The Serial Killer Files

It seems to me that Harold Schechter intends this book as a compendium of most things related to true crime serial killers. He repeats himself often enough that I suppose he imagines readers looking up topics, but not reading the book in its entirety. This is the only reason I only gave the book four rather than five stars.
Schechter is among my favorite true crime writers. I like his style and will continue to read his books. Despite the repetitive nature of this book, I read it cover to cover. Because it contains information on a great number of serial killers, I could only take so much atrocities at a sitting. If you are a beginner at reading true crime, you will be stunned by parts of the book. I have read more of these accounts in other books, including others by this author, so that slowed me down, as well, for there was repetition not only in this book but repetition of other books. Overall, I enjoyed this read, but some readers who have read a fair number of true crime books may want to skip this one unless they want a good research source and many, many suggestions of other books to read . I am glad I read it.

I’m not much on writing reviews as I keep them short. I will on this one too. This book, while very graphic, is excellent. Thorough, leaving virtually no questions of what happened. At times, I had to pause and take a break because of how nauseating human beings can be. I came away from this book more aware of my surroundings….especially with strangers. Makes one more alert, if one can take something away from reading about individuals who are so non-human.

For a person interested in the psychology and facts surrounding serial killers through history this is a must read. Harold Schechter has the ability to convey the facts and details of a case without over inflating or dramatizing them but at the same time without sounding completely scientific and inhuman. I spent hours back checking facts and reading further on the fates of killers and victims in many of the cases he references, for which their are many (I want to say hundreds but I’m not completely sure that’s true). I found the evolution of the public understanding of serial killers to be fascinating. Schechter does not follow a chronology but rather tackles key elements and common themes behind serial killers and then uses examples found across centuries to bring to light the key details behind the psychology or behaviour patterns of said themes. Very well done.

Very exhaustive research by the author. The book is very informative, interesting, and hard to put down. I recommend this book for anyone interested in serial killers, their motivations, and methods. I worked on death row for 23 1/4 years and got to know several serial killers personally and the book is spot on.

I am finding myself consumed with all of Schechters works so far. This was a great read. I learned a ton of new info about books, authors, artists. The only reason for just four stars is it is quite repetitive. Many killers are referenced numerous times and each time the same short description follows. Its almost like every chapter was written separately for something else then just compiled in this book. But it doesn’t ruin the book by any means. I would still highly recommend it along with any and all of his other books.

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