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A review by swampbooks
American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan
4.0
This was a solid, well-written overview of the horrifying crimes of Israel Keyes - a serial killer who isn't as well-known to the public compared to the likes of Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer. His crimes were planned out months in advances, targeting random people, up until the last one when he made mistake after mistake until getting caught.
Keyes wasn't willing to give up much, but what he did confess to was recorded in his interrogations which the author brought here for easy-access to key moments. The writing felt a bit emotionless and there wasn't much on the victims which isn't great, but I also know that not many of his victims were known due to his travel and unwillingness to give up information.
I do appreciate how police were called out for their incompetency in this investigation. Sure, there were people who did a fine job, but then there were people who the author dragged through the mud because they kept messing up and refused to do better. They deserve to be called out for their failures - failures that eventually led to Keyes literally being given a razor to shave while in prison (they were specifically told not to give him one) which he then used to kill himself. Because of this fatal error we will likely never be able to find anymore of his victims, bring them home, and or give their family closure. So... good job to those guards for messing up so horribly.
Honestly I listened to this audiobook nonstop until I finished it. He was a super interesting yet terrifying person.
Keyes wasn't willing to give up much, but what he did confess to was recorded in his interrogations which the author brought here for easy-access to key moments. The writing felt a bit emotionless and there wasn't much on the victims which isn't great, but I also know that not many of his victims were known due to his travel and unwillingness to give up information.
I do appreciate how police were called out for their incompetency in this investigation. Sure, there were people who did a fine job, but then there were people who the author dragged through the mud because they kept messing up and refused to do better. They deserve to be called out for their failures - failures that eventually led to Keyes literally being given a razor to shave while in prison (they were specifically told not to give him one) which he then used to kill himself. Because of this fatal error we will likely never be able to find anymore of his victims, bring them home, and or give their family closure. So... good job to those guards for messing up so horribly.
Honestly I listened to this audiobook nonstop until I finished it. He was a super interesting yet terrifying person.