There is something hauntingly fascinating about serial killer stories. People love to play detective, and these true crime stories provide the perfect avenues to put your detective skills to the test.
Get a chillingly detailed look into the minds of serial killers and learn a bit of history with the following top-rated criminal psychology books.
You are reading: Books about serial killers psychology
Limited Time Offer: Amazon Kindle Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial. Kindle Unlimited offers unlimited access to thousands of e-books.
Written by Ann Rule, “The Stranger Beside Me: The Shocking Inside Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy” recounts the horrific murders in the Pacific Northwest in the 1970s by none other than serial killer and rapist american ted bundy.
p>
The book is a first-hand account of Rule’s friendship with Bundy and his subsequent surprise when he discovered that his longtime partner was a prolific criminal who had kidnapped, raped and murdered numerous young girls.
ted bundy murdered at least 30 women in four years between 1974 and 1978. in 1989, he was executed in the electric chair in florida.
rule talked about meeting the serial killer in 1971 at a seattle crisis clinic and how they corresponded for years until their crimes were revealed.
In addition to the intimate look at their relationship, the book also reveals details about Bundy’s troubled childhood, right up to the media spectacle of his trials.
rule wrote compelling prose that leads you to feel her growing horror after discovering her friend was not only a suspect but also a convicted serial killer.
“The Stranger By My Side” masterfully blends rule’s personal memories, investigation, and journalism to deliver a chilling take like no other.
The book tells the story of Douglas and his twenty-five-year career in the FBI’s Investigative Support Unit, where he profiled countless serial killers and criminals.
now a netflix original series, the gripping account reveals behind-the-scenes events as the group tackled some of the most gruesome and challenging cases.
Douglas is a legendary figure in the fbi and one of the first criminal profilers in america. He and his team hunted down the most sadistic killers in the country, including Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, and Ed Gein.
profiling the special agent was instrumental in the arrest and conviction of robert hansen, the serial killer who hunted prostitutes for sport in the alaskan woods, and wayne williams, the atlanta child killer.
“mindhunter” also details the case of gary ridgway, seattle’s green river killer, and douglas’s near death while working on the assignment.
You’ll witness a mindhunter like Douglas use forensic psychology to examine crime scenes, profile killers, discover their habits, and ultimately predict their next moves.
The perfect combination of fantastic narratives and gruesome stories, this book is definitely a must-read for anyone interested in criminal profiling.
“the devil in the white city: murder, magic and madness at the fair that changed america” is about h.h. Holmes, considered one of the first known serial killers in America.
holmes operated between 1888 and 1894 and was most active during the chicago world’s fair in 1893. it took advantage of young people who came to the city in search of job opportunities.
larson revealed how the serial killer built a hotel that would become known as “murder castle”.
This house contained trapdoors, secret passageways, and soundproof rooms where he trapped and killed employees and guests.
See Also: 17 Best Leadership Books for Women to Read in 2022
holmes used strange and efficient methods to murder his victims. he is believed to have been responsible for over 200 murders.
many of the bodies discovered in the “murder castle” were already decomposed and so dismembered that identification was almost impossible.
The serial killer was hanged in 1896.
“the devil in the white city” alternates between recounting the holmes murders and the construction of the world’s fair.
You’ll learn a bit of history when architect Daniel Hudson Burnham and his talented team turned Jackson Park into the legendary White City.
This is an easy read novel you need in your criminal psychology collection.
“I’ll Go In The Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search For The Golden State Killer” is a genre hit written by a noted journalist who died while investigating the case.
tells mcnamara’s single-minded mission to find the man responsible for 13 murders and some 50 rapes in various California towns over a decade, from the 1970s to the 1980s.
Gave the criminal the nickname “Golden State Killer”.
The book describes how the killer committed his crimes, moving from Northern California to the South and eluding police capture.
then, the “golden state killer” disappeared.
mcnamara’s obsessive investigation of the case helped break it open. he pored over countless police reports and interviewed victims.
in 2016, using genetic genealogy techniques, the police arrested joseph james deangelo.
By this time, Mcnamara had been dead for two years, due to an accidental overdose of prescription medication she was taking for her heart condition.
The journalist was halfway through writing “I’ll go in the dark” when she passed away. Her work was completed with the help of investigative reporter Billy Jensen and investigator Paul Haynes.
McNamara’s husband, Patton Oswalt, wrote an afterword.
Hailed as a modern true crime classic, the book is a masterpiece you won’t be able to put down until the end.
The book reveals the gruesome murders of John Wayne Gacy, known as the Killer Clown, who murdered 33 boys and men in Chicago.
Sullivan was the main prosecutor who led the massive manhunt for the criminal, who later wrote the entire saga in this best-selling book.
Depicted as a model citizen and hospital volunteer, Gacy frequently dressed up as a clown for charity events and parties to entertain children.
Behind his impeccable appearance was a brutal monster who raped and murdered more than two dozen children and young people.
See Also: About Marsha – Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
The basement under his home in suburban Chicago was where he buried most of his victims. the rest thrown into a nearby river.
Gacy’s murder spree went undetected until a teenager disappeared before Christmas in 1978.
the search led to the killer’s gates.
“Killer Clown” piece together the shocking investigation, from the discovery of Gacy’s past records of violence to the day that led to his capture.
Sullivan’s eyewitness account will send chills down your spine. you’ll never look at clowns the same way again.
This book will scare even the most neurotic crime readers.
“Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of the Hunt for the Nation’s Most Elusive Serial Killer” depicts the desperate search for the elusive serial killer who terrorized California 60 years ago.
When the criminal who called himself the Zodiac first struck in 1969, Graysmith was on the staff of the San Francisco Chronicle.
His obsession with finding the killer, whose identity was never revealed due to the hood he always wore when murdering victims, remained steadfast years after the killings ceased.
The book reveals Graysmith’s compilation of unpublished facts about the case, including the full texts of the Zodiac letters sent to the authorities.
zodiac targeted young couples, the first victims were shot to death near their car in a secluded area north of san francisco. A year later, the same modality was observed in the aggression against another couple, although in this case the male victim was alive.
zodiac began calling the police and sending taunting letters to newspapers between 1969 and 1974. all of these messages were signed with a symbol representing the crosshairs of a crosshairs.
To this day, the identity of the Zodiac Killer remains unknown. his last victim was a taxi driver, shot at the end of 1969.
you will find “zodiac” impossible to put down.
The book painstakingly details the crimes of Richard Ramirez, who murdered at least 13 women in the City of Angels in the 1980s.
It will immerse you in the mindset of a murderer, his terrible transgressions, and the cult following he garnered during his sensational trial.
Carlo’s meticulous investigation contained exclusive interviews with Ramírez, where the killer described witnessing the murder of a cousin at the age of 11 and his reaction to his nineteen death sentences.
ramírez’s story was strange. during the trial, a member of the jury fell in love with him.
When “The Night Stalker” was first published, women from all over the world contacted Carlo and begged him to connect them to the serial killer.
This updated version of the book contained the author’s interviews with the “Ramírez groupies” and their disturbing stories.
also includes a death row interview with ramírez. in 1985, he was sentenced to death but died of cancer while in prison in 2013.
If you’re looking for an excellent criminal psychology book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is a must read.
See Also: Margaret Coel – Book Series In Order