Some great picks there.

Here are my Top 10 True Crime Books. As a psychotherapist in private practice who deals with all sorts of human behavior, it is the behaviors of serial killers and cult leaders that fascinate me most in the realm of abnormal psychology.

Here we go:

1. Seductive Poision - Deborah Layton - It's not your typical true crime, but man is it ever one hell of a read. How did 900 San Franciscans move to the jungles of Jonestown, and why did they drink the Kool-Aid? Layton, who just narrowly defected in time to escape death, really allows us to see straight into the inner workings of Jim Jones and The Peoples Temple. This is one frightening read that you simply can't put down!!

2. Helter Skelter - Vincent Buglosi - First read it when I was 12, and well, let's just say that, as the preface said, the book scared the ever living hell out of me. Probably the most classic book in terms of its effects on how true crime novels were approached and formatted.

3. The Night Stalker - Not particularly well-written, but the horrific Satanic natures of the crimes as well as the sheer number which occurred in the LA area in a most random fashion makes this a much scarier read than it would have been otherwise. Richard Ramirez is just pure evil.

4. The Stranger Beside Me - Ann Rule. Bundy was among the smartest of our serial killers, and his cunning prowess makes his crimes all the more horrific.

5. Killer Clown - John Wayne Gacy kills 30something young boys and stashes them under his house. Because the police have no evidence (all the bodies are underneath Gacy's house): they shadow him for months on in and what develops is a bizarre relationship between killer and the detectives who were around him for months, waiting for a break in the case.

6. Devil In The White City - Erik Larsen - HH Holmes was a real sicko, and his creation of a house of terror is just downright freaky. Also ties in the Chicago's World Fair which is fund to read about as well.

7. The Crime of the Century - Richard Speck kills nine nurses in one night--or did he??? The fact that he was able to kill so many so fast is amazing, and the chase to find him is filled with suspense.

8. Small Sacrifices - Diane Downs kills her kids in her car and then claims that they were gunned down by a madman on the side of the road. Most disturbing that she could do this to her own kids as their mother.

9. Deranged - Albert Fish abducts and eats little kids. Really despicable stuff.

10. The Jeffrey Dahmer Story - Creepy of course, but somehow didn't affect me as strongly as the above 9.

Paul Voorhies
New Orleans

Wow, I really love your list. Helter Skelter, Seductive Poison and The Stranger Beside me were amazing! I actually read them one after another. And I'm currently looking for most of the other books on your list. Great taste!

Ditto with Kelsey's comment. Read about half of the books on the list and your background added to the interest of the post. Great job.

HI Paul, THE BTK killer is also a great read and if you like Harold Schecter, Deviant is a pretty good, yet extremely disturbing book as well. -JR

I just finished Starvation Heights by Gregg Olsen. Quite compelling. I don't understand how people could agree to the treatment, and when they could see the impact on their lives, not try to leave. Perhaps they were no longer able. Always wonder about the makeup of those who come up with schemes like this.

Ummmm...what is Cornered Coyote doing on this list?

Miss M wrote: "Misfit wrote: "Ummmm...what is Cornered Coyote doing on this list?"

Huh. Isn't that by that author who got kicked off Goodreads for spamming?
;)"

I thought she sound familiar, but let's talk about author behavior and get ourselves banned :/

Misfit wrote: "Miss M wrote: "Misfit wrote: "Ummmm...what is Cornered Coyote doing on this list?"

Huh. Isn't that by that author who got kicked off Goodreads for spamming?
;)"

I thought she soun..."

Hey Guys...enjoying the conversation about something I never heard about.

Get you banned? You think so? I can ask someone who knows...should I or would it just draw unwanted attention? Be banned because we're talking about an author? Interesting. That too is new information!

You're right...I guess there are just 52 clueless list voters with reading comprehension issues. Sad, really.

Miss M wrote: "You're right...I guess there are just 52 clueless list voters with reading comprehension issues. Sad, really."

I will remove it as it is a fictional novel and does not meet list criteria.

@ Cathy, apparently so.

Cathy wrote: "Misfit wrote: "Miss M wrote: "Misfit wrote: "Ummmm...what is Cornered Coyote doing on this list?"

Huh. Isn't that by that author who got kicked off Goodreads for spamming?
;)"

I t..."

We-elll...difficult to know anything definitively since GR has never had the guts to actually update its TOS, instead relying on commentary in the Feedback Group to inform one very small part of the community that it revised policy towards review content. Reviews based on authors/author behavior are not permitted.

Anyway, within the last few days RUMINT has it that a Goodreads member was banned (without warning) for simply putting a book on a 'Nope' shelf she created--no review, no rating, simply shelved.. I don't know the member, but I've seen her blog on the issue on Booklikes where she posted the msg from Goodreads and she appears credible (to me.) People are now starting to assume that any discussion of author behavior may get one banned.

PS - I deleted my original comment.

Ha- Misfit is much quicker and to the point! :)

Sometimes I wonder if a member is targeted by excessive flags and this happens. I have a no-thank-you shelf, but I mix it up - I'll shelve a book I've decided not to read due to a review I've seen here, or even for the identical book art that I like to keep track of. Since some of those look alike covers are on my read or to-read shelves, I can't make book cover dejavu exclusive, hence them being on the no thank you shelf.

Miss M wrote: "Cathy wrote: "Misfit wrote: "Miss M wrote: "Misfit wrote: "Ummmm...what is Cornered Coyote doing on this list?"

Huh. Isn't that by that author who got kicked off Goodreads for spam..."

Thanks for that, Miss M. Makes me want to create a "Nope" shelf and put that book on it! Very interesting.

Miss M wrote: "Ha- Misfit is much quicker and to the point! :)"

Prolly a good move.

Misfit wrote: "Miss M wrote: "You're right...I guess there are just 52 clueless list voters with reading comprehension issues. Sad, really."

I will remove it as it is a fictional novel and does not meet list cri..."

Thanks for that. Will go back to site when I return but please keep the conversation going. :-)

I actually deleted the one 'negative' shelf I had, on 1 January to make a fresh start - tired of having crappy books by crappy authors mixed in with my lovely book collections, even on an 'exclusive' shelf. :D Probably a good thing, since I did have private notes on why I wanted to avoid those in particular.

Miss M wrote: "I actually deleted the one 'negative' shelf I had, on 1 January to make a fresh start - tired of having crappy books by crappy authors mixed in with my lovely book collections, even on an 'exclusiv..."

From the convo I glanced through, it may be the private notes that did some peeps in. I do have a due-to-author shelf, but IIRC only Mein Kamph is on it.

*clicks to take off feeds* (view spoiler)[I really think these come up from heavy flagging. I know I have some shelves that should have ticked buttons during the big purge, but they're still there. I do make a point to block most of those authors first though :)

Really, after incidents like Kathleen Hale, readers should be able to talk about behavior like that and have a way to tick those books in a way to remind oneself years down the road why.

I had an author I loved and highly rated all her books. Then she sided with them and started supporting the use real name petitions. Well, since I don't review under my real name I figured she didn't need my support anymore. Removed my reviews (GR and Zon) and my ratings. I might add that I was a huge supporter of her books before Sourcebooks decided to pick them up for a US reissue. Huge. She had a book on the Norman conquest that would have been the first I'd recommend on that period. No more. I don't go and shout it from the rooftops, but I remain silent when those books are discussed or recommendations requested. (hide spoiler)]

*end rant*

@Misfit
It just keeps getting worse and worse...the fact that it could be Private Notes is really disturbing. I can understand there are reasons for monitoring even private groups,but notes are just for one individual's use.
Meh.