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The Serial Killer Files:

The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the World's Most Terrifying Murderers
Front Cover
31 Reviews
Random House Publishing Group, Dec 30, 2003 - True Crime - 432 pages
THE DEFINITIVE DOSSIER ON HISTORY’S MOST HEINOUS!

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. Now, from the much-acclaimed author of Deviant, Deranged, and Depraved, comes the ultimate resource on the serial killer phenomenon.

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. Discover:

WHO THEY ARE: Those featured include Ed Gein, the homicidal mama’s boy who inspired fiction’s most famous Psycho, Norman Bates; Angelo Buono and Kenneth Bianchi, sex-crazed killer cousins better known as the Hillside Stranglers; and the Beanes, a fifteenth-century cave-dwelling clan with an insatiable appetite for human flesh

HOW THEY KILL: They shoot, stab, and strangle. Butcher, bludgeon, and burn. Drown, dismember, and devour . . . and other methods of massacre too many and monstrous to mention here.

WHY THEY DO IT: For pleasure and for profit. For celebrity and for “companionship.” For the devil and for dinner. For the thrill of it, for the hell of it, and because “such men are monsters, who live . . .
beyond the frontiers of madness.”

PLUS: in-depth case studies, classic killers’ nicknames, definitions of every kind of deviance and derangement, and much, much more.

For more than one hundred profiles of lethal loners and killer couples, Bluebeards and black widows, cannibals and copycats— this is an indispensable, spine-tingling, eye-popping investigation into the dark hearts and mad minds of that twisted breed of human whose crimes are the most frightening . . . and fascinating.

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Review: The Serial Killer Files: The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the World's Most Terrifying Murderers

User Review  - Lorene Evans - Goodreads

Great source text. Used this on a research paper on childhood characteristics of serial killers. Read it too, just for fun. Interesting, easy to pick up and leave off when it's convenient. Schechter writes in a very plain style, so it's a breeze to read. Read full review

Review: The Serial Killer Files: The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the World's Most Terrifying Murderers

User Review  - Jess - Goodreads

I downloaded this due to me moving house and lack of solid Internet taking away the show 'Dexter' from me. Unable to satisfy my serial killer itch, I turned to this book. Though at times it does seem ... Read full review

All 31 reviews »

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About the author (2003)

Harold Schechter is a professor of American literature and cHarold Schechter is a professor of American literature and cHarold Schechter is a professor of American literature and culture. Renowned for his true-crime writing, he is the authoulture. Renowned for his true-crime writing, he is the authoulture. Renowned for his true-crime writing, he is the author of the nonfiction books "Fatal, Fiend, Bestial, Deviant, Dr of the nonfiction books "Fatal, Fiend, Bestial, Deviant, Dr of the nonfiction books "Fatal, Fiend, Bestial, Deviant, Deranged, Depraved, " and, with David Everitt, "The A to Z Eneranged, Depraved, " and, with David Everitt, "The A to Z Eneranged, Depraved, " and, with David Everitt, "The A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers". He is also the author of "Nevcyclopedia of Serial Killers". He is also the author of "Nevcyclopedia of Serial Killers". He is also the author of "Nevermore" and "The Hum Bug", the acclaimed historical novels fermore" and "The Hum Bug", the acclaimed historical novels fermore" and "The Hum Bug", the acclaimed historical novels featuring Edgar Allan Poe. He lives in New York State. eaturing Edgar Allan Poe. He lives in New York State. eaturing Edgar Allan Poe. He lives in New York State.

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