Serpentine

Rating:
Summary: An international hustler
Review: A fictional account of the crimes of Charles Sobhraj, a total psychopath, most infamous for his horrific spree of murder across several Asian countries in the seventies. Known by several different aliases, he would cruise major hotels and tourist areas looking for tourists to ingratiate himself with, then drug and rob them. Eventually he began to kill his victims, even burning some of them to death, moving from country to country using stolen passports, his blatant and arrogant attitude seemed to know no bounds. It required police detectives from many cities and embassies to merge their efforts to catch him and even acknowledge that there was a serial killer on the prowl, this took quite awhile and after all the effort by the end of this novel his only conviction was the one in India for 7 years

Born in 1944 in Vietnam, to an unmarried Vietnamese mother and an Indian father , unwanted by both parents, Charles spent his childhood in Vietnam, France, Africa and India moving from place to place and belonging nowhere. He was highly intelligent and had a natural aptitude for languages, but early on in his life, perhaps because of his unstable childhood and rejection, he turned his abilities to the dark side of life. From a young age Charles was able to manipulate and control others, a skill he developed throughout his life, becoming articulate in many languages and changing identities at the drop of a hat, able to convince otherwise innocent people to commit crimes for him and give him their money. Caught for many of his crimes, he was able to slip from custody countless times with the help of others who remained fiercely loyal to him.

I had never heard of Charles Sobhraj before reading "Serpentine", have since discovered that he was released from prison sometime ago, profiting greatly from selling his life story, truly shocking. While this book does have a sensational style of writing and not totally balanced, typical of pulp fiction from the seventies, I still enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it for readers of the true crime genre.

Rating:
Summary: An international hustler
Review: A fictional account of the crimes of Charles Sobhraj, a total psychopath, most infamous for his horrific spree of murder across several Asian countries in the seventies. Known by several different aliases, he would cruise major hotels and tourist areas looking for tourists to ingratiate himself with, then drug and rob them. Eventually he began to kill his victims, even burning some of them to death, moving from country to country using stolen passports, his blatant and arrogant attitude seemed to know no bounds. It required police detectives from many cities and embassies to merge their efforts to catch him and even acknowledge that there was a serial killer on the prowl, this took quite awhile and after all the effort by the end of this novel his only conviction was the one in India for 7 years

Born in 1944 in Vietnam, to an unmarried Vietnamese mother and an Indian father , unwanted by both parents, Charles spent his childhood in Vietnam, France, Africa and India moving from place to place and belonging nowhere. He was highly intelligent and had a natural aptitude for languages, but early on in his life, perhaps because of his unstable childhood and rejection, he turned his abilities to the dark side of life. From a young age Charles was able to manipulate and control others, a skill he developed throughout his life, becoming articulate in many languages and changing identities at the drop of a hat, able to convince otherwise innocent people to commit crimes for him and give him their money. Caught for many of his crimes, he was able to slip from custody countless times with the help of others who remained fiercely loyal to him.

I had never heard of Charles Sobhraj before reading "Serpentine", have since discovered that he was released from prison sometime ago, profiting greatly from selling his life story, truly shocking. While this book does have a sensational style of writing and not totally balanced, typical of pulp fiction from the seventies, I still enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it for readers of the true crime genre.

Rating:
Summary: Serpentine
Review: Fantastic book, I could not put it down. Unbelievable that this man was able to operate for so long and not get caught or when caught, was either released or giving a short sentences, without further investigation. And was able to escape several times. Even though his family is partly to blame I feel that one takes responsibility for one life when becoming an adult. He knew full well what he was doing. Has he ever been extradited to any other countries where he committed murder etc.? It is sad to think that this kind of policework and justice may still be prevelent in India and other Asian countries. I know this man has now been released. My question to any of you readers is,has there ever been any knowledge of other crimes he may have committed now that he is out. Do we know where he went after being released and what kind of life is he living now? And what of Marie-Andree Leclerc? Did she eventually get released, did she indeed get charged with more crimes and serve more time or is she now back in Canada? The book should most certainly be read by any persons thinking of traveling in the East, certainly when going alone. To be aware there are most likely other people like hime who prey on tourists. However one would hope that security and borders are now better. But when one looks back at Sept. 11, is it really that much better?

Rating:
Summary: True Crime Classic
Review: I am a lover of true crime books. From the slick little "penny dreadfuls" to Roughead and other Victorian favorites. This book started this fascination lo these twenty years ago. The story of Charles Sobrajh (one of his many names) is interesting. Starting with the beginnings of a youth psychopath and the various attempts to alternately save and destroy him, to his compelling life of crime. The exotic locales and subsequent happenings speak to an earlier age, when people and international borders were much more free. However, this also caused them to become victimized; in many cases duped, drugged robbed murdered by this charming criminal. But I didn't dislike Sobrajh, is a strange way I found myself thinking that he would be able to get away with his crimes. I wonder about his whereabouts even today. the story of this true life Tom Ripley is a must for the serious true crime reader.

Rating:
Summary: True Crime Classic
Review: I am a lover of true crime books. From the slick little "penny dreadfuls" to Roughead and other Victorian favorites. This book started this fascination lo these twenty years ago. The story of Charles Sobrajh (one of his many names) is interesting. Starting with the beginnings of a youth psychopath and the various attempts to alternately save and destroy him, to his compelling life of crime. The exotic locales and subsequent happenings speak to an earlier age, when people and international borders were much more free. However, this also caused them to become victimized; in many cases duped, drugged robbed murdered by this charming criminal. But I didn't dislike Sobrajh, is a strange way I found myself thinking that he would be able to get away with his crimes. I wonder about his whereabouts even today. the story of this true life Tom Ripley is a must for the serious true crime reader.

Rating:
Summary: Serpentine 2004
Review: I read this book about 25 years ago and have never forgotten it. As others have described, I could hardly put the book down or believe how this man escaped capture and punishment for so long. I just finished watching a National Geographic special entitled "The Serpent" and discovered that it was about this same man. An Update to the story of Charles Sobrahj, after being jailed in India long enough to escape extradition on murder charges (In Nepal I think) due to the statute of limitations , (He escaped once and got an extention of 10 years on his original 7 year sentence to prevent extradition before the statute ran out in Nepal) he was released and eventually slipped back into the country where he was being sought for the murders of a Dutch couple (Thailand?). He was spotted, arrested, charged, convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2004. His former partner in crime, Marie LeClerc died of cancer while he was in jail in India) As wily as this man has been his entire life, I doubt that this will be the end of his torturous career. It is a cautionary tale, one that prompts anyone who reads it to exercise caution when traveling, particularly abroad.

Rating:
Summary: Life may be more haunting than fiction
Review: I read this book in over thirty years ago, and I have never forgotten it. It has haunted me ever since. After living in Asia for over ten years, I realize how vividly and correctly a few words and phrases can so accurately capture the settings. Serpentine gives us insight into the progressive decline of a serial killer, beginning with alienation and minor crimes, and ending with chillingly effective mass murder.
When I was living in Hong Kong in the mid '80's, I came across a tiny mention in the South China Morining Post that Charles Sobrahj had escaped from an Indian prison. I doubted that that one inch column would mean much to most readers, but knowing his exploits all over Asia, I was astounded at the sight. He was later apprehended, and has since served his term and been released. To think that a man who has committed his crimes is not in prison for life attests to the sheer intelligence and audacity of this killer.
This is a book you will not forget.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best true crime books I have ever read
Review: I really enjoyed this book by Thomas Thompson, an author who redefined the true crime genre and shaped it further after the Capote classic "In Cold Blood." The author makes you feel that you really know all the characters involved with the murderer and antisocial Charles Sobhraj. The descriptions of Charles's crimes really seem like fiction they are so incredible, it is scary to read. I wish that Thomas was still alive to be able to do a followup.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best true crime books I have ever read
Review: I really enjoyed this book by Thomas Thompson, an author who redefined the true crime genre and shaped it further after the Capote classic "In Cold Blood." The author makes you feel that you really know all the characters involved with the murderer and antisocial Charles Sobhraj. The descriptions of Charles's crimes really seem like fiction they are so incredible, it is scary to read. I wish that Thomas was still alive to be able to do a followup.

Rating:
Summary: Every Traveler Should Read This Book BEFORE Departing
Review: In 1990, I was a woman, traveling alone around the world, for one year. I met a couple unsavory characters along the way--one of whom I now know was a socioopath--but fortunately escaped without long-lasting harm. I came across this book, originally thinking it was fiction (it was mismarked in the library where I found it), but found it was a true story of a sociopath, and how he preyed upon tourist after unsuspecting tourist. It particularly fascinated me as many of the places in this book were places I visited myself. If I had read this book before traveling, I don't think the sociopath I met could have done anything to me. As it was, I was too naive and trusting. The first thing I did after reading this book from the library was to go out and BUY my own copy to keep. And I plan to recommend this book to each and every person I know who is going abroad on any more than a simple vacation to a standard destination. If you are a traveler, or have friends who are travelers, the information contained in this book is priceless.