I'm in need of your help, /lit/ - I need recommendations for any good books on serial killers. It doesn't matter if they are biographies on a single individual or simply a book describing some of the worst murderers through history or whatever, as long as they are decent and easily available to buy in the UK.
Gordon Burn, a very impressive and self-consciously highbrow novelist, wrote two hugely powerful books on Peter Sutcliffe and Fred West which reached a much wider audience than his usual work via the 'true crime' market. Happy Like Murderers on the Wests in particular is uniquely harrowing literature.
The Gates of Janus by Ian Brady is a book on serial killers by one. Bizarre reading indeed. He certainly knows what he's talking about when he discusses all those maniacs, although you have to read between the lines to find out about his own crimes.
Brian Masters wrote a splendid book about Dennis Nilsen, Killing For Company.
The true crime genre isn't known for great writing on the whole. One puts up with lazy journalism for the glimpse at details of human behaviour.
The glib reply is that it's facing up to human nature, and that we're hardly alone in our fascination, just look at the contents of the average tabloid newspaper.
A more honest and uncomfortable answer: there but for the grace of god.
Psychoville was the first TV comedy I'd enjoyed in literally years BTW.
>>2370 Really? It just seemed like a slicker reworking of LoG into an odd format.
I mean, it was good, I liked it, but I'd not care enough to rewatch it, until I've forgotten it at least.
