Summer 2019 True Crime Reads

Leaves are changing, the air is getting cooler and we are even starting to see the dreaded white snow that makes us bundle up and grab a peppermint mocha coffee. Christmas will be here before we know it, however I'm still clinging on to my summer memories. Beaches, sunshine and warm weather will always have my heart. Although I had a crazy and busy summer I was able to squeeze in some really good true crime reads in between the chaos. I have to admit that my summer reads this year had a theme. I focused a lot on publications written about BTK and Ted Bundy. This was in large part due to the fact I was planning on attending a conference in September that focused on these cases in detail. Most of the books I read were slam dunks however there were cons of almost all of them. I hope my short and simple reviews of these books will help you next time you are in the true crime section at Barnes & Noble. Grab your favorite fall flavored coffee and let’s dive in to my summer 2019 true crime reads…

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Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI

By, Robert K. Ressler and Tom Shachtman

I purchased this book as a recommendation after reading Mindhunter by John Douglas. A few pages in I could see why some would make this recommendation. My busy schedule hindered me from finishing this read super quick but I kept coming back to it every chance I got. Although this book is less than 300 pages there is a lot of content packed in. Ressler and Shachtman give first-hand accounts of their FBI experience and how they spent a good deal of their careers hunting down serial killers. In fact, Ressler is the real life inspiration for the character Agent Bill Tench on Netflix’s Mindhunter. Some stories came as a surprise to me and others were what I would have expected. Although this book is similar to Mindhunter I would recommend reading both if you are interested in the early days and development of the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit.

Bind, Torture, Kill: The Inside Story of BTK, The Serial Killer Next Door

By, Roy Wenzl, Tim Potter, Hurst Laviana and L. Kelly

In my search for the best BTK book I have to say this got my vote for #1. Many people may disagree however I really enjoyed the storyline and the fact that it covered everything from the press coverage to the BTK investigation that took place over many years in Kansas. I happened to be reading this at the same time that Mindhunter season 2 premiered on Netflix. I was amazed at the similarities and the details I was able to catch between the book and popular show. Overall I thought this book gave me everything I needed when it came to discussing BTK. I learned about the victims, the stress and pressure placed on the police to catch BTK killer and even what was going on in the Kansas news and press rooms during the reign of BTK. I would highly recommend starting with this book if you are new to the BTK case.

A Serial Killers Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming

By, Kerri Rawson (Daughter of BTK)

Kerri Rawson is the daughter of Dennis Radar, the BTK killer. She bravely wrote and published this book earlier this year. She describes in detail her childhood, memories of her father and her reaction the day an FBI agent knocked on her door. I had never read a book written by the family member of a serial killer before and I really enjoyed this book. I finished reading Kerri’s story within 48 hours, it was easy to read and I got sucked in quickly to her stories. Kerri’s faith places a major role throughout her book and she has taken backlash for this. For me personally, I was not bothered and hardly noticed her “preaching”. Kerri did a great job and letting the reader know what it is like to grow up with a serial killer in your home and have no idea. Most people believe “they had to know there family member was a killer”, when in reality that simply is not true. I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking to gain a family members perspective.

Side Note: Kerri struggles daily with PTSD, anxiety and depression. Her life was forever changed after finding out who her father truly was. I admire her bravery for being able to share her story with the world.

Confessions of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Radar, the BTK Killer

By, Dr. Katherine Ramsland

Let me start by saying I commend Dr. Ramsland’s ability to communicate with such a complicated killer in order to write this book. I assume this was extremely difficult and exhausting at times. That being said this was not my favorite book this summer. The first 50 pages or so are difficult to comprehend and I was slowly losing interest. I did push through it and it got easier to read. It still was very slow, even after I figured out Radar’s “special code” that is used throughout the entire book. There were a few positive things about this book. This is the first book I have read that the reader really gets to step into the mind of a serial killer. The reader is able to learn about Radar’s crimes in gruesome detail straight from the source. I was also impressed to learn that proceeds from this book support the victims’ families.

Side Note: I wanted to read this book to prepare for Dr. Ramslands presentation at a conference I was attending. Her presentation was interesting and covered most of the main topics of the book. However, I was utterly disappointed in her demeanor when I asked her to sign my book. There was a gentlemen in front of me who she had just finished signing his book, she then grabbed my book and stared at me. I told her my name, she signed it, handed it back and then walked away. I would have enjoyed being able to discuss the book briefly or maybe ask a few questions. I’m not sure if she viewed me as some crazy serial killer fan or was simply just too busy to be bothered. I did leave with a sour taste in my mouth after this interaction.

The Stranger Beside Me

By, Ann Rule

Ok, I have a confession. This was my first time reading anything written by Ann Rule. I am also surprised I have waited this long to read her most famous book. I was hooked within a few pages of this book. If you are into the types of true crime books that don’t focus a lot on the case or trial details then this is the perfect one to read about Ted Bundy. Ann’s first-hand account of Ted will baffle any reader. I really felt like I was reading about a completely different Ted Bundy then is portrayed in other books and media productions. She includes photos in the book that really help the reader visual what she is writing about. There have been many versions released since she originally published her book, the copy I happened to pick up on Amazon was released in 2000. Sadly Ann passed away in 2015.

What is Next?

Although summer is behind us now and it’s time to break out my sweaters and scarves, I am hoping to carry my reading theme into this years winter season. I love spending chilly days curled up on the couch with good book and a cup a of my favorite Starbucks coffee. There are still a few books on my pile about BTK and Ted Bundy that I am hoping to get through before spring time. I am also looking for great suggestions on anything true crime and would love to hear what my reader’s favorite books are.

*All books mentioned were purchased at Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

Instagram: @kendalljordan12