Overkill - Softcover

Fox, James Alan; Levin, Jack

3.52

21 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0440221897 ISBN 13: 9780440221890

Publisher: Dell, 1996

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In the last decade the world has witnessed a  frightening surge in mass murders and serial  killings. This rash of multiple murders -- in the sheer  number of body counts and volume of blood spilled  -- has shocked civilized society. With each new  discovery of another serial killer, the level of  brutality and gore seems to sink us even deeper  into the abyss of inhumanity. Why this sudden  proliferation of multiple murders, be they the bloody  trail of carnage of a serial murderer or the  unexpected deadly explosion of a mass murderer? What  makes someone go on a murderous rampage? How do  serial killers and mass murderers  differ?
Criminologists James Alan Fox and Jack Levin  - -the nationally renowned authorities on  multiple murder -- have led the field in investigating  these phenomena for over a decade. In this  absobring work, they hold a magnifying glass to the  minds of the perpetrators of these hideous crimes to  explain the seemingly inexplicable. They produce  profiles of the kinds of people who follow these  murderous paths and examine the reasons behind  their vicious acts. They also describe the latest  law enforcement methods used to track down these  heinous killers.
Fox and Levin  explore why multiple-murder sprees are erupting not  only with greater frequency but in more gruesome  ways. The authors leave no stone unturned in  examining the psychological, sociological, and  biological explanations behind these savage misdeeds.  This engrossing book is the culmination of years  of original research as well as one-on-one  interviews with mass and serial murderers.

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About the Author:

Fox is Professor and Dean of the College of Criminal Justice, Northeastern University, Boston, MA.

Jack Levin is the Irving and Betty Brudnick Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Northeastern University. He has authored or coauthored a number of books, including Elementary Statistics in Social Research, The Functions of Prejudice, Gossip: The Inside Scoop, Hate Crimes: The Rising Tide of Bigotry and Bloodshed, and Overkill: Mass Murder and Serial Killing Exposed. Levin's work has appeared in professional journals, including Youth & Society, Criminology, The Gerontologist, and Sex Roles, as well as in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Dallas Morning News, the Chicago Tribune and USA Today. He has lectured on campuses around the country about serial murder, hate crimes, and domestic terrorism. A dedicated educator and social advocate, Jack Levin received Northeastern University's Excellence in Teaching Award and was honored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education as its Professor of the Year in Massachusetts.

From Publishers Weekly:

In a study that will be of interest primarily to criminologists, Fox and Levin (Mass Murder) categorize serial killers into three types: those who murder for thrills, those who believe they have a mission (e.g., to rid the world of sin) and those who kill for expediency or profit. The authors maintain that most serial killers are not insane, although many are sociopathic and most are loners. The same qualities apparently hold true for mass murderers, with the additional characteristic that they are often individuals who have lost all hope. The authors' conclusions are disheartening: despite the frequent occurrence of these two types of homicide, especially in the U.S., it is impossible evidently to identify either a serial killer or a mass murderer in advance.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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