Provides a solid review of the subject, with an accessible, incisive presentation, including photos and features unique to this edition.

This timely reference examines the psychological and social phenomena of mass and serial murder, bringing scholarly depth to a frequently sensationalized subject. Its review of the literature features case studies of serial and mass murderers to expand on salient theories of evil, with biopsychosocial profiles highlighting core personality traits, particularly malignant narcissism, associated with psychopathy and its often deadly outcomes. The author’s insightful analysis separates misconceptions from reality, poses questions for critical thinking and discussion, and offers realistic suggestions for prevention. Public fascination with these violent figures—the mystique of serial killers and their popularity in the entertainment media—is explored as well. Included in the coverage: · Public interest in mass and serial murder. · Concepts of evil: where it comes from, and why people kill. · Mass murder: classification, motivation, and typologies. · Serial murder: motivation and typologies. · Current trends in prevention, and areas for improvement. · Plus instructive case studies, both famous and less-known. Mass and Serial Murder in America is illuminating reading for undergraduate and graduate students and practitioners in social science disciplines such as criminal justice, criminology, social work, psychology, forensic psychology, and related fields. It will also find an audience among educators teaching courses in these areas, as well as interested laypersons.

Labeled as the crime of the 1990’s, serial murder is predicted to remain the crime of the first decades of the new millennium. This book brings together the perspectives of acknowledged experts in the field along with those of emerging authorities on serial murder. The chapters offer a unique look at these crimes from a variety of viewpoints and experiences. Accessibly written, this compelling volume includes information on minorities and serial killing, as well the manner in which serial killers are traced and tracked.

While "Mass murder" refers to the murder of several people at the same time, "serial murder" describes several killings by the same perpetrator in a repetitive pattern. Usually these incidents count a high toll of victims and create significant anxiety in the public. Yet, the rate of finding murderers in these cases is relatively very low, especially in serial murders; that is if they are ever caught at all. Arnon Edelstein examines the various categories of mass murder and serial murder and suggests a new category: "mass-serial murder". He presents and criticizes the most up-to-date research and theoretical literature in the field and suggests an integrative theoretical model. This groundbreaking volume is intended for criminologists, psychologists, sociologists, students, and readers who are interested in truly understanding the complicated aspects of this fascinating field of investigation.

Serial Killers are hunters that prey upon fellow people. It is not uncommon for them to torture and rape their victims. They are sex offenders, rapists, child molesters, and some are even cannibals. They thrive on their victim's showing of fear which makes them feel the power of dominance and control. This is the second book in the 'Notorious Serial Killers' series. This volume features three male and three female serial homicide cases. INCLUDES PHOTOS Included in this volume: Between 1972 and 1978, John Wayne Gacy killed at least thirty-three boys and men in Illinois, of which twenty-six bodies/skeletons were buried in the crawl space under his house. Also known as "Bind, Torture, Kill" because of his methods of killing, Dennis Rader killed ten people in Kansas between 1974 and 1991. Edward Gein was a body snatcher and serial killer from Wisconsin. He would make items from corpses: lampshades made from facial skin, bowls made out of skulls, wastebaskets made from human skin. Aileen Wuornos killed seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. She initially claimed that her victims had raped her while she was working as a prostitute. She later confessed that this wasn't true. Between 1895 and 1901, Jane Toppan, a Nurse in Boston, killed at least thirty-one people using mixtures of drugs such as morphine and Atropine. Usually female serial killers murder for profit, Toppan killed for sexual gratification. Nannie Doss was a Black Widow serial killer who killed eleven people including four husbands, two sisters and her mother.

A superbly targeted resource for those learning about serial killings. Serial Killers and the Phenomenon of Serial Murder examines and analyses some of the best known (as well as lesser) cases from English criminal history, ancient and modern. It looks at the lifestyles, backgrounds and activities of those who become serial killers and identifies clear categories of individuals into which most serial killers fall. Led by Professor David Wilson the authors are all experts and teachers concerning the ever-intriguing subject of serial killing: why, when and how it happens and whether it can be predicted. Taking some of the leading cases from English law and abroad they demonstrate the patterns that emerge in the lives and backgrounds of those who kill a number of times over a period. The book is designed for those studying the topic at advanced level, whether as an academic discipline on one of the many courses now run by universities and colleges or as a private quest for understanding. It contains notes on key terms and explanations of topics such as co-activation, Munchausen syndrome, cooling-off period, psychopathy checklist, social construction, case linkage, family annihilation, activity space, rational choice theory, medicalisation and rendezvous discipline. As the first textbook of its kind it will be an invaluable resource for teachers and students of serious crime.

This book brings together an international collection of research literature on the topics of criminal profiling and serial violent crime by integrating the respected insights of both scholars and practitioners from around the globe. It explains etiological factors and psychological mechanisms to reveal criminal motives.

Serial Killers: Understanding Lust Murder, edited by Phillip C. Shon and Dragan Milovanovic, is a collection of ten chapters on the nature, expression, development, and possible responses to this recently popularized form of crime. These forms of serial killings not only involve continuous killings but some form of perverse sexual relations with the victim or body of the victim. Perhaps brought to public attention by some dramatic cases involving Jeffrey Dahmer, Robert Bundy, John Gacy, and Denis Rader and popular media presentations such as The Silence of the Lambs (1991), the examination of this phenomenon is only recently entering more scholarly scrutiny. This book includes various notable scholars in the field, from theoreticians to practitioners, and is divided into three parts. The first part develops theories of sexual homicide and the development of predatory laws. It examines the history of serial lust homicide, definitions, and motivational models. It also includes attempts at integrative approaches. The second part develops such forms of lust serial killing as piquerism, paraphilia, and necrophilia. The third part concerns the effects of the media, as well as phenomenological, existential, and "edgework" oriented approaches. Serial Killers not only brings the phenomenon under a keen theoretical and empirical investigation, shedding more scholarly insights on the phenomena, but it suggests methods for developing research hypotheses for academicians and for presenting practitioners with further insights into the field.

For decades now, serial killers have taken center stage in the news and entertainment media. The coverage of real-life murderers such as Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer has transformed them into ghoulish celebrities. Similarly, the popularity of fictional characters such as Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter or Dexter demonstrates just how eager the public is to be frightened by these human predators. But why is this so? Could it be that some of us have a gruesome fascination with serial killers for the same reasons we might morbidly stare at a catastrophic automobile accident? Or it is something more? In Why We Love Serial Killers, criminology professor Dr. Scott Bonn explores our powerful appetite for the macabre, while also providing new and unique insights into the world of the serial killer, including those he has gained from his correspondence with two of the world’s most notorious examples, David Berkowitz (“Son of Sam”) and Dennis Rader (“Bind, Torture, Kill”). In addition, Bonn examines the criminal profiling techniques used by law enforcement professionals to identify and apprehend serial predators, he discusses the various behaviors—such as the charisma of the sociopath— that manifest themselves in serial killers, and he explains how and why these killers often become popular cultural figures. Groundbreaking in its approach, Why We Love Serial Killers is a compelling look at how the media, law enforcement agencies, and public perception itself shapes and feeds the “monsters” in our midst.

-- The six myths of serial murder: addressing the "black hole of misinformation" that surrounds the subject. -- Detailed case studies of John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, and other serial killers. -- The state-of-the-art in law enforcement investigation of serial murder. This book brings together all of what we know, what we think we know, and what we don't know about the horrific violence of serial murder. Part I introduces the subject of serial murder and presents the "six myths" of serial murder that interfere with understanding and successful investigation. Part II presents detailed case studies of four infamous serial killers, John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, Kenneth Bianchi and Henry Lee Lucas. Part Ill focuses on the investigation of serial murder, showing the problems law enforcement faces -- notably "linkage blindness", the inability of unwillingness of police agencies to share information on unsolved murders. This section includes an extensive discussion of fourteen different police responses to serial murder. Finally, the author -- a noted criminologist and former homicide investigator -- discusses the future of serial murder and its investigation. Students of criminology, psychology and sociology; true crime buffs; mystery writers and readers; journalists; skeptics; and criminal justice professionals.