I greatly enjoyed this book, if `enjoyed' is the right term. The author's contention that the public has an insatiable appetite for serial killers is adequately borne out by the observation that, only some 14 days after its appearance this book has already attracted 12 US Amazon reviews. It contains insightful first-hand accounts offered by Dennis Rader and David Berkowitz.
The author is surely right that our fascination with this subject has something to do with experiencing fear and an adrenalin surge but under controlled conditions, such that we can always withdraw to safety at a time of our own choosing. It is rather like the pastime of diving in cages to be amongst feeding sharks. The `controlled uncertainty' of what might happen next attracts us.
I felt something of a conflict in the book, though this might reflect more the author's portrayal of a conflict between a scientific understanding within psychology and an understanding as socially constructed by the media. Thus Bonn writes (p.216): "The actions of serial killers are completely irreconcilable with society's need of logical explanations of human behaviour. The motiveless nature of the killings....." and (page 228) "..their behaviour is seemingly inexplicable and without coherent motive such as jealousy or rage". But are the actions really so inexplicable or incomprehensible and are the killings really motiveless? Surely to spend months in elaborate planning and incur enormous risks must reflect a very powerful motive. On page 218, Bonn writes "The motives and desires of serial killers are far more varied and complex than what is stereotypically portrayed in the news and entertainment media." I suggest that we have a reasonably good understanding of how an aberrant early development can give a predisposition to fuse (i) a negative emotion such as anger or shame and (ii) an emerging sexual desire, a process apparently captured by the term `sensory preconditioning'. Indeed, on page 217, the author writes "Popular narrative frames of serial killers include childhood neglect and abuse, brain trauma or mental illness." As such, the subsequent homicidal actions of a Richard Ramirez, Dennis Rader or Ted Bundy are no more motiveless than those of a man visiting a brothel or a `family-man' father and husband choosing to commit adultery. Doubtless a merging of motives appears in the serial killer, such as to gain attention and seek revenge for injustice but I suggest that, at its core, lust killings are motivated by sexual pleasure.
(Professor) Frederick Toates, Open University, UK, Author of `How Sexual Desire Works: The Enigmatic Urge'.
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Top reviews from other countries
Andrew S.
A valuable persepctive from which to look at killers and ourselves
Reviewed in the United States on 7 May 2015charles niessner
Fascinating and engrossing true life read. Did not realize ...
Reviewed in the United States on 20 November 2014Kay
While the product is titled "Why We Love Serial Killers"
Reviewed in the United States on 22 August 2015
