Abridged Audiobook
Very interesting and enjoyable. Although I would have liked more depth on some of the interviewed, too brief on some and too long on some others. I think anyone would enjoy this read, its not gory, scary or offensive-- which may disapoint some readers.
I've only sent 2 books back without finishing them and this was one. The author should never had made the decision to be the reader. I forced myself to listen to 3 CDs hoping it would get better, but it did not. There were parts that were good, like when she was interviewing the killers, but when she would get into the analysis portions, it was boring beyond words. That together with the monotony in her voice just irritated me.
This book was interesting to listen to. I enjoyed her discussion of the different serial killers she had interviewed over the years. If you are interested in case profiles of serial killers, this is a good book for you. Morrison talks about the histories of these killers as well as her own personal thoughts and theories as to why they kill. I have a background in Sociology so the terminology was fine for me. Overall, if you are interested in the inner workings of serial killers and don't mind gorey details, this book is for you!
The author does a good job describing her life. But, her life's work is to find out what makes serial killers tick, and she doesn't show that she has accomplished much of anything towards that goal.
I thought the speaker's tone was somewhat monotone as she narrated the story. She sounded clinical.
The author makes everything about herself. She has spent hours and hours with some of the most notorious serial killers but provides hardly any detail. What the author did provide was details concerning her own life which I wasn't interested in.
This author figures out a way to make everything about herself. When a crazed serial killer starts writing to her as if she is his wife, she muses that his wife was a brunette whereas she herself is blonde. Here's a more pithy explanation - the guy is crazy! When law enforcement allegedly patronizes her (after, she admits, hiring her), she muses that they were wondering what an attractive woman was doing there as a psychologist. About another serial killer, she writes that he was an attractive man with good "bone structure." With that said, she has a lot of experience working with serial killers, and the accounts remain interesting. Two stars.
This was so interesting. The narrator/author is wonderfully knowledgable. She discusses aspect of many serial killers spanning many centuries.
I learned a lot.....,,,,,,................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,,,,,
This book was very interesting and compelling. I was drawn in to keep listening, however, I disagree completely and whole-heartedly with her final analysis of serial killers origins and predispositions. Therefore, though I found the stories fascinating, the author lost some credibility with me at the end of the book because it seemed to me that she is just so desperate to attach a meaning to her lifetime of research that she is forcing a "round" conclusion into a "square" peg, just to try to justify (to herself) her life's workings. I am no therapist, though I do analyze people for a living, and I too am a professional. I believe everyone does have a right to their opinions though and my opinion is just that, "MY" opinion and I choose to disagree with the conclusions of this author.
I couldn't get past the first CD. The author does the reading and I just couldn't make it past her presentation and the ego component. I wish it would have had a different reader and I would hung in there longer.
Sent it back before finishing it. Too many disturbing details and no justice for the families. I think there are no just sentences for these murderers and no excuse for them to murder.
Only interesting in parts - maybe because the narrator was so monotoned.
Okay, I admit it: I made a major mistake. Despite the reviews, I ordered this book. I now know way too much about serial killers and court procedures. Yeah, I wanted to know a little more about these things, but I didn't want to be beaten senseless with unending details that only an attorney would find remotely interesting (apologies to attorneys reading this). Order this snoozer only if you're hungry for hours of boring detail!
If you can't sleep or don't want to have a root canal then this book is for you. After the first 2 CDs I was ready to have a root canal instead of finishing the CDs. There is not much in the cases but more or less how she felt interviewing them or how she is treated because she is a female. Please pick another book. SPOILER **************** She believes that Serial Killers are serial killers from the moment they are born or small children. She even goes so far as to say it is in our DNA to be serial killers. If they could only find what is in the DNA that makes people be a serial killer then they could stop it the killing forever.
I was hoping to gain some first hand insight into perhaps historical research and current developments, but the author's voice and emphasis on her own theory of serial killers being "born bad", was a bit one-sided. I was hoping for more of an evaluation of the evidence of various causes of serial killing. Despite the fact that testing of serial killers' DNA and brains is not yet a reality the author seemed to adamantly believe that the cause of their behavior lies within their genetic makeup. Without evidence, this assertion was very frustrating. Although clearly knowledgeable, the author's voice was very monotonous, which caused further distraction.
I was so disappointed in this book, one for which I had high hopes that it would be interesting. I sent it back before finishing. I think what bothered me most was the way it was read and the voice of the author....it was just not at all what I expected.
This was interesting subject matter, told in a way I hadn't heard before. But I wasn't kept really engrossed the whole way through. The author/reader does seem to be trying to prove something the whole way through, but it's not completely in-your-face. And if you know a lot about these cases already, you probably don't need this book. It will only repeat what you know.
This was a great book. It was very entertaining but contained a lot of editorializing that the author implements as fact. To be fair, she does say at the beginning that the book contains her "opinions" but one forgets this once one reaches the fifth CD which is filled almost exclusively with her theories. If you rent this, do yourself a favor and only listen to the first 4 cd's.
Dr. Morrison has led a fascinating, if chilling, professional life. Her work with serial killers is so enlightening and, at the same time, frightening to hear about. Worth listening to for the understanding of a creature entirely seperate from the rest of us common folk.
Fascinating and horrifying. I really like that Dr. Morrison narrates these experiences herself.
Interesting book, I liked it. Especially if you like true crime.
It wasn't what I was expecting that is for sure. But it isn't necessarily bad. I read other reviews and expected something between a dry (even boring) recount of serial murders from the eyes of a clinical Physciatrist and a chilling first person account of crimes, crime scenes and evil minds. It was all that and even a little more, but it wasn't overly gruesome, and there was little about victims or current status of the cases against these evil doers. Dr. Morisson's "thesis" of serial killing as a disease, is quite interesting. I'd have liked to hear about the "more than 80 SK's" she has profiled instead of just the three or four she uses to chase the theory. Do the others disprove it and that is why I didn't read about them? The tale is a good one, I even enjoyed her voice and her telling of it. I just wanted more. I guess that is a good thing, so I give it 4 stars. It is a LITTLE gruesome, but would probably make PG13 for a movie. A really good listen.
Holds your interest and provides a really frightening glance into the sick mind.
I found this book facinating. Be prepared for some gore and horror.
This is a fascinating subject, and this is a boring, useless book. It might be a victim of the abridgement, but somehow the author's manage to get through an entire book on serial killers teaching you almost nothing about serial killers. You'll know almost nothing more after hearing this than you did before starting it. This dearth of information combined with bad attempts at colorful writing, an ungracious finding of flaws in almost everyone Helen Morrison ever worked with, and a fractured structure that can't seem to decide what the book is about (she even states at one point that it's not about her life with serial killers!), leaves this an empty experience. Spend your time elsewhere.
Very interesting and captivating. Dr. Morrison has a very insightful way of looking into serial murderers' minds.
Whoa. You may think you're ready for this cd based on the title and description, but it will pick you up and shake you. Don't let the occasionally banal writing {I think the co-author's} deter you. Morrison's own speaking voice is both matter-of-factly professional and curiously affecting, it reflects her memories and experiences with serial killers. This book is so much more chilling than I expected, a walk through a place you never want to go in reality. If you stick with it, it will shock you.
Interesting and scary. They walk among us. Would have liked to know more about the science of the brain of these monsters.
Not for the faint at heart. Murders were very detailed and descriptive. This book being non-fiction, is very chilling and at times horrifying. This review is coming from a scifi, horror, and murder mystery fan who does not shock easily.
Pretty boring. The author should have left the narrating to the professionals. At times, it was too technical. I wouldn't waste my time on this book.
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