A review by thuglibrarian
Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber and the Invention of Criminal Profiling by Michael Cannell

4.0

This book is the history of criminal profiling in America and how it became an art form. Who knew that the art of criminal profiling came from 3 men working together to try to identify a serial bomber in NYC, in the 1950's? In the 1950's, in NYC, a mad man was setting off bombs in public places such as movie theatres, train stations and libraries. At that time there was no such thing as criminal profiling and the NYPD didn't have the skills necessary to identify the bomber, or more importantly, to stop him. Desperate to halt the bombings that occurred, (seemingly at random) the police took the unprecedented step to ask a Psychiatrist to help identify the bomber. This seems routine to readers today, but it was extraordinary at that time. Readers of true crime and history will appreciate this book for what is it...a snapshot of America and true crime.