Customer Reviews

Defending Donald Harvey: The Case of America's Most Notorious Angel-of-Death Serial Killer

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From the opening chapter when Donald Harvey communes with the otherworld using a human skull to select his next victim, to the closing passages when he lists his matter-of-fact recommendations on how hospital workers can be prevented from killing patients, the reader is taken on a bizarre, fascinating, literary ride that delves into the twisted yet sometimes touching psyche of a serial killer. The product of a childhood rife with poverty, domestic violence, and incestuous pedophilia, Harvey as an adult hospital orderly kills each of his 59+ patients with a mixture of compassion, disgust, and pity. This book is a true, stranger-than-fiction tale that will have you turning pages in breathless anticipation of the next twist and turn of Harvey's life, killings, and trial.
But it is more than the story of one man's life. The book also resonates with important questions about contemporary American society at large: How does the media affect the outcome of criminal cases? How does a public defender draw the line between protecting society and protecting his client? How safe are our hospitals? How far should a company go to cover up the mistakes of its employees?
A pleasure to read and masterfully paced, "Defending Donald Harvey" is a must-read for aficionados of true crime, legal thrillers, and creative non-fiction.

I highly recommend this remarkable book for 2 reasons. First, it provides a nonjudgemental, candid revelation of the life and mind of a serial killer. Second, it reveals a realistic insight into the criminal justice system and the function of an excellent defense attorney and his successful strategy designed to spare his client the death penalty.

Donald Harvey was discovered as a mass murderer while I was an undergraduate student, of the author, Mr. Whalen. Bill briefly told my classmates of his involvement with the case but reading the complete story was wild. As a result of reading this book, I will never allow a family member of mine to be alone in a hospital. This book is well-written and an easy and enjoyable read. Enjoy!

"Defending Donald Harvey" goes beyond the standard true-crime/serial killer genre, by showing us the ethical dilemma of an honest man who is also a shrewd attorney, trying to simultaneously discharge his responsibilities to his client and to his community. It also allows us to glimpse the residual humanity behind Donald Harvey's significant pathology. I highly recommend this book.

Having lived in the Cincinnati area all of my life, I had some recollection of the events surrounding Donald Harvey as the media reported the story. This book is a fascinating insight into a truly psychopathic person. William Whalen, Donald Harveys appointed attorney, tells a very personal story of his involvement in this case, and as importantly, the relationship that developed between him and Harvey. Whalen takes the reader through the decisions he made and gives us insight into the thinking behind them. He also talks about a defense attorney's
responsiblities to his client. I found this book impossible to put down, because it's true for one reason, but also because it's scary to even think that it happened.

I could not stop reading this book which reads like a novel. What a well-written book which gives a concise account of this bizarre person! The book is very well organized and gives enough information but not too much information. Hard to believe this is a true story and what a fascinating story it is. Also gives insight into all that Mr. Whalen went through during the course of this investigation. A quick and haunting read!