The Serial Killer Files: The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the Worlds Most Terrifying Murderers by Harold Schechter

The Serial Killer Files: The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the Worlds Most Terrifying Murderers Reviews

• 
  Julia

  As a fan of true crime, I was so excited to read this book. However, once I brought it home from Barnes and Noble, I was just about instantly disappointed. There's more cons than pros with The Serial Killer Files, that I almost don't know where to start.
  
  The biggest, most obvious annoyance I have with this book is that the author is straight up bad at writing. I feel like he wanted to be a successful fiction author but just didn't have the chops, hence leading him to write subpar nonfiction like this. He notoriously uses the same descriptors over and over again (most notably "psycho" and its variables, as well as "savage", "slicing" and "the annals of crime." Without hyperbole, he uses the word "psycho" at least once almost every single page. He also can't hide his lack of skill with writing when he grossly sensationalizes these crimes, often using poor word choice to make the horrific crimes seem as if the author finds them sexually tantalizing. He also shows almost fanboy-ish levels of interest in a select few of offenders, his favorites being Albert Fish, Jeffery Dahmer, H.H. Holmes, and John Wayne Gacy. He talks about these guys so often that he often resorts to repeating their stories without adding new details--padding the novel in a way that doesn't hide his lack of skill.
  
  Pushing the author's obvious lack of talent aside, he also can't stop himself from injecting his own opinions and attempting to pass them off as fact--which is simply unacceptable in a work of nonficiton. In a section discussing the various elements of culture that society often blames for crimes, he defends pornography with all the vitriolic rage of a Red Pill poster. He flat-out lies and claims that there's no proof that porn negatively impacts it's viewers--a claim that has long since been disproved through various studies (to be fair, this book was published in 2003, the year these studies were being performed or just coming out). He also left a sour taste in my mouth by ending the book on a section titled "Serial Killer Groupies", in which he derisively writes about how its "women's proclivity" to fall for bad boys, and that women's universal taste for these "bad boys" is a "fact of life." Again, a dull, dim-witted juvenile man with no intelligence trying to pass off his rejection-fueled scorn for women as universal facts.
  
  Which leads me to my next point: anyone trying to educate themselves on the topic of true crime or the acts/behaviors/thoughts/motives of serial killers should steer clear of this book. The Serial Killer Files offers small glimpses into the crimes and motives of the killers, but often glosses over major elements of even well-known offenses. Also, with his trite sensationalism, the killer portraits read like wannabe entertainment reviews instead of informational, cut-and-dry, to-the-point facts. Disappointingly, this is another book that unfortunately provides less information than a select killer's wikipedia article.
  
  Something I did enjoy with this book is that it did have a wide scope that introduced me to a broader range of killers than I was previously familiar with. And with his desperate and not so thinly veiled attempt to promote himself as an entertainment writer (by providing top 12 lists of his favorite killer movies and fiction--seriously) I came away with one or two recommendations. And while he does include a bibliography, he doesn't ever source his material and claims in the text, so its ultimately for show and minor reference than any real use.
  
  Ultimately, this book comes of distorted in intent. It seems way more like the author's attempt to break into writing "for the big time" with sensationalist, extreme, shock journalism-style writing versus being a professional, factual, knowledgeable source of accurate information. I could forgive the sparse facts if only the author took himself seriously and put some real effort into providing the information his book is aimed to provide, instead of trying to make something as serious as serial murder "sexy" and took a more appropriate, articulate tone. I have a hard time enjoying, let alone recommending this book, especially not to people who are new to the topic of true crime and are looking for an exhaustive, informative book on the subject (if I find such a book, I'll sing it's praises). This is the kind of thing you'd pick up with half interest from the library and return before getting halfway through the text.
• 
  Stacie

  This book exceeded all my expectations. When looking for a book about serial killers, I was mainly looking for reasons why they did what they did. I found those reasons and so much more. Not only did the author include the psychology sections that I was looking for, they also provided cultural information, like why are people so fascinated by serial killers and how long has this been going on(which the author pointed out that it has been going on practically forever). The author had information about the popular killers, like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, and also ones that are not as heard of. Although the book was completely disturbing and disgusting, it held my interest all the way until the end.
  
  I also particularly liked that the author included further reading and a bibliography in the back, although I don't think that I need to know any more about serial killers at this point. Very good read and I recommend it to people who are interested in serial killers as long as they can stomach the great amount of horrific details.
• 
  Alicia

  I have a morbid fascination with death so what better book for me? It outlined many famous cases and I learned about many new ones. People never fail to disgust me, this book proves why.
• 
  Kate

  Interesting premise but WAY too broad. It should have been split into multiple books, and then maybe each chapter wouldn't have been so redundant. He used the same phrasing to describe multiple people, and every time he re-mentioned someone, he'd describe them all over again.
• 
  Amy

  Well, you can't say its not informative. This is basically the definitive guide to serial killers. Not necessarily the individual serial killers, though its not short on information, but the who, what, why of serial killers. (Hey, its in the name!)
  
  My biggest criticism is how repetitive and long winded it can get. For example, I'm pretty sure Albert Fish and his crimes are repeated at least on 5 separate occasions.
• 
  BAM the enigma

  Another book every true crime addict should have in her library
  Very detailed discussion and profiles
• 
  Cat

  absolutely the most complete media about the subject! absolutely loved it.
  it not only chooses to explore more less known serial killers but it also does a wonderful job at truly explaining the phenomenon. from motive, to psyche, to genre, to race, everything is looked upon. it even ends with a wonderful recommendation list of different media and arts about serial murders (fictional and not)!
  
  if true crime interests you, you absolutely NEED to read this one!
• 
  Mauoijenn

  Very informative book... if you're into serial killers! :)
• 
  Morgan

  The book was repetitive and not all that interestingly written. It was very difficult to get through.
• 
  Fabio Borges

  Se eu pudesse dar mil estrelas eu daria e é isto.
• 
  Mayara Resende

  Li pro TCC...é uma grande loucura pensar em quantos fatores interferem pra uma pessoa se tornar um serial killers...e como a gente é fascinado por isso.
• 
  Ashley

  I read this as part of my research for a psych paper on Nature Vs. Nurture in Criminal Psychology. Although it was a bit redundant at times, I found it incredibly informative.
  
  I especially enjoyed the tidbits it provided on the historical context of serial killers- the fact that the term wasn't widely used until the 1980's shocked me. The information given about cases from the 19th century and earlier were especially interesting, in my opinion, just because you never really hear about the older stuff.
  
  It didn't really provide me with any ideas on nature vs. nurture that I didn't already have, but it had actual case studies that helped provide reason/context to my own thoughts/ideas on the subject.
  
  
  The book did a good job of taking common facts that most of us know, and breaking it down to pull out as much detail and specific information as possible. "Serial killer" seems like a pretty specific title, but after reading this book, the phrase "serial killer" seems so incredibly vague and broad, as there are so many different kinds/reasons/psychopathies, etc etc. behind that phrase.
  
  
  
  Overall it was a solid read. Short sections, which are always appreciated. A few areas made me a bit queasy (although I feel I have a pretty strong stomach), but other than that, it was incredibly informative and a solid collection of case studies/information that's accessible to the general public, but doesn't dumb any of it down.
• 
  T.M. Carper

  If you're looking for information on the big-name serial killers, try another book--there are several for each killer listed in the back for more information--because it only has a condensed listing/summary of the major killers.
  
  
  
  The first few chapters overview the types of serial killers and the history of serial killing.
  
  
  
  This a fact-based book covering brutal cases with stark clarity. There are a lot of little known killers mentioned, as well as the usual suspects of Bundy, Gacy, Dahmer, Jack the Ripper, the Zodiac Killer, Son of Sam, Richard Rameriz - the Night Stalker, and others.
  
  
  
  Quick, concise entries about various killers are sorted by types of killing--grouping the sexual sadists together, the posioners in another spot, even the black widows.
• 
  Driver

  Holy guacamole, I started reading at 8AM and it's currently 6PM - I could not put this one down.
  A thoroughly researched compendium on all things serial killers; where the term originated, the main differences between male and female serial killers, paraphilias, reasons for and patterns of killing and even serials in pop culture as well as the strange habit to turn them into icons.
  Chapters are kept short and yet cover all the important basics.
  Def. recommend to all fans of True Crime and abnormal psychology!
• 
  Alba

  I guess I cant get enough of learning about serial killers and criminal minds.
  When u have a passion about something , you don't stop doing and pursuing it. While reading about true crime and the life of the killers , you understand how complicated human mind can be. Sometimes you start having empathy about those kind of people. But most of all the time you are shocked how people can turn into such monsters.
• 
  Corey Ledin-Bristol

  This is obviously meant to be a reference book and not well suited to Audible. The author tends to repeat the same info over and over. Sometimes word for word. He must have repeated the same info on Albert Fish at least 25 times.
• 
  Avid Reader and Geek Girl

  The narrator is a bit dry and says the most disturbing things with a flat tone. The book was EXTREMELY repetitive saying the same things over and over and going over the same cases time and again.
• 
  Baal Of

  An encyclopedic tome, to the point of repetitiveness, covering dozens of mass murderers and serial killers, organizing information around various themes. As fascinating as I find the subject matter, I did have to limit the amount I would read in any one sitting, as the catalog of horrors would get a bit overwhelming at times.
  One of the interesting points that was brought up was on the subject of capital punishment. The relative of a victim was quoted saying "Those boys died in agony. This guy up here gets an art show. That's not right.". Even though I am generally against the death penalty, it is difficult to maintain that stance in the face of the utterly disgusting nature of many of these crimes, plus the sheer volume, and in most cases, the utter lack of remorse.
• 
  KATHLEEN

  Not for the faint of heart. There are no crime scene photos, few photos at all in this book, but there are relentless descriptions of violent acts by violent men (and some women, and though most of them were poisoners, that is also a form of torture-murder.) I had to read this book in small servings and so very slowly, so as not to become depressed by the long history of this type of crime (starting well before Jack the Ripper,) not to mention the abuse most of these offenders suffered as children, often as adoptees or in foster care. I cannot feel any empathy for them, though, not those who know the difference between right and wrong.
  
  A lot of people take an interest in TRUE CRIME (or they used to.) This is a very thorough guide and a definite distraction from the daily COVID-19 news.
• 
  Denise

  It was a pretty interesting read overall. However, the writing really started to annoy me in the long run. Every time the author tried to describe a murder in the most 'gruesome' details, it came off as if the author intended to gross you out on purpose, making it seem way worse than it actually was. There wasn't much variation of words either; it was just dull and repetitive to me. Though that could've been caused by the translator of this book.
  
  Also! (I almost forgot) There were a lot of interesting chapters left out, no idea why. But that was a shame, really.
  
  
  
  
• 
  Melissa Jacobson

  Actual Rating 4.5
  
  This was such a conclusive, interesting, and entertaining non-fiction. While a lot of the information in this I knew already I did actually learn a lot and I really enjoyed the fast-paced and no-nonsense approach with which Harold Schechter approached this book. It was entertaining without being sensationalized and I think it was respectful of the material covered. Highly recommend for a really good true-crime read with a more analytical approach.
• 
  Erin Hambrick

  The book was good but was very repetitive.
• 
  Darcia Helle

  The dark side of human nature is an endless source of morbid fascination, and with this book we go right to the heart of some of the most appalling human behavior. Despite the brutality of the topic, the author's conversational writing style makes this an easy book to read.
  
  We start at the beginning, when the term 'serial killer' was first defined. The author talks about specific traits common to serial killers, using notorious cases as examples. From there, this book covers a little bit of everything, from the types of killers, to their methods of killing and body disposal. The cases explored span from Jack the Ripper to modern-day killers.
  
  A major flaw in this book, for me, was the repetition. The author relies on a handful of the more well-known serial killers for examples, and the same details are cited multiple times throughout. This might be due, in part, to the way the book is set up, though the information is repeated as if we hadn't read the exact details in a different section.
  
  The other problem area, for me, was with the 'Why They Kill' section. We're lead to believe that all serial killers have mother issues, come from abusive homes, and are abnormally fixated on sex. While this is a general truth for many killers, it's an oversimplification and not true for all killers. The author also appears to support the nurture over nature theory, which is another generality that doesn't hold true. Abuse, in and of itself, does not create a serial killer. The fact is that, most often, it's a combination of nature and nurture, and occasionally simply nature. In fairness, much of the neuroscience research in this area has been published within the past decade, before this book's publication. Still, I felt this section tried too hard to simplify a complicated issue.
  
  Overall, this is a good read, covering a vast topic and focusing on a handful of darkly intriguing cases.
• 
  Stephanie

  (3,5)
  
  Com certeza esse é um dos livros mais completos sobre serial killers, o que não significa que é o melhor. Apesar da boa diagramação da Darkside (que só peca no tamanho da fonte), a leitura é muito cansativa. O excesso de repetições, bem como as descrições detalhadas dos crimes – colocadas ali só pelo shock value – também foram aspectos que não me agradaram. Entretanto, as análises psicológicas foram em sua maioria interessantes, ainda que repletas de julgamentos da parte do autor que poderiam ter ficado de fora. No geral, é um livro que vale a leitura para quem se interessa pelo assunto, mas que eu só voltaria a ler para consultar informações específicas.
• 
  Ana Lopes

  Má tradução, mal estruturado, extremamente repetitivo, muito fraco. Uma desilusão.
• 
  Amber Graham

  I really enjoyed this book. It was somewhat redundant due to its nature, but otherwise informative and incredibly interesting.
• 
  Bobbie Crawford

  The Serial Killer Files,
  The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the World’s Most Terrifying Murders
  Written By: Harold Schechter
  Published By: A Ballantine Book, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, USA, 2003, First Edition, 422 pages, paperback (9.1 x 7.4 inches), ISBN 978-0-345-46566-0
  
  “The Serial Killer Files is an overflowing compendium of Serial Killer facts and data which will inform you and keep you riveted!” BCM
  
  If someone thinks about a serial killer, they often imagine a person who is insane and out of control. In many cases these things are true.
  There are usually some common root problems and issues linking serial killers and many of these links are found in their childhoods and the abuse and neglect they received during those formative years. This certainly is not an excuse for their horrifying actions or their unacceptable behaviour, though it really does start to make some sense if you reflect on it.
  If children are subjected to sexual and psychological abuse from loved ones and/or strangers, are ridiculed, tortured, abandoned and neglected, it is common sense that they are not necessarily going to grow up into healthy, productive members of society. This isn’t to say that all, or even most people who grow up in this type of environment will turn out ‘badly’, but it should make...
  
  
  **Please follow the link to read the rest of the review:
  http://bookreviewsbybobbie.wordpress....
  
• 
  ♥Xeni♥

  Wow, I finally finished this book; after a couple of months! I started out on my interest in serial killers (and what makes them tick) last fall; half a year later I finally finished this most comprehensive guide on killers!
  
  And really, this book has everything in it. It even reaches out of the strict realm of serial killing into some side branches like mass murderers. The only thing that really bothered me was the repitition of some of the stories. "Yes, I learned about Albert Fish's atrocities 10 pages ago. No need to repeat yourself." still, I can see why he author chose to do that, since this is largely also a reference work.
  
  Otherwise, every single aspect from the killers themselves throughout history to catching them to their public reception is mentioned. A great guide and not necessarily meant for before-bedtime reading!