American Serial Killers: The Epidemic Years- 1950-2000 by Peter Vronsky is a 2021 Berkley publication.

Serial killers didn’t suddenly appear out of nowhere- they have always been amongst us- long before such a phrase was coined- but one must admit that between 1950 and 2000 there was a huge surge in the number of prolific serial killers.

In this book the author attempts to explain why that might be- the ‘perfect storm’ of events that created an epidemic of psychosexual murderers. This book does not delve into various other subsets of serial killers- for instance, there are no female serial killers profiled- as he hopes to zero in on the sexual sadist types who terrorized cities, dominated the new cycles, and starred in our nightmares for years and years.

By focusing on this type of serial killer, the author can make a connection between various events- such as wars, the depression, and the easily available pulp magazines that featured images of male dominance over bound, scantily clad women and the sudden sharp increase in the number of serial murders.

This theory holds merit and is certainly worth considering and I was inclined to concede the point to a degree. While Ted Bundy claimed these images led him to harder pornographic material and was the catalyst for his numerous crimes, I felt maybe the author was giving those publications more power, perhaps, than they deserved. Still, I’m not negating the influence of these images, but I’m not sure can blame everything on this type of media- sort of like blaming video games for every incident of violence that occurs- an inability to separate fact from fiction- but- sometimes it can be pure evil and nothing more.

The author went through a plethora of killers- some I was familiar with- some not so much. I felt the point could have been made without comprehensive studies of these killers. In fact, it was just too much for me. Too much violent, sicko stuff to read for any length of time without it causing mental stress. So, it took me few weeks to complete this book- even with a few skimming sessions. I think it could have been condensed down a bit and it might have been more effective- making the point with more efficiency.

The author is well versed on this topic, so of course, the book is researched, and the material was organized, and I had no trouble with the writing- just that it droned on far too long. But, for true crime readers, and serial killer aficionados, this is a book you’ll want to consider.

The conclusion of the book warns of another perfect storm in the making and I can’t say I disagree. I have a feeling it’s going to get worse before it gets any better….

3 stars ( )

Serial killers are a societal aberration that has captured public interest for many years. It is not a new phenomenon but in Peter Vronsky's wonderful new book, AMERICAN SERIAL KILLERS: The Epidemic Years 1950-2000, the evolution of this phenomenon during the 20th century from a handful of such killers to a full-on epidemic in the latter half of the century is chronicled in a clean, concise, and comprehensive manner. This book is almost encyclopedic in its scope and truly makes Vronsky's case--that serial killing blossomed during the second half of the 20th-century and generated a list of household names, such a Bundy, Gacy, and Dahmer, Names that continue to fascinate the public. Anyone interested in serial killing, true crime, criminal history, police procedure, or who simply enjoys reading crime fiction, will find this book fascinating and an excellent reference for further reading. Highly recommended.

DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series ( )