Wednesday, May 15, 2013

[Book Review] Inside the Mind of BTK by John Douglas and Johnny Dodd

Nonfiction/Biography

Marilyn reviews INSIDE THE MIND OF BTK:THE TRUE STORY BEHIND THIRTY YEARS OF HUNTING FOR THE WICHITA SERIAL KILLER by John Douglas and Johnny Dodd (Wiley & Sons, 2007)

How do you catch a shadow? 

For thirty years the BTK killer (Bind, Torture, Kill) eluded capture, killing between 1974 and 1991. To John Douglas of the FBI and the police of Wichita, Kansas, BTK was a shadow: appearing, disappearing, and killing at will.

BTK, real name John Rader, was one of the most hunted serial killers of the 1970s. BTK also was a criminal who taunted police between 2000 and 2005 with letters and pictures of his crimes. He was so like a shadow that some of his killings were not credited to him until he claimed credit. John Rader created an image of himself to his family and friends that led to unbelief when he was captured. His true self was hidden in a secret world. The Wichita police had to use 21st century technology to capture him.


Inside the Mind of BTK, written by master retired FBI profiler John Douglas and Johnny Dodd, recounts the hunt for a killer and the setting of the trap to catch him by the Wichita Kansas Police. For thirty years, BTK was in the back of Agent Douglas's mind. Even after Dennis Rader was captured, the retired Douglas wanted to explore Rader's mind by interviewing him and examining his journals and photographs.


Together with Johnny Dodd, Douglas weaves an interesting and fascinating account of the hunt, profiling, and capture of Dennis Rader. 

The book is divided into three parts: the hunt, Dennis Rader's life, and an interview done by Douglas. Each part held my attention for it revealed the master mind of a complex criminal.

Marilyn Umfress, Central Library

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