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Title: Signature Killers by Robert Keppel ISBN: 0-671-00130-2 Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: 01 October, 1997 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.87 (15 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Good read but can get redundant
Comment: As a lover of true-crime books, I appreciated Keppel's detailed explanation of how a signature differs from an MO. Keppel does a wonderful job of explaining the process of determining a serial killer's signature, and exactly what these signatures tell the investigator about the killer. He also uses real cases and the details of the crimes to walk the lay-person through the actual apprehension.
As previous reviewers have already stated, and I would agree, Keppel isn't truly a "great" writer. His style does tend to be very factual and rather dry. This probably stems from having to give just hard facts when writing reports but translates to often dry data for an average reader. Moreover, Keppel has an annoying habit of repeating the same thing over and over and over and over... well, you get the idea. Sometimes, it actually felt insulting, as though he thought the reader wasn't smart enough to remember what he had explained a few paragraphs before.
Finally, as another reader already stated, the final chapter was truly annoying. Instead of using the opportunity to summarize on the info gained from the book, or to bring out final thoughts for the reader; instead Keppel used this to soapbox his views of the American Family Structure. While much of this may or may not be right on target, I was not interested in Mr. Keppel's opinion on the state of Family Values. I would and have read sociology books to garter that type of information.
Overall, however, I would recommend this book. It is a quick and easy read and a wealth of good information for true-crime readers. Just bare in mind that you may find yourself reading the same information over and over at parts. Just bare in mind that you may find yourself reading the same information over and over in parts. LOL. ---Kathryn White-Fidram
Rating: 5
Summary: A masterwork
Comment: Bob Keppel cut his teeth working the Ted Bundy murders in Washington State in the mid-1970s. He later went on to work the infamous "Green River" investigation, as well as consulting on other high-profile serial murder cases like the Atlanta child murders in 1979-1981. He has worked with leading law enforcement professionals on the state and federal levels. As such, Keppel is well-positioned to discuss serial murder.
Signature Killers focuses on sexual offenders who leave "signatures" at their crime scenes. These individuals are compulsively forced to commit certain acts that will not vary from crime to crime. So while a murderer may change his modus operandi -- climbing in a window one time, picking a lock the next -- his signature will not change. Perhaps even more interesting is Keppel's theory on the "arc" of violence that murderers move through. Included are discussions on sadism, picquerism, and even cannibalism.
Many reviewers have complained that Keppel's writing style leaves something to be desired. While this is probably true, I think it should be pointed out that this book almost certainly derives from Keppel's dissertation in pursuit of his Ph.D. Keppel appears to have taken sections from his thesis and added commentary to form a book. The discerning reader can see where the structured style of the dissertation leaves off and the conversational, casual style begins. I don't consider this a fault; I'm glad to have this accessible book to read instead of a dry, stuffy doctoral dissertation. Keppel should be commended for making this material available to a wider audience.
Anyone interested in the motives of serial offenders can hardly do better than to turn to Dr. Bob Keppel. Others have said, and I agree, that Keppel's last chapter -- regarding the cause(s) of increasing violence in our society -- leaves a bit to be desired. But Keppel is entitled to his opinion (which, in this case, cannot be proved or disproved with ease) and it certainly doesn't diminish the comprehensive knowledge on serial sexual offenders that Keppel makes available to readers in Signature Killers.
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent book
Comment: I am the Director of Justice Studies at dodge city community college in dodge city, kansas. I teach a class on serial killers. Keppels book is excellent! He does an excellent job of explaining the difference between an MO and a signature. I encourage my students to read Keppels books and John Douglas's.
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Title: The Anatomy of Motive : The FBI's Legendary Mindhunter Explores the Key to Understanding and Catching Violent Criminals by John E. Douglas, Mark Olshaker ISBN: 0671023934 Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: July, 2000 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: I Have Lived In The Monster : Inside the Minds of the World's Most Notorious Serial Killers by Robert K. Ressler, Tom Shachtman ISBN: 0312964293 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: 15 March, 1998 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Serial Killers by Joel Norris ISBN: 0385263287 Publisher: Anchor Pub. Date: 01 July, 1989 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers by Michael Newton ISBN: 0816039798 Publisher: Facts on File, Inc. Pub. Date: April, 2000 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Mindhunter : Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas ISBN: 0671528904 Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: 01 August, 1996 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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