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Sons of Cain: A History of Serial Killers from the Stone Age to the Present by Peter Vronsky
faegirl's review
3.0
I had no idea what type of book I was getting into before opening this since I have never read anything by this author before. The first few chapters were not interesting at all, seem very dry and clinical with some odd stories interspersed. The book definitely picks up after this, though, when he starts discussing more specific cases
Probably not the first book I would suggest to people who are want to learn more about the subject, but it was an interesting read.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review, but all opinions are my own.
Probably not the first book I would suggest to people who are want to learn more about the subject, but it was an interesting read.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review, but all opinions are my own.
sevenlefts's review
2.0
Feeling a little queasy after finishing this...
Vronsky opens the book with some creepy vignettes of his own personal encounters with serials killers as a way of introducing his history of the phenomenon we now refer to as serial killing.
He starts by associating the concepts of vampires and werewolves as medieval explanations for this behavior, gradually moving forward to early cases involving famous 19th-century European examples. A big part of his later argument is that the horrors witnessed by American soldiers and sailors during WWII were the impetus for the bondage-and-torture literature common on newsstands in the 50s and 60s, which in turn sparked the imaginations of these same veterans' sons. I thought he may have stretched this point a bit.
The writing was weirdly uneven, and felt strangely icky at times. One sections would be quite academic, filled with statistics, while others were filled with the lurid details of specific cases. In one strange section he copies out the titles of articles in these strange magazines in all caps -- for over a page. Really, just a few examples would have sufficed.
If you're looking for the details about any one particular serial murderer or case, this isn't the book. But it is full of interesting theories about the phenomenon and it's origins. Just not sure I buy all of it. Kind of glad to be finished with this.
Vronsky opens the book with some creepy vignettes of his own personal encounters with serials killers as a way of introducing his history of the phenomenon we now refer to as serial killing.
He starts by associating the concepts of vampires and werewolves as medieval explanations for this behavior, gradually moving forward to early cases involving famous 19th-century European examples. A big part of his later argument is that the horrors witnessed by American soldiers and sailors during WWII were the impetus for the bondage-and-torture literature common on newsstands in the 50s and 60s, which in turn sparked the imaginations of these same veterans' sons. I thought he may have stretched this point a bit.
The writing was weirdly uneven, and felt strangely icky at times. One sections would be quite academic, filled with statistics, while others were filled with the lurid details of specific cases. In one strange section he copies out the titles of articles in these strange magazines in all caps -- for over a page. Really, just a few examples would have sufficed.
If you're looking for the details about any one particular serial murderer or case, this isn't the book. But it is full of interesting theories about the phenomenon and it's origins. Just not sure I buy all of it. Kind of glad to be finished with this.
feyley's review
3.0
Dry in some spots but overall an interesting read. I felt like I learned about serial killers and how they come to be just by examining their history. I might have to pick up some of his other books in the future.
seraphiina's review
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Murder
marieintheraw's review
3.0
Filled with stats, facts and theories about serial killers through the ages, but there are some sections that can come off a bit dehumanizing. Overall a good place to start if you're just starting out on your true crime journey; however, it does not offer much new for an experienced true crimer.
I received an ecopy of this through netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this through netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
duchessofreadin's review
4.0
If you enjoy stories about serial killers, then you are going to want to read this one! I absolutely LOVED it. Great read, and full of great information about some well-known killers, as well as some that are not as well known.
Get ready for a weekend of killer fun!
Get ready for a weekend of killer fun!