Charmer: The True Story of a Ladies' Man and His Victims
by Jack Olsen
66 Members (3.90)
On This Page
Description
In a tree-lined community near Seattle, young women and girls were drawn to George Russell, Jr. They crowned him "cool," trusted him as their protector, and took him to their hearts. And why not? An articulate young African American, he was a cheerful companion, flashy dancer, and urban sophisticate. He had good looks, professional parents, rich friends, a beguiling style and smile. George was a local favorite. Then, bodies started turning up - in a nightclub parking lot, in a quiet, show more out-of-the-way house, and in a tastefully decorated apartment. The victims, attractive young females, had been bludgeoned to death, violated sexually, then outrageously posed like gallery sculptures. Seasoned investigators were sickened by the cold brutality. A prosecutor described the bodies as "the killer's collected works of art." No one suspected George Russell. He offered the police helpful clues and even put the finger on a pal. When frustrated detectives ran out of leads, they came close to giving up on the case. In this riveting examination into the mind and life of a vicious killer and his deceptively charming persona, Jack Olsen tracks Russell's thirty-year psychological decline, which culminated in a shocking killing spree. But Charmer is more than the tragic story of a murderer and his victims. Written with a thriller's edge, it is a stirring portrait of race and crime in America today. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
44+ Works 2,119 Members
Jack Olsen is the author of thirty-one books & the winner of many awards, including the Edgar & the National Headliners Awards. A former bureau chief for "Time," he has written for "Vanity Fair," "Life," "People," "Paris Match," "The New York Times," & "Reader's Digest." He lives on an island in Puget Sound with his wife & children. (Bowker Author show more Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- Important places
- Washington, USA
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Politics and Government, Biography & Memoir
- DDC/MDS
- 364.1 — Society, Government, and Culture Social problems and social services Crime Criminal offenses
- LCC
- HV6534 .M43 .O45 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Crimes and offenses
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 66
- Popularity
- 470,907
- Rating
- (3.90)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 3
