Take a photo of a barcode or cover
18 reviews for:
Hearts of Darkness: Serial Killers, the Behavioral Science Unit, and My Life as a Woman in the FBI
Jana Monroe, Jana Monroe
3.55 AVERAGE
18 reviews for:
Hearts of Darkness: Serial Killers, the Behavioral Science Unit, and My Life as a Woman in the FBI
Jana Monroe, Jana Monroe
3.55 AVERAGE
Very interesting. Bounces back and forth between Jana Monroe's rise as an FBI agent and some of the cases she worked. Definitely interesting perspectives on the serial killer's and other horrible people and but nothing shocking about the misogyny in law enforcement. It's interesting because of the details of some of these cases but would it be interesting without all those details? I'm not sure.
challenging
dark
informative
She talks so fast! Plus this is more of a biography of her career and less a look into the minds of the killers she helped catch.
Disappointing. The title is misleading, as it makes it seem like the book will be mainly about the behavioral science unit, which it is not. This is a memoir about the author's life in law enforcement and, in particular, life in the FBI in a variety of settings and capacities. If you know that going in, I don't think you'll be as disappointed as I was.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Hearts of Darkness by Jana Monroe, Joe Navarro
Serial Killers, The Behavioral Science Unit, and My Life as a Woman in the FBI
Narrated by Hillary Huber
Jana Monroe relates her experiences as one of the first female profilers of the FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit and real-life model for The Silence of the Lambs’s Clarice Starling. She had a long career dealing with serial killers and a variety of other criminals. Because I read so much true crime nonfiction plus have followed many of the serial killer/mass murder cases throughout the years, I am familiar with most of the cases that Jana mentions here. That makes them even more interesting, getting to hear from an insider and especially someone who who has knowledgeable insight into why people do the things they do.
But this is less the retelling of very famous crimes even though it does touch on so many horrendous acts of murder, but more a look from the inside, a look for Jana's side of things. Rarely is the real thing like we see on TV or at the movies, but I actually like knowing about the real job, not the made for TV glitzing up of a job with crimes that would haunt anyone who sees them first hand. Because we are talking serial killers (and more) here, know that the facts are gruesome and often too hard to take in. Both people abuse and animal abuse make up what we read/hear in this book. My version is the audiobook and narrator Hillary Huber handles this subject matter very well.
As Jana relates her time on the job, we get all kinds of interesting tidbits. She mentored (or tried to when it came to one of the women) Jodie Foster and Demi Moore for movie roles (one role came to fruition and the other one didn't) and those stories were interesting. I'm intrigued by not only Jana's career but that of her FBI husband, Dale. He seems to have been at so many big terrorist/hostage situation events and often Jana was working the case, too, even if it was in a completely different capacity and from a faraway location. Both were totally immersed in their jobs and I can see how being married to someone who understands the challenges, stresses, travel, and lack of stable hours or schedule has been an advantage to these two in their careers. Each time I learn from people who dealt first hand with criminals who have done the most unthinkable crimes, I'm in awe of their ability to do the job, day after day. Jana gives us an idea of how the job affected her in every way, often giving us some humor mixed in with the horrendous.
Here is a link to a recent article about Jana Monroe:
FBI agent who inspired Clarice Starling reveals what it’s like working with serial killers
https://nypost.com/2023/10/07/fbi-agent-inspired-clarice-starling-talks-working-with-killers/
Pub October 10, 2023
Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley for this ARC.
Serial Killers, The Behavioral Science Unit, and My Life as a Woman in the FBI
Narrated by Hillary Huber
Jana Monroe relates her experiences as one of the first female profilers of the FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit and real-life model for The Silence of the Lambs’s Clarice Starling. She had a long career dealing with serial killers and a variety of other criminals. Because I read so much true crime nonfiction plus have followed many of the serial killer/mass murder cases throughout the years, I am familiar with most of the cases that Jana mentions here. That makes them even more interesting, getting to hear from an insider and especially someone who who has knowledgeable insight into why people do the things they do.
But this is less the retelling of very famous crimes even though it does touch on so many horrendous acts of murder, but more a look from the inside, a look for Jana's side of things. Rarely is the real thing like we see on TV or at the movies, but I actually like knowing about the real job, not the made for TV glitzing up of a job with crimes that would haunt anyone who sees them first hand. Because we are talking serial killers (and more) here, know that the facts are gruesome and often too hard to take in. Both people abuse and animal abuse make up what we read/hear in this book. My version is the audiobook and narrator Hillary Huber handles this subject matter very well.
As Jana relates her time on the job, we get all kinds of interesting tidbits. She mentored (or tried to when it came to one of the women) Jodie Foster and Demi Moore for movie roles (one role came to fruition and the other one didn't) and those stories were interesting. I'm intrigued by not only Jana's career but that of her FBI husband, Dale. He seems to have been at so many big terrorist/hostage situation events and often Jana was working the case, too, even if it was in a completely different capacity and from a faraway location. Both were totally immersed in their jobs and I can see how being married to someone who understands the challenges, stresses, travel, and lack of stable hours or schedule has been an advantage to these two in their careers. Each time I learn from people who dealt first hand with criminals who have done the most unthinkable crimes, I'm in awe of their ability to do the job, day after day. Jana gives us an idea of how the job affected her in every way, often giving us some humor mixed in with the horrendous.
Here is a link to a recent article about Jana Monroe:
FBI agent who inspired Clarice Starling reveals what it’s like working with serial killers
https://nypost.com/2023/10/07/fbi-agent-inspired-clarice-starling-talks-working-with-killers/
Pub October 10, 2023
Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley for this ARC.
dark
funny
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A fascinating look at Jana's pioneering experience as a woman in the FBI. Despite her impressive career, she knows when to not take herself too seriously.
dark
funny
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Monroe, one of the FBI's first female agents with the Behavioral Science Unit, shares stories of her life with the FBI. Over the years, she holds a variety of positions, breaks glass ceilings for women, and meets some interesting and terrifying characters. Equal parts her personal memoir on the challenges and struggles of her positions and a field agent's perspective on some of the major investigations the FBI handled during her tenure, Monroe's book was easily readable and intriguing. If you have ever considered a career that combines law enforcement and psychological analysis, you will find this an insightful and engaging read with some exciting adventures along the way.