222 reviews for:

Talking with Psychopaths and Savages: A Journey into the Evil Mind

Christopher Berry-Dee

2.69 AVERAGE

starsailor8032's review

2.0

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The author’s ego ruined the book for me, as he often commented on his own achievements rather than giving us objective information on the subject matter, which otherwise would have been very interesting. Additionally the terminology used surrounding DID and OSDD were completely incorrect, using a term that has not been in use since 1994.

adelenc's review

1.0

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I found this book unexplainably disappointing. The title and synopsis promise an insightful and meaningful analysis into some of the most famous psychotic and savage minds of our time and instead Berry-Dee does nothing but promote himself, his other books, and repeat the same 5 stories over and over. I think he's trying to make himself relatable and witty but he comes across as arrogant and, ironically, narcissistic. I think his previous books may have the interesting analysis that I was looking for. I suppose this one isn't bad for an overview of Christopher Berry-Dee's life work being a groupie for a host of British and American serial killers...

lenierd's review

1.5

informative slow-paced

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the author always mentioned his word count and didn’t dive deep into the topics 

dorotea_'s review

3.25

dark informative medium-paced

thespooksapprentice's review

2.0

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Read the negative reviews, they are not wrong.
End of review.

ellshinkley's review

3.0

challenging dark slow-paced

dykewillgraham's review

5.0

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Very well written.
Would recommend for those who enjoy true crime. 10/10

is_this_mutton_'s review

2.0

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It seems as if the writer has set himself up as "the person serial killers talk to", dismissing psychiatrists as people they won't talk to because the killers are allegedly too bright. Yet when he does talk to them, they reveal themselves as shallow narcissists with no remorse. And we wouldn't expect anything more. It seems a bit hollow to dismiss the medical experts. They don't all rush into print, for a start.
I have problems with his labels, psychopath or savage. The latter is a killer who hasn't had a diagnosis.
There's a lot of grandstanding by Berry-Dee. He has a coat of arms and deploys it on letters to killers, along with a squirt of Chanel, to get them to write to him.
The lengthy explanations about the nature of psychopathy, where physical causes are outlined, is more interesting than the interviews with the killers.
The writing is tabloid-esque and grandiose.
Disappointing.

clef4iry's review

4.0

dark informative

elbell's review

2.5

dark informative slow-paced