Killer Case Files

Psychologists have long noted a thin but vital boundary separating the firefighter who finds purpose in rescue work from the fire-setter who takes pleasure in watching flames, violence and ruin unfold. These are opposite temperaments, yet in 1980s California both existed within one person. Killer Case Files is a true crime series built around such cases.

Most readers of the genre know the typical profile of a cold, sadistic person leading a hidden life shaped by cruel fantasies. Far less common is the pairing of two such people who meet, marry and then carry out a shared campaign of torture and murder.

Another case follows a deeply troubled child drawn to fire and the killing of animals. As an adult, his rage toward women leaves him unable to function sexually, and his escalating deviance ends in several homicides, during which he drinks his victims' blood and subjects their bodies to brutal abuse.

Who Killed Mama Edna? explores how strongly belief in the spirit world can shape behavior, and the ongoing debate over whether such belief stems from faith, evil or suggestion. One night in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, that belief pushed two longtime friends into a sudden and deadly confrontation.

Fans of gripping true crime will find this series appealing. Each volume includes a 21st bonus chapter and supplementary Case Files for every story, which are available free on the author's website. There, readers can join the author to explore more photographs, news reports and grim specifics of each case.

The details of these murders are drawn from eyewitness accounts, interviews, police reports, court transcripts, crime scene material and autopsy reports. Because some of the content is disturbing, the book may not be suitable for every reader.