As the title suggests, the content is chilling. killer story Gives readers a chilling glimpse into the mind of South Africa's most notorious serial killer. This book is not your standard true crime type. Instead, it delves deep into the psychological narratives that drive murderers and explores the justifications they create for their crimes.
The authors of this book are Bryn Hodgskiss and Nicole Engelbrecht, both of whom are experts on this subject.
Originally from Johannesburg and based in the UK, Mr Hodgskis has assisted South African and British police in complex cases including robbery, terrorism, murder and rape. His knowledge of serial murder was communicated to audiences around the world through magazines, conference presentations, and media appearances.
On the other hand, Engelbrecht true crime south africaone of the nation's leading podcasts. Samurai Sword Murder: The Morne Harms Story and Sizzlers: The hate crime that tore apart Sea Point.
An unsettling reality: Exploring the mindset of serial killers
Gene Rossouw of Jonathan Ball Publishers, who published the book, said it was terrifying. “It's unsettling to see how we can empathize with the mindset of serial killers, and I realized that sometimes it's simply the stories they tell themselves.”
This material has its origins in some of Hodgskis's long-forgotten interviews with some of the world's most notorious serial killers. It sat gathering dust for years until Engelbrecht stumbled upon his work online.
The two instantly connected through a shared passion for storytelling. In this book, Hodgskis draws on his expertise in narrative psychology. He then delves into the minds of the murderers he interviews, explores his path as a psychologist, and what he learns about human psychology in the process. Together, they have created a fascinating account of the killers' twisted stories. I'm anxious. But it's incredible.
Unlike traditional true crime books, killer story The name of the murderer will not be revealed. Hodgskis and Engelbrecht changed the name of the murderer because the book's academic origins were a research paper.
“If you follow real-life crime in South Africa, you probably recognize some of the people depicted,” Rossouw said. “It’s both fascinating and disturbing,” she said. “You can see both sides: the dark justification of the murderer and the lasting impact on the victims and their communities.”
The fine line between justice and revenge: Justifying a murderer
One of the book's most disturbing insights is just that: how the murderers justified their actions. “Many of them claimed that because of the injustices they had suffered, they had a 'right' to take revenge and commit acts of violence,” she said. “I am horrified because I know how quickly resentment and self-pity can distort a person's behavior.”
According to Rossouw, the book forces readers to confront the uncomfortable idea that ordinary people can have dark thoughts and rationalizations. “This shows how easy it is to start down a dangerous path when you believe you are a victim of your circumstances,” she says.
killer story It also follows how some serial killers play into the media's portrayal of them. Rossouw noted that some killers accepted the image of the monster created by journalists, while others rejected it in protest. “In some cases, people start to believe what the media tells them about themselves, while others insist that the media got it all wrong,” she says.
Rossouw said the book offers a rare glimpse into how murderers perceive their public image, with some feeling misunderstood and others enjoying the notoriety. He added that some people are.
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