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Title: Signature Killers by Robert D. Keppel ISBN: 0-09-927772-7 Publisher: Random House UK Distribution Pub. Date: 23 September, 1998 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1

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Average Customer Rating: 3.94 (16 reviews)

Rating: 4
Summary: Good read but can get redundant
Comment: As a lover of true-crime books, I appreciated Keppel's detailed explanation of how a signature differs from an MO. Keppel does a wonderful job of explaining the process of determining a serial killer's signature, and exactly what these signatures tell the investigator about the killer. He also uses real cases and the details of the crimes to walk the lay-person through the actual apprehension.

As previous reviewers have already stated, and I would agree, Keppel isn't truly a "great" writer. His style does tend to be very factual and rather dry. This probably stems from having to give just hard facts when writing reports but translates to often dry data for an average reader. Moreover, Keppel has an annoying habit of repeating the same thing over and over and over and over... well, you get the idea. Sometimes, it actually felt insulting, as though he thought the reader wasn't smart enough to remember what he had explained a few paragraphs before.

Finally, as another reader already stated, the final chapter was truly annoying. Instead of using the opportunity to summarize on the info gained from the book, or to bring out final thoughts for the reader; instead Keppel used this to soapbox his views of the American Family Structure. While much of this may or may not be right on target, I was not interested in Mr. Keppel's opinion on the state of Family Values. I would and have read sociology books to garter that type of information.

Overall, however, I would recommend this book. It is a quick and easy read and a wealth of good information for true-crime readers. Just bare in mind that you may find yourself reading the same information over and over at parts. Just bare in mind that you may find yourself reading the same information over and over in parts. LOL. ---Kathryn White-Fidram

Rating: 5
Summary: A masterwork
Comment: Bob Keppel cut his teeth working the Ted Bundy murders in Washington State in the mid-1970s. He later went on to work the infamous "Green River" investigation, as well as consulting on other high-profile serial murder cases like the Atlanta child murders in 1979-1981. He has worked with leading law enforcement professionals on the state and federal levels. As such, Keppel is well-positioned to discuss serial murder.

Signature Killers focuses on sexual offenders who leave "signatures" at their crime scenes. These individuals are compulsively forced to commit certain acts that will not vary from crime to crime. So while a murderer may change his modus operandi -- climbing in a window one time, picking a lock the next -- his signature will not change. Perhaps even more interesting is Keppel's theory on the "arc" of violence that murderers move through. Included are discussions on sadism, picquerism, and even cannibalism.

Many reviewers have complained that Keppel's writing style leaves something to be desired. While this is probably true, I think it should be pointed out that this book almost certainly derives from Keppel's dissertation in pursuit of his Ph.D. Keppel appears to have taken sections from his thesis and added commentary to form a book. The discerning reader can see where the structured style of the dissertation leaves off and the conversational, casual style begins. I don't consider this a fault; I'm glad to have this accessible book to read instead of a dry, stuffy doctoral dissertation. Keppel should be commended for making this material available to a wider audience.

Anyone interested in the motives of serial offenders can hardly do better than to turn to Dr. Bob Keppel. Others have said, and I agree, that Keppel's last chapter -- regarding the cause(s) of increasing violence in our society -- leaves a bit to be desired. But Keppel is entitled to his opinion (which, in this case, cannot be proved or disproved with ease) and it certainly doesn't diminish the comprehensive knowledge on serial sexual offenders that Keppel makes available to readers in Signature Killers.

Rating: 5
Summary: Interesting Study of Serial Killers & Serial Abusers
Comment: .
Dr. Keppel presents his concept of diphasic personality formation of people who become serial killers. He believes it is a mistake to believe there is a fundamental gap between serial killers and serial abusers, those who stop short of actually killing their victims. Serial killers and serial abusers, according to Keppel's are childhood victims of neglect, often by an absent parent, who displace their anger onto others whom they perceive to be at a disadvantage.

For instance, the serial abuser can be the neglected child of a calculatingly cruel prominent surgeon, whose cruelties to his own families are not apparent to outsiders, yet which child acts out his own anger towards his own father [or mother] by methodically and cunningly gaining psychological control over other neighborhood children [males and/or females] and torturing them through continual [sexual] humiliation.

The serial abuser can be the therapist who gains control over his/her patients by placing them into an emotional bondage, grafitying himself/herself through exploiting them, and even acting out a necrophilic scenario with a drugged patient, stories we hear about only when they make the evening news.

Many people are walking victims of serial abusers, who are abused even further by the professionals they turn to for help.

Keppel's book is an invaluable tool for parents, behaviorists and those working in the criminal justice system and mental health system.

(...)