This is a dark book and it might not be from some people but if you are like me then you will enjoy this book. There were a few killers that I thought would have been if the in this book but if the author put in ever killer then the book would be very long. I would be reading more from Nigel Blundell in the future.
Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 3, 2020
Overall this was a fairly decent compilation of some of the worlds most evil serial killers. I enjoyed the fact that the book was not just restricted to the United States. At times the writing was a little bit choppy and some sentences were either repeated or left incomplete.
The chapters did a decent job in giving background on the various individuals and their crimes. I was shocked that certain killers didnt make the cut. I would have liked to see Jeffrey Dahmer, Edmund Kemper, Gary Ridgeway, the Zodiac killer and John Duffy make appearances as well.
I will definitely be looking to read more of the true crime books written by Blundell in the future . If you are interested in reading some true crime but arent the type to commit to a book strictly on one killer and their crimes in detail...This might be a more applicable book for you. While the details are there this is a fairly mild read.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The chapters did a decent job in giving background on the various individuals and their crimes. I was shocked that certain killers didnt make the cut. I would have liked to see Jeffrey Dahmer, Edmund Kemper, Gary Ridgeway, the Zodiac killer and John Duffy make appearances as well.
I will definitely be looking to read more of the true crime books written by Blundell in the future . If you are interested in reading some true crime but arent the type to commit to a book strictly on one killer and their crimes in detail...This might be a more applicable book for you. While the details are there this is a fairly mild read.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2020
This Book was sent to me via NETGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was very pleased to be selected to read this book, I have a great interest in True Crime, Criminology and Serial Killers, and have read various books and materials regarding the subject.
This book, I feel is maybe best suited to someone who is just starting out on the subject.
There are many chapters, each focusing on a different person/people who have made history as some of the worlds most evil killers.
Amongst the more ‘celebrity-like’ people such as Bundy, BTK, Gacy and the West’s, there were chapters on some lesser known killers which I found interesting to read.
However, the chapters are relatively short, and I feel like they read like more of a timeline of each person’s crimes. There is very little substance to them, a very brief history of their childhood and then straight into a series of dates/victims.
There are some details of how the crimes were committed so it’s maybe not for everyone’s taste, but I personally do not struggle to read that content.
I feel like the chapters could have been padded out with more details, for example, Ted Bundy had so many facets to his personality, and much more to his life and case which was never really addressed in the book.
I also feel a general background of criminology/forensics could be discussed as an introduction. Several times, the Michael Stone scale of psychopathy is mentioned in relation to a person/people, yet there’s no explanation as to what that is or how it is applied to criminals and psychology.
Now to discuss the writing itself;
I found the book easy to read, the language is basic and non-scientific so anyone with an interest in the subject could pick it up and read it without requiring previous knowledge, so in that case it’s very accessible to a wide audience.
However, there are some editorial mistakes, I’m unsure if this is due to not being fully edited and published yet, but the proof reading has gone amiss in some areas.
There are several paragraph errors throughout the book, where words appear to be cut/copy/pasted but with sections of text missing so it doesn’t link in and make any sense, I first picked up on this early in the book during the Fred/Rose West chapter.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and read it in 2 days.
Small chapters allow little sessions of reading if the reader is pressed for time.
I found it relatively basic on the subject but I feel that’s maybe due to me having read lots on the subject prior to this, and I would still recommend it to anyone wanting to start out.
I was very pleased to be selected to read this book, I have a great interest in True Crime, Criminology and Serial Killers, and have read various books and materials regarding the subject.
This book, I feel is maybe best suited to someone who is just starting out on the subject.
There are many chapters, each focusing on a different person/people who have made history as some of the worlds most evil killers.
Amongst the more ‘celebrity-like’ people such as Bundy, BTK, Gacy and the West’s, there were chapters on some lesser known killers which I found interesting to read.
However, the chapters are relatively short, and I feel like they read like more of a timeline of each person’s crimes. There is very little substance to them, a very brief history of their childhood and then straight into a series of dates/victims.
There are some details of how the crimes were committed so it’s maybe not for everyone’s taste, but I personally do not struggle to read that content.
I feel like the chapters could have been padded out with more details, for example, Ted Bundy had so many facets to his personality, and much more to his life and case which was never really addressed in the book.
I also feel a general background of criminology/forensics could be discussed as an introduction. Several times, the Michael Stone scale of psychopathy is mentioned in relation to a person/people, yet there’s no explanation as to what that is or how it is applied to criminals and psychology.
Now to discuss the writing itself;
I found the book easy to read, the language is basic and non-scientific so anyone with an interest in the subject could pick it up and read it without requiring previous knowledge, so in that case it’s very accessible to a wide audience.
However, there are some editorial mistakes, I’m unsure if this is due to not being fully edited and published yet, but the proof reading has gone amiss in some areas.
There are several paragraph errors throughout the book, where words appear to be cut/copy/pasted but with sections of text missing so it doesn’t link in and make any sense, I first picked up on this early in the book during the Fred/Rose West chapter.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and read it in 2 days.
Small chapters allow little sessions of reading if the reader is pressed for time.
I found it relatively basic on the subject but I feel that’s maybe due to me having read lots on the subject prior to this, and I would still recommend it to anyone wanting to start out.
April 26, 2020
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
When I was granted my wish for this title I was ecstatic! I have always been interested in things I can't seem to understand, like how someone can be so physically and even mentally cruel to another human being. A part of me feels like if I could just crack the code that I could find a way to better the world, but the more I learn about these individuals the farther away I get from ever reaching an understanding. I cannot wrap my head around the fact that an individual, with a mental malfunction or not, could give such little value to another human being's existence that they seek to snuff it out.
Children are the worst to read about, not only because they've just begun, but because they can't possibly have the mental capacity to understand what is happening to them. It pains me to read about them, but at the same time knowing that the monsters that snatched them up are no longer hiding under anyone else's beds brings a sense of peace.
My problem with this title and why I give it two stars and would not recommend it is simple: it doesn't seek to humanize the victims. They often just read like one long run on sentence with names, ages, and locations. These victims feel like just how the killer saw them, just another name. I wish rather than spending so much time on going into the trials of all these killers that it gave us more about the victims. If they lived/escaped what became of them? Who were they survived by? Where was that something that allowed me to grieve their passing because I felt like I knew them? In my opinion, the author used up these individuals for facts and discarded them without glancing back, leaving those yet to be found just as lost and hopeless as they once were.
When I was granted my wish for this title I was ecstatic! I have always been interested in things I can't seem to understand, like how someone can be so physically and even mentally cruel to another human being. A part of me feels like if I could just crack the code that I could find a way to better the world, but the more I learn about these individuals the farther away I get from ever reaching an understanding. I cannot wrap my head around the fact that an individual, with a mental malfunction or not, could give such little value to another human being's existence that they seek to snuff it out.
Children are the worst to read about, not only because they've just begun, but because they can't possibly have the mental capacity to understand what is happening to them. It pains me to read about them, but at the same time knowing that the monsters that snatched them up are no longer hiding under anyone else's beds brings a sense of peace.
My problem with this title and why I give it two stars and would not recommend it is simple: it doesn't seek to humanize the victims. They often just read like one long run on sentence with names, ages, and locations. These victims feel like just how the killer saw them, just another name. I wish rather than spending so much time on going into the trials of all these killers that it gave us more about the victims. If they lived/escaped what became of them? Who were they survived by? Where was that something that allowed me to grieve their passing because I felt like I knew them? In my opinion, the author used up these individuals for facts and discarded them without glancing back, leaving those yet to be found just as lost and hopeless as they once were.
May 6, 2020
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have always had a fascination about serial killers and the reasons and psychology behind their actions. This book has satisfied my curiousity on this topic since it covers serial killer cases from all over the world. It provides the readers with the background story of the killers and the horrific crimes they have commited. It's a very comprehensive and binge-wothy book, especially recommended if you are into true crime or serial killers.
I have always had a fascination about serial killers and the reasons and psychology behind their actions. This book has satisfied my curiousity on this topic since it covers serial killer cases from all over the world. It provides the readers with the background story of the killers and the horrific crimes they have commited. It's a very comprehensive and binge-wothy book, especially recommended if you are into true crime or serial killers.
May 10, 2020
This was a great read! Loved getting to learn about other serial killers from different parts of the world. Also, it was interesting to know how the authorities caught these criminals. And at the same time, it was also interesting to learn about the different moments of incompetence and negligence that happens then until now.
April 28, 2020
Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil is a dark collection of famous serial killers from all over the world. For someone who is fascinated with this genre, I find the book quite well written however there are some parts that doesn't seem to flow seamlessly. This book is informative and for I believed it is an update from the previously published book. A must for fans who likes reading about serial killers.
I was gifted a copy by NetGalley, however the views here are of my own.
I was gifted a copy by NetGalley, however the views here are of my own.
November 4, 2020
**I received this from NetGalley for an honest review. **
I enjoyed reading about the variety of murderers throughout the ages, not just in the States. Some were familiar to me while others I never heard about. I was really excited for this book because I enjoy true crime. It let me down though because it gave me just a taste before pulling back.
What happened to the victims? Where are they today? What were the possible triggers?
For me this was written like an overenthusiastic teen writing as much as he could fit, but then going onto the next murderer without a proper transition. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book just not as much with the missing facets.
I enjoyed reading about the variety of murderers throughout the ages, not just in the States. Some were familiar to me while others I never heard about. I was really excited for this book because I enjoy true crime. It let me down though because it gave me just a taste before pulling back.
What happened to the victims? Where are they today? What were the possible triggers?
For me this was written like an overenthusiastic teen writing as much as he could fit, but then going onto the next murderer without a proper transition. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book just not as much with the missing facets.
April 26, 2020
Nigel Blundell’s "Serial Killers: The World’s Most Evil" continues his ‘World’s Most’ series. In itself, the volume is a made up of chapters, each one dedicated to a serial killer/pair of serial killers whose cruelty, as ranked by Dr Michael Stone’s “Scale of Evil”. However, the author only refers to either Dr Stone or his work in a couple of instances. There is also a very summary review of what are the measuring factors to the scale, making it nigh on irrelevant pseudo-justification. It makes one wonder: is this collection really a representation of the Most, as per the ranking; or is the ranking a mere excuse, and most of the cases are dealt with to meet Blundell’s fancy? Similarly, the cases only represent a range of countries, without in-depth research beyond the most accessible cases (US, UK, Canada Australia, and some continental European) – hardly ‘the world’.
The rationale behind the order of these best-known cases of serial killers is, as far as I have been able to discern, absent (maybe the Scale of Evil does stad behind it, but it is not clear). The chapters are short, and they attempt to present as factual a tale as possible. That, of course, is not always achieved despite the sparsity of detail on the victims and their specific cases. There is also a focus on the family background that smacks of hidden psychoanalysis, but won’t openly address it – it merely hints at it being the cause for the aberrant behaviours.
In short, this is a short compilation of the monsters that fascinate and horrify many social histories. There is nothing new or compelling, let alone current, but it is a quick read for dark moods (or after having watched a film/series on the subject).
Who would enjoy this
"Serial Killers: The World’s Most Evil" is a book for simple reference, and as such it would be a good read for people with a general curiosity about the subject, yet who don’t want to get too involved in details. Also, given that it is a very easy read, despite the subject matter, it suits a period of ‘in between books’ for readers of crime fiction and murder mysteries.
Who should give this a pass
Mr Blundell’s book is too superficial for a reader who has a keen interest in history, or who looks to understand the psychology of people the book talks about. I would therefore discourage serious crime and history readers from spending time on this – bar as an introductory overview, if they have interest to get a general view of the subject.
Additionally, this is not a book for thrill-seekers – it does not have enough detail and/or gore to entertain such readers. It is more like up update, than an up-to-date narrative.
Conclusions and suggestions
I was rather surprised that Nigel Blundell, an experienced journalist with many (and a few quite popular) titles to his name would produce what I can only see as lazy work. The information in "Serial Killers: The World’s Most Evil" is so accessible, the style so unremarkable, that it rather appears to be amateur, apprenticed ghost-writing.
I picked up the volume expecting to learn much, both morbidly and intellectually picked by the subject matter. Since I had nigh on no knowledge on serial killers to begin with, I did learn a bit. Mostly, how repetitive and gratuitously aggressive these people were. That was about it, really. In fact, I took to search the net for information supplementing that I had read in each chapter. That seemed more productive than the mere reading. Also, I realised how unreliable a supposed research text is, when it offers no source material referencing. This may be an offshoot of my academic background, but it gained in weight the further I progressed.
I haven’t read the previous volumes in the series, but if this tome is an indication of what to expect, I’m glad I haven’t got them in my waiting list. What I would suggest, in case it was not the case before, for any other future books in this collection:
- Bring new investigative findings to the table. We all can ‘Google’ up old information.
- If there is a ranking, there has to be a clear set for selection and classification. Explain and apply thoroughly.
- Always cite sources, with clear references to where in the text they apply.
- ‘The World’ is much larger than the geography covered here. Expand this by doing more research, or drop it.
The rationale behind the order of these best-known cases of serial killers is, as far as I have been able to discern, absent (maybe the Scale of Evil does stad behind it, but it is not clear). The chapters are short, and they attempt to present as factual a tale as possible. That, of course, is not always achieved despite the sparsity of detail on the victims and their specific cases. There is also a focus on the family background that smacks of hidden psychoanalysis, but won’t openly address it – it merely hints at it being the cause for the aberrant behaviours.
In short, this is a short compilation of the monsters that fascinate and horrify many social histories. There is nothing new or compelling, let alone current, but it is a quick read for dark moods (or after having watched a film/series on the subject).
Who would enjoy this
"Serial Killers: The World’s Most Evil" is a book for simple reference, and as such it would be a good read for people with a general curiosity about the subject, yet who don’t want to get too involved in details. Also, given that it is a very easy read, despite the subject matter, it suits a period of ‘in between books’ for readers of crime fiction and murder mysteries.
Who should give this a pass
Mr Blundell’s book is too superficial for a reader who has a keen interest in history, or who looks to understand the psychology of people the book talks about. I would therefore discourage serious crime and history readers from spending time on this – bar as an introductory overview, if they have interest to get a general view of the subject.
Additionally, this is not a book for thrill-seekers – it does not have enough detail and/or gore to entertain such readers. It is more like up update, than an up-to-date narrative.
Conclusions and suggestions
I was rather surprised that Nigel Blundell, an experienced journalist with many (and a few quite popular) titles to his name would produce what I can only see as lazy work. The information in "Serial Killers: The World’s Most Evil" is so accessible, the style so unremarkable, that it rather appears to be amateur, apprenticed ghost-writing.
I picked up the volume expecting to learn much, both morbidly and intellectually picked by the subject matter. Since I had nigh on no knowledge on serial killers to begin with, I did learn a bit. Mostly, how repetitive and gratuitously aggressive these people were. That was about it, really. In fact, I took to search the net for information supplementing that I had read in each chapter. That seemed more productive than the mere reading. Also, I realised how unreliable a supposed research text is, when it offers no source material referencing. This may be an offshoot of my academic background, but it gained in weight the further I progressed.
I haven’t read the previous volumes in the series, but if this tome is an indication of what to expect, I’m glad I haven’t got them in my waiting list. What I would suggest, in case it was not the case before, for any other future books in this collection:
- Bring new investigative findings to the table. We all can ‘Google’ up old information.
- If there is a ranking, there has to be a clear set for selection and classification. Explain and apply thoroughly.
- Always cite sources, with clear references to where in the text they apply.
- ‘The World’ is much larger than the geography covered here. Expand this by doing more research, or drop it.
May 17, 2020
This Book was sent to me via NETGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was very pleased to be selected to read this book, I have a great interest in True Crime, Criminology and Serial Killers, and have read various books and materials regarding the subject.
This book, I feel is maybe best suited to someone who is just starting out on the subject.
There are many chapters, each focusing on a different person/people who have made history as some of the worlds most evil killers.
Amongst the more ‘celebrity-like’ people such as Bundy, BTK, Gacy and the West’s, there were chapters on some lesser known killers which I found interesting to read.
However, the chapters are relatively short, and I feel like they read like more of a timeline of each person’s crimes. There is very little substance to them, a very brief history of their childhood and then straight into a series of dates/victims.
There are some details of how the crimes were committed so it’s maybe not for everyone’s taste, but I personally do not struggle to read that content.
I feel like the chapters could have been padded out with more details, for example, Ted Bundy had so many facets to his personality, and much more to his life and case which was never really addressed in the book.
I also feel a general background of criminology/forensics could be discussed as an introduction. Several times, the Michael Stone scale of psychopathy is mentioned in relation to a person/people, yet there’s no explanation as to what that is or how it is applied to criminals and psychology.
Now to discuss the writing itself;
I found the book easy to read, the language is basic and none -scientific so any one with an interest in the subject could pick it up and read it without requiring previous knowledge, so in that case it’s very accessible to a wide audience.
However, there are some editorial mistakes, I’m unsure if this is due to not being fully edited yet, but the proof reading has gone amiss in some areas.
There are several paragraph errors throughout the book, where words appear to be cut/copy/pasted but with sections of text missing so it doesn’t link in and make any sense, I first picked up on this early in the book during the Fred/Rose West chapter.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and read it in 2 days.
Small chapters allow little sessions of reading of the reader is pressed for time.
I found it relatively basic on the subject but I feel that’s maybe due to me having read lots on the subject prior to this, and I would still recommend it to anyone wanting to start out on the subject.
I was very pleased to be selected to read this book, I have a great interest in True Crime, Criminology and Serial Killers, and have read various books and materials regarding the subject.
This book, I feel is maybe best suited to someone who is just starting out on the subject.
There are many chapters, each focusing on a different person/people who have made history as some of the worlds most evil killers.
Amongst the more ‘celebrity-like’ people such as Bundy, BTK, Gacy and the West’s, there were chapters on some lesser known killers which I found interesting to read.
However, the chapters are relatively short, and I feel like they read like more of a timeline of each person’s crimes. There is very little substance to them, a very brief history of their childhood and then straight into a series of dates/victims.
There are some details of how the crimes were committed so it’s maybe not for everyone’s taste, but I personally do not struggle to read that content.
I feel like the chapters could have been padded out with more details, for example, Ted Bundy had so many facets to his personality, and much more to his life and case which was never really addressed in the book.
I also feel a general background of criminology/forensics could be discussed as an introduction. Several times, the Michael Stone scale of psychopathy is mentioned in relation to a person/people, yet there’s no explanation as to what that is or how it is applied to criminals and psychology.
Now to discuss the writing itself;
I found the book easy to read, the language is basic and none -scientific so any one with an interest in the subject could pick it up and read it without requiring previous knowledge, so in that case it’s very accessible to a wide audience.
However, there are some editorial mistakes, I’m unsure if this is due to not being fully edited yet, but the proof reading has gone amiss in some areas.
There are several paragraph errors throughout the book, where words appear to be cut/copy/pasted but with sections of text missing so it doesn’t link in and make any sense, I first picked up on this early in the book during the Fred/Rose West chapter.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and read it in 2 days.
Small chapters allow little sessions of reading of the reader is pressed for time.
I found it relatively basic on the subject but I feel that’s maybe due to me having read lots on the subject prior to this, and I would still recommend it to anyone wanting to start out on the subject.
May 11, 2020
Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil by Nigel Blundell is a brief overview, based on Dr Michael Stone's Scale of Evil, of the most evil killers. The review copy I had didn't include the brief introduction to that scale though it is referred to as being at the start of the book, so readers unfamiliar will have access to what that entails.
First, what this is not. For readers of Ann Rule and other true crime writers who recount the crimes almost like fictional stories, this may disappoint a little. This is not a narrative walk-through of the crimes themselves, this is more of a recap of what the killer(s) did, how they managed to operate as long as they did and what led to their ultimate capture or exposure.
If you are mostly interested in learning about any serial killers you may not have heard of, this book will serve you well. You won't get a lot of narrative detail but you will get a lot of what would be in an abbreviated case file. While these are located largely in western/Anglo countries and does not investigate in some other countries, I think this is as much a case of citing cases where the information is complete and easily accessible rather than a desire to leave out any regions of the world. Not every country makes their serial killers as well known or makes the cases so openly available. And this book is less about extensive research and more about collecting what is available into a nice small package. In that, it succeeds.
People who have read extensively on the subject, or those wanting more depth, particularly psychological analysis, may want to skim the table of contents first and see if there are any new names you aren't familiar with. For many other readers who, like myself, simply wanted to be reminded of what we read and/or studied years ago along with a brief overview of each case will be satisfied with a wider net but not a deep cast. We likely have some deep casts on our bookshelves and can always revisit those when we want to immerse ourselves again into the psyches of evil.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
First, what this is not. For readers of Ann Rule and other true crime writers who recount the crimes almost like fictional stories, this may disappoint a little. This is not a narrative walk-through of the crimes themselves, this is more of a recap of what the killer(s) did, how they managed to operate as long as they did and what led to their ultimate capture or exposure.
If you are mostly interested in learning about any serial killers you may not have heard of, this book will serve you well. You won't get a lot of narrative detail but you will get a lot of what would be in an abbreviated case file. While these are located largely in western/Anglo countries and does not investigate in some other countries, I think this is as much a case of citing cases where the information is complete and easily accessible rather than a desire to leave out any regions of the world. Not every country makes their serial killers as well known or makes the cases so openly available. And this book is less about extensive research and more about collecting what is available into a nice small package. In that, it succeeds.
People who have read extensively on the subject, or those wanting more depth, particularly psychological analysis, may want to skim the table of contents first and see if there are any new names you aren't familiar with. For many other readers who, like myself, simply wanted to be reminded of what we read and/or studied years ago along with a brief overview of each case will be satisfied with a wider net but not a deep cast. We likely have some deep casts on our bookshelves and can always revisit those when we want to immerse ourselves again into the psyches of evil.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
May 6, 2020
Growing up, the Green River Killer was our bogeyman, he wasn't caught until I was in high school, by a man I knew as Officer Reichert, who would come to my elementary school and talk to us about stranger danger. In my adult years I would watch a movie about this man and the strides he took to capture one of the most evil men in the world. My stepbrother remembers seeing Ridgeway at lunch when he worked Boeing. As a pastor, my father once counseled a family of one of Rideway's victims. It's a game of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, Serial Killer edition.
Maybe it's because I was born, raised, and continue to live in the murderous epicenter of the Pacific Northwest, but since I was old enough to Google, I guess, since the invention of Google, I've been fascinated with serial killers. So it was only natural that when I saw that this book was available to wish for, I was definitely interested, and it did not disappoint.
A very thorough and comprehensive rundown of some truly evil and horrific people, this book gives just enough detail to sate the curious mind, but not too much so as it's difficult to read. Some may still find it a bit graphic, as I've become mildly desensitized due to my own research, but I would warn off those that are more sensitive.
Even as familiar as I am with my state's sordid past, I was shocked to learn of yet another case that hit very close to home, specifically, the town most of my family lives, and where my husband graduated from high school. This isn't some sprawling city, either, this is a small, farming town at the base of Mt. Rainier. While this book is nonfiction, it is neither dry nor clinical. It was engaging and readable, and I would recommend it to anyone that is at all interested in a complete, yet compact, history of some of the most deplorable humans to grace mankind.
Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Maybe it's because I was born, raised, and continue to live in the murderous epicenter of the Pacific Northwest, but since I was old enough to Google, I guess, since the invention of Google, I've been fascinated with serial killers. So it was only natural that when I saw that this book was available to wish for, I was definitely interested, and it did not disappoint.
A very thorough and comprehensive rundown of some truly evil and horrific people, this book gives just enough detail to sate the curious mind, but not too much so as it's difficult to read. Some may still find it a bit graphic, as I've become mildly desensitized due to my own research, but I would warn off those that are more sensitive.
Even as familiar as I am with my state's sordid past, I was shocked to learn of yet another case that hit very close to home, specifically, the town most of my family lives, and where my husband graduated from high school. This isn't some sprawling city, either, this is a small, farming town at the base of Mt. Rainier. While this book is nonfiction, it is neither dry nor clinical. It was engaging and readable, and I would recommend it to anyone that is at all interested in a complete, yet compact, history of some of the most deplorable humans to grace mankind.
Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2020
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
When I was granted my wish for this title I was ecstatic! I have always been interested in things I can't seem to understand, like how someone can be so physically and even mentally cruel to another human being. A part of me feels like if I could just crack the code that I could find a way to better the world, but the more I learn about these individuals the farther away I get from ever reaching an understanding. I cannot wrap my head around the fact that an individual, with a mental malfunction or not, could give such little value to another human being's existence that they seek to snuff it out.
Children are the worst to read about, not only because they've just begun, but because they can't possibly have the mental capacity to understand what is happening to them. It pains me to read about them, but at the same time knowing that the monsters that snatched them up are no longer hiding under anyone else's beds brings a sense of peace.
My problem with this title and why I give it two stars and would not recommend it is simple: it doesn't seek to humanize the victims. They often just read like one long run on sentence with names, ages, and locations. These victims feel like just how the killer saw them, just another name. I wish rather than spending so much time on going into the trials of all these killers that it gave us more about the victims. If they lived/escaped what became of them? Who were they survived by? Where was that something that allowed me to grieve their passing because I felt like I knew them? In my opinion, the author used up these individuals for facts and discarded them without glancing back, leaving those yet to be found just as lost and hopeless as they once were.
When I was granted my wish for this title I was ecstatic! I have always been interested in things I can't seem to understand, like how someone can be so physically and even mentally cruel to another human being. A part of me feels like if I could just crack the code that I could find a way to better the world, but the more I learn about these individuals the farther away I get from ever reaching an understanding. I cannot wrap my head around the fact that an individual, with a mental malfunction or not, could give such little value to another human being's existence that they seek to snuff it out.
Children are the worst to read about, not only because they've just begun, but because they can't possibly have the mental capacity to understand what is happening to them. It pains me to read about them, but at the same time knowing that the monsters that snatched them up are no longer hiding under anyone else's beds brings a sense of peace.
My problem with this title and why I give it two stars and would not recommend it is simple: it doesn't seek to humanize the victims. They often just read like one long run on sentence with names, ages, and locations. These victims feel like just how the killer saw them, just another name. I wish rather than spending so much time on going into the trials of all these killers that it gave us more about the victims. If they lived/escaped what became of them? Who were they survived by? Where was that something that allowed me to grieve their passing because I felt like I knew them? In my opinion, the author used up these individuals for facts and discarded them without glancing back, leaving those yet to be found just as lost and hopeless as they once were.
October 26, 2020
On an internationally acknowledged Scale of Evil, these are the world's worst serial killers. The qualifications for entry to this list of the vilest criminals of all time are a propensity for sadism, torture and murder without a shred of remorse.
Using expert evidence, this book looks behind the shocking headlines and delves into the minds of monsters. What drove them to crime? What turned seemingly ordinary members of society into sick slayers. How did they self-justify their heinous deeds? And, quite simply, how did they get away with murder?
What does the book promise to deliver to the reader?
Nigel Blundell looks at a variety of well known and not so well know serial killers. It is a basic look at each case so therefore does not go into too much detail which might be easier to read for those who are just starting to read into true crime. It is a fairly easy to read book, where some areas can be quite choppy but its not enough to lose track of what is going on.
I liked this book, it was interesting to see a mixture of killers from not only America but also the UK. There was a lot of information I already knew about the majority of killers mentioned as I am a huge true crime fan but there were some smaller less known names that was also interesting to read about. It was a shame to see that some big names such as Ed Kemper, Jeffery Dahmer and The Zodiac were not included.
If you are looking to make a start into true crime this would be a great place to start, but if like me you are a big fan then its a nice read to freshen up on a lot of cases you already know.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Using expert evidence, this book looks behind the shocking headlines and delves into the minds of monsters. What drove them to crime? What turned seemingly ordinary members of society into sick slayers. How did they self-justify their heinous deeds? And, quite simply, how did they get away with murder?
What does the book promise to deliver to the reader?
Nigel Blundell looks at a variety of well known and not so well know serial killers. It is a basic look at each case so therefore does not go into too much detail which might be easier to read for those who are just starting to read into true crime. It is a fairly easy to read book, where some areas can be quite choppy but its not enough to lose track of what is going on.
I liked this book, it was interesting to see a mixture of killers from not only America but also the UK. There was a lot of information I already knew about the majority of killers mentioned as I am a huge true crime fan but there were some smaller less known names that was also interesting to read about. It was a shame to see that some big names such as Ed Kemper, Jeffery Dahmer and The Zodiac were not included.
If you are looking to make a start into true crime this would be a great place to start, but if like me you are a big fan then its a nice read to freshen up on a lot of cases you already know.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2020
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a high level view of a number of serial killers, devoting a short chapter to each with a synopsis of their crimes and how they were caught and punished. The author has made loose attempts to link this back to a ‘Scale of Evil’ that was developed by a psychologist working in this field, but I felt like this almost got forgotten about quite a lot, and only really got mentioned when a serial killer was noted as being on the highest tier of the scale - is, deemed one of the most evil killers, due to a lack of empathy / remorse for their crimes.
It was a decent read and a good entry point into this genre. As noted, it was relatively high level so there was no great depth of discussion regarding each case, but it was a good jumping off point for finding out about cases that you may wish to explore further. I have read a lot in this genre and there were several cases noted that I hadn’t heard about previously. There were also updates for cases right up until the end of 2019 which was good, it contained a good mix of older and more recent cases.
There were a number of significant formatting issues with the book, but I would assume that these will be remedied before the book goes on general release.
In summary, this is a decent read for someone starting to ready widely in this genre.
This is a high level view of a number of serial killers, devoting a short chapter to each with a synopsis of their crimes and how they were caught and punished. The author has made loose attempts to link this back to a ‘Scale of Evil’ that was developed by a psychologist working in this field, but I felt like this almost got forgotten about quite a lot, and only really got mentioned when a serial killer was noted as being on the highest tier of the scale - is, deemed one of the most evil killers, due to a lack of empathy / remorse for their crimes.
It was a decent read and a good entry point into this genre. As noted, it was relatively high level so there was no great depth of discussion regarding each case, but it was a good jumping off point for finding out about cases that you may wish to explore further. I have read a lot in this genre and there were several cases noted that I hadn’t heard about previously. There were also updates for cases right up until the end of 2019 which was good, it contained a good mix of older and more recent cases.
There were a number of significant formatting issues with the book, but I would assume that these will be remedied before the book goes on general release.
In summary, this is a decent read for someone starting to ready widely in this genre.
June 16, 2020
I would describe Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil as a collection of summaries of serial killers and their crimes. The book isn't very long and so can't really go into much depth but does provide just enough details to peak the readers' interest. If you are a true crime fan like me then there's a high chance you will already know some of these serial killers but, I did discover a few new ones that I haven't heard of and my appetite was for more was stoked. I think we all have our favourite types of serial killers (or is that just me being weird?) so what I liked about this book was that the short stories made it easy for me to stay interested and I was able to quickly find the ones I wanted to know more about without having to drudge through stuff I was already familiar with. It definitely felt like a book that you would use as a base for your research that you would make notes with what you want to go digging for more on. That being said, I even enjoyed the little refreshers of cases that I already knew about.
In my opinion the book was well written with just the right amount of juicy (I mean, shocking) details that most people would find fascinating and horrifying. I really enjoyed this trip to nightmare city!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review
In my opinion the book was well written with just the right amount of juicy (I mean, shocking) details that most people would find fascinating and horrifying. I really enjoyed this trip to nightmare city!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review
May 8, 2020
This is an interesting, if slightly sickening, roll call of the world's most evil killers - mainly culled from America and Britain but with a few from further afield. The stories cover all the basic facts, from the circumstances of their birth and upbringing, to a catalogue of their crimes and how they were caught.
One thing that stands out for many of these killers is how 'ordinary' they appeared to family, friends and colleagues - how surprising it was when their crimes were revealed. I was also amazed at the variety of silly sobriquets the American press felt the need to append to the serial killers, both before and after capture, which probably just fed the ego of many. And of course the missed opportunities to apprehend them at an earlier date when suspicions had been aroused.
The list is not exhaustive - I was surprised multiple killers like the Yorkshire Ripper and Dennis Nilsen were not included. The list did not appear to be in any particular order, neither chronological nor in number of victims.
Overall an interesting list, ensuring the reader checks over his/her shoulder when out alone!
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Sword for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One thing that stands out for many of these killers is how 'ordinary' they appeared to family, friends and colleagues - how surprising it was when their crimes were revealed. I was also amazed at the variety of silly sobriquets the American press felt the need to append to the serial killers, both before and after capture, which probably just fed the ego of many. And of course the missed opportunities to apprehend them at an earlier date when suspicions had been aroused.
The list is not exhaustive - I was surprised multiple killers like the Yorkshire Ripper and Dennis Nilsen were not included. The list did not appear to be in any particular order, neither chronological nor in number of victims.
Overall an interesting list, ensuring the reader checks over his/her shoulder when out alone!
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Sword for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2020
Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil by Nigel Blunder.
This book summarises and retells the stories of some of the most evil serial killers in history. Using Dr Michael Stone's scale of evil as a referencing point as to why Blundell selected certain killers to be in his book, each serial killer is discussed from early life to eventual capture. Opening with the notorious "Toy Box" killer David Parker Ray and ending with killer doctors such as Dr Harold Shipman, known as "Britain's biggest-ever serial killer with an official toll of 215 victims". Blundell's book is gripping and fast paced, making it very easy to read "just one more section" and finding yourself at 2am wondering where the time has gone.
There are some errors with repeated sentences or spelling mistakes, however, this is easily fixed with editing and I doubt would make it to the final publication. If you enjoy watching true crime documentaries or listening to true crime podcasts I do feel like this book would be enjoyable for you.
Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil will be published on 30th May 2020.
This book summarises and retells the stories of some of the most evil serial killers in history. Using Dr Michael Stone's scale of evil as a referencing point as to why Blundell selected certain killers to be in his book, each serial killer is discussed from early life to eventual capture. Opening with the notorious "Toy Box" killer David Parker Ray and ending with killer doctors such as Dr Harold Shipman, known as "Britain's biggest-ever serial killer with an official toll of 215 victims". Blundell's book is gripping and fast paced, making it very easy to read "just one more section" and finding yourself at 2am wondering where the time has gone.
There are some errors with repeated sentences or spelling mistakes, however, this is easily fixed with editing and I doubt would make it to the final publication. If you enjoy watching true crime documentaries or listening to true crime podcasts I do feel like this book would be enjoyable for you.
Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil will be published on 30th May 2020.
May 22, 2020
This was a fairly generic look at some of the world's most well known serial killers, which didn't provide anything particularly new, but was an entertaining read. I would recommend it to people who want a brief overview of lots of different individuals, as the nature of the book means that there isn't a great deal of detail included here, but it is a good way to dip your toe into the world of true crime, to discover areas that you may then want to further explore in more detail elsewhere. I didn't really like the tone of the writing at times, as I felt there were moments when it veered a little into victim blaming and there was a definite element of judgement that I don't think is warranted in this kind of overview book.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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