From one of the guys at the FBI Behavioral Science Unit comes the results of a massive study the FBI did on sexual offenders. It does offer a lot of research data which can always be dry, but it also offers myriad of examples to personalize the data and make it more informative for everyone. I found it very enlightening since there are very few studies that have been able to do this kind of comparative research on a problem that is so prevalent.

This book is a well-organized collection of information. I have no background in law enforcement, criminal justice or even psychology. Yet, I understood it well. Anyone interested in taking the time to understand in some depth how these criminals think and act would learn a great deal. It really illustrates the development of criminal profiling techniques. The book is broken into sections, each of which is broken into chapters. It is written by a group of people, including: Robert Ressler (FBI), John Douglas (FBI), Anne Burgess (nurse/researcher), a medical examiner.

As a crime writer (First Kill, The Girl By The Lake), I collect hundreds of books on crime. This one ranks amongts the best in my collection. Although a little dated (1988), it's a classic and provides a very solid foundation into profiling and deviant sexual behaviour and murder. There is a incredibly useful chapter (if you're a crime writer or a detective)that takes you right into the mind of a crime-scene analyst and what steps are covered to figure out who the pedetrator is. A must for any student of abnormal psychology, people involved with violent crimes and crime writers alike. Highly commended.

I cannot believe that John Douglas was head of the FBI's BSU until I remember that those FBI folks have absolutely no experience or knowledge of homicide or criminal investigation. The sections on crime scene staging appear to have been written by children. Try throwing in a corrupt exchange between organized crime and a district judge that involves a convenient murder in exchange for the judge's "insider" tips. The FBI has jurisdiction over judicial corruption. However, to create a mole the crime scene staging must be successful. Bet they would blow it! Probably, a rank amature could solve the case though.

I am studying forensic psychology and this book has been insightful and helpful. I have read everything john douglas has written and this is just perfect, precise, and organized in every way. Bravo!

I think this book is such a wonderful resource. As someone who is in school studying to work in Forensics this was a great book to read. It was not too technical and I would recommend this to anyone in law enforment, anyone who wants to some day work in law enforcement or anyone interested in learning from the masters.