DS Book Reviews

H.H. Holmes

H.H. Holmes is a famous serial killer who lived in Chicago. Once again he was one that proved looks can be deceiving. If you looked at him, you saw a well respected man who dressed well and was self made. What was hidden inside of him and his “castle” is something that would frighten anyone.

Depraved: The Definitive True Story of H.H. Holmes: Herman Mudgett, born in New Hampshire in 1860, purportedly achieved worldwide notoriety as the serial killer Dr. H. H. Holmes. He certainly made an impression in Chicago, where he built a “castle” filled with soundproof rooms, stairways that went nowhere and chutes leading to huge vats in the basement. How many women died there is unknown. Ironically, a case of insurance fraud that was no fraud at all resulted in Holmes’s arrest, conviction and hanging. He had talked his aide, Ben Pitezel, into getting an insurance policy on his own life, assuring Pitezel that they could render a cadaver unidentifiable, pass it off as Pitezel and collect $10,000. Then he killed Pitezel and, subsequently, three of his five children. Schechter ( Deviant ) has done a masterful job of reconstructing Holmes’s killing spree and detailing the detective work that led to his apprehension.

Devil’s Disciple: The Deadly Dr. H.H. Holmes: Some say he was Jack the Ripper, but Herman W. Mudgett, alias Dr. H. H. Holmes, was far too busy piling up corpses on this side of the Atlantic to have ever traveled abroad. The basement of his infamous Chicago “Castle” boasted a crematory, lime pits, acid vats, and torture devices. Also in the basement was his “human elasticizer,” a basic torture rack that he believed could be employed to create a race of giants.  Holmes’ final confession began with these words: “Yes, I was born with the devil in me.

The Beast of Chicago: In this graphic novel series, Geary covers some of history’s most famous murders in meticulously researched, beautifully drawn volumes. This one takes on H.H. Holmes, one of America’s first serial killers, whose “murder castle” shocked and stunned the era. It’s 1886, and Holmes arrives in Chicago, a seemingly clean and enterprising young man but actually a murderous con artist with a spectacular ability to talk people into trusting him.

Serial Killer Reference Books

Here are a few different reference type books about serial killers. Most include information and stories about various serial killers, unsolved crimes and more.

The Serial Killer Files: The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the World’s Most Terrifying Murderers :  Hollywood’s make-believe maniacs like Jason, Freddy, and Hannibal Lecter can’t hold a candle to real life monsters like John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and scores of others who have terrorized, tortured, and terminated their way across civilization throughout the ages.
Rigorously researched and packed with the most terrifying, up-to-date information, this innovative and highly compelling compendium covers every aspect of multiple murderers—from psychology to cinema, fetishism to fan clubs, “trophies” to trading cards. (I own this book and highly recommend it. It’s my “go to” when I’m writing new posts for Dead Silence. It’s a great peice to have in any serial killer/true crime book collection.)

Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters :  In this unique book, Peter Vronsky documents the psychological, investigative, and cultural aspects of serial murder, beginning with its first recorded instance in Ancient Rome, through fifteenth-century France, up to such notorious contemporary cases as cannibal/necrophile Ed Kemper, Henry Lee Lucas, Ted Bundy, and the emergence of what he classifies as the “serial rampage killer” such as Andrew Cunanan.

The A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers :  The A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers is a lighthearted but reasonably tasteful collection of information about serial killers, by a respected historian of crime (Harold Schechter) and the author of Human Monsters (David Everitt). It includes individual entries devoted to the most famous killers from all over the world, and amusing sections devoted to such topics as black widows, bluebeards, killer couples, Lustmord, Nazi buffs, power tools, pyromania, and trophies. There are also useful tips for further ventures into art, movies, books, zines, music, and tourist attractions devoted to serial killers.

Female Serial Killers: How and Why Women Become Monsters :  From history’s earliest recorded cases of homicidal females to Irma Grese, the Nazi Beast of Belsen, from Britain’s notorious child-slayer Myra Hindley to ‘Honeymoon Killer’ Martha Beck, from the sensational murder-spree of Aileen Wournos, to cult killers, homicidal missionaries, and the sexy femme fatale, Vronsky challenges the ordinary standards of good and evil and defies the accepted perceptions of gender role and identity.

All information above came from Amazon.com.

Ted Bundy Books

Here are a few different books on serial killer Ted Bundy. Some you may have heard of, others maybe new! If you’d like to submit a review on any of the books below, just let me know!

Ted Bundy : Conversations with a Killer: Michaud and Aynesworth spent weeks interviewing Bundy before he was put to death in Florida. Bundy’s story was detailed by the duo in their chilling volume The Only Living Witness (Classics Returns, LJ 11/1/99). The best portion of that title was the excerpts from those interviews. Originally released in 1989, the book contains the full transcripts from those conversations. Without ever admitting that he performed any of these acts (he maintained his innocence until hours before his execution), Bundy offers a matter-of-fact, third-person account of how “someone” performing kidnappings, rapes, and murders might go about it and how that person might act under these circumstances.

The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule: Rule met Bundy at a local crisis counseling center. Sharing long nights helping those who felt that suicide was the only option, they developed a friendship. She believed that she knew the handsome psychology major about to attend law school; however, she only knew a part of the man. Bundy was also a cold-blooded serial killer. This story follows Rule as she at first denies that the Bundy she knew could have committed these murders, and then the realization that he was ruthless, dangerous, and evil. Lorelei King is a phenomenal reader; her vocal characterizations never seem forced and fit seamlessly into the narration. Listeners will be spellbound and anxiously awaiting the next twist, when they are not double-locking their windows and doors. A wonderful tape that will find a home in all true crime collections.

Defending the Devil: My Story As Ted Bundy’s Last Lawyer by Polly Nelson: Bundy, who admitted to at least 30 murders and was executed in Florida in 1989, was one of America’s most publicized serial killers, which perhaps explains the publication of this rather tedious account of the legal maneuvering that preceded his death. Nelson, an inexperienced associate of a Washington firm specializing in corporate law, accepted the case without knowing what it might entail. Yet she came to believe, as she notes twice in the first two chapters, “I was born to represent Ted Bundy.” She went to work on the litigation in 1985, six years after Bundy had been convicted, drafting and/or presenting numerous appeals to various courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. But while the legal wrangling may interest lawyers, lay readers will not find it absorbing. The only material of general interest is Nelson’s portrait of her client: she found him ingratiating but not especially bright, and adjudged him incompetent in legal matters, contrary to his own view.

Ted Bundy: The FBI Files: Ted Bundy: The FBI Files contains the actual original and declassified criminal investigation files related to Theodore (Ted) Bundy who was wanted for questioning in as many as 36 murders in Colorado, Oregon, Utah, Florida and Washington. In June 1977, the FBI initiated a fugitive investigation when Ted Bundy escaped from a Colorado courthouse where he was on trial for murder. He was recaptured but escaped again, in December 1977, from the Garfield County Jail in Colorado. He was placed on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list and was subsequently arrested, using an alias, by the local authorities in Florida for a stolen car violation in February 1978. In 1979, he was sentenced to death and ultimately executed for the murder of two Florida State University sorority sisters. This publication is being published and made available now for the first time in a paperback book edition for those interested in the history of the life of Ted Bundy and also for those who enjoy reading about serial killers.

All information above came from Amazon.com

Top 10 True Crime Books

While searching around the internet I came across the Top 10 True Crime Books About Psychopathic Killers. I don’t believe I’ve read any of the books below. I’ve supplied this list to one of the reviewers and she plans on selecting one to write a review about. Once she’s finished you’ll find it here!

1) The Misbegotten Son by Jack Olsen
Author Jack Olsen accomplishes the task of delving deep into the mind of serial killer and cannibal, Arthur J. Shawcross - the man responsible for one of the worse killing spree’s in history of New York State. The delivery of Olsen’s chronicles of Shawcross’ life mixed with the captivating psychological mental autopsy of this madman, makes this one of the all time great “true crime” books to read.

2) Lustmord by Brian King
Brian King offers this compilation of essays, short stories, confessions, letters, poetry, photos and more, all created by 40 killers, cannibals and psychopaths, and presents the reader with insight into the mind of each of the criminals studied.

3) I : The Creation of a Serial Killer by Brian King
The last book of crime journalist Brian King delves into the life and mind of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, the “Happy Face Killer,” who was driven by a rage one hopes never to encounter.

4) Jack the Ripper: An Encyclopedia
There are many books on Jack the Ripper but this one offers the reader a comprehensive study of each of his victims and logical arguments for who was and who was not a victim. He also approaches the subject of the true identity Jack the Ripper with the same analytical style. At the end of the book, readers learn how to conduct their own “Ripper Walk” through the East End of London.

5) Jack the Ripper A-Z
by Paul Begg, Keith Skinner, Martin Fido
A must for anyone devoted to the subject of Jack the Ripper. This is the leading reference book in the field, offering a detailed listing of everything having to do with the Whitechapel killings of 1888.

6) Careless Whispers
The story of policemen, Truman Simons, who found three tortured teenagers dead in a Texas park and vowed to find their killer. The books shares Simons’ odd relationship he developed with one of the killers, while working as a prison guard. Careless Whispers is an emotionally moving classic that won the 1987 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime.

7) Without Conscience by Robert Hare
Robert Hare offers an effective comparison of the characteristics of “psychopaths” with those who eventually kill due to being inflicted with an “antisocial personality disorder.” He gives the reader a checklist of common characteristics of a psychopath based on his 25 years of research on the topic. He also provides tips on what to do if one encounters one of the many psychopaths that walk amongst us.

8 ) Whoever Fights Monsters by Robert K. Ressler
A look at the career of FBI man Robert Ressler who is accredited for creating the system used today for profiling violent criminals. Through out his career Ressler interviewed the worst of the bunch including Ted Bundy, John Joubert, and John Wayne Gacy. In his book he recounts the interviews he had with notorious killers as they disclose their private thoughts, childhood traumas, and thoughts about their crimes.

9) Die for Me: The Terrifying True Story of the Charles Ng & Leonard Lake
The reason this book has been listed is not necessarily because the writing is spell bounding or even overly captivating but because of the thorough job of author Robert D. Hare as he shows readers how the mind of Leonard Lake worked as he began to act out what he had so long fantasized. Leonard called his acts “project Miranda”, named after a girl in the book “The Collector”. For true crime readers with tough stomachs; this book is a “must have.”

10) House of Secrets by Lowell Cauffiel
This is a story of Eddie Sexton and the psychopathic control he had over his wife and their 12 kids. Author Lowell Cauffiel does an excellent job of sending chills up the spine of even the most hardened true crime readers, as he tells this tale of the twisted, grotesque events of incest, control, and murder that this family participated in, just to keep good old Dad happy. It’s sad, it’s sick, but it’s true crime at its best.

The above list was found at About.Com