357 reviews for:

Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers

Caroline Fraser

3.84 AVERAGE

comptron's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark informative medium-paced

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!! this one is not traditional true-crime, but rather a blend of serial killer trajectories, PNW mining and smelting history, industry horrors of capitalistic deceit, a dash of memoir that doesn’t detract, all weaving a picture of the lead-crime theory on (arsenic and other smelting slag-fueled) steroids.

that_grey_chick's review against another edition

5.0

dark informative reflective medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Torture, Murder

book_fanatic_27's review against another edition

3.5

dark funny informative medium-paced

kerickertful's review against another edition

5.0

informative

tkkw's review against another edition

4.75

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Holy shit. This was a painful read, not the least of which because it is largely about the region I was born in, but also because of the detail - not only of the serial killings, but the corporate corruption, violence, and destruction.

phwoarker's review against another edition

4.0

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This was an excellent piece of nonfiction. It did exactly what great NF should do - amazingly detailed research woven into a great story.  It's a topic I knew virtually nothing about - serial killers in the US Pacific North West in the 70s and lead poisoning. It's really impressive that the author knitted these two things together and seems to be the first to systematically pose the theory that thousands of women were raped and murdered as a direct result of capitalism and poor environmental protections. 

I feel like this is a book that will resonate in popular culture and change the discourse. Just like Empire of Pain and other memorable nonfiction epics.

My only slight complaint is that it could have been at least 25% shorter and would have probably been more punchy. Editing really is a dying art. 

Unlike other readers,  I understood and appreciated all the stuff about bridges. Essentially everyone was mad and no one cared about public safety,  and I think that was a good way to illustrate it.  

adele22's review against another edition

3.5

dark informative slow-paced

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I felt Fraser went into unnecessary detail and elaboration throughout, but was ultimately successful in illuminating for me the importance of environmental regulation and the sometimes severe impacts of environmental pollution.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder

alisonjkais's review against another edition

5.0

dark informative sad medium-paced

carolkann's review against another edition

4.0

dark informative medium-paced

lexcellent's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism