The Boston Strangler
by Gerold Frank
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Description
New York Times Bestseller and Winner of the Edgar Award: The definitive account of a serial killer's rampage—and the manhunt that stopped him.On June 14, 1962, twenty-five-year-old Juris Slesers arrived at his mother's apartment to drive her to church. But there was no answer at the door. When he pushed his way inside, Juris found Anna Slesers dead on the kitchen floor, the cord of her housecoat knotted tightly around her neck.
Over the next two years, twelve more bodies were discovered show more in and around Boston: all women, all sexually assaulted, and all strangled. None of the victims exhibited any signs of struggle, nothing was stolen from their homes, and there were no signs of forcible entry. The police could find no discernable motive or clues. Who was this madman? How was he entering women's homes? And what insanity was driving him?
Drawn from hundreds of hours of personal interviews, as well as police, medical, and court documentation, this is a grisly, horrifying, and meticulously researched account of Albert DeSalvo—an American serial killer on par with Jack the Ripper.
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Member Reviews
Good breakdown of the Boston Strangler murders and investigation, though at times a bit of slog for me personally. This book focuses heavily on the victims, detectives and some of the initial suspects. The actual Boston Strangler (although whether or not Albert DeSalvo committed all 13 murders is still debated today) is not even introduced until the last fourth of the book.
This particular book was published extremely quickly following the real life events. It ends with DeSalvo still awaiting trial. I might seek out a more recent work on this subject, as it was too early for his sentencing, escape and transfer to maximum security facility, and eventual stabbing in prison.
This particular book was published extremely quickly following the real life events. It ends with DeSalvo still awaiting trial. I might seek out a more recent work on this subject, as it was too early for his sentencing, escape and transfer to maximum security facility, and eventual stabbing in prison.
907 The Boston Strangler, by Gerold Frank (read 5 Aug 1967) This is a well-written account of the crimes and the criminal, which held my interest.
The most bizarre series of murders since Jack the Ripper triggered the greatest man-hunt in the annals of modern crime for Albert deSalvo, brutal sexual psychopath, who murdered thirteen women and held a city in the icy grip of terror for eighteen months.
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Lists
True Crime Books
62 works; 15 members
1960s
281 works; 16 members
A Boston Reading List
120 works; 10 members
Edgar Award
418 works; 15 members
Books Read in 2024
4,623 works; 126 members
Author Information
13+ Works 755 Members
Awards and Honors
Awards
Distinctions
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Boston Strangler
- Original publication date
- 1966
- People/Characters
- Albert Henry DeSalvo
- Important places
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Related movies
- The Boston Strangler (1968 | IMDb)
- Dedication
- For Amy and John
- First words
- This is a story about Boston.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)If his purpose had been to call his position to public attention, there was no question that DeSalvo had succeeded.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)But no matter what direction is taken by the law and those who act in its behalf—determined to protect the rights of society, yet equally determined to protect the rights of the individual—the story of the Boston Stranglings has ended. - Blurbers
- Bishop, Jim; Geismar, Maxwell
Classifications
- Genres
- General Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir
- DDC/MDS
- 364.15 — Society, Government, and Culture Social problems and social services Crime Criminal offenses Offenses against the person
- LCC
- HV6534 .B6 .F7 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Crimes and offenses
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 372
- Popularity
- 84,189
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.48)
- Languages
- Dutch, English, French, German
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 13
- ASINs
- 19
