A Book Review: Talking with Serial Killers: Dead Men Talking
Title of the book: Talking with Serial Killers: Dead Men Talking Death Row's worst killers - in their own words
Author: Christopher Berry-Dee
Publisher: John Blake Publishing Ltd
Publication Date: 2019 (Retitled paperback version)
Genre: True Crime
Why I picked up this book:
I have a confession to make, true crime, serial killers and unsolved murders fascinate me to no end. Now before you rush to dial 999, I promise you I am not insane! Back when I was still at university in the Netherlands I studied law.
During my second year, I was able to branch out and specialize in forensic psychology and criminal psychiatry. My university also arranged several visits to Psychiatric hospitals, allowing us to interview the inmates there. So my curiosity for the ‘seedy underworld’ is (at least partly) professional.
So when I was gifted this book as part of Reddit’s 2020 Secret Santa, I had incredibly high hopes. Serial Killers in their own words, what’s not to love, right?! Well, let’s just say reality does not always live up to the dream.
About the author:
Born in Winchester, Hampshire, Christopher Berry-Dee is the founder and former Director of the Criminology Research Institute (CRI), and former publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The Criminologist, a highly respected journal on matters concerning all aspects of criminology from law enforcement to forensic psychology.
Christopher has interviewed and interrogated over thirty of the world’s most notorious killers – serial, mass and one-off. He also assisted in criminal investigations as far afield as Russia and the United States.
Synopsis of the story:
Leading Crime expert Christopher Berry-Dee gained the trust of some of the most infamous convicted killers, having corresponded with them and even entered their prison lairs to discuss their horrific crimes in detail. In this book, he presents six unforgettable prisoners and allows them to tell their stories, as well as giving the details and background of their terrifying cases – making this a must-read for aficionados of the genre and anyone fascinated by the extremes of human behaviour.
Talking with Serial Killers: Dead Men Talking brings the reader up close and personal with torturers, sexual psychopaths and mass murderers, to read the stories that are rarely heard and get the last word from some of the world’s most pitiless killers.
Review of the book:
Starting with the introduction, Berry-Dee gripped me with his blunt and straightforward language. Surely the way to this Dutch Blogger’s heart. It suggests that the author will not shy away from calling them as he sees it. The killers have committed heinous crimes that cannot stand the light of day, and Berry-Dee is going to tell you all about them.
Sadly, this does extend past the introduction. From the first chapter onwards, the language suggests the author is more concerned with instilling a sense of awe and reference in the reader. Exploring the stories and psyche of the Serial Killers which ought to be paramount, takes a back seat to expose the many great and wonderful deeds of Berry-Dee. This is not to diminish the countless hours, the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into communicating with these shadowy figures. However, humility would have been a far better suit in this instance.
The readability is further hampered by the fact that the book is rife with spelling and grammatical errors. Surely a former Editor-in-Chief, if not the publisher, should have noticed these. And don’t get me started on the overused and tired comparisons the author seems so fond of using.
In just shy of 300 pages, the above was used no less than three times.
Additionally, there seems to have been little thought wasted on the structure and flow of the stories. Jumping from early childhood memories to court-case highlights and ending with more boastful statements by the author without rhyme or reason.
Interestingly the chapter about Viva Leroy Nash provided some insight into the author’s state of mind, whether intended or not. Alluding to his affinity for the ‘old-time crook’ and his wistful recalling of the glory days of crimes gone past. When gunslingers were gentlemen, moonshine was currency and gangers governed the way of life. It certainly suggests Berry Dee may have envisioned himself as one of the glory day gangsters, forced to settle for the life of an author as he was sadly born out of time.
Finally, the choice was made to add in some visual items aids such as pictures of letters received by the author and portraits of the Serial Killers. The thing that is so frustrating, is that they were plopped smack-bang in the middle of the book. Destroying any opportunity of enhancing and supporting the stories. Leaving the reader to constantly leaf back and forth between the pictures and the individuals they related to.
For me the only redeeming factor where the letters written by the Serial Killers themselves. They provided a window into their perverted and sick minds which, at the very least, was mildly interesting. The sad fact is though that they only account for roughly 10% of the book.
Everything considered I would not recommend reading the book. If you are interested in these Serial Killers, their Wikipedia pages will offer a much more thrilling read. There is also a host of interesting podcasts out there, such as Serial Killers and Unsolved Murders by Parcast. Which offer you the same information, without the author’s inflated sense of self.