Customer Reviews

Invisible Darkness - The Horrifying Case of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka

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True evil is not glamorous,colorful, or even all that noticeable. This book captures this notion at all different angles. It is a documentary account, written with little editorial content that draws the reader to Paul and Karla and makes one ask "Why"? Mr Williams accounts of the criminals, the heartbreak of the families, and a soliphistic legal system is outstanding, and makes this a higly entertaining, and both troubling read. The accounts of Paul and Karla's behavior is of course beyond stomach turning, but the author is able to report in a way that makes each horror more than speak for itself. My only quibble is that Paul and Karla's family backgrounds are not covered more extensively, but then again maybe that is the point. Too much information leaves the reader not searching for answers, and this is what will make me re-read this extra-ordinary true crime book again to determine what factors can make such ordinary people go on a crime spree such as Paul and Karla.

There are many photos in this updated version of Stephen Williams' excellent true crime book. The photos, showing the ostensibly "charming couple," illustrate how deceiving "looks" can be. This is an engrossing but stomache-churning account of the Canadian gruesome duo - with abundant detail. Details such as: Karla's favourite book was American Psycho. But in Mr. Williams' book, one also learns that, although more publicized, the United States of America isn't the only country with psychos!

Stephen Williams pens a engrossing, facinating account of the murders/rapes commited by the Bernardos without the tabloid flash and trash. The book is a truly gripping look into the minds of two individuals who are truly evil and without souls. It also demonstrates the incredible injustice that served the victims. Many Canadians were kept in the dark about the details and deals that surrounded this case and I am glad that the truth has finally surfaced and I hope this injustice never happens again. One of the absolute best true crime books I have ever read delving into the bone-chilling minds of psychopaths. Kudos to Stephen Williams.

Hello true-crime enthusiest!
I've read all six books on this case. Yes, there are truly six out there. I believe only O.J. Simpson and Charles Manson share this honor. Not all are available through amazon.com., however.
"Invisible Darkness" is easily the best book on this case. I believe this to be the reason that only this book out of the six released on this case started out as a hard-cover, instead of paper-back. It shows you what almost three years of research can uncover. I enjoyed the other quickly printed paperbacks as well, though.
I'm really looking forward to author Stephen William's new hardcover book on these crimes, "Karla: The Deal With The Devil", available on February 14, 2003, I believe. He is a true maverick of true-crime journalist.
I hope this helps.
"Invisible Darkness" is highly recommended!
Five ***** Stars. Do try to purchase the hardcover edition of this book (Invisible Darkness) though. It has 43 color photos!
Thanks! Jess

Overall this book is engaging simply because the subject matter is amazing and terrifying. The writing, however, leaves a little to be desired. The writer jumps from person to person and scene to scene without transitions and this sometimes gets a little hard to follow. In an effort to not come across as a journalist, he also brings up and discusses things that seem to have little bearing on the case. A Masonic skull that warrants a picture and a couple of pages has nothing to do with the crimes. The writer vaguely alludes to the fact that there are other murders that Bernardo may have been involved in but doesn't give any details about what police are doing about these crimes or why Bernardo might be a suspect.

My greatest criticism of the book is that it suggests that Karla (Paul Bernardo's wife) was somehow the catalist for the crimes and the prime mover. This suggestion was also part of Bernardo's defense. I totally agree that Karla was most likely an equal partner in these crimes and got off way too easy. But there is scant evidence to suggest that she is the reason Bernardo decided to start raping and murdering. The book also simply washes over the fact that Karla was at least on one proven occasion very badly beaten by Bernardo, instead focusing on abuses that she claimed happened that probably didn't.

Women who aid and participate in crimes should be held just as accountable as their male partners. But they shouldn't be held "more" accountable as if they somehow inspire otherwise normal men to rape and murder. I got the feeling that the author wanted me to believe that without Karla Paul might not have gone to the extremes that he did. That I just don't buy.

Stephen Williams has achieved a truly remarkable feat in writing "Ïnvisible Darkness". This is a well-researched, provocative saga that sails high above the other torrid, pulp trash which has been generated over this case.

For those who have lived under a rock for the past 13 years, Karla Holmolka & Paul Bernado committed a horrifying series of rapes & murders in the early 90s that were once decribed as being as "Canada's Crimes of the Century".

Dubbed the "Ken & Barbie of Murder & Mayhem" for their blonde, bronzed good looks & winning personas, Bernado & Holmolka shook Canadian society as they revealed that the evil in our society is not always the committed by the village idiot or escaped lunatic. Instead, it was committed by the charming accountant & his lovely wife - a petite, alluring veterinary nurse.

It is hard to protect yourselves from the very model which is given as 'normal', & the petrified residents of the Niagra Falls region took to looking at their own adult children in an entirely different light. As a result, Paul Bernado has become the Boogeyman to Canadian teenage girls everywhere: a dragon in Prince Charming's clothes. Karla Holmolka, however, is simply regarded as Evil Incarnate - a soulless, vain grifter who sold out her own baby sister in order to curry favour with the object of her desire.

Prior to reading this book, I despaired of ever finding an account which accurately described & analysed the case without sinking into the predicatable "Poor Karla" routine (a.k.a Nick Pron's "Lethal Marriage"), or spurting out breathless, gossipy 'revelations' from people who claimed to be the couple's 'friends' (eg., the shameless "Deadly Innocence"). However, Williams restored my faith & raised the bar when it comes to discussing a tragedy without deifying the victims & exonerating partners-in-crime.

"Ïnvisible Darkness" was the first true attempt to see the reality behind the pastel, Barbie doll playhouse of dreams facade thrown up by this couple... & succeeded admirably. It was also the starting point from which Williams' admits he became obsessed with Karla, & relentless in his attempts to expose the creature that lurks behind her smile.

A gritty, honest, compelling & committed book... GET IT NOW!!

This was good, although "Deadly Innocence" is my favorite out of the three (Nick Pron's also). Stephen Williams depicts Karla as being in charge of the situation at times, and although I think she is a horrific person, I think she was just going along with Paul, not masterminding everything. This couple fascinates me, because I just don't get it! But "Deadly Innocence" has a lot more interviews with people that knew them, and "Invisible Darkness" tries to tell the story from Paul and Karla's view, kind of. I do recommend reading this but be sure and get the other one also.

well written, intense and very graphic.
Good book if you like the sick and twisted

I grew up in Burlington, and ran around with the same people as one of the victims. A friend from high-school was the other's best friend. I attended the same camp where Paul Bernardo worked as a counscillor during the same time period. For all I know, I might have met him....
The thing is, though, as gruesome and horrible and terrible it is to learn of the atrocities this pair inflicted on their victims, they pale in comparison to the rumours that ran rampant during that year when I was 16.
They died horribly and before their time. But this book has finally put to rest, for me, those troubling rumours I heard so long ago.

The crimes committed by Paul and Karla Homolka are unbelievable in their depravity. If you enjoy true crime, read this one. One of the best I have ever read.