The answers are hidden among the grisly evidence, the common threads that link each devastating act. Sparked by a growing concern over the steady rise of signature murders, Robert Keppel explores in unflinching detail the monstrous patterns, sadistic compulsions and depraved motives of this breed of killer. From The Lonely Hearts Killer who haunted the most desperate of women in 1950s America, to the savage Midtown Torso Murders that stunned the NYPD, to such infamous symbols of evil as Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, and John Gacy, these are the cases-horrifying, graphic and unforgettable-that Keppel ingeniously taps to shed light on the darkest corners of the pathological mind. (19980609)
Signature Killers
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Amazon Review
Signature Killers is a peculiar yet valuable book--simultaneously repetitious and brilliant, turgid yet passionate, and indispensable for understanding serial killers. Those who persevere through the prolixity of the writing style will be rewarded by compelling insights into the psychological needs, and evolution over time, of a specific type of murderer: one whose key characteristic is not so much that he kills multiple people, but that he leaves a signature behind at every crime scene. Robert Keppel knows what he's talking about: he's been involved in more than 2,000 murder investigations, including 50 high-profile serial cases. The topics he covers in exhaustive and harrowing detail (Signature Killers is not for the faint of heart) include "the essence of torture", "the anger-retaliation signature", "the picquerism signature", "the psychological imprint of a sadist", "the retaliation-to-excitation continuum" and why Jeffrey Dahmer is "the black hole at the end of the continuum".
Review
The Silence of the Lambs owes tons to the investigation of the mind and moudus operandi of the serial killer conducted by Robert Keppel...highly readable, the book is one of the classic studies of criminology (Time Out )
Superb...not only is Keppel a superlative detective, he is an excellent writer (Daily Mail )
Superb...not only is Keppel a superlative detective, he is an excellent writer (Daily Mail )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Robert Keppel really knows his stuff, and it shows. His knowledge and insight into the minds of these people is absolutely staggering. He puts them into their various categories and offers clear explanation of the motivations of these killers. If you want to know how the typical serial killer thinks and what caused him to commit his crime(s), then this book is a must read. I'm a big fan of John Douglas and Robert Ressler, but Robert Keppel is definately up there with them. Don't think twice - order this book!!
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I've been studying this book for months now, re-reading and going back again and again. Every time I read a passage I find some insight into the killers mind that I hadn't noticed before. For anyone interested in criminology and Signature killers, You Must Read this book.
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book drove me crazy because it was so patronizing. It is obvious that Keppel knows his stuff, but it is equally obvious that he doesn't think the general reading public have progressed far beyond "A is for Apple". If the man says something once he says it a million times. The case information he gave was sketchy and most of his time was taken up reiterating several obvious points ad nauseum. The book could easily have been a good 75 pages thinner and it wasn't that thick to start with. Compared with writing by the equally professional Paul Britten ("The Jigsaw Man") there is no contest. A real shame.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By velissaria
Format:Paperback
Advantages: methodical, detailed, full of case studies and forensic facts
Disadvantages: lack of an index, some points are repeated
When I choose to read a non-fiction book, I always read the author's biographic note first to make sure that s/he knows what they write about and that, as a result, I will gain valid knowledge out of this experience. If I am not interested in learning factual data then I simply choose non-fiction. What I particularly dislike are opportunistic journalists who write on a complex subject, such as forensics, without an adequate background, only to create sensationalism and earn an extra buck.
This is not the case with this book. The writer, Robert Keppel, was at the time of publication a Chief Criminal Investigator in Washington and has been an investigator or consultant to over 2000 murder cases and over 50 serial murders. He also has a PhD in Criminal Justice. William Brines was the president of a publishing house and helped Keppel with the suitable writing language for a wider audience.
This book is not an easy read and sometimes not pleasant at all. Hardly the ideal bedtime story. However, it is a great textbook on the criminal psyche of a serial killer, useful to students of criminology, law enforcement and forensic professionals, and the wider audience who wants to get scientific and well-established knowledge in the understanding of the deviant criminal murderous mind. It is also full of forensic scientific info, and those who enjoy TV shows such as CSI, Law and Order or the Mentalist will find this book extremely interesting, although they may realise that true crime is far worse and more difficult to digest than any fictional depiction.
Disadvantages: lack of an index, some points are repeated
When I choose to read a non-fiction book, I always read the author's biographic note first to make sure that s/he knows what they write about and that, as a result, I will gain valid knowledge out of this experience. If I am not interested in learning factual data then I simply choose non-fiction. What I particularly dislike are opportunistic journalists who write on a complex subject, such as forensics, without an adequate background, only to create sensationalism and earn an extra buck.
This is not the case with this book. The writer, Robert Keppel, was at the time of publication a Chief Criminal Investigator in Washington and has been an investigator or consultant to over 2000 murder cases and over 50 serial murders. He also has a PhD in Criminal Justice. William Brines was the president of a publishing house and helped Keppel with the suitable writing language for a wider audience.
This book is not an easy read and sometimes not pleasant at all. Hardly the ideal bedtime story. However, it is a great textbook on the criminal psyche of a serial killer, useful to students of criminology, law enforcement and forensic professionals, and the wider audience who wants to get scientific and well-established knowledge in the understanding of the deviant criminal murderous mind. It is also full of forensic scientific info, and those who enjoy TV shows such as CSI, Law and Order or the Mentalist will find this book extremely interesting, although they may realise that true crime is far worse and more difficult to digest than any fictional depiction.
By tintin40
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Robert Keppel uses William Heirens case. Mr Heirens is most likely innocent 99.9999%. Perhaps this book needs an update??
Otherwise a good detailed read if a bit dated.
Otherwise a good detailed read if a bit dated.
By J.P
Format:Paperback
I have an (possibly unhealthy) interest in serial murderers and have been reading books about them for over 7 years. During this time, I've probably read all subcategories of the genre, from the Crime Classification Manual, to biographies, semi-biographies, autobiographies, encyclopedias and case study books. I have been slightly disturbed by the grisly details, and fascinated by the lack of understanding the professionals have of the genesis of a serial murderer.
People are always asking "Why?", "What makes them tick?", and "What are their motives?". How can profilers "Get into the mind" of a killer? I've become bored of these questions that lead to no answers (or the same old). I've come up with my own understanding of why. But for those interested, at end of the book, there are the obligatory theories that attempt to address these cliche questions.
Robert Keppel does not pretend to know the absolute answers, but shares his experiences and knowledge gained as an veteran consultant in a unique way. Most works (including those written by authorities) are content with the following outline of a case;
1)The killers background, where he came from and early warning signs
2)The crimes and investigation, what he did to elude the authorities and how he was caught
3)Analysis, problems in his life that may have drove him to murder
This book talks about how a "Signature" is identified.
I have come across explanations of MO and Signature before, but Keppel also gives the WORKING definition. This is the essence of what the book is trying to expound. To this end, Keppel has made the effort to sometimes stress important points by reiterating and rewording.... Read more ›
People are always asking "Why?", "What makes them tick?", and "What are their motives?". How can profilers "Get into the mind" of a killer? I've become bored of these questions that lead to no answers (or the same old). I've come up with my own understanding of why. But for those interested, at end of the book, there are the obligatory theories that attempt to address these cliche questions.
Robert Keppel does not pretend to know the absolute answers, but shares his experiences and knowledge gained as an veteran consultant in a unique way. Most works (including those written by authorities) are content with the following outline of a case;
1)The killers background, where he came from and early warning signs
2)The crimes and investigation, what he did to elude the authorities and how he was caught
3)Analysis, problems in his life that may have drove him to murder
This book talks about how a "Signature" is identified.
I have come across explanations of MO and Signature before, but Keppel also gives the WORKING definition. This is the essence of what the book is trying to expound. To this end, Keppel has made the effort to sometimes stress important points by reiterating and rewording.... Read more ›
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Scary but interesting. The minds of these killers are unfathomable and very frightening. It's the trying to understand 'why' .
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling
A stunning, shocking and repulsive book, but ultimately so compelling i cldnt stop reading til the end, with breaks between chapters to calm feelings of panic! Read more
Published 9 months ago by Julesbabe
4.0 out of 5 stars
Grisly but brilliant!
Signature killers is a novel is wrote in first-person himself by the great Bob Keppel!This novel could be used on so many guidelines,firstly policework,secondly if you're studying... Read more
Published on 30 July 2009 by Mr. A. J. Ralph
1.0 out of 5 stars
psycho mumbo jumbo
Having read this book I was no wiser as to what Mr Keppel was actually trying to get across to his readers. What exactly were the so called signatures of these killers. Read more
Published on 2 April 2009 by uncle joe
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