d) He adds his thoughts on a woman's looks - not in a way that explains why it is relevant to events (if it even is), but like. This book is a really good read in terms of subject matter and reading words spoken by the serial killer themselves. While I understand each chapter should explain a little about the individual and their crimes, I was looking forward to reading new information as a result of the author’s interviews, and observing how the serial killers conducted themselves during conversation. It’s so painfully melodramatic and all over the place that I couldn’t get past the first few chapters.

At least 20 of the female murderers mentioned in the book weren’t serial killers at all as they had only killed once or twice – compared to the at least three murders including cool down periods in-between needed to be officially classified as a serial killer. Yes, I am sticking with my initial 4 Star review on this because I really did enjoy this read and it did give me information I did not have at the time of reading. Granted that McDuff is maybe the number-one contender for Most Repellent in this particular rogues' gallery, that's still a poor excuse for an "interview. Weirdly, unevenly - yes, badly - written, this is a bitty, unorganised wander through some interestingly grim territory but instead of following some kind of map or well-informed guide, we get a messy, incoherant, self-opinionated rant. This book looks at the crimes of these people and gives an account of their perception of what they did and in some cases gives answers to what drove them to commit such heinous crimes.Huge over-use of exclamation marks, overly emotive language, reads like something written by an hysterical teenager or a Sun journalist. Alice Johnson, a somewhat dim-witted, plain woman in her 30s fell for him, and this naive and gullible cleaning woman with few friends thought she'd met a hard-working, decent man. Unless this is the first book you have ever read about killers, you won't learn much and there is some outright bad information in this book but it's too "meh" for me to give a crap. It also helps that it covered cases I was completely unaware of so this likelyy made it much more interesting for me. The structure is also confusing at best, as there is very little distinction between fact, reliable confessions, and pure speculation.

If I'm interested I'll go to the front of the book where most authors list their previous books or are Google your other books. All in all, a 3 star; if you are really interested and can stomach the rather sexist and woman hating agenda, give it a go! The most infuriating abuse of proper punctuation, however, is his seemingly arbitrary comma use when it comes to the word aka. I'd had nightmares for 3 consecutive nights when I started the book, reading detailed depictions of the crime scenes, how decomposed the corpses were, how manslaughter and body dismemberment were carried out, and even cannibalism. The audiobook itself, which is how I read this book, is okay, although I wish it was done in more of the interview style rather than the narrator just reading off the conversation with the killer - this seems like it could have been possible as there is a section at the beginning of each chapter there is a recording of the killer themselves talking, which was very interesting to listen too - other than that, the audio book was fine, and the voices the narrator used for each of the serial killers were on the ok side to listen to as well.However, it was ruined by his constant interference in the text with macabre and seriously unfunny asides. In this instance the fact she was sectioned and still went on to kill I would argue shows how the mental health services failed her and she received inadequate care resulting in her mental health completely taking over. There are 36 cases mentioned, of the 36 only 23 are discussed in more detail - of those 23 cases only 6 are classified as serial killers. It’s incredibly badly written, emotional and judgemental language and feels like one long ahotty tabloid piece.

Although the book gives a lot of factual information and some conversations and quotes from the killers I felt it was quite disjointed. Otherwise, I enjoyed learning more about the serial killers picked for this book and will only continue to read Berry-Dee’s books for the learning experience (and do my best to overlook his narration). I really enjoyed hearing Christopher narrating the story and absolutely ADORED the clips from the killers themselves. A world-renowned investigative criminologist, he has gained the trust of murderers across the world, entered their high security prisons, and discussed in detail their shocking crimes.

The cover itself has a portrait of Myra Hindley, who doesn't feature in this book, except very briefly in the other case studies. Furthermore, by referring to these killers as monsters the author somehow draws a line between us and them. He claims to be a criminologist, but there is no criminology in this book, no nuanced analysis, no discussion of the killers mentioned beyond their physical appearance, which he is creepily obsessed with. Cu toate că m-am antrenat să fiu imună la astfel de orori, mai ales știind în ce lume voi călători, nu m-am putut împiedica să îmi adresez tot felul de întrebări, să strâmb din nas la cele mai îngrozitoare imagini, să iau pauze și să încerc să înțeleg cât de inuman poți fi să acționezi astfel. Nie wiem też czy to nie kwestia tłumaczenia, ale znalazłam pare błędów logicznych jak na przykład zmienienie wieku jednej ofiary: na początku ma 30 lat, a już kilka linijek później dwadzieścia kilka.

I picked up this book as I am drawn into the psychology of human thinking and to what drives some people to commit unspeakable crimes.

Save yourself and read some of the much more insightful books or excellent podcasts around on true crime. Detaching yourself and your "kind" from them serves only one purpose: to make you believe they are are not like you, that they could never be your son, your husband, your wife or your mom. The Man Who Talks to Serial Killers World-renowned investigative criminologist Christopher Berry-Dee has gained the trust of infamous serial killers throughout the world, entering their prison cells to discuss their horrific crimes and alarming lack of remorse.