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  • The Serial Killer Files

  • By: Paul Simpson
  • Narrated by: John Banks
  • Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (132 ratings)

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The Serial Killer Files

By: Paul Simpson
Narrated by: John Banks
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Summary

There are many myths about serial killers: that they are all dysfunctional loners; all white males; only motivated by sex; that they all travel and operate across a wide area; cannot stop killing; are all insane, or evil geniuses; and that they all want to get caught.

Of course, there are some serial killers who fit into these categories, but the married Green River Killer was not a dysfunctional loner; there are plenty of female and non-Caucasian serial killers; Dr Harold Shipman was certainly not motivated by sex; many serial killings (such as the Ipswich prostitute murders carried out by Steve Wright) happen within a confined area; and the BTK Killer, Dennis Rader, stopped killing in 1991 but wasn't caught until 14 years later. Many serial killers may have a low animal cunning or be 'street smart', but few of them are Mensa-level geniuses.

Each of the 30 cases covered here is unusual in some respect, perhaps in the way in which the killer carried out their crimes, the choice of victims, the way in which they were apprehended, or the method of their execution.

The cases are presented alphabetically by country - from Australia via Colombia, Great Britain, Indonesia, Iran, South Africa and elsewhere to the United States - and then chronologically. They come from across history and from all over the world. The author has gone back as far as possible to contemporary source material - newspaper accounts, trial evidence, interviews with perpetrators or survivors - rather than rely on the increasingly blurred truth to be found online and in far too many collections.

©2018 Paul Simpson (P)2018 Little, Brown Book Group
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What listeners say about The Serial Killer Files

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Narration and accents off putting

It is hard not to get distracted by the valiant efforts of the narrator in putting the scents on of each country and character.
Book didn’t need it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good listen.

This is a good listen. Quite a long book, but fortunately you can skip ahead of any chapters that are not f interest.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Introduction

This was a great introduction to serial killers most the UK and American ones are well known if you’re into True Crime genre or serial killers in general.

There were cases I’ve never heard of and have looked into their stories more. The stories do mention each victim where it can ( some were unrecognisable due to decaying etc ).

Each section is divided into countries, each chapter a serial killer which was a great was to write this book / audiobook.

The narration was spot on and even the accents put on for each country were great and didn’t distract you from listening.

I’ll definitely listen to this one again possibly more than twice….something to help me sleep ( not that it’s boring, I just enjoy falling to sleep listening to serial kill / true crime stuff ).

Highly recommend for all true crime buffs and anyone wanting an intro into serial killers.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great encyclopedic content and narration

very great book, fascinating to listen to and great narration, scary and interesting book, with some well known and lesser known killers mentioned

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Short stories

Loved this I listen to a lot of true crime and usually love them but you do have hours on one killer, what I liked about this was that he does the basics on different killers from all over and does it very neatly, I think it was read very well and I’ll definitely listen again at some point,

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good insight

knew of most of the killers from documentaries, but you don't get the real brutality of what goes through these killers minds. some parts may be difficult to hear, but overall a good listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great presentation

All you ever wanted to know about Serial Killers told in a way that's interesting

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting details about each killer

They were interesting but tone of narrator was a bit monotonous so could only listen for short periods

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent

excellent narrator
great detail in all stories
really helped me with my criminal profiling course.
Thanks!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting and well read

Good book, definitely worth a listen
Great narration.
I’d definitely recommend it to anyone interested in true crime.

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