Serial Killer Fiction: A Study of 42 Novels and 22 Movie Adaptations

A steady stream of nonfiction books, novels, movies, TV documentaries, websites, and podcasts has continued to feed America's fascination with serial killers. This book provides the first comprehensive analysis of serial killer novels (and their movie adaptations) published since 1913 that reflect that obsession.

The 42 novels examined in this book, which appear in chronological order, trace the history of the genre while detailing the various approaches authors have employed in creating fictional versions of the serial killer. Some of these novels bring us inside the mind of the killer, others focus on the dedicated work of the police detectives, forensic scientists, medical examiners, and FBI profilers whose job it is to rid the world of such monsters. The book also illustrates how the efforts to catch them have benefitted over the years thanks to ongoing advancements in science, technology, and psychological profiling.