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  • Confession of a Serial Killer

  • The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer
  • By: Katherine Ramsland PhD
  • Narrated by: Michael Braun
  • Length: 12 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (112 ratings)

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Confession of a Serial Killer

By: Katherine Ramsland PhD
Narrated by: Michael Braun
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Publisher's Summary

Explore the mind and motivations of a serial killer.

In 1974, Dennis Lynn Rader stalked and murdered a family of four in Wichita, Kansas. Since adolescence, he had read about serial killers and imagined becoming one. Soon after killing the family, he murdered a young woman and then another, until he had 10 victims. He named himself “B.T.K.” (bind, torture, kill) and wrote notes that terrorized the city. He remained on the loose for 30 years. No one who knew him guessed his dark secret. He nearly got away with his crimes, but in 2004, he began to play risky games with the police. He made a mistake. When he was arrested, Rader’s family, friends, and coworkers were shocked to discover that B.T.K. had been among them, going to work, raising his children, and acting normal. 

This case stands out both for the brutal treatment of victims and for the ordinary public face that Rader, a church council president, had shown to the outside world. Through jailhouse visits, telephone calls, and written correspondence, Katherine Ramsland worked with Rader himself to analyze the layers of his psyche. Using his drawings, letters, interviews, and Rader’s unique codes, she presents in meticulous detail the childhood roots and development of one man’s motivation to stalk, torture, and kill. She reveals aspects of the dark motivations of this most famous of living serial killers that have never before been revealed. In this audiobook Katherine Ramsland presents an intelligent, original, and rare glimpse into the making of a serial killer and the potential darkness that lives next door.

©2016 by Katherine Ramsland (P)2022 by Blackstone Publishing

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What listeners say about Confession of a Serial Killer

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable tale of a twisted individual

Really enjoyed this title, goes into great detail about the modus operandi of one of the most notorious serial killers in modern history. The narrator did a fine job telling this tale. Minor gripe about the code words used for some of the information around his victims, which I had to refer back to a earlier part in the book several times in order to understand what was being said. But overall, it was thrilling and chilling and definitely worth a listen if you're into serial killer stories.

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Interesting Insights.

Interesting insight ro a serial killers life. A psychological need to be famous and sexual release appear to be triggers

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Well written.

Liked: Everything except Dislike
Dislike: Denis radar potrays himself to be this genius criminal but makes stupid mistakes that should have got him caught alot sooner

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Eye opening

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Very well written and gripping. A great insight into his life and crimes. Katherine Ramsland is one of my favourite authors

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

a detailed look into btk

a little confusing at times if you don't remember the codes used. otherwise it's a good read/listen.

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    2 out of 5 stars

It’s a real insight to a complex guy

I found myself fascinated with the book and made my wife listen to it instead of the radio for her bedtime routine. Great insight to a serial killer and just how it all unfolds.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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From the source

A lot of material here which was produced by Rader himself, making this an insightful new addition to the wealth of material already available about BTK and his crimes. The narration is great - clear and without unnecessary dramatisation.

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3 people found this helpful

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Long but worth it!

Great story and great narration. Very interesting, you couldn't imagine this happening in real life.

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2 people found this helpful

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Incredible honest insight into the mind of a serial killer

The balance between what DR thinks and his actions against a psychological analysis, and a fact summary of each crime/murder. The book is so well told from childhood, through to action and ending on analysis and theory.

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Good insight into BTK

Really enjoyed.
Very well narrated.
Great insight. Would recommend.
Good job all round.
Well done.

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