The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of… (original 2011; edition 2011)

This is not the typical true crime book but more of a historical true crime which is genre I love. It is not as easy to read because you also learn a lot of things. That happened to me while reading The Killer of Little Shepherds. I love history so it was interesting to read how the criminologists of the 19th century worked. For instance which devices they used for autopsies, how they figured out what to use and how blood spatters worked. Back then there were alienists who claimed that criminals were born like that and you could see that in their brains.
This is the story of alienists as they were called back then and one in specific Alexandre Lacassagne and how they worked but also the story of a serial killer named Vacher and when they finally caught him they wondered if he was mentally ill and in a way not guilty or if he was sane when he committed the murders. It is very well written book and although it was not a quick read. (I read it in 2 parts) it was a very good read. ( )

A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science

In 1893 Louise Barant crossed paths with Joseph Vacher, he became obsessed with her, stalked her and shot her then himself. Both survived the shooting, Vacher was sent to an insane asylum. He was released on April 1, 1894, on May 19 he committed his first admitted murder. Investigators involved with the murders believe that this murder was not his first, but Vacher insisted it was. His last murder was committed on June 18, 1897 and he attacked his last victim on August 4, 1897. He confessed to 11 killings but is believed to have committed more than 25. His victims were spread throughout the French countryside, that was one of the reasons he was not caught for so long. By the time most of his victims were found he was miles away. In a couple of instances, someone else was blamed for the crime, even when Vacher was seen and reported to police as being in the area. Joseph Vacher was known and feared as “The Killer of Little Shepherds”.

Douglas Starr also covers the history of Dr. Alexandre Lacassagne and the development of forensic science. He shows the relationship between his science and a popular theory of the day, promulgated by Cesare Lombroso who believed there were people that were ‘born criminal’ and that the tendency to commit crimes is genetic and revealed in certain telltale body traits. He also writes about Alphonse Bertillon who developed an identification systems consisting of ‘eleven critical measurements’ and Hans Gross, Austrian criminologist who promoted the idea of psychology for interrogation instead of the methods used as the time, namely torture.

This a well researched book. Douglas Starr takes the time to educate his readers on the social and economic conditions of the area and the time period. It is also well written, fascinating to read and not boring in any way. I recommend this book. ( )

I really enjoyed the story of a French serial killer alongside the story of the evolution of forensics. A very interesting read. ( )

This is an interesting look at the beginning of the field of Forensic Medicine and a killing spree that was going on in France. It traces Dr. Lacassagne's pioneering start in the field of Forensics which includes a giant leap in autopsies. There are some interesting comparisons of Dr. Lacassagne and Sherlock Holmes. The story also follows the horrible crimes of Joseph Vacher who confessed to killing numerous people. The story then converges together when Emile Fourquet's (prosecutor) , Dr. Lacassagne's and Joseph Vacher's paths cross. They bring justice to the families of the victims that Vacher left behind. This is written in the same manner as Devil in the White city, paralleling a crime with a historical event. At times this book gets a bit bogged down with science, but overall it is very intersting. ( )

Really an interesting read! I picked this up because I really enjoyed The Poisoner's Handbook, and wanted to find something similar. The Killer of Little Shepherds is fantastic, especially for any crime or forensics aficionados! ( )