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Rating: 
Summary: Excellent book to even out a wobbly table.
Review: ...There is very little of interest in this book. One gets the impresson that Ms. Furio sent the same "opening letter" to masses of multiple killers and published anyone who responded more than 3 or 4 times. The book is poorly written, horribly edited, and worse - not even entertainingly voyeuristic.
Almost all of the serial killers in the book claim their innocence and want financial help in funding their appeal. The only story of any interest was from David Gore of Florida. However, his letters were so disgusting that I questioned the need to even put them into print. I wondered about the families that had to read his vivid recollections of his crimes.
I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a book to lull them into sleep, to throw at howling alley cats in heat, or to smash cockroaches. If you want a book to read and entertain you for any period of time - pass on this one.
--Kathryn White-Fidram
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time or money
Review: Encore! I am sure hoping this book leads to a Volume Two. What an incredible book. Forget about the books on Criminal Profiling- this book is the real deal. I learned more from these letters than I ever could reading books by FBI profilers or watching CSI!This book is incredible. The criminals writing the letters are so brazen, so beyond redemption and so thoroughly transparent that this book is as hilarious as it is shocking. I especially like the "born again" Christian who describes his dastardly deeed in the most profane and gleefully pornographic ways possible. Bill Suff is in a class by himself. Why you' think they had the Pope locked up, the way he describes himself. Jenny, this is brilliant. You are brilliant. This book is brilliant. Serial killlers, you ain't all that bright now are ya. Thanks Jenny for making the killers seem even less human than they already seemed.
Rating: 
Summary: The Uncertain review
Review: Hmmm. This book has taken some hard hits i can see.
I could go either way with this one. If you would enjoy reading about the daily habits and evasion tactics of these killers, then you will enjoy the book. If you are searching for the fabled "answer" to a serial killers problem then you may want to look elsewhere. Moss didn't find it either. You have to ask yourself, considering that most of the men she contacted had never admitted their crimes before, why would they suddenly confess to a stranger on paper. Not likely. Since most of them are juggling appeals I doubt they would jepordize themselves for nothing. I agree with the other reviews comment that "Gore probably got off on reliving his crimes by writing them" and that is what makes him the exception in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: In one word...INCREDIBLE!!!!
Review: I am really into true crime books and read every one that is published. I have never read a true crime book like this one. In fact, it is far more than just another true crime book. It is, as the title says, a "penetrating" examination of some pretty sick individuals. After reading this book, I felt very different about men who kill. I realize now that they are more than monsters. They are monsters who are real people, with real feelings and real lives. In every possible way, this book is FAR FAR more frightening and disturbing than other true crime books that tell the "story" about a serial killers. For the three days I was reading this book, I was so upset that I had a hard time sleeping. I had an even harder time just walking down the street. This book really sent home the fact that your neighbor, your car wash attendant...any one you come into contact with but don't really know, could be a vicious killer. This book really opened my eyes...unfortunately to something that is not too pleasant. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU THINNK IT IS
Review: I READ THIS ONE WITHOUT REALLY READING ANY OF THE REVIEWS SIMPLY BECAUSE I LIKE READING ABOUT THE PYSCHOLOGY OF SERIAL KILLERS (NOT THAT ANN RULE GARBAGE). I SHOULD HAVE READ THEM BECAUSE IF I HAD I MIGHT HAVE SAVED SOME MONEY.
I THINK THE AUTHOR, JENNIFER FURIO, WAS A BORED HOSUE WIFE AND LIKE ONE OPF THE LETTERS FROM A SERIAL KILLER SAID ABOUT HER SHE WAS MORE SICK RHAN HE WAS. SHE OFFERS ONLY A ONE SIDED CONVERSATION. MOST OF THE KILLERS REALIZE THIS AND STOP WRITTING HER. IF SHE HAD PUT MORE OF HER INTO THIS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BETTER.
SHE COULD HAVE ALSO CHANGED THE TITLE. IT IS VERY MISLEADING. WHEN I SEE THE TITLE I THINK ABOUT THE LETTERS THAT JACK THE RIPPER OR THE SON OF SAM SENT THE NEWSPAPERS, NOT SOME GUY IN INDIANA SENDING A BORED HOUSE WIFE BECASUE SHE ASKED FOR A LETTER.
SO IF YOU THINK YOU ARE GETTING A BOOK THAT REALLY PROBES INTO THE HEADS OF SERIAL KILELRS OR TWISTED RANTS SENT TO NEWSPAPERS LIKE THE UNI-BOMBERS MANIFESTO, THINK AGAIN. THIS BOOK IS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS AT ALL.
Rating: 
Summary: Waste of time ... boring and pointless
Review: I was so utterly disappointed with this book. Perhaps it is my own fault. I assumed that these letters would provide some sort of insight into the minds of serial killers. I mistakenly believed that I would learn something new from reading the actual writing of these killers. I hoped that these letters would at least have entertainment value. Alas, all I obtained from this book was to be 20.00 poorer and not even entertained. Furio has very little of her own writing in the book, and what is there is poorly written. I questioned why she was writing to these men and what the content consisted of in the letters she sent to prisoners. Ironically, even some of the sickos that she is writing to question her motives and chastise her lack of writing skill. I couldn't help but come to the conclusion that Furio was a lonely housewife in an unfulfilling marriage that got kicks out of talking to serial killers and leading them on. There is little content in these letters. The only exception is David Gore. His letters are truly disturbing. I believe he derived pleasure from re-living his crimes by writing them to Furio. Shame on her for giving him an excuse. Perhaps she does have deep-seated issues as one of the Hillside Stranglers suggests. Overall, this book stinks. It's not interesting and a waste of money. The only good thing I can say about this book is that it is the perfect size to prop up a planter on my back porch. Don't waste your money.
Rating:
Summary: San Diego, student asked to write book report on LETTERS
Review: My criminology professor asked us to pick a book that would give insight into serial crime. He's a police officer who teaches a night class. I picked this book. I thought I would hate these guys, which is why I'm studying this field - to put them away. Despite what I ENDED up feeling, after reading their letters, because my personal thoughts aren't the point here, I want to tell Amazon, the author, and potential readers, as I did my teacher and fellow students, that it was blind luck that I picked this book. It was in the store, so I bought it. It didn't look really gory, but I was intrigued. So what I want to say is, BUY IT. You have to read it!!! It was so easy to write a report, with all this info, and insight. I was so enthralled, I wanted the letters to go on and on. I have read the other reviews, and people talk about what a "knock out" Furio is, but the real knock out is how this book, what she did, how they responded, blew me away. I'm a woman, and yes, she's cute, but get over her face and just check out what she committed herself to doing for our society. This is invaluable information. Hope there's more...another "Jennifer," in San Diego.
Rating:
Summary: WORTH THE READ BUT FALLS A LITTLE SHORT
Review: The concept of this book had so much potential but the product fell a little short. Jennifer Furio strikes up a series of correspondence with some of the most horrific serial killers still alive. Most of their histories she came to know through the flashy murder novels of Anne Rule and others. She then takes their letters and prints them.....much as Jason Moss did in his work "The Last Victim" but she only prints the offender's letters word for word. First off, I will give credit where credit is due. She does get some intriguing responses. Even those that deny their crimes open a small window into their minds through their writings. Those that admit can be brutally frank (i.e. David Gore). There are definately moments of this book that make it worthwhile. On the other hand there are some real flaws with the work up that hurt the overall effect of the book. First, the authors preamble to each series of letters is minimal at best. If you havent read individual books on each of the offenders you dont have real insight to the nature of their crimes. Second, there are offenders that were co-conspirators whos chapters are no where near eachother in the flow of the book. It would seem to be more beneficial to have them follow one another. The book also suffers in that the author does not share ANY of her letters. Sometimes these individuals have angry reactions to her correspondence and it would have been nice to see what provoked their hostility. Finally the book suffers from her selection of offenders. Some of the offenders are borderline illiterate and reading their letters is painfully tedious. Also the biggest name (or at least most recognizable) in her book, Henry Lee Lucas only wrote three brief non important letters. Finally it is very important to mention that she did not print letters from those who refused to be printed. What fun is that? There are some highlights. The letters from David Gore are frank and horrific. The letters from the Chicago Rippers are worth reading to see how much of the offenses they pass off on one another. Overall as I said the book is worth the read, but you will suffer some to get to the good stuff. If you are looking for something of this nature that doesnt have as many dull spots, I recommend "The Last Victim" by Jason Moss.
Rating:
Summary: There are better ways to waste time
Review: This book is a boring waste of time. The author doesn't include her letters, so the inmates' letters are sometimes difficult to follow. She probably chose to omit her correspondence because she hasn't always been truthful regarding her identity or her motives for writing and receiving the letters. The author could benefit from an ethics course at her local college. In the end, the reader has learned no more about these inmates than what is available about them elsewhere in much more interesting and better written books and articles. Do yourself a favor and waste your time with a less painfully boring endeavor.
Rating:
Summary: There are better ways to waste time
Review: This book is a boring waste of time. The author doesn't include her letters, so the inmates' letters are sometimes difficult to follow. She probably chose to omit her correspondence because she hasn't always been truthful regarding her identity or her motives for writing and receiving the letters. The author could benefit from an ethics course at her local college. In the end, the reader has learned no more about these inmates than what is available about them elsewhere in much more interesting and better written books and articles. Do yourself a favor and waste your time with a less painfully boring endeavor.
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