The Big Book of Serial Killers: 150 Serial Killer Files of the World's Worst Murderers (An Encyclopedia of Serial Killers 1) Kindle Edition

This is a great book if you want to know how many people were killed and basic statistical information. No photos and no storyline. I returned it. I wanted to know a little more about each killer.

I've read more than one book of the "encyclopedia" types but this is by far the best one I've read. The layout is perfect. If you person who likes a clean, logically laid out book like I do this is the book for you. The pertinent information is first followed by sections for background, the crimes, capture and trial, and sometimes even trivia.Jack Ridgewood really does a outstanding job of letting you get to know these people in a short, concise space. Most will make you shake your head, ask why could this happen. Some will be having you check your doors and windows. Others make you wonder what happened to make such a monster walk the earth. A few will make you wish someone would have stepped in to help them before they got that way. All will make you cry for their victims.

The book is not what I was hoping it to be. It is interesting with the factual breakdown of each killers info (like murder count, murder methods, ect.). However, the book is very plain considering there aren't any pictures of the killers. For some, there isn't photographic identification but for those that do have it should have their pictures, maybe even censored crime scene photos.Also, when reading a couple of infamous murderer's info there were sentences that sounded word for word from other sources that I have read/heard from, so the authenticity of the author's own work sketched me out.The book is also full of grammatical errors. Not something I want to see out of an "Encyclopedia". I couldn't even find a bibliography list of some sort. Just can't help but wonder about the resources and authenticity of the author's work.Despite the negatives the book is interesting. There are definitely killers I have never heard about and it's interesting to learn of them. I'd just suggest this book only if you're just getting into the whole serial killer interest, the format and layout of the book isn't for those who have had a long term interest and fascination for them, it's just too "bland" and "generic" feeling. Still a decent read if you want to creep out your friends, family, or spouse, lol :p

When it comes to podcasts and audiobooks I don't mind being told a narrative. It makes it more interesting to listen to on a long drive or while doing daily chores, but I found that attempting to read a long, drawn out narrative about various serial killers with every detail of their personal lives wound up boring me. Not every murderers life is interesting to me. This book, however, keeps each biography short and to the point. A few paragraphs here about their childhood, a few there about the murders, and a couple about the trial. Add on a bit of trivia such as disturbing quotes and we're on to the next. It's perfect for light reading, and if I want more details I have the entire internet to give me that, but most of the time I find the short one or two pages about a killer to be sufficient for my curiosity.I have found a couple grammatical and congruity errors, but overall an outstanding find for me. I definitely recommend it if you want the short version of most killers lives and crimes.

Yes, it is encyclopedic in nature, but he provides a lot of background information on the serial killers to make reading this book non-boring. Fascinating reading. I recommend it.

Interesting compilation, but numerous grammatical and syntactical errors (see chapter on Bunting, for example) -- at times, lapses in clarity or not enough info to form a cohesive description of the crimes. Still, a fascinating look at serial killers and could easily rate at least a 4 if properly edited.

What a truly great serial killer encyclopedia. It covers so many serial killers. Some well known, others not so well known. There were a few I did not know. It not only covers the basics (number of victims, ages, method, status, etc.) but he provides background information, murders, arrests, trial and sentencing. Very complete info, including trivia as well! The book is well written and well researched. I have not found a Jack Rosewood book that I didn't like. They get better and better. If you like to read about serial killers, this is one for you!

If you just want a list of serial killers, with dates and victims, then this is good. (Think pub quiz info). However it lists the victims on each one at the beginning of each chapter and then again at the end. Doesn't give much insight into the killers mind and the grammar is similar to what's expected at high school level. Much repetition within chapters but no consistency on structure throughout.

I did buy the for myself, but I wrapped the wrong book up for Christmas. So I had to pretend it was for the wife for Christmas, as we both like watching the telly box about Serial Killers etc.Anyway I thought I’d have a look whilst she was doing something else and to be honest it’s a very informative book. We have been watching various programmes on the telly box about serial killers, with the book it gives you some more details about the serial killer. For each of the Serial Killers, it will say when they was born, death, about the persons victims and how many and the background of the killer, over several pages of detail on each Serial Killer.It is a A-Z of killers, and has 150 of them in this book.I would say it’s worth every penny and a very good read. I’m glad I bought the wife this book, even if it secretly was for me (don’t tell her). I’m slowly but surely getting through the book and I’m pass halfway point. Buy the book, you won’t be disappointed.

I’ve read quite a few of Jack Rosewood’s true crime books-these are primarily shorter works: He has a series in which each volume focuses on one killer and he also has a series of true crime anthologies each examining about fifteen different murderers. This volume is a BIG, big book, a much larger project. Here we have an encyclopaedia of serial killers detailing a huge one hundred and fifty of the most famous perpetrators. The worst of the worst. This has an easy to follow structure with a brief résumé of info about the killer's lives, their victims, their MO, etc.This was quite a harrowing read, it was quick to whip through though, and what a feast of info and facts and figures. It can certainly be read continuously in the normal way, (which is what I did), or, kindle format particularly lends itself to searching for a killer's name or a victim’s name and it will quickly come up with all entries of it/them in the book. So, an ideal reference guide which can be used again and again. Edge of your seat reading-it contained some truly terrible things but I was compelled to read on.

I’ve recommended this to all my blog followers, Instagram followers, twitter followers and friends and family that love true crime. It’s a thick book chock full of information. As a true crime lover, blogger and forensic psychology student I also found this so helpful.

I love how you write clearly the killer’s name, DOB, aliases, dates of murders, their victims etc. It gives the reader a clear understanding of who they were and what they did for if the reader only had time for a short read. Also for someone like myself who has AS, it means its easier for it to be processed as it is blunt and precise; straight to the point and just visually spaced out to meet the visual requirements.I think how you add the trivia parts in on some of the killers and their actual quotes is great, it gives the sence of this being real something which does happen in life and not just fiction.