Scan barcode
andre_61's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
imlouise's review against another edition
5.0
This was definitely one of the best books I’ve read to date!
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
2.0
Borderline two stars. Maybe just one. I found it kind of hard to get a copy of this book and upon completion I think that's because it's quasi "out of print". The copy I received has a big publishing house on the spine but looks like a xeroxed copy made in someone's basement. The explanation that this guy corresponded with all these myriad serial killers is a bit of a stretch in the context of the book. 97% of the narrative and said correspondence is with John Wayne Gacy. Which is fine. But the books alludes to a half dozen different killers. Moreover, there's really only about 2 chapters worth of interesting material (where he visits Gacy in prison) sandwiched between tons of boredom. The writer's life is a complete fabrication in respect to the killer's which leaves the question of how much useful information was to come out of this experience. The writer himself summed it up most succinctly before meeting Gacy when he stated he'd most probably learn nothing from the experience. Bingo. It comes out looking like a publicity stunt and it's all wrapped up in a narrative that sounds like it was written by a fifth grader. I'd skip it.
cindytheskull's review against another edition
3.0
Jason Moss is dead, and I'm not quite sure if this story has to do with it.
An 18 year old boy is both scared and fascinated by serial killers, a passion he seems to have heired from his mum.
Since he studies Psychology, the interest in the serial killer's mind is self-explenatory.
He decides to contact some of the most famous serial killers in the hope of manipulating them enough to get a deeper understanding of their minds and cases.
Many have remarked that Jason seems to be a young boy full of himself, costantly boasting and unable to write.
What I really thought was that Jason was foolish, not overconfident, and totally naïve and unprepared. I agree on the writing part, though.
I was half way into the book when I realized that Jason was more involved into creating what the killers wanted from him than actually analyzing, understanding and reading the killers. He did not realize that the energy and effort for his research put him on an emotional and mental Roller-coaster, because he was manipulated by himself, his goals and the killer's intent.
I think he had an enormous amount of courage, and an even greater amount of unawareness.
An 18 year old boy is both scared and fascinated by serial killers, a passion he seems to have heired from his mum.
Since he studies Psychology, the interest in the serial killer's mind is self-explenatory.
He decides to contact some of the most famous serial killers in the hope of manipulating them enough to get a deeper understanding of their minds and cases.
Many have remarked that Jason seems to be a young boy full of himself, costantly boasting and unable to write.
What I really thought was that Jason was foolish, not overconfident, and totally naïve and unprepared. I agree on the writing part, though.
I was half way into the book when I realized that Jason was more involved into creating what the killers wanted from him than actually analyzing, understanding and reading the killers. He did not realize that the energy and effort for his research put him on an emotional and mental Roller-coaster, because he was manipulated by himself, his goals and the killer's intent.
I think he had an enormous amount of courage, and an even greater amount of unawareness.
rayarriz's review against another edition
4.0
I was always fascinating by serial killers, their thinking and why they do the things they do. Before reading the book I totally understood why the author took on the challenge he did. I've always wanted to at least get to interview one of these awful people. And just like Moss was, I hate gore and I'm queasy, but I'm still very fascinated by this stuff. I've spent time researching them and looking through books on them. And while many people think Moss might have been inclined to do something evil himself, or that he was just being foolish, I totally understand why he tried to get in the minds of these killers. It's really just morbid curiosity.
I feel slightly different now about that part. His story is sort of a hindsight for me, minus the experience of having dealt with a serial killer. It was extremely dangerous, even though those these men were behind bars, and Gacy in cuffs when Moss visited. (But the camera was turned and the guards left the room while Gacy verbally harrased Moss. Yikes...)
However dangerous this whole mission was, Moss did an excellent job still to get as far as he did. I think he must have been extremely emotionally intelligent in that he learned what each serial killer wanted and how to pretend to be exactly that. And to carry on the pretense for so long without his cover slipping, to juggle all five of them (Gacy, Ramirez, Manson, Dahmer, Lucas) at the same time.
The book was creepy enough. Haha I went to bed and dreamed of creeps. At least I won in the dream though *shrug
I feel slightly different now about that part. His story is sort of a hindsight for me, minus the experience of having dealt with a serial killer. It was extremely dangerous, even though those these men were behind bars, and Gacy in cuffs when Moss visited. (But the camera was turned and the guards left the room while Gacy verbally harrased Moss. Yikes...)
However dangerous this whole mission was, Moss did an excellent job still to get as far as he did. I think he must have been extremely emotionally intelligent in that he learned what each serial killer wanted and how to pretend to be exactly that. And to carry on the pretense for so long without his cover slipping, to juggle all five of them (Gacy, Ramirez, Manson, Dahmer, Lucas) at the same time.
The book was creepy enough. Haha I went to bed and dreamed of creeps. At least I won in the dream though *shrug
pbraue13's review against another edition
3.0
The Last Victim by Jason Moss is a gripping yet unsettling delve into the world of notorious serial killers. Moss's inspiration to write the book came from his exposure to Terry Sullivan's Killer Clown, a work that undoubtedly left an indelible mark on his psyche. The narrative unfolds as Moss, a young and ambitious criminology student, decides to correspond with the infamous John Wayne Gacy, a man convicted of heinous crimes that shocked the nation.
One cannot deny the intriguing nature of Moss's decision to reach out to a convicted killer, especially after being influenced by Sullivan's work. However, this very choice raises uncomfortable questions about Moss's own psyche. Was he merely a curious criminology student, or was there a darker fascination lurking within him? The line between academic curiosity and a morbid obsession becomes blurred, leaving readers to ponder the author's motives.
Moss's detailed accounts of his interactions with Gacy are both riveting and chilling. The psychological chess game between the two provides a fascinating look into the mind of a serial killer. Yet, the narrative begins to falter as Moss's own struggles with inner demons and trauma surface. The reader is left wondering if the author's intense involvement with Gacy had unintended consequences on his mental health.
As the story unfolds, Moss's descent into the darker corners of his own psyche becomes apparent. The book offers glimpses into the toll that dealing with a notorious killer can take on one's mental well-being. The intricate dance between predator and prey, with Moss teetering on the edge, adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. The question of whether Moss was a budding sociopath himself remains open-ended, leaving readers with a sense of unease.
Tragically, Moss's journey takes a somber turn with his untimely death by suicide. The speculation regarding the impact of his interactions with Gacy on his mental state is unavoidable. The Last Victim, in the end, becomes not just a chronicle of the dark side of human nature but a reflection on the toll it can take on those who dare to explore it.
In conclusion, The Last Victim by Jason Moss is a haunting exploration of the human psyche, blending true crime with personal introspection. While the narrative is compelling, the ethical and psychological implications of Moss's choices linger in the background, casting a shadow over the overall reading experience.
3.5/5 stars
One cannot deny the intriguing nature of Moss's decision to reach out to a convicted killer, especially after being influenced by Sullivan's work. However, this very choice raises uncomfortable questions about Moss's own psyche. Was he merely a curious criminology student, or was there a darker fascination lurking within him? The line between academic curiosity and a morbid obsession becomes blurred, leaving readers to ponder the author's motives.
Moss's detailed accounts of his interactions with Gacy are both riveting and chilling. The psychological chess game between the two provides a fascinating look into the mind of a serial killer. Yet, the narrative begins to falter as Moss's own struggles with inner demons and trauma surface. The reader is left wondering if the author's intense involvement with Gacy had unintended consequences on his mental health.
As the story unfolds, Moss's descent into the darker corners of his own psyche becomes apparent. The book offers glimpses into the toll that dealing with a notorious killer can take on one's mental well-being. The intricate dance between predator and prey, with Moss teetering on the edge, adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. The question of whether Moss was a budding sociopath himself remains open-ended, leaving readers with a sense of unease.
Tragically, Moss's journey takes a somber turn with his untimely death by suicide. The speculation regarding the impact of his interactions with Gacy on his mental state is unavoidable. The Last Victim, in the end, becomes not just a chronicle of the dark side of human nature but a reflection on the toll it can take on those who dare to explore it.
In conclusion, The Last Victim by Jason Moss is a haunting exploration of the human psyche, blending true crime with personal introspection. While the narrative is compelling, the ethical and psychological implications of Moss's choices linger in the background, casting a shadow over the overall reading experience.
3.5/5 stars
renatalynn's review against another edition
4.0
More guts than I would ever have. John Wayne Gacy is a pig, some of that was way over the top. I would have had nightmares for life.