I have read Mindhunter by John Douglas before and was interested to read The Killer across the Table co written by Mark Olshaker.
True crime interests me especially how the criminal is caught and some background of where their life went on an evil path. Interviewing these evil people has given the authors an important insight into how the criminal mind works and can help the FBI and police in future cases..
I found the book fascinating, frightening, sickening but interesting as well. Thank god for the agents who collated information via these evil men.

Although an interesting read I expected more, there wasn’t really anything new in this book that I haven’t read in other true crime books

I have read most, if not all, of the Douglas / Olshaker books and this volume is more of the same (thats not a criticism, but you know what to expect with books of this ilk).

Here we take a deep dive into the crimes and profiles of four extremely violent offenders.

There isn't much that can be said, fans of Douglas' previous books or the Netflix show Mindhunters will be on familiar ground.

There is some good insight in this book but, I cant help feeling that a touch of smugness seems to be creeping in to the writing. Phrases like 'I wonder if anybody else had ever put these two things together before me' grate a little bit and feel like they are there to serve the writer's ego rather than forward the narrative, which is a shame as Douglas is one smart guy and he surely doesn't need the old ego bolstered.

Apart from this minor criticism (which, by no means makes the books unreadable) this is a well put together book which is well worth a look.

Certainly an interesting, thought provoking book. Well written.
Thank you to both NetGalley and publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book

I'd previously read 'Mindhunter' by John Douglas, so when I saw that his new book was available for request, I knew that I had to read it!

In this book Douglas looks into the psychologies of four different men, all of whom are murderers. While some of their cases do have similarities, each of them has a distinct reason (or 'why' and 'how') for killing. This makes each of them interesting to study, as they may give insights into the psychologies of other criminals. We get access to specific, quoted conversations with these criminals, as well as Douglas himself. I found it interesting to learn more about how he talks to these men, as well as how he used these conversations to further the FBI's behavioural sciences unit.

This book also looks into nature versus nurture when it comes to criminal psychologies - what made these men do what they did? If you are squeamish, maybe give this book a skip, as there are pretty graphic discussions of how these men murdered, as well as intense discussions about what was going through their thoughts as they did so. This is what interests me the most, so for me this was an extremely interesting book.

Content warnings include descriptions of sexual assault, torture and murder of adults and children

Although this was a little bit self-congratulatory in places, I did really enjoy it. The conversations in question take place between John Douglas and four murderers over a span of time. I found the details about the science of criminal profiling fascinating and the way in which Douglas was involved from the ground level in the institution of criminal profiling as a valid aspect of investigation. I also thought it was really interesting to discuss the differences between interviewing a suspect and interviewing a convict and the ways in which different techniques would be used to get the best possible outcome. All in all, anyone with an interest in true crime narratives will definitely get a lot out of this book.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In this riveting work of true crime, Douglas spotlights four very different criminals he’s confronted over the course of his career, and explains how they helped him to put together the puzzle of how psychopaths and predators think.

My nan always talked about Mindhunter and John Douglas books, and how the former profiler for the FBI and author delved into murderers’mind and made meread his former books and this book continues his exploration into the darkest minds in page-turning but an also interesting way.

A book not for anyone whose been affected by some of the worst of people’s actions, Doughlas is brutally honest about what these people do to people in detail and never relents throughout this book, making it difficult to read in some moments, and has made me in moments wince reading the pages - this is the true face of horror and certainly not at all fiction.

As you read this book it feels like you walk in Douglas’ footsteps as he figures out these crimes and it makes for tragically riveting reading, catching these people and interviewing them to find out why and what led them to commit these crimes. It’s a heavy read, especially when I read the first case, but it’s such a captivating book that will keep you engrossed.

If you love True Crime, particularly shows such as Criminal Minds, I highly recommend this book to you!

Anyone with a passing interest in true crime knows who John Douglas is. He’s the retired FBI agent famous for his groundbreaking work in criminal profiling and more recently portrayed in the Netflix series, Mindhunter. Douglas has written several books about the murderers he’s interviewed and helped catch through his profiling work and The Killer Across the Table is the latest.

The book is split into four sections, each section dominated by a particular killer Douglas met with, but with several asides and stories through the chapters. It’s a really good approach that gives the book a slightly conversational style, it’s almost like the reader has sat down for a drink with Douglas while he reels off his war stories. What could feel like name dropping is much more than that. Douglas has several interesting insights into the criminals he’s interviewed and as he’s talking to them he’s constantly looking for little clues and tics in their behaviour. The fact he’s met with these people gives his words far more credence than the average cash in true crime book and he manages to drill down into their character in an insightful way. It’s a pretty heavy read, Douglas doesn’t shy away from the brutality of these men’s crimes and I’d only recommend this to those have a general interest in true crime. That being said it really is a fascinating read that leans more towards the academic rather than lurid.

I received a ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair review.

Douglas is the master of profiling and i absolutely loved his first book Mindhunter. He is an expert in his field and that shows in this book as he takes you inside some of the worst minds and their horrific crimes. The subject matter is dark but he handles it well and doesn't romanticize it like some authors have in books.

Scary chilling eerievaneye opening horrifying look into the criminal mind the minds of predators.Written by two leading authorities in the field of the criminal mind four horrific cases analyzes.Pull a seat up to the table meet these criminals and you sleep with the lights on.#netgalley #4thestatebooks

John Douglas has a unique position in serial killer studies, and boy is he proud of it. I always enjoy a John Douglas book because his defensive Needless To Say, I Had The Last Laugh approach to everything extremely entertaining.. There's a lot of repetition here with his older books, especially Mindhunter, with plenty of references to Ed Kemper and the Atlanta Child Murders but there's plenty of new stuff too. The focus on mostly unknown killers who refuse to fit Douglas's FBI patterns was a nice change from his previous books and I enjoyed his digressions on high-profile cases he's not touched on before (OJ Simpson in particular).

I do feel that the final section on Todd Kohlhepp was a bit odd, as Douglas does not actually meet him, instead relying on Kohlhepp self-reporting on a questionnaire - something that Douglas rants about repeatedly both in this book and his others. The inclusion of this chapter was a real weakness, I felt and meant that the whole book ended on a down note of anti-climax. It was a particular shame as I thought that Kohlhepp was perhaps the most interesting killer in the book and I would have enjoyed seeing Douglas confront his self-presentation and myth-making.

Fascinating insight into, and exploration of, criminology and its application. The authors demonstrate professionalism and a valuable understanding of criminal minds whilst remaining respectful of the victims. A very enlightening read.

By all intents and purposes, John E. Douglas is an interesting character with a fascination for interesting characters. He was one of the FBI's first criminal profilers and a celebrated serial killer "whisperer" for the duration of his career. In this book, he delves into criminal psychopathy and attempts to answer questions such as: are killers born or made but also investigates the reasoning for their offences and how the offender themselves tries to justify their actions. Douglas’s great insight was to recognise apprehended serial killers not as monsters to be thrown down a deep pit and forgotten – but an untapped reservoir of knowledge and insight. Who could better understand, and decipher, these debased crimes than the criminals perpetrating them?

So despite being considered as unorthodox at the time, Douglas decided to go to the direct source. Time after time he charmed and gained the confidence of criminals such as Charles Manson, Ed Kemper and Ted Bundy who gave up their darkest secrets. This is an interesting true crime book which gets to the crux of the issue through some intriguing, lesser-known cases. Sometimes the way in which it is written can come across as quite sensationalist, and we have to remember that these crimes had victims, but I can also see that Mr Douglas gets giddy when uncovering new information, so it may just be that. This is one of the better true crime reads and recommended reading for those interested in crime, criminal profiling, psychology and psychopathy. Many thanks to William Collins for an ARC.

This is not a book for the faint of heart. It is surprising that I have not picked up books by this author(s) before, considering that I have watched multiple serialized versions of their findings on TV and NetFlix. It was a little hard to get through the first section because of the detailed descriptions of the crime but the other three were comparatively less brutal.

This book consists of four cases of killers with references to other similar ones within the section itself. John Douglas details the conversations he has with these criminals to identify traits and patterns that might ultimately work towards something positive in the future. I found it easy to read the actual narration of the thought process (if not the details of the crime) and understood the need to convey the psychological aspects that might be the underlying cause. The summation at the end of the book, however, made me understand the point of the whole exercise and the collection of these otherwise macabre events. 

I have only read a few true-crime books but this was one of the better ones. I would (at some later stage) check out more books by the author.

‘Why and how = who’. So says FBI profiler John Douglas, on whom profiler Jack Crawford in the Silence of the Lambs was modelled.
His quest is to better understand murderers so that we can learn why they make the choices they do, for society’s good.
This book is about his interviews with very different killers, from the male nurse ‘the angel of death’ to child killer John McGowan.
I haven’t seen Mindhunter or read Douglas’ other books but this is a pretty comprehensive trawl through the casebook of true crime.
Although he is careful not to condone murder, I suspect that some readers will find his understanding of the origins of his subjects’ crimes and his empathy for what made them the people they are unpalatable and almost celebrating them.
But I didn’t find that. I like the full picture and believe you can indeed understand without letting someone off the hook.
I enjoyed these insights and found it fascinating that murderers have very different motivations and responses to their crimes.
I sometimes found the allusion to so many killers a bit overwhelming but it is admirably comprehensive.
I would recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and of course the author for this digital ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
This book is a twisted psychological thriller true crime and was a very enjoyable read! love the authors work and love the netflix series connected to his life

Another classic of the true crime genre from True Crime's Dad, John Douglas. Delightedly, he leans into the fame he and his methods have garnered since Netflix's Mindhunter premiered, and I for one fist-pumped to find out the truth about whether or not he really said what Mindhunter said he did to Richard Speck...

Informative, fascinating, exceptionally well written!
This book is a must have for any fan of true crime, particularly if they have an interest in criminology.
The book is written in 4 parts, covering 4 very different cases.
Despite the subject matter being fairly consistent throughout, I did not find the book repetitive or boring - in fact it’s an enthralling account of the fascinating life of a criminal profiler.
Wonderful stuff, detailed and highly informative, loved it.

The Killer Across The Table is the latest book by John Douglas, pioneer in behavioural sciences at the FBI, and the inspiration behind the character of Holden Ford on Netflix’s Mindhunter. In this latest book he examines four different murderers, ranging in victims and signature, as he delves into their mind and discusses the why, what and how of their crimes.

Douglas always has an interesting way at examining these kinds of criminals, casting a critical look at their past to find their ‘triggers’. As he states, to understand this level of behaviour you need to examine every aspect of their life. They didn’t start to exist the day they came to jail. The writing, as usual, is also good and flows well. John uses a lot of past cases as evidence to support his ideas and the reasons he believes these criminals behave the way they do to great effect. He also never glorifies the criminals, or sensationalises the crimes. Particularly with the first case, which surrounds the death of a child, Joan D’Alessandro, he’s empathetic to the victim and family and shines a light on what the family has done to reduce child murder since her death. He also spends time discussing the great lengths that the family went to ensure the child’s killer remains behind bars. The criminals do not ever come out of Douglas’s books with a good reputation. As they shouldn’t.

I found the section on Joan D’Alessandro and her killer John McGowan the most interesting, and the most well researched. Douglas masterfully dissects McGowan’s behaviour, and the reasons behind the killing, bringing up interviews from his colleagues and neighbours as well as his own time talking to McGowan and other similar killers to discern the real reasons behind why he did what he did. As mentioned, he also touches on the work of Joan’s mother in particular, and demonstrates what a truly inspirational woman she is.

I do think that sometimes he repeats himself quite a lot, rehashing sections of his book ‘Mindhunter’, or repeating comments he’s already made earlier in the book (such as mentioning, twice, that police brought in ‘self-proclaimed experts’ to help solve satanic ritual crimes) which at times I found annoying. However for the most part I found this interesting and insightful. Information is presented here in what I would call an objective way, although with an obvious passion for the subject, that is easy to understand. I also found Douglas’s personality to be less ‘in your face’ than previous novels. Here the criminals and their behaviour take centre stage.

Interesting read, obviously written to coincide with the success of the Netflix show Mindhunter, but worthwhile for fans of true crime and Douglas’s unique insight into criminal behaviour.