This bestselling book has become a staple of every serious true crime book collector’s library. One of the most reliable concise sources of information available about serial killers and their crimes, this book offers a psychological and sociological analysis of this most frightening yet
fascinating criminal. Psychologist David Lester, recognized worldwide as a leading authority on death—both in the fields of suicide and homicide—offers a much-needed assessment of whether or not there is a dependable and useable psychological profile of the serial killer. Separating the facts from the myths by combining documented case histories of notable serial killers with behavioral research, Serial Killers: The Insatiable Passion has been welcomed and applauded as an important addition to the literature on serial killers by criminologists, psychologists, sociologists, law enforcement and true crime buffs alike.
CONTENTS
PART 1: PART 2:
FACTS AND THEORIES CASE HISTORIES
Murder in America Gilles de Rais
Defining Serial Murder The Serial Killers of Nazi Germany
Famous Serial Murderers Mafia Killers Terrorists, Outlaws and Pirates
The Frequency of Serial Murder Murder in the 'Hood
Public Concern Felons Who Murder
Characteristics of Serial Murderers Murders Disguised as Medical Deaths
Types of Serial Murderers Satanic Serial Murder
Theories of Serial Murder Psychiatric Disturbance in Serial Murderers
The System Response The Modern Serial MurdererREVIEW
"This very exciting book explores the known facts and proposed theories for serial murder and presents multiple case studies of serial murder. The purpose is to present a comprehensive look at the psychological and sociological aspects of the perpetrators of serial murder. This is a very important and timely contribution and the book meets its objectives well. The targeted audience is that of law enforcement and psychology. I recommend it as a text for forensic psychiatry fellows and others who are specializing in the study of murderous behavior. Additionally, I recommend it to attorneys who either represent or prosecute those accused of serial murder. The references are excellent, practical and current. The index is also useful. This volume lends itself nicely as a text for a course. It is also an excellent book for healthcare practitioners and students dealing with serial murder. The author does a service to the readers by bringing together into one volume a review of current theories regarding serial killing as well as reviewing what we actually know. Another noteworthy achievement is the lack of sensationalist tone so prevalent in the literature on the topic. I recommend it to those who work with serial killers whether in jails or prisons, to courts, to those working on apprehending serial murderers, and to mental health professionals studying to provide mental health services to serial murderers." -- Alexander E. Obolsky, MD Northwestern University Medical School for Doody’s Health Sciences Book Review
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
British by birth and educated at Cambridge University and Brandeis University, David Lester, PhD, is currently Professor of Psychology at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. He has devoted most of his distinguished career to the study of suicide and murder. Recognized worldwide as a leading authority on these subjects, he has written over 1000 articles and over 50 books including Making Sense of Suicide: An In-Depth Look at Why People Kill Themselves; Suicide Behind Bars: Prediction and Prevention; Questions & Answers About Murder; Questions and Answers About Suicide; Emile Durkheim: Le Suicide 100 Years Later; Current Concepts of Suicide; The Cruelest Death: The Enigma of Adolescent Suicide; and Now I Lay Me Down: Suicide in the Elderly.
ABOUT THE COVER
The cover is a photograph of the narrow stairwell that leads up to the apartment of British serial killer, Dennis Nilsen — a stairwell that indirectly led to his capture. When Nilsen realized that he could not carry his victims' corpses down this stairwell unobserved, he hacked the bodies into small pieces and flushed them down the toilet. He was later arrested by police after plumbers, investigating the neighbors' complaints of a putrid smell, found large pieces of decaying flesh blocking the apartment sewer pipes.
If you are interested in serial killers, check out Jennifer Furio's fascinating book:
The Serial Killer Letters: A Penetrating Look Inside the Minds of Murderers200 Pages. Paperback Edition Only. ISBN: 0-91473-77-7.
LIST PRICE: $24.95
