Profiling: The Psychology of Catching Killers
David Owen's Profiling: The Psychology of Catching Killers is a fascinating look into the science of profiling. There's certainly far more to profiling that what we glimpse on television shows such as the popular Criminals Minds, and Owen describes numerous scenarios and rationales that shed much light on the minds of those who commit heinous murders. (Jodi DeLongHalifax Chronicle Herald2010-12-12)In a crime investigation, a police detective usually asks, "Who had the means, motive, and the opportunity to commit this crime?" ... David Owen displays a consummate grasp of the difficult pieces of the jigsaw puzzle necessary to solve a violent crime. [He] is both intuitive and extraordinarily knowledgeable in his ability to answer the most frequently asked questions and concerns about the methodology used by the best professionals in the art of criminal profiling... The specific details of cases of yesteryear and issues facing profilers then and now are presented in logical sequence, making this book highly digestible for laypersons with an interest in forensic matters, law enforcement professionals, and true crime aficionados... While the reader is left with a feeling of having completed a course in profiling and/or forensic psychology, the information and the way it is presented captures the reader from the first few pages of the book--and doesn't let go until the final words. (Laura SchultzNew York Journal of Books2010-09-30)The process of profiling plays an increasingly notable and controversial role in modern fact--and fiction. Profiling is a fledgling study, often more art than science, and in this systematic review experienced true crime writer Owen guides readers through 50 case studies from around the world, offering detailed breakdowns of the disparate criminals that have been caught through the use of these techniques. He examines both organized and disorganized serial killers and a number of rapists and child molesters, and even touches on how profiling techniques are currently being used to anticipate terrorists and suicide bombers... Owen brings his book alive with a surprisingly graphic (and borderline exploitative) collection of crime scene photos (both real and reconstructed), and his summarized studies of famous killers like Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy. Owen succeeds on a basic level in not only educating readers, but also disturbing them. (Publishers Weekly2010-12-15)For anyone interested in crime and all it entails, this book is a must-have for the library. (Joan SutterShelf Life2011-04-00)This book aimed at general readers offers an eye-catching visual layout, with cases illustrated by color photos on every page. The book's layout is designed to look like a real file with paperclips and notes. Owen...gives background on 50 real cases of historical and contemporary killers, demonstrating how crime scenes are analyzed, how profiles are developed, how profilers work with other investigators, and how professionals use psychological clues for predicting behavior patterns. Color photos show real killers, victims, and evidence gathering at real locations, but there are also staged color photos of crimes being committed, evidence gathering, and types of evidence. (Book News2012-02-01)