American Predator- The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan
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Web ID: 16835503Grotesque, Unfathomable, Creepy
Just finished this book today 34 Chapters 276 pages total. And let me just say I knew nothing of Israel Keyes. So I watched (48hrs episode) : https://youtu.be/Vq-ku1JHuGg?si=vCxVSuoq9SsNwb5Q I am glad that I watched the 48hrs episode BEFORE reading. Because wow..so creepy/graphic/grotesque..so unfathomable..so close to home at some points. My heart goes out to the victims and their families known and unknown. Thank god he can’t hurt anyone ever again.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Could Not Put it Down
I don’t have much to say other than I simply could not put this book down. I had heard of Keyes from a friend a few years back and then stumbled upon this book and recognized his name. It was one of those random purchases that ended up being one of the most unbelievable true stories I’ve ever heard of. Wonderfully written by the author.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Who was Israel Keyes? This book tries to find out.
Maureen Callahan's American Predator is a fast-moving account of Israel Keyes' bizarre life of crime and how he was captured. Initially the book covers the mysterious abduction of Samantha Koenig in Anchorage Alaska. Keyes was pinned with the kidnapping and murder of the young woman when he got careless concealing his movements in Texas and using Koenig's stolen debit card. But just who was Israel Keyes? The book tells in great detail how Keyes committed a horrific crime against the young woman, but police were baffled. Keyes had a clean record and operated a successful carpentry business. He also had an attractive girlfriend and was raising a young daughter. Keyes was not on anyone's radar when it came to violent crime. Keyes had been carefully concealing a litany of crimes going back at least 14 years. Callahan lays out how both Alaskan officials and the FBI got Israel Keyes to confess to at least a few of his crimes. But Keyes liked playing mind games and some law enforcement officials were better than others at coaxing details from him. Most of the book centers of Keyes slowly discussing his strange upbringing in a family living in remote areas and harboring some odd views. Keyes also began discussing his history of robberies, murders, and arsons. He had been leaving a trail of destruction that no one could ever tie to him. One thing the book lacks is any photographs and illustrations. It would have been helpful to see pictures of the many people discussed and see maps of the wide variety of areas that Keyes operated in. Although he can only be definitively tied to 3 murders, Keyes hinted at committing 11. Some crime experts suspect he actually killed at least 20.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Not a winner
I love true crime books. Been reading them since I was a kid. This book is terrible. It takes a real life serial killer case and turns it into a fiction novel. I read about 50 pages and stopped. Go pick up the babysitter: my summers with a serial killer. Much better read.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Cold-Hearted
Concise, precise, fast-paced, fascinating, and terrifying. Israel Keyes was a living nightmare, and until his final murder victim, moved unseen among us. Did he slip up on purpose? How many people did he kill? We'll never know.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Don't do this one on audio
Why didn’t I like this book as much as everyone else? Did I miss something? Am I officially desensitized from readying too much true crime? American Predator by Maureen Callahan is an insightful look at one of the lesser known serial killer’s of the 21st century, Israel Keyes. While an interesting case study of Keyes—who was a truly horrifying predator—I found it boring and slow. With that being said, I’ve read multiple reviews and I’m wondering if the cause for my detachment and less than stellar review has to do with the fact I did this one on audio. Multiple reviewers are saying the book was far superior to the audio so maybe that’s the issue. I will say the audio was dull, monotone and the character voicing was almost comical at times—which doesn’t bode well when you’re trying to convey terror. Despite conveying horrifying events I was at no time scared in the way I was reading other true crime books but again, I’m now thinking it could’ve been the result of doing this on audio. With that being said, I’m going to base my review on a mix of the audio and on the undeniable fact that for anyone who enjoys true crime, this is an option for you. Keyes was a fascinating study and one that left us with more questions than answers. I’m tempted to revisit it someday as a physical read to see if my experience/ranking changes.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A very creepy and disturbing read
I remember seeing info on Keyes here and there but I don't remember it really becoming much of a big deal. This book explains why. Israel Keyes was a serial killer and one that was quite different from many of the others. He didn't have a "type" that he went after, he didn't have a certain area that he hunted, and he supposedly had a good childhood. Here was a guy who read a lot, who could build about anything and accomplished whatever he set out to do and yet he had a horrifying dark side. He definitely would've been one to really study but alas, it wasn't to be so. The writing of the book kept me hooked from the beginning. I thought the author did a great job. A couple things that bothered me was the complete bias against some of the people involved and there were parts that seemed contradictory. Other than that a great story that will keep me thinking way on down the road.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A true crime novel that will give you nightmares
An absolutely spell binding true crime story of Israel Keyes, a serial killer that would kill for 14 years before authorities catch him, and then only by chance. Maureen Callahan has obviously spent a considerable amount of time and nightmare raising investigating to give us this very detailed and disturbing look at Keyes' life as a loving father at home in Alaska and a cold, calculating killer in the lower 48. His ability to plan and carry out his crimes for so many years with law enforcement unable to stop him, makes a story so good, you will not be going to sleep until the last page of the last chapter is done and you know he is dead and gone!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com