From Publishers Weekly
With serial killers a hot topic in the wake of Charlize Theron's Oscar-winning performance in
Monster, forensic psychiatrist Morrison's memoir of working with more than 80 serial killers couldn't be more timely. The author's countless hours of interviews with John Wayne Gacy and others of his ilk have led her to a controversial conclusion: she believes there's a serial killer gene ("He is a serial killer when he is a fetus, even as soon as sperm meets egg to create the genes of a new person"). Unfortunately, she offers little in support of this deterministic view, and she will offend some readers with an implied exoneration of criminals whom she describes as "completely unaware of the process leading up to murder," despite the detailed planning and preparation displayed by many of them. And even readers who are willing to have an open mind about Morrison's theories are likely to find some aspects of her report a little creepy, as when she discusses a treasured trophy she keeps in her basement: "I place John Gacy's brain back in the box because my kids are calling for me upstairs."
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From AudioFile
Morrison's unique firsthand experience with America's "most notorious murderers" is not for the faint of heart. Though Morrison delivers her bio as soccer mom/forensic psychiatrist with a practiced coolness, the explicit content will horrify most listeners. The good doctor skimps not at all on the brutal habits and crimes of such serial-killer luminaries as John Wayne Gacy as she explains her quest to understand their mental illness. A feminist pioneer in the field, Morrison persists in her studies despite the scorn and disdain of law enforcement, clocking thousands of hours of one-on-one interviews and expert testimony. D.J.B. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine--
Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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