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American Ripper
- The Enigma of America's Serial Killer Cop
- Narrated by: James Romick
- Length: 19 hrs and 33 mins
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Publisher's Summary
American Ripper is the true story of Gerard John Schaefer, a Florida law enforcement officer who was a prolific serial killer in the late 1960s early 1970s. The decade that was thought to be filled with love, peace, and happiness became a new dark age, breeding more serial killers than any other time in US history including Charles Manson, the Zodiac Killer, the Son of Sam, John Wayne Gacy, and Ted Bundy, who was held in the same prison as Schaefer and whom he both idolized and resented for the recognition his crimes brought him, a recognition Schaefer never received.
This book chronicles Schaefer's life, education, his career as a cop, and his path to become a sadistic murderer. Based on extensive empirical research that includes reviews of the case's investigation and subsequent trial, interviews with families of victims, numerous police and attorneys involved with the case, forensic doctors, and the killer himself, the author attempts to discern how Schaefer became the antithesis of what a lawman should be. Schaefer's metamorphosis can never be rationally explained, but reviews of the case's transcripts, the killer's psychiatric evaluations, and the author's own experience with Schaefer help paint a picture of an unfettered mind that fed on its own darkness.
Critic Reviews
"Chilling. Compelling. Kendrick’s account of Gerard John Schaefer, a serial killer/cop, is riveting. Drawing on a wealth of data including interviews with Schaefer himself, Kendrick provides an in-depth study of one man’s descent into darkness and, along the way, insight into the rash of serial killings of the 1960s and '70s. Once you start listening to this book, you won’t want to put it down.” (Harriet J. Ottenheimer, PhD, professor of anthropology and American ethnic studies, emerita, Kansas State University. Author of Cousin Joe: Blues from New Orleans and The Anthropology of Language)
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What listeners say about American Ripper
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Amazon Customer
- 30-11-2022
Torment
This book has great detail into the life, from his beginning up until his death.
The ripple affect of a persons actions spread widely and touch many people in many ways.
As the author continued to collect facts about this monster, it revealed other peoples wrong doings and also the incredible emotional toll it took on the author himself.
I felt the list of items being entered into evidence long and somewhat boring and probably such detail not required. Overall a great read and l would recommend it to any true crime reader.
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- Louise Salter
- 18-07-2023
The most in-depth true crime book you’ll find
Despite a convoluted narrative, this book provides the most in-depth analysis of the life, crimes and societal response to a truly horrific man I had never heard of until listening to this book.
I enjoyed the focus on detail and the honesty about where it would not be provided either because it was not available, or where the author viewed it to be boring and unnecessary. Given the detail they otherwise went into, I was happy to trust their judgement!
It seems neither this book, nor any other source I found has been able to fill in the gaps on Gerards time overseas or other States. I suspect there is more to tell there that is lost to history.
Despite I think conscious attempts by the author to the contrary and probably a sign of the times the book was both set and written in, the narrative and analysis can be quite judgmental of the victims, their families and of women in general. I do say this acknowledging it is difficult to avoid due to the specific pathology and views of the subject of the book. However, the author could also be quite moralistic.
At the start of the book, a story written by Gerard is provided. I wish I had skipped right on past it. It is the most disturbing thing I have ever heard and I wish I hadn’t.
In summary, I really enjoyed this book. The narration is excellently done and the story is gripping.
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- Lisa
- 10-11-2022
About 10 hours too long
Possibly the most long winded true crime book I have ever ‘read’. There was so much superfluous information in this book. There was chapters full of just listing evidence. If it wasn’t for the soothing voice of the narrator I wouldn’t have bothered listening as far as I did. As it was, I skipped through half of it and still got what was going on!
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- Anonymous User
- 26-06-2023
boring beyond belief
never encountered a book so mind numbing in my life. true crime maybe entertainment it is not.
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