Customer Reviews

Faces of Evil

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Welcome true crime lovers to an inside treatment of a forensic artists' skill and tenacity in bringing down the bad guys. It is refreshing to see that some very special people are out there fighting crime, one stroke at a time. Together with the Houston Police department, this forensic artist is taking her brush against crime. The story is well written and insightful. Don't miss this exciting inside account of what is good about our law enforcement professionals!

I read this book within 2 weeks, mostly during my break hours and riding the subway in NYC. Amazing book, from the beginning to the end is exciting. I just had to find out what happens next. I'm a college student and I'm just interested in something like CSI. I recommend this book to anyone, even if you aren't a forensic artist. This is truely amazing book of her life and the crimes she helped solved.

As a practicing forensic facial reconstruction specialist (what is now called forensic art) and instructor in the field, I am always looking for the published works of true crime forensic artists. Lois Gibson's new book, Faces of Evil, is a true `from the heart' story of both her life and her passion for her work. Without embellishment, I read the book with tears and laughter, with sadness and hope. Lois' account of her work is a true crime story that validates the reasons forensic artists choose to practice in this field. While the stories of her cases are exciting and most interesting, I found a kindred spirit in Lois when I read Chapter 14. I think if more law enforcement individuals read this chapter alone, forensic art would be more to the forefront of fighting crime and the public would be better served. Lois gives every forensic artist a gift in the last chapter as she tackles the difficult art of the composite interview. I highly recommend this book to every forensic artist, law enforcement person, and anyone in the general public.

The Faces of Evil is a very compelling book about how a tenacious forensic artist can help to put murderers, kidnappers, and rapists behind bars. The story of Lois Gibson is a very interesting one, as a victim of a violent crime herself, she brings much more when she visits when a crime victim than a person who was not a crime victim.

Lois Gibson fell into becoming a forensic artist. Her early training was drawing portaits at an amusement park. In her early career she spent time specializing in portraits, not foresenics. She would go on to pester the police department until she could prove that she could draw someone from description. Once allowed to do this, she proved she could do the job. While she wasn't immediately hired on at the Houston police department she would convince them to hire her full time, and later they did so.

She has drawn pictures of many different criminals that the end result was bringing many different criminals to justice. At times these pictures were the only way to bring in criminals. She has helped to catch abusive parents, murderers of children, rapists, and so much more. This is a story of one woman's journey to aide the public is solving crimes as well as a personal story of what can happen if you set your mind to succeede.

I couldn't put this book down. True compassion for victims and survivors of crime and fascinating cases. I just picked this book up for a quick look and ending up sitting for hours. Lois Gibson is an artist in so many ways: technically gifted with insight and kindness for the survivors that she helps. Highly recommended.

Ever watched CSI? Been consumed by a forensics novel? Well those two have nothing on this book. This is the real deal, a look into forensic art and its artists. As a fellow forensic artist I was naturally drawn to the book, but in reality it is quite a page turner for any reader. The book contains anecdotes as well as an instigative look into the art its self. After reading this book you will be convinced that forensic art is a necessary tool in criminal investigation. This book is a great read for forensic artists, those interested in forensic art, those involved in criminal investigation, as well as anyone who has ever wanted to get the real scoop. After reading this book it is truly evident how successful Lois Gibson is as a forensic artist due to her overwhelming compassion for the field.

I picked up this paperback and couldn't put it down. I even had my wife read it just so she would know the slime that was out there. I'm not someone that wants to draw, I couldn't draw a matchstick person, but I read a lot of true crime and Lois put together a large amount of infomation in that area. She told it in a great manner. I highly recommend this book. Mick Addington

I found "Faces of Evil" one of the best books I've ever read. I just couldn't read it fast enough. I had the honor of seeing Ms. Gibson, the Author at a conference in my city. Her story inspired me to purchase the book and I'm glad I did.

I know the author personally and have witnessed the astonishing things she accomplishes with an artist's touch. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys seeing evil take a back seat to the artisan who works in tandum with law enforcement to put a face on predators.

If you ever had the talent to draw people, you could be a great portrait artist. Lois Gibson writes about her traumatic rape as a young woman in Los Angeles but also her aspirations to be an artist. She just didn't decide one day to be a forensic artist for the Houston Police Department. She had to convince them that her forensic art was necessary to track down and find horrendous criminals who were guilty of rape and murder. She opens the book about the case of LaShondra, a young girl who was badly beaten and decomposed. Ironically, she gets the case on September 11, 2001. She writes about how she uses her own experience to help the traumatized and argues that Elizabeth Smart could have been found sooner if they had used the portrait developed by her sister, Mary Catherine, months before she was actually found. Rather than going by instinct of an actual witness, the police felt it was not in their best interest to use the drawing even though it's not Lois' but another forensic artists. In cases where the fugitives are dangerous criminals to society, forensic artistry can be a necessity in order to catch him. This book is a great argument for the use of forensic artists in major police departments around the country. I encourage those with the talent of drawing people and faces offer their talents to even the smaller town and city departments. It's tough enough getting a job like that as Lois will tell you because it just didn't happen overnight. She had to fight for the reason of having a forensic artist on the Houston Police Force. But Lois writes about how witnesses provide the necessary information in order to apprehend dangerous criminals. This book is a great read for true crime buffs like me. Lois does use her personal experience to help with traumatized victims with a great touch of comfort and respect.

I just can't help wonder why she wasn't contacted for the BTK case.