Helpful Score: 3
A very intriguing look inside the world of those who hunt serial killers. Many of the stories were familiar to me from the news, but this is the inside view of the story - the search for the "why" in these terrible acts. Very good book!
Wendy R. (WMRod) reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 171 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Absolutely fascinating book! Well written and nearly impossible to put down, John Douglas describes how criminal profiling came to be, and how he helped catch several serial killers with his work inside the FBI's Serial Crime Unit. If you've ever watched "Criminal Minds" on TV (terrific series, and if you haven't seen it, you really should!), you've gotten a glimpse of what he does each and every day.
This book is not for the faint-of-heart, but I think it should be *Required Reading* for anyone who thinks there is no true evil in the world, or that if given enough therapy and "understanding," social psychotics will change their ways and be cured.
This book is an absolute keeper.
This book is not for the faint-of-heart, but I think it should be *Required Reading* for anyone who thinks there is no true evil in the world, or that if given enough therapy and "understanding," social psychotics will change their ways and be cured.
This book is an absolute keeper.
Rebecca L. (mrsswoopie) reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 36 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
AMAZON.COM REVIEW
Mindhunter enters the minds of some of the country's most notorious serial killers to tell the real-life story of the Investigative Support Unit (ISU) -- the FBI's special force that has assisted state and local police in cracking some of the country's most celebrated serial murder and rape cases. The unit specializes in understanding the chemistry and mechanical workings of the brain's of these serial criminals, and did its homework by interviewing such murderers as Charles Manson and David Berkowitz (the Son of Sam). John Douglas, who worked for the FBI for 25 years, is an authority on the unit, and his book combines the best of nonfiction with that of a murder mystery.
Mindhunter enters the minds of some of the country's most notorious serial killers to tell the real-life story of the Investigative Support Unit (ISU) -- the FBI's special force that has assisted state and local police in cracking some of the country's most celebrated serial murder and rape cases. The unit specializes in understanding the chemistry and mechanical workings of the brain's of these serial criminals, and did its homework by interviewing such murderers as Charles Manson and David Berkowitz (the Son of Sam). John Douglas, who worked for the FBI for 25 years, is an authority on the unit, and his book combines the best of nonfiction with that of a murder mystery.
Stacey G. (CapeCodStacey) reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 60 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great book! Really interesting - some graphic descriptions of crimes. The character Jack Crawford from Silence of the Lambs was based on John Douglas.
Denise H. (Lazeeladee) -
Helpful Score: 1
This was a very good book! It takes you behind the scenes of some of the worst, most gruesome and frankly fascinating cases pursued by John Douglas, Special Agent with the FBI, and one of the leading pioneers in profiling.
On the back cover it says: As the model for Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs, Douglas has confronted, interwiewed, and studied scores of serial killers and assassins, including Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and Ed Gein, who dressed himself in his victims' peeled skin. Using his uncanny ability to become both predator and prey, Douglas examined each crime scene, reliving both the killer's and the victim's actions in his mind, creating their profiles, describing their habits, and predicting their next moves.
s actions in his ming, creating theur profi;ledds. describing their habits, and predicting their next moves.
On the back cover it says: As the model for Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs, Douglas has confronted, interwiewed, and studied scores of serial killers and assassins, including Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and Ed Gein, who dressed himself in his victims' peeled skin. Using his uncanny ability to become both predator and prey, Douglas examined each crime scene, reliving both the killer's and the victim's actions in his mind, creating their profiles, describing their habits, and predicting their next moves.
s actions in his ming, creating theur profi;ledds. describing their habits, and predicting their next moves.
Absolutely fascinating book. This man deals with the darkest side of human nature and tells his stories respectfully, with great care taken to preserve the memories of the victims he assists.
Pam P. (Meowkatt) reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 67 more book reviews
I am trying to read all of John Douglas' books. This one is so interesting how they started this whole unit. It has really helped find criminals.
Good book.
Rebecca P. (rebeldee) reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 2 more book reviews
This book was supposedly full of information about the crime unit and understanding of the criminal mind. Instead, I found it to be self-satisfied and self-promoting comments on the author's prowess...not particularly enjoyable.
I never made it past 3/4 of the book - which says something in itself. I kept waiting for it to get better. Some of the cases were interesting but the author spent so much time patting himself on the back that it really grew tiresome. It seemed to be more about John Douglas than the profiling program.
I loved this book. It is a subject that I am very interested in and it is well written and easy to follow.
McGuffyAnn M. reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 112 more book reviews
Upon retiring, Special Agent John Douglas was finally able to share his story. He is the elite pioneer of what we now know as criminal profiling. He is also the model for the chief male agent in the book and movie, Silence of the Lambs. In this book, Douglas takes us into the early days of the FBIs special unit for this highly specialized field.
Special Agent Douglas was involved in several notorious crimes, including John Wayne Gacy, the Tylenol poisoning case, the Atlanta Child Murders, and the Green River Killer. His profiling of the criminal mind was integral in solving these among other major crimes.
To hone his skills, Douglas studied and interviewed the likes of infamous serial killers Richard Speck, Charles Manson John Wayne Gacy and other serious offenders. This enabled him to understand the working of their mind, as well as what drove them to commit such heinous crimes.
A fascinating psychological read, this is also an excellent account of true criminal justice. Fans of the TV show Criminal Minds will certainly appreciate this compelling book.
Special Agent Douglas was involved in several notorious crimes, including John Wayne Gacy, the Tylenol poisoning case, the Atlanta Child Murders, and the Green River Killer. His profiling of the criminal mind was integral in solving these among other major crimes.
To hone his skills, Douglas studied and interviewed the likes of infamous serial killers Richard Speck, Charles Manson John Wayne Gacy and other serious offenders. This enabled him to understand the working of their mind, as well as what drove them to commit such heinous crimes.
A fascinating psychological read, this is also an excellent account of true criminal justice. Fans of the TV show Criminal Minds will certainly appreciate this compelling book.
Katherine F. (spooky7272) reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 20 more book reviews
Absolutely fascinating look at a criminal profiler and of course, the criminals he profiles... excellent read.
Sharon V. (charra) reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 44 more book reviews
Great non-fiction novel about profiling and how the Behavioral Science Unit began within the FBI.
Laron C. (icepigs) reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 49 more book reviews
This is probably one of the first non-fiction books I have ever read. I couldn't put it down. John Douglas gave some chilling and interesting insight to the mind of the serial killer. 5 stars!!
Lynda C. (Readnmachine) reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 1439 more book reviews
Straightforward memoir describing the development of the FBI's profiling unit, and describing some of the serial murder cases with which he was involved.
Enter the minds of some of the most notorious serial killers through the eyes of the FBI's Investigative Support Unit. Very good
Joan K. (Smokey) reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 265 more book reviews
A chronicle of the remarkable and chilling career of a Special Agent who was a legend in his time. He was the model for Jack Crawford in the movie Silence of the Lambs. In real life he confronted, interviewed, and studied scores of serial killers and assassins, including Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and Ed Gein.
Susan S. (Boadecia) reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 19 more book reviews
Very interesting stuff, and very readable. Fascinating for the CSI/Law & Order fan.
Amy I. (AsphaltCowgirl) reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 110 more book reviews
Excellent look into the hows and whys of criminal profiling and all that went into developing the unit. Although dark and creepy and upsetting, it was a fascinating book.
Kay K. (quaker) reviewed Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on + 123 more book reviews
I found the first part of this book tough to get through, it was slow... but once John gets going its hard to put down... This guy is a prize, I thank GOD that there are people out there who can be this good at their job, Why people need/want to hurt other people is beyond me, but with this mans help maybe they can be stopped before they become serial killers....in parts I really felt ill, but yet I had to read on, like a rubbernecker on the highway where a horrible accident has happened... anyway, I will jump into his next book very quickly!!!
Well written and totally interesting!
