Rating: 
Summary: from the crawl space
Review: I couldn't disagree more with the "Borderline Propaganda" review below. On the contrary, Cahill's writing was nothing short of masterful -- a chilling glimpse into the mind and motivations of a true sociopath.I've never read "Killer Clown," so I can't speak to the charges of plagiarism. But I must take exception to the comment that the book doesn't tell us what Gacy is thinking. In fact, it basically tells the story from Gacy's point of view, exposing him -- using his own words -- as a liar, a manipulator and a malingerer without equal. I always imagined Cahill writing this book with a nod and a wink to the reader, as if to say "Can you believe this guy?" Far from being a Gacy dupe or apologist, Cahill simply doles out the rope, and Gacy dutifully wraps it around his neck and ties the noose. It's a fascinating, and sometimes macabre, journey into a sick and twisted mind, and I haven't found anything since that comes close to matching the style or insight offered by this book.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Writing!
Review: I couldn't disagree more with the "Borderline Propaganda" review below. On the contrary, Cahill's writing was nothing short of masterful -- a chilling glimpse into the mind and motivations of a true sociopath. I've never read "Killer Clown," so I can't speak to the charges of plagiarism. But I must take exception to the comment that the book doesn't tell us what Gacy is thinking. In fact, it basically tells the story from Gacy's point of view, exposing him -- using his own words -- as a liar, a manipulator and a malingerer without equal. I always imagined Cahill writing this book with a nod and a wink to the reader, as if to say "Can you believe this guy?" Far from being a Gacy dupe or apologist, Cahill simply doles out the rope, and Gacy dutifully wraps it around his neck and ties the noose. It's a fascinating, and sometimes macabre, journey into a sick and twisted mind, and I haven't found anything since that comes close to matching the style or insight offered by this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Borderline propaganda
Review: I have read a considerable amount of true crime including almost all available material on John Wayne Gacy. I finally obtained a copy of Tim Cahill's out-of-print Buried Dreams, and I was terribly disappointed after reading it. The definitive book on Gacy is Killer Clown: The John Wayne Gacy Murders by Terry Sullivan (with Peter T. Maiken), one of the Illinois prosecutors responsible for securing murder convictions against Gacy. Cahill's book, which was published several years after Sullivan's and used material supplied by investigative reporter Russ Ewing, not only fails to shed any new light on the case but also comes close to outright plagiarism of Killer Clown. Cahill does provide extensive details on John Wayne Gacy's life as a young boy and as an adolescent, but even the new revelations are only of passing interest. His writing style is somewhat of a "stream of consciousness", which isn't inappropriate in this case nor in this genre; yet it lends an air of imprecision to the book that isn't welcome. We want to know what John Wayne Gacy was thinking; we don't want to have to guess at it. Alas, law enforcement and the rest of us have been guessing for years, and though this book is subtitled "Inside the mind of a serial killer", it doesn't come close to delivering. When he discusses the police investigation, Cahill comes just a hair's width away from plagiarizing Sullivan's Killer Clown. If you've read Killer Clown, you can see that Cahill simply took whole chunks of that book and rewrote them slightly before inserting them into his own book. The final blow to this book's credibility is Cahill's presentation of "Gacy's own words." Sadly, Cahill only refers in passing to Gacy's multiple witnessed statements to the Des Plaines Police Department immediately after his arrest in December 1978. Instead, he uses Gacy's words from prison in the 1980s, where Gacy had begun to deny almost all knowledge of the crimes and insisted that he was only guilty "of running an unlicensed cemetary." It is borderline propaganda and it only confirms what we already know: that Gacy was a sociopath who loved manipulating people, including authors. Save yourself the trouble of searching for a copy of Buried Dreams and buy Sullivan's book instead. You'll learn a whole lot more than you would reading Buried Dreams and you won't miss anything, either. And if you really want to know how Gacy thinks, read Robert Ressler's excellent books on serial killers.
Rating:
Summary: Highly disturbing but one of the best true crime books
Review: I have read many a true crime story and this is the top of the draw. The amount of detail brings to mind IN COLD BLOOD and THE ULTIMATE EVIL. Cahill, instead of rushing to print like Cliff Linedecker, has really placed you inside the sick mind of John Gacy; it will disgust, shock, frighten, and, curiously enough, please you with how well written it is. It will make you feel unclean but you keep on flippin pages. If you can manage to find a copy of this book, get it. I had originally gotten a paperback but had to replace it with a finer hardcover edition. ORDER THIS-NO REGRETS HERE!!!
Rating:
Summary: Disturbingly fascinating
Review: I read this book several years ago and found a) I couldn't put down and b) at the same time felt unclean reading. Incredible writing. As a psychologist it is my opinion Cahill really does what he claims when he says"inside the mind of a serial killer" On the strength of this experience I got a few other "true crime" novels - all with spectacular reviews. None came close to this book and I have since given up the search. I don't understand why it has not been reprinted, especially at the time of Wm. Gacy's execution when so many other poorly written books were.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best in Print!
Review: I read this book years ago and I've never forgotten it. Flawless writing and thorough research puts this book marginally ahead of "Killer Clown:The John Wayne Gacy Murders by Terry Sullivan,Peter T Maiken" and miles ahead of the homophobic "The Man Who Killed Boys:The John Wayne Gacy,Jr. Story by Clifford L. Linedecker which is written with a to the point, cheap, sleazy flair.(like those awful Pinnacle True crime books with their hack writers) What makes this book so much better is it doesn't rely on cheap shocks and sordid discriptions to get it's point across and has a much more thorough account of what took place both before, during and after the murders. I felt at the end I knew more about Mr. Gacy than I ever really wanted to know...Truly Sick and bloodcurdling! If this book interests you try a few of these: The Man with Candy-Jack Olsen, Freed to Kill:The True Story of Serial Murderer Larry Eyler-Gera Lind Kolarik,Wayne Klatt, Angel of Darkness-Dennis McDougal they are really good! and really scary! They're about less Known but equally prolific serial killers who targeted the male gender.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best in Print!
Review: I read this book years ago and I've never forgotten it. Flawless writing and thorough research puts this book miles ahead of Killer Clown:The John Wayne Gacy Murders by Terry Sullivan which is written with a to the point, cheap, sleazy flair.(like those awful Pinnacle True crime books with their hack writers) What makes this book so much better is it doesn't rely on cheap shocks and sordid discriptions to get it's point across and has a much more thorough account of what took place both before, during and after the murders. I felt at the end I knew more about Mr. Gacy than I ever really wanted to know...Truly Sick and bloodcurdling! If this book interests you try a few of these: The Man with Candy-Jack Olsen, Freed to Kill:The True Story of Serial Murderer Larry Eyler-Gera Lind Kolarik,Wayne Klatt, Angel of Darkness-Dennis McDougal they are really good! and really scary!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding, mesmerizing
Review: I'm surprised this book is out of print, because it really is outstanding. It is similar to In Cold Blood in its gradual and suspenseful unfolding of the killer's personality and m.o. and in its novelistic structure and texture. The author very skillfully conveys the complexity, subtlety, and ambiguity of Gacy's personality. This is one true crime book that goes beyond the genre-typical reporting style and takes the reader's imagination down a journey that is deep, dark, compelling, and very disturbing. I highly recommend this book if you can get access to it.
Rating:
Summary: from the crawl space
Review: It's 8 in the morning and im down here in the crawl space digging. i cant stand the smell and the people around here are begining to complain. "it's the sump pipe, besty.i'll take care of it soon." is my patten answer, but really... i dont care. As i bury my lastest prey (boy, it's getting easier every time), i say to my self " Jhon Gacy is a winner! I am the man!" The bodies bruied under the crawl are my trophies! See dad i'am a winner!If i could only get rid of the smell. anyway, im digging and then the doorbell rings. Great another puck asking about when he'll be paid or a copper asking about some kid...maybe the kid im burying now. i dust my pants off after leaving the crawl space and answer the door. "MR. Morgan, here is your package." the ups guy says. At that moment i realize that i just put down the best book i've every read about Jhon Gacy. this book is the best to date. After reading this book, you will have a deep understanding of a sick man and a understanding of how/why he commited these horriable crime---as if you witness them yourself. a real tour de force!!!
Rating:
Summary: from the crawl space
Review: It's 8 in the morning and im down here in the crawl space digging. i cant stand the smell and the people around here are begining to complain. "it's the sump pipe, besty.i'll take care of it soon." is my patten answer, but really... i dont care. As i bury my lastest prey (boy, it's getting easier every time), i say to my self " Jhon Gacy is a winner! I am the man!" The bodies bruied under the crawl are my trophies! See dad i'am a winner!If i could only get rid of the smell. anyway, im digging and then the doorbell rings. Great another puck asking about when he'll be paid or a copper asking about some kid...maybe the kid im burying now. i dust my pants off after leaving the crawl space and answer the door. "MR. Morgan, here is your package." the ups guy says. At that moment i realize that i just put down the best book i've every read about Jhon Gacy. this book is the best to date. After reading this book, you will have a deep understanding of a sick man and a understanding of how/why he commited these horriable crime---as if you witness them yourself. a real tour de force!!!
| 
