In The Minds Of Monsters.
Our fascination with serial killers is at once disturbing and understandable: disturbing because according to society's mores we should condemn the killers' crimes and avoid all thought of their horrific actions, but understandable because we are so fascinated by their motives - what leads them to behave in such perverted ways and what makes them become killers who strike again and again?
Charlotte Greig has chosen and written in detail about fifty of the world's most infamous serial killers, ranging from Jack the Ripper to Ted Bundy. Documenting each of the fifty, it is easy to see similar themes emerging: David Berkowitz or Anatoly Onoprienko who grew up to be loners and subsequently wrought revenge on a society which they felt had rejected them; the killers who kill purely for sexual thrills, like Albert Fish or John Christie; and occult practitioners like the Chicago Rippers and Richard Ramirez who were inspired by macabre rituals to take their dark fantasies into even darker realities.
Whatever the personal stories that emerge from this line-up of twisted individuals, 'Evil Serial Killers' is a compelling testament, and warning. of the potential of human behaviour for true horror and pure evil.
