Customer Reviews

The Execution of a Serial Killer: One Man's Experience Witnessing the Death Penalty

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The Execution of a Serial Killer begins by taking readers on a disturbing journey through the unspeakable crimes of a sociopath, with descriptive narration of the savagery of Edward Castro and of several other serial killers and the emotional and physical torture endured by their victims. Although opposed to the death penalty myself, the accounts quickly and temporarily induced a desire for revenge and for the death penalty, a normal human response to such brutal killings.

But author Joseph Diaz continues by sharing his own experience of indecision in regards to the death penalty, which is compounded by various arguments on both sides of the issue. Finally, when faced with witnessing the execution of Castro, the author comes to terms with the death penalty, concluding it is not the solution.

What especially captured me was the author's style and candidness. He has a sense of humor that is used appropriately, helping to relieve some of the edginess that builds from the intense subject. I was able to know the author as he shared his innermost thoughts that at times, if not odd, bordered on bizarre. Yet, they were very much like the thoughts that sometimes pop into my own mind and that we probably all encounter but would be unwilling to share with even our closest confidant.

Edward Castro was a piece of work. He was a sociopathic serial killer who enjoyed his life of crime way too much. Professor Joseph Diaz is a Professor of Sociology who specializes in criminology and antisocial behavior, has a wife and kids, and is a very Christian man. Professor Diaz was also a person who used to be ambivalent about the death penalty. The Execution Of A Serial Killer is Professor Diaz' very personal story of how he came to watch Edward Castro executed by the State of Florida, and what effect this event had on his thinking. I was thoroughly involved with Diaz' physical and mental journey, and highly recommend this book, especially to those folks who are either ambivalent about the death penalty or pro-death penalty, but couldn't see themselves pushing the button personally.

I could not put the book down, it kept you always interested wondering how the author was going to deal with certain situations he put himself in. The author also made you think twice about whether we should or should not be using this as a punishment. This was a great book and I would recomend everyone to take the time to read this book!

This book is absolutely brilliant! Regardless of your position on the death penalty, you will be extremely moved. The author offers such an intense emotional reaction to what he witnessed that the reader will constantly want to turn the page. Excellent!

This book a must read. Gripping from the first page to the last. Dr. Diaz goes into more than just the behavior of Edward Castro. He explores other factors that helped contributed to what may have caused Castro to become a killer. While exploring these factors, one theme is constant - Castro was responsible for his actions. This book also explores the effects witnessing an execution has on those who witnessed it. This book is in two words.....well done.

www.DrJosephDiaz.com
I wrote this book a few years ago, and was amazed at the response that followed. Within a year of its release readers from all over the world were contacting me to tell me that they were deeply affected by the book. I have to say that my intention wasn't to affect anyone, but to put down in words (to the best of my ability) what it looks, sounds, and feels like to sit inches away from a violent sociopathic killer as he is being executed. And, more importantly, what it feels like as a regular person off the street to watch a stranger being killed... and then share the horrible thoughts that come in the hours that follow. As a compassionate, Christian man, it was the most disturbing event in my life. It was, in so very many ways, unreal. I tried my best to capture that feeling and those thoughts in this book, and countless readers around the world have written to tell me that I succeeded.

This new edition of the book is updated in many, many ways. I noticed problems with the first book at once, but it had gained such a large audience that it was decided that we should leave it as it is. With this new edition, I've fixed the parts I didn't like, made needed corrections, changed the layout, and the cover to match the content of the book. You can find a description of the changes on the website WWW.DRJOSEPHDIAZ.COM

I'm very excited for this new book to be released, and again, I hope the book affects you in the same way that it did me to write it.

Joseph

What an amazing book. For anyone for, against, or undecided about executions.

It also does a great job of descibing how people become serial killers and discusses the minds of various serial murderers (including the one the author watched being executed).

I thought this was a powerful book and I admire it.

I could not put the book down, it kept you always interested wondering how the author was going to deal with certain situations he put himself in. The author also made you think twice about whether we should or should not be using this as a punishment. This was a great book and I would recomend everyone to take the time to read this book!

I was the officer who arrested Mr. Castro in 1986 just after he murdered the man in Ocala. I was present during his interview when he described the murders he committed. I look forward to reading this book (ordered 9-10-07). Bobby Boatwright
After reading the book I was very disapointed. The author did not rely on the facts of the case and did not research the events surrounding Castro's murders and arrest. His obvious bias manifested itself throughout the book and in my mind, made the story a fictional work centered on an actual event.
Castro was a very sick man that raped and murdered and was seeking to do the same to a small male child when he was arrested. To try and create excuses for this man or justify any of his perverse crimes is sickening to me. The world is a much safer place for all of us and our children now that this man is not in it.

The Execution of a Serial Killer invites one into the mind of someone who did the unthinkable. One can explore the killer's motives and thought patterns while travelling with Professor Diaz throughout the trying experience. The book allows one to face the emotional trauma one undergos when witnessing something like this. He keeps one on the edge of his or her seat provoking the ultimate internal question: "Could I watch someone die?"