HELP!! I’m looking for a book which is written from the killers perspective, not the detective. Any suggestions please?
HELP!!
I’m looking for a book which is written from the killers perspective, not the detective. Any suggestions please?
161 Answers
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Normal, Graeme Cameron
Beat me to it ?
Me too. Loved Normal!
The Kind Worth Killing, Peter Swanson
Silent Terror, James Ellroy.
Random, Craig Robertson.
I loved that book
Fabulous book.
Love Craig Robertson
I was going to say that!
I particularly enjoyed how the author chose to end it. It just felt right.
@Andrew Yes it was so well done, I loved it!
Going to have to try this one now!
Brilliant book!
Why?
Why not !
If we had the reason for the question, we may have an understanding of the answer.
She’s looking for a novel written in the narrative of a killer, makes sense
I put the reason :/ i am interested in how a killers mind works
So am I ?
.
James Patterson did one. Beach House I think.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie.
Beat me to it. 🙂
There’s always the Dexter series of course. Couldn’t get into them myself but very popular.
The Talented Mr Ripley
And I love everything by Highsmith too. Most of which are told from the killer’s point of view.
Lawrence Block wrote a few books from the perspective of a hit man. They’re very good and entertaining.
Normal by graham Cameron
Mark Billingham does
Flowers for the dead
Thanks for the mention of Flowers For The Dead, @Alexina 🙂
Ladykiller Martina Cole
That was the only book of hers I enjoyed
I liked two women as well.
I loved two women @Carly.
Sweetpea by c j skuse . Great book x
My favourite book this year
@Angela one of mine too. Looking forward to the sequel x
was going to suggest that one, just listened on audio and the narration was brilliant
Harlan Coben often writes alternate chapters from the killer and then the detective
Most James Patterson books go back and fourth from the killers to the detective perspective. Usually switches every chapter
LadyKiller Martina Cole is one of her best books. Def recommend
Read that one thanks
I agree
The Watcher, Netta Newbound and Flowers for the Dead, Barbara Copperthwaite (both are great books!)
Loved The Watcher
Thanks, i’ve read them both 🙂
Oh sorry, that was a useless comment then, haha! ?
No! You didn’t know that and was making a good suggestion. Thank you x
Tara this should give you an idea to write a book from he POV of a killer as we obviously need more!
Oooooo i didn’t realise you were an author @Tara :O @Alexina has a very valid point. I’ll be on the lookout for your next one (and read your current ones while i wait!!) X
Aw thanks, @Lynette. And Alexina, that POV is well and truly already on my radar… it’s something I enjoy as a reader myself!
@Tara thank you for mentioning Flowers For The Dead, but far more exciting…I can’t wait to read a book by you from the killer’s PoV! Exciting!
@Lynette thanks for reading Flowers For The Dead 🙂 x
Ah thanks, @Barbara. It won’t be the next one… DI Hamilton has a case that needs his attention. But, it is on the cards for the future! X
@Tara that’s so exciting! I’ve got a third of a way through a follow up to Flowers For The Dead. Kit features DS Mike Bishop and is predominantly told from the killer’s point of view…but I’ve no time to finish it right now as I’m so busy with a different book. I’ll finish it one day…!
OMG – I remember you starting that! I hope you get round to finishing it, @Barbara! I did like his character in Flowers for the Dead x
It’s so hard juggling everything, as you know, and I’m a slow writer, but I do want to finish it one day, @Tara xx
I totally understand what you mean, I’m finding it difficult at the moment, but determined not to beat myself up about it! You will do, @Barbara, I know it! xx
@Tara, good luck, lovely xx
Crime and Punishment
Normal by Graeme Cameron
Perfume
That’s a really good book
Good question Lynette! I’ll be cheeky and note the replies as I’ve never thought about reading a book from that point of view! Thanks!
I would love that!
The book of human skin
Mine follows Alvin Karpis’s own account of the Barker gang’s activities. Check the November link for “the Barker-Karpis Gang: An American Crime Family”.
American Psycho. You won’t be disappointed. Be warned its very gory and explicit
still creeps me out thinking about it.
I was going to suggest this one too. Also parts of the book are written in incredible detail like the killer’s morning routine, which speaks of his obsessive character.
Brett Battles – Jonathan Quinn series. He is a cleaner! Great series
Rattle by Fiona Cummins has several chapters written from the killer’s POV.
Read that one. Great book
@Craig‘s Random will be right up your street – a cracking novel!
Thank you kindly, sir. Does this mean I have to buy you alcohol?
Just a wee half ?
Soon, hopefully.
Sweet Pea. Just finished it.
One of my faves!
Wasn’t sure I would like it but was hooked after a page. Want to know what happens next!
Read Nemesis by Roger A Price. Despite horrific murder you get into the mind of Moxley (the murderer) and can almost understand his actions and feel sorry for him.
Killer instinct
In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B Hughes and The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson.
Dexter series of books
WOW!!! Thank you all so much for all the recommendations. It looks like I’ll have my reading sorted for a little while 😉 xx
American Psycho
Patricia Highsmith’s Ripley books are brilliant.
You by Caroline Kepnes *shudders* and if you want something more classic, what about The Collector by John Fowles. You will never sleep again.
On,y ever read a snippet of this from a gcse English paper. Worth a read, then?
Simon Kernick : The witness
The Killer Inside me, by Jim Thompson. Don’t see the movie, it was dreadful, but the book is great, especially if you are interested in the seedier side of 1950’s America.
I second this. Good book.
I love everything I’ve been able to get my hands on by Jim Thompson. It’s such a slap in the face to the Leave-it-to-Beaver nostalgia that the older generations cling to and cite when they criticize the world today.
Psycho Analysis by VR Stone
I’m writing one, but it might be a while yet…
I’ll keep my eye out x
The Quiet Type – my book – is written largely from the perspective of the female serial killer.
I haven’t read a book that has a female psycho killer. I’m looking forward to reading your book soon.
Thank you!
Normal by Graham Cameron
.
Thanks for asking this question Lynette. As a fan of serial killers in fiction I got loads of recommendations ?
I’ve got a page full of recs to look through too! Really happy x
Same ? x
Also Sophie McKenzie’s Trust in me has chapters with the killer’s POV. I thought the book was ok, but one of the chapters is about how cruel he is to a cat as a child and that was harder to read than with fictional humans. Lol x
You by Caroline Kepnes
JIm Thompson’s the killer inside me
The murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie.
SPOILER ALERT!
Whoops!
Peter James writes some chapters in the Roy Grace series from the murderers perspective
@Cheryl
YOU by Caroline Kepnes. 🙂
Is it good? I have the book, but have not read it yet
I don’t know, Varga, I haven’t read it either! Got the sequel, too, and haven’t read that either! I’ve heard YOU is good, though. 🙂
I loved You. Very darkly funny. Haven’t read the sequel.
I really didn’t like this one, although I did finish it x
He Who Hesitates Ed Mcbain
John Katzenbach’s “RED 1-2-3”
I am Terry Walker
Naming them wld work as spoilers ?
Not all. On a few it’s quite obvious, and the writers has no problem sharing that with the readers. Jeff Lindsay, Bret Easton Ellis etc
All the Dexter books
Yep. And this isn’t a spoiler lol.
In a lonely place. Talented Mr Ripley.
And also Dorothy Hughes, Ride the Pink Pony. Both wonderful
Some of these suggestions will be spoilers, then. Because a lot of books are told,by the ‘unreliable’ narrator.
try this : A deadly memory – available at amazon
Engleby by Sebastian Faulks.
Love that book! Was about to suggest it myself 🙂
Fantastic book
Definitely Talented Mr Ripley. Also American Psycho
Apologies for plugging my own, but it has a female killer and is written from her POV. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071XQZHFL/ref=sr_1_2_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1492281437&sr=1-2&keywords=ice+cold+alice
You have my approval….it’s bloody brilliant ?
How did I miss mentioning this one!
Ice Cold Alice is brilliant…
Any of the books featuring assassins. Most recently, Orphan X & tthe nowhere man.
I love this kind of book. Totally my thing. Try James M Cain for some classic noir. And anything by Highsmith, my favourite author.
I’ll be taking note of all the examples here. I’ve been looking at Flowers for the Dead for a while, drawn to is as I’m writing a book myself called Dead Flowers!
‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’, ‘Gone Girl’ and a few others.
TTMR – A hundred times yes.
The Kind Worth Killing
Random by Craig Robertson x
The Dexter Morgan series by Jeff Lindsay
American Psycho?
You by caroline kepnes x
Random by Craig Robertson is brilliant too x
I Am Pilgrim alternates between terrorist and security forces.
The Butcher’s Boy by Thomas Perry. A great book… his first novel, won Edgar award. Not only is the hitman the protagonist… you never even learn his name. Perry is as good as it comes
another plus… there are two more books in the series… written much later, after his best-selling Jane Whitfield books… each expanding the basic character conflict of the first and opening whole new avenues for the story arc
Most of mine feature the killer’s prospective. Death note, Sleep Tight, Murder Game. My psych thriller Witness has a very creepy antagonist. I love getting into their heads.
Flowers for the Dead by Barbara Coperthwaite….it’s my favourite book. You won’t be dissapointed ?
You took the words out of my mouth this is a brilliant book
The Ladykiller by Martina Cole. One of her first books and my favourite all time crime book! Not like her usual gangster style books at all
Love lady killers x
Read that one x
You by Caroline Kepnes. A-MAZ-ING
The postman always rings twice
Live Flesh by Ruth Rendell