Butcher, Biter, Spy: A True Story of Madness, Mutilation and Unspeakable Acts of Brutality (True Crime)

I enjoyed, narrated by Steve White, the Audible unabridged audiobook. This is a study of the fiend "Fritz" Haarmann, a German serial killer known as the Butcher of Hanover, the Vampire of Hanover and the Wolf Man. Before being executed by guillotine in April 1925, the Butcher of Hanover dismemberment his victims' bodies and sold off the meat to unsuspecting customers as provisions. He had the bodies, because his frenzied throat biting had killed his young male unwilling sex partners. Thus, butcher and biter. For me, "spy" is a bit of a stretch to cover the criminal informant and ex-soldier. His role of using the police to eliminate competition seems a common tale and an indictment against the use of active criminals as confidential show more informants. From a dysfunctional childhood and some sort of brain damage (including epileptic-like fits), the ogre roped in an accomplice (who lived until 1980!), merited the trust of the local constabulary, and racked up dozens of victims.

Green brings into view the cultural context of these crimes in the hyperinflation and social upheaval of the Weimar Republic. This includes the Golden Twenties with a permissive climate and constant parade of marks into the city of Hanover. show less

The book is set just after the war and Fritz is born in Germany. It was obvious that Fritz has emotional problems from an incredibly early age in his life. Fritz mother dotes on him, his sisters dress him in girls clothes, and his father beats him because he is such a mummy’s boy.
Little did his father who was a hard man know that Fritz would turn out to be such an Evil Man. Fritz is a butcher by trade, but he was also a thief, swindler, and con artist. Fritz prefers to hang around train stations as he does not stand out and it is a good place for him to pick up these young men who are unsuspecting and arriving looking for work.

Without giving to much away Fritz is a monster, the kind that gives one nightmare as he lure them Accordingly show more to needs. Many details in this book will shock you. There are scenes that are extremely graphic and not for the faint-hearted. Ryan Green has captured the fear and horror that surrounded this serial killer and his young victims. Fritz is a psychopath who is a very Dangerous Evil Man who loves to rape, torture, murder, and butcher his victims just for his sexual desire show less