Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters

I’m getting in to true crime. I like the human psychology of it and learning about the making of the killer, as opposed to learning about the killing exclusively, as that can start to feel a bit exploitative. It’s a very well-rounded book. It’s actually one of the first few non-fiction books I’ve ever read, and it’s the most entertaining one as well. He does a great job of telling the story and explaining killer classifications and how their childhoods made them into the monsters (no sugar coating it) they are. As a female, it’s also made me a lot more aware and I’m thankful for it. Awesome writing! Will be buying more of his stuff!

This is a book that manages to combine good storytelling with a very informative, structured approach to examining every aspect of serial killers, including their origin, evolution, methods and classification. The topic is gruesomely fascinating, and Vronsky doesn't shy from detail. But at base this is a serious book that reviews the bigger picture in an academic way (but never in a manner that is dry and boring). The front cover promises that this is "The definitive history of the phenomenon of serial murder", and having read quite a lot of serial killer accounts I think I have to agree that that subtitle isn't an exaggerated claim. As a chilling bedside read, it's fascinating. And as a text on the topic, it represents a significant achievement.

They always say life imitates art, but its just the opposite - every serial killer book you've read that you think is a fantasy likely has some semblance of truth from one of the killers profiled in this book. This book is amazing, because it takes a disconnected look at the nature of a serial killer to show exactly why were fascinated by them. There is no glorification of the serial killer, just fact after fact to deconstruct the impossible - understanding the madness that drives a serial killer. Cold and clinical, this book still was one of the scariest and most gripping books I've read, simply because you know there are people out there who do the unthinkable. Also has some handy tips to stay alive when encountering a serial killer... 4 stars - a great read. If you like the subject matter, this is a must read. I've read a lot of fiction in this genre, and this non-fiction was one of the best.

This was a very interesting and detailed, yet easy to understand book. Vronsky tells the reader from the beginning that he's no serial murder expert, but it does seem like he's spent a long time in the field. Just about all of his information is cited. He even chillingly tells you of his own experience of (unwittingly) meeting two famous serial killers shortly before they were captured. He covers each killer with information on their childhood, adult life, crimes and victims and subsequently their capture. He even takes you through the FBI's process of finding them. About 3-4 pages of the book feature black and white photos of crime scenes and victims, which are graphic. I've brought this book with me everywhere in the course of reading it. It really captures people's attention and they immediately want to know all about it. I highly recommend this book.

Serial Killers is divided into three parts: Part one covers the history of serial murder from its ancient roots to approximately the mid-1960s, when Vronsky argues it became viral in its postmodernity. Vronsky proposes that modern culture, media, and society degrade certain classes of people in the perception of homicidal psychopaths, who serially target and murder them in an attempt to satisfy increasingly addictive sexual, hedonistic fantasies. Vronsky points to the high proportion of street prostitutes, runaway youths, cruising homosexuals, or people who are homeless, impovershed, disabled, or elderly among serial killer victims; i.e., victims who are often characterized as society's "throwaways". Vronsky argues that only the presence of children and young college girls among preferred victims of serial killers raise concerns about these predators in society at large. He reviews several sources of statistical data on serial homicide, its patterns, and trends, particularly in the United States, and explores the myth of the recent “serial killer epidemic”. Part 2 focuses on the psychopathology of serial killers, their evolution from child to adult, and the various emerging and evolving categories and profiles of serial offenders. Vronsky points out that law enforcement, psychologists, psychiatrists, and criminologists disagree among themselves as to how to categorize the broad range of offender types, and explores some of the different approaches, all illustrated with case study examples. Part 3 focuses on the investigation of serial homicide, particularly on the various profiling systems from the FBI’s “crime scene analysis” profiling, to British law enforcement’s “psychological profiling”, and Canadian police development of “geographic profiling.” Vronsky explores the pros and cons of the various systems with case study examples of how profiling has both succeeded and failed in homicide investigations. Serial Killers concludes with a chapter based on FBI studies and statements by serial killers and a few survivors of serial killer attacks as how to best survive an encounter with a serial killer. You get all of this with an "easy" to read format.

Well written and well organized. I bought this book because I am the writer of a mystery series that deals with catching serial killers and I was looking for ideas. What I found was a wealth of information drawn together in a single source that I wish I'd had years ago. Reading it confirmed some things I have known for a long while. One is that truth is far stranger than fiction, so much so it would be unbelievable were it not so well documented. Another is that a definitive work on serial killers will never be written. Even with all our experience and research and knowledge of them, the men and women who commit these crimes remain a mystery. While I cannot say I enjoyed reading Vronsky's work, I am very glad it did.

This is an interesting book for those just getting into the world of serial killers. There's a lot of data that is analyzed and some very graphic pictures. However, the book was updated in 2019 and did not included Samuel Little in his analysis. He has several chapters that talk about modern and "Golden Era" serial killers. I found this lack of incorporation of data off putting especially since the author did a very good job with all the data. As I said above this book is more for people who are familiar with true crime dealing with serial killers. It focuses more on the general and data then on actual killers. I would look for other books if you want in-depth analysis of particular serial killers. I also read the book that was updated and published in 2020. Hopefully his next update to the book will be better, though I'd probably check it out from the library and not buy it.

first, i'm going to dive into the packaging, & then the actual product. i got my book used from a seller called "kota books," & they took me through every step of the book being delievered! plus when it came it was wrapped in the plastic as it normally is but inside had a paper wrapping too. minimal marks and creases too. i bet if i wiped it with a washcloth it'd look newer. very much nice. now for the product— haven't read it yet actually haha. literally just got it. but, the book is sizeable & includes photos. i read the first page, where vronsky asserts that he is not any kind of professional. i think that including that, naming your own (for lack of a better word) shortcomings, is a very good thing that some authors fail to do. they are blinded by their own grandoise which may impede their work, create biases, other unpleasantness, etc (i know it sounds elementary but i've read books where the author tries to pretend like they're some expert on the topic when they aren't. & you don't have to be, just accept that you are or aren't haha). i have high hopes for this book, but will revise my review once i've finished reading it. also no i'm not sponsored, didn't receieve a discount, etc. although i should cough cough hint hint. anyway yeah i'd recommend the book so far. seems tight.

C'était pour un cadeau, et ça a vraiment plus. Le qualité du livre était vraiment sympa, je recommande à tout le monde qui aime ce genre de livre.

Although there are other compilation-type books available about serial killers (SKs), Peter Vronsky’s “Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters” goes far beyond the rest by placing SKs within a historical context. By doing so, Vronsky also puts them within a psychological timeframe (if you will) of their life and times, a brilliant and refreshing approach to the subject. While even the layperson has heard of recent SKs Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy, Vronsky’s book goes back to Ancient Rome, and Medieval Europe, to the present in great detail. Chapters like ‘The Postmodern Age of Serial Homicide, 1970-2000’ provide a great background on society’s recent obsession with SKs (Bundy, for example), while other chapters like ‘Serial Killers as Children,’ ‘The Art and Science of Criminal Profiling,’ and ‘Surviving a Serial Killer’ reveal the very real likelihood of these monsters lurking among us. This book will appear to everyone with an interest in crime, serial killers, profiling, psychiatry, and policing. A must-have.

安価なペーパーバック本で、紙質も悪い本なので、ほとんど期待せずに買って、読んだが、かなりまとまっていて良くできている。ＦＢＩの連続殺人分類ネタだけで、もたす類書が多い中、ホルムズやケッペルの比較的新しい研究や分類、それらの分類の具体的なケースの説明（ホルムズの分類に対応する連続殺人犯人がそれぞれあげられているのはこの本がはじめて）などがコンパクトにあげられている、ヒッキーなどの専門の研究者の本に比べても見劣りはしない。また女性の連続殺人などのトピックについてもふれられている。この手の本にありがちな、テッドバンディの紹介がちょっとくどいがそれ以外は合格点だ。

The danger with a book like this is that it descends into a tawdry list of titillating details about serial killers and their methodology without even a nod to the victims or the science behind the crimes and solving them. bUt this book is very different, it is an excellent investigation into the minds of serial killers, why they do what they do and acknowledges the victims. There is a solid balance of science and exposition followed by examples to prove the point the writer is making, never feeling like it descends into just a sick list of horrors. Every example is interesting and really does illustrate the science, breaking open the topic for the layman. Highly recommended.

I’ve treasured this book. A brilliant read!