There But For the Grace of God: Survivors of the 20th Century's Infamous Serial Killers

By Fred Rosen

Book Overview

Rosen tries to provide biographies and backgrounds on the killers' themselves. In this book are stories about survivors of the last century's most infamous serial killers like Tracy Edwards who survived Jeffrey Dahmer who was later arrested and confessed to the most horrific crimes in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Kevin Bright who barely survived BTK Killer Dennis Rader who went undetected for 30 years since his sister Kathy's brutal rape and murder in Kansas. His story was the most heartbreaking. Nita Neary survived Ted Bundy because she maintained her silence during the massacre at the sorority house in Florida.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0739485415
• ISBN13: 9780739485415
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Harper Collins Publisher
• Length: 275 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Interesting subject material, irritating author

The content was very interesting, but the author inserts himself and his opinions so frequently that it's actively off putting. Still worth a read, but be prepared to roll your eyes at his self indulgences.

Classroom book

Not too much from the survivors that did not want to be found, this was the case for a couple of the people. The story would be pieced together from records and interviews from friends or other sources. The survivors interviewed they simple retold their story of what happened that night that changed their lives, but I could not stop wondering what help are the survivors getting now. It was interesting to read about the survivors of the serial killers, to have all their stories in one place. It just seemed that there were parts missing.

Interesting Read About Interesting People

I really enjoyed this book and I could tell that the author was passionate about his topic. I am a former CSI so it was very nice to read about the victims who do live. I have seen so many dead bodies that it was nice to see what came about of those who got a second chance. I also enjoyed the background on the cases. I am from Pensacola where Ted Bundy was (finally) caught and one of my dad's Police Academy students (David Lee) was the one who brought Bundy down. It was an easy read with a lot- while not overwhelming or boring- of background info on the cases. I would definitely recommend this book to any true crime fan who wants to read something just a little bit different.

God's hand at work

Rosen takes an interesting, thought provocative view of an old subject: serial killers. Focusing on the survivors, Rosen shows that there are no easy answers to the question of why they survived. Partly, at least in some cases, it's a ferocious will to live. But then there's luck ... and maybe more. Highly recommended

Interesting

Interesting-- having been a detective for a major state police agency, I enjoyed reading the material. Having interviewed survivors of this type of crime, I can understand the impact on the victims. Good book.