My Life Among the Serial Killers

Morrison's unique firsthand experience with America's "most notorious murderers" is not for the faint of heart. Though Morrison delivers her bio as soccer mom/forensic psychiatrist with a practiced coolness, the explicit content will horrify most listeners. The good doctor skimps not at all on the brutal habits and crimes of such serial-killer luminaries as John Wayne Gacy as she explains her quest to understand their mental illness. A feminist pioneer in the field, Morrison persists in her studies despite the scorn and disdain of law enforcement, clocking thousands of hours of one-on-one interviews and expert testimony. D.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

April 5, 2004
With serial killers a hot topic in the wake of Charlize Theron's Oscar-winning performance in Monster
, forensic psychiatrist Morrison's memoir of working with more than 80 serial killers couldn't be more timely. The author's countless hours of interviews with John Wayne Gacy and others of his ilk have led her to a controversial conclusion: she believes there's a serial killer gene ("He is a serial killer when he is a fetus, even as soon as sperm meets egg to create the genes of a new person"). Unfortunately, she offers little in support of this deterministic view, and she will offend some readers with an implied exoneration of criminals whom she describes as "completely unaware of the process leading up to murder," despite the detailed planning and preparation displayed by many of them. And even readers who are willing to have an open mind about Morrison's theories are likely to find some aspects of her report a little creepy, as when she discusses a treasured trophy she keeps in her basement: "I place John Gacy's brain back in the box because my kids are calling for me upstairs." Agent, Chris Calhoun at Sterling Lord.
(On sale May 4)

Forecasts:
60 Minutes II has committed to a profile with Dr. Morrison to air May 5. The author will appear live on the
Today show on May 6, with more media appearances in the days to follow, including with Paula Zahn on CNN and Chuck Scarborough on MSNBC. Expect an initial surge in sales.

November 15, 2004
Morrison is a forensic psychologist who focuses on the activities of serial killers; she has profiled more than 80 of them, reading their journals, reviewing their crime scenes, and conducting interviews. She has worked as an expert witness on the trial of John Wayne Gacy and interviewed Richard Macek and Ed Gein, the inspiration for Norman Bates in Psycho. She talks about the killers' limited emotional development, their above-average intelligence, and how an interview with one helped her to develop her theory that for the large majority of them, killing is like a drug. One limitation here is the lack of discussion of female serial killers such as Arlene Wurnos. In addition, the abridgment makes the work appear to jump from place to place instead of moving in a straight line. For large libraries with true crime collections; others should consider purchasing either an unabridged set or the print version.-Danna Bell-Russel, Library of Congress

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.