Serial Killers 101

I’ve always been fascinated with the subject of serial killers. I’m most interested in “why” they do what they do; what causes a human being to become a monster? It’s a question of nature vs. nurture. Was it the fault of their upbringing and/or society or were they “born” to be serial killers? 

The more I read about them as I did research for my first Malone mystery, Mixed Messages, the more intrigued I became. Here's a brief overview of what I learned. There are four types of serial killers:

·       Visionary  killers

·       Mission killers

·       Pleasure (Hedonistic) killers 

·       Power/control killers

Keep in mind: there’s a difference between mass murderers and serial killers. Mass murderers kill their victims all at once. They choose a killing field and attempt to take as many victims as possible. They do not hunt, torture and then kill their victims. Serial killers do. One definition of a serial killer is “someone who commits three or more murders over an unspecified period of time.” 

It’s virtually impossible to distinguish serial killers from the rest of society. They look just like you and me (yes, there have been many female serial killers) and they're everywhere. The FBI can’t give us actual statistics; no one knows for sure how many are out there, targeting their next victims. Estimates run anywhere from twenty to thirty to the thousands! 

There are three predatory types:

·   territorial killers who hunt within a specific area

·   nomadic killers who travel extensively on their killing sprees

·   stationary killers who prefer to commit murders in their own homes or places of employment

Serial killers are categorized as “organized” or “disorganized.”

·   Organized killers are the most difficult to identify and capture because they’re highly intelligent. They plan each and every detail, often stalking their victims for long periods of time to determine the best time to strike.

·   Disorganized killers are usually of lesser intelligence and don’t plan their attacks in advance. Their victims are usually people who are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Most serial killers have a “preference.” For example, Albert DeSalvo, the Boston Strangler, was sexually obsessed with the elderly. Some serial killers take “souvenirs” from their victims: a lock of hair, a piece of jewelry or a body part and many serial killers have bizarre fetishes like Ed Gein, the role model for Hitchcock’s Psycho, who collected corpses for a variety of sick purposes. 

Until next time, be wary of strangers and people you know. Remember, anyone could be a serial killer – even the boy next door.

Coming Soon!

As I promised last week, here’s the final cover for Secrets in Storyville. The book is a standalone mystery completely different than and separate from my Malone mystery series.

Writing this book has been an eye-opener for me in many ways. Because this was the first novel I’d ever written in the first person, I made a few mistakes. For example, when one of my beta-readers finished reading it and gave me his feedback, I was shocked to see how many times I, as the author, had intruded on the story. Phrases like “Trust me” and “You wouldn’t believe” needed to be cut immediately – and they were. I was also appalled to see how many exclamation points I’d used. Mary Higgins Clark may be the “Queen of Suspense” but I deserved the title “The Queen of Exclamation Points.” That was something else I needed to – and did – fix.

While I loved the characters in my Malone mystery series, I had so much fun creating new ones and getting to know them. Plus, after writing five books set in “real” places, it was an adventure to set the story in a fictional town, a product of my imagination, where there were no geographic or historical limitations.

Because there are so many “firsts” with this book, especially the fact that I’ll be self-publishing for the first time, I’m as nervous and apprehensive as I was when I sent my first book, Mixed Messages, to my publisher. I didn’t know what to expect then and I feel the same way now. But, I’m also excited and eager to hold the book in my hands. I’ve rewritten, edited and revised my manuscript more times than I can count and, like a mother bird, it’s time to push my baby from the nest.

A Valentine's Day mystery!

Someone is stalking Marnie.

It’s Marnie’s last week at the law firm of Cliburn & Reeves and she feels like she’s riding an emotional roller coaster. Up when she wins the divorce and custody battle for Callie Jackson against her abusive husband, Jed. And plummeting down when one witness after another decides not to testify against Mark Hall, an attorney at another Charleston firm and an “alleged” serial rapist.

Marnie receives one threat after another and she constantly feels the need to look over her shoulder, convinced that someone is stalking her. With Sam out of town on business, she’s alone in the big, old farmhouse and strange things are happening. Noises in the attic, creaking floorboards and someone watching her from the woods.

As she tries to determine the identity of the stalker, the list of men who have grudges against her grows longer each day. In her line of work she’s made enemies. Is the stalker someone from the past or one of the men on her list? And, how far will he go?

Here's an excerpt from the book: 

A sudden realization hit her like one of the bolts of lightning that continued to streak through the room every few minutes. Oh, my God! The gun! How could I have forgotten about it? Relief surged through her body. She was going to get through this alive!

But she had to hurry. She knew her intruder would be back any second and she needed to be ready. She quickly turned to her left, stretched out her hands and burrowed them under Sam’s pillow, expecting to find the revolver she had hidden there.

But she couldn’t find it. Her heart raced. Oh, my God! What if he found it while I was unconscious? 

The gun was her only hope. Without it, she was as good as dead. She pictured Sam coming home in the morning and finding her mutilated body. The word “mutilated” sent a shiver down her spine. But she knew her attacker was so full of rage that he would take it out on her. It wouldn’t be an easy death. He would make sure she suffered first.

She stretched her arms out farther and farther and, finally, the tips of her fingers felt the cold steel of the barrel. But it was just beyond her reach. She couldn’t help groaning as she rolled on her side, stretching her body as far as her ankle restraints allowed. Perspiration dripped down her face as she was finally able to grasp the revolver with both of her hands. 

The candle on the nightstand flickered. Marnie looked up and saw her attacker standing in the doorway. She gasped as he sauntered back into the bedroom wearing nothing but a smirk.

“Ready to get started? I am.”

 

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