The Serial Killer Letters: A Penetrating Look Inside the Minds of Murderers [Paperback]

Jennifer Furio (Author, Editor), Jennifer Furio (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 1998 | ISBN-10: 091478384X | ISBN-13: 978-0914783848

For over three years Jennifer Furio, a young mother of two and a Sunday School teacher from Bellingham, Washington, corresponded with some of the most infamous serial killers of our time. While Furio did not intend to write a book when she first started writing to over 50 incarcerated and convicted killers, the responses she received from them were so fascinating and illuminating, she realized that she could not keep them to herself. She saw that these highly candid first-hand accounts revealed more about the inner workings of the minds of these criminals than anything she could say herself. Without question the first book about serial killers that is written by serial killers, this volume offers an entirely unique perspective on this most complex criminal and gives us a rare and intimate look into the minds of men responsible for some of the most heinous serial killings in recent history. This is the first time material of this kind has ever been made available. Each chapter, one for each killer, begins with a brief background and then the letters Furio received are transcribed and reproduced, exactly as they were written--unedited and uncensored. Admittedly, some of this is very chilling and disturbing reading. There are detailed descriptions of the atrocious crimes they committed (or vehemently claim they didn't commit), the depraved and sad lives they lived, their childhoods, their wives, their victims, their sexual preferences. Also included are many rare, never-before-seen crime scene and family photographs, artwork, reproductions of many of the actual letters and poems and other interesting documents. The book includes letters from Randall Woodfield, aka the I-5 killer, Robin Gecht and Edward Spreitzer of the Chicago Rippers, the prophetically named David Gore, Henry Lee Lucas, Harvy Carignan, Lawrence Bittaker, Roy Norris, Harrison T. Graham of Philadelphia, Jeff Libby, Douglas Clark and Bill Suff. The first book to provide case studies of this kind of criminal in the form of personal letters, The Serial Killer Letters is a major and pioneering addition to the psychological literature on serial killers and their crimes. By offering the actual words of the killers themselves, this book offers readers the opportunity to come to their own conclusions about what kind of people these men really are, what makes them tick and what turned them into human killing machines in the first place. In addition to true crime buffs, a wide variety of disciplines and professionals, including psychologists, criminologists, profilers, forensic psychologists, police and corrections personnel, will be grateful to have this unique opportunity to get an inside look at these most complex individuals.

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: The Charles Press (August 28, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 091478384X
• ISBN-13: 978-0914783848
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars WORTH THE READ BUT FALLS A LITTLE SHORT, October 12, 2000

By 

Gerard T. McGuire - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Serial Killer Letters: A Penetrating Look Inside the Minds of Murderers (Paperback)

The concept of this book had so much potential but the product fell a little short. Jennifer Furio strikes up a series of correspondence with some of the most horrific serial killers still alive. Most of their histories she came to know through the flashy murder novels of Anne Rule and others. She then takes their letters and prints them.....much as Jason Moss did in his work "The Last Victim" but she only prints the offender's letters word for word.

First off, I will give credit where credit is due. She does get some intriguing responses. Even those that deny their crimes open a small window into their minds through their writings. Those that admit can be brutally frank (i.e. David Gore). There are definately moments of this book that make it worthwhile.

On the other hand there are some real flaws with the work up that hurt the overall effect of the book. First, the authors preamble to each series of letters is minimal at best. If you havent read individual books on each of the offenders you dont have real insight to the nature of their crimes. Second, there are offenders that were co-conspirators whos chapters are no where near eachother in the flow of the book. It would seem to be more beneficial to have them follow one another. The book also suffers in that the author does not share ANY of her letters. Sometimes these individuals have angry reactions to her correspondence and it would have been nice to see what provoked their hostility. Finally the book suffers from her selection of offenders. Some of the offenders are borderline illiterate and reading their letters is painfully tedious. Also the biggest name (or at least most recognizable) in her book, Henry Lee Lucas only wrote three brief non important letters. Finally it is very important to mention that she did not print letters from those who refused to be printed. What fun is that?

There are some highlights. The letters from David Gore are frank and horrific. The letters from the Chicago Rippers are worth reading to see how much of the offenses they pass off on one another.

Overall as I said the book is worth the read, but you will suffer some to get to the good stuff. If you are looking for something of this nature that doesnt have as many dull spots, I recommend "The Last Victim" by Jason Moss.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Totally dug this book but what about the auhors letters???, May 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Serial Killer Letters: A Penetrating Look Inside the Minds of Murderers (Paperback)

I've never read a book about serial killers that allowed you to get under the skin of serial killers. It is not easy reading however. Even though there is some of the most incredible descriptions of deviant behavior I have EVER EVER read, there is also a lot of boring material mixed in. But I guess that's what letters often are. These guys didn't know there letters were going to be published in a book. One thing that was bothersome to me is that the author didn't include her letters to the killers and i really wonder why. I would have liked to know what she said to them and the fact that she left them out only makes me believe that maybe she didn't want readers to know what kind of tactics she used. In all, I loved seeing how these guys wrote and the things they said.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars More about the author than the killers, June 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Serial Killer Letters: A Penetrating Look Inside the Minds of Murderers (Paperback)

This book is a sham. The author states that she is doing this because she wants to protect her family. That once she understands how they work she'll be able to protect them and herself and others.

That is not the case.

This book is about a lonely, bored housewife who's husband is never around so flirts with dangerous people because she needs attention. She sends pictures and visits and lavishes compliments and praise.

These men are intelligent minds - the only thing that I see in each letter is exactly how the typical stupid victim gets snowed. By flattery, intelligent wit and lies. It says nothing about the men she's writing to at all - just about her. They all deny the murders and insist innocence and she buys it hook, line, and sinker.

No wait, I take that back. There was one prologue before one chapter where she actually sounded like she didn't like the killer. And it turns out it's because he criticizes her appearance after she sends a picture of herself. I do not recommend this book to anyone - it's an embarrassment.