Olshaker and Douglas have been doing something special for decades, and this book carries on the tradition. a real crazy tale, and they do such a great job honoring the victims.

While the contents were interesting, this was a very dry and at times tedious read. I much prefer Douglas' other books, like "The Cases That Haunt Us." This is a thorough account of serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin. 2.5 stars

This book puts a magnifying glass to a truly evil, bigoted man. Driven by his hatred of other races, the killer's victims of choice are interracial couples. Again, Douglas and Olshaker are excellent at honoring the victims in this tragic true story.

A different kind of serial killer and a different kind of serial killer book. John Douglas recounts the life and actions of Joseph Paul Franklin, a man filled with hate and evil.. With many references to the hate speech and racist views posted on social media today, This book provides a frightening look at the damaged and deranged white supremacist who could be plotting to end the lives of more innocent people because of their race, religion, or who they love. This is a must read true crime tale.

A timely and very relevant sadly to this day. Interesting look inside of a mind full of hate and rage.

Famed FBI criminal profiler John E. Douglas, author of Mindhunter and The Killer Across the Table, now brings us The Killer's Shadow: The FBI's Hunt for a White Supremacist Serial Killer, co-authored with Mark Olshaker. It centers on the search for White Nationalist serial killer/psychopath Joseph Paul Franklin. It is especially relevant (and disturbing), given the recent resurgence of white supremacist violence.

Douglas shares his experiences in two parts: On the Hunt for a Killer and Into the Mind of a Monster. I hope that this thought provoking book will get the attention it deserves, beyond true crime afficionados, though it will certainly fascinate them. Douglas concludes: 'The journey to reckon with our nation's searing history of racial hatred, intolerance and discrimination is ongoing, and there are no neutrals in that struggle.' Hear, hear!

Douglas never disappoints. I love the insight he provides into this dark world of crime and serial killers. As a true crime podcaster, learning why these crimes are committed are invaluable to understanding the monsters inside the men.

I have highly enjoyed Douglas' previous books, but this one missed the mark a bit. First, I felt the story was more focused on the killer and not the method of capture. I enjoy Douglas' books because of the unique insight into profiling. In this book that was just a TINY chapter. Second, the story seemed disjointed at times. The killer has a LOT of crimes and he traveled a great deal. Trying to keep up with all he did was challenging. Again, had the focus been on Douglas attempts to identify the killer, it would have made more sense. Honestly, Douglas seemed to be a passive storyteller.

However, the story is still timely and intriguing. This is not a killer I was familiar with, but his actions are increasingly more common. I was surprised to know he took responsibility for a double homicide in my town of Cincinnati, OH.

When reading a gruesome murder mystery, you always think, "At least it couldn't happen in real life". But it can and does. John E Douglas was an FBI profiler when the BAU was not as famous as it is currently. He is the author of the Mindhunter book, yes the one the Netflix series is based on. This is the story of the FBI's hunt for John Paul Franklin, a serial killer whose victims were racially chosen yet had nothing in common. This made the investigation and ultimate capture very difficult. The story is more thrilling than your average fictional phycological thriller, and worse, it's true. An absolutely engrossing read that left me with much more information on how the FBI investigations work.

John Douglas’ books are must reads for any true-crime buff. He wrote the Mindhunter book (on which the series is based) and essentially created the term “serial killer”. He also was the head of the FBI’s original “BSU” (Behavioral Science Unit)—essentially, he’s the reason why we have and study criminals and their behaviors.

This particular novel focuses on the hunt for white supremacist John Paul Franklin during the 70’s. Franklin was a serial killer who had a penchant for killing not one particular “brand” - he went after blacks, interracial couples, Jewish congregations (coming out of religious ceremonies).

This novel is well-written, intriguing and also kept me on the edge of my seat. You learn so much about both Franklin and about Douglas, as he takes what he’s been practicing on convicted serial killers to the streets to actually use to catch an acting serial killer at large.

Joseph Paul Franklin wanted to become famous - famous for killing interracial couples, Jews, young black boys, white girls who dated black boys, and ultimately for starting a race war and being embraced as a hero.

I wasn't familiar with Franklin prior to reading this book, but the authors do a stellar job of presenting the case along with giving us a flavor of the 1970's time period. Franklin was that most difficult of killers to catch - he expertly used a sniper rifle but had no set MO for his kills. Some were spur of the moment, others were meticulously planned out, and he had no personal connection to his victims.

"Given his hard wiring and the effects of his upbringing and environment, and especially his view of his mother's abuse and neglect, it was as if nature had loaded the gun and nurture pulled the trigger."

The author lay out Franklin's background in detail, as well as efforts to create a profile, identify Franklin and ultimately capture him and bring him to trial. But Franklin's case is only part of the story. The authors give us related cases that really hammer home the simple fact that WORDS MATTER. And eventually all that dangerous speech turns into real actions. And all we have to do is look around us to see that hatred "metastasizing across social media platforms as well."

Franklin committed his crimes in the 1970's and was captured in 1980, but our country is still immersed in his mindset and philosophies. And that is why this book is equally fascinating and terrifying. 5+ stars and I highly recommend this book.

"The journey to reckon with our nation's searing history of racial hatred, intolerance, and discrimination is ongoing, and there are no neutrals in that struggle. "

If you like books about criminal profilers from the FBI, and the seriously twisted killers they are after, this book fits the bill. Back in the mid 1970s, profiling was just beginning to get a start, with it getting a chance to be used outside the FBI by other agencies. This case would help to highlight its effectiveness and bring it more into use, if all went well as John Douglas took off to try and help catch the guy who’d been shooting people at random all over the country. His name was Joseph Paul Franklin, but he also used many false names as well.

Profiler Douglas had been requested to assist police as things got bad, with Franklin randomly killing minority folks and mixed couples, showing his hatred for non-whites. He would even go after prominent white people, if he felt his reasons were good enough like when he wrote his letter to President Carter. He also wanted to show how he felt about Jewish people as well, so he began targeting them too. Franklin grew up with a lot of mistreatment and he wanted to let out his anger and rage when he felt like it. Abusing his wives wasn’t enough. He had this “mission” that he had come up with to kill as many of his targeted types of people as he could, and he was going to follow it through. Franklin became fairly proficient at robbing banks to keep himself going while he was on his mission. I found it to be an excellent look at a not too well known killer who was active in the 70s for 3 years. The case helped bring profiling into the mainstream as it helped them narrow down who to look at more, and who could be ruled out. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, authors John Douglas & Mark Olshaker, and the publisher.

Worshippers stream out of an Midwestern synagogue after sabbath services, unaware that only a hundred yards away, an expert marksman and avowed racist, antisemite and member of the Ku Klux Klan, patiently awaits, his hunting rifle at the ready.

What a great writing duo this was!!!
Holy Cow.
So Franklin is a threat.... copycat domestic terrorist killers increasingly became a reality. Detailing the dogged pursuit of Franklin that employed profiling, psychology and meticulous detective work.
I really enjoyed this one. Once again something about killers that gets me on alert.

I love the writing, the story.
It was simply very well written. From beginning to last.
I am on the lookout for from books from these two authors.

Thank You NetGalley, Publisher and author for this copy.

This is a brilliantly written story about the awfulness of Joseph Paul Franklin and his crimes that were committed. If you're a true crime lover, you have to read this book.

I don't know how I hadn't heard this case. John E. Douglas does it again by bringing us to an iconic case that has been lost to serial killer hype. I still can't believe John Douglas is able to so accurately analyze a perpetrator without having any information on them other than the crime that was committed. Incredible read and I can't wait for the rest of the true crime community to get their hands on this.

The Killer's Shadow starts off great. Most of this book focuses on Joseph Paul Franklin and takes us through the late 70's right up to present day.

Compared to Douglas's other books I've read, this one seemed a bit bogged down in repetition and I found myself skimming the many chapters detailing Franklin's many, many, trials.

Still, a good book. One thing that disappointed me, however, what that Mr. Douglas brought up the political climate this year, and seems to buy into the propaganda that Conservatives are "racists." He used a talking point regarding President Trump, which has often been taken out of context.

That was quite off putting to me, as I know many Black people that will be voting for President Trump, and they are not racist.

I felt that Mr. Douglas singled out one type of hate crime, but failed anywhere to mention that there are hate crimes committed by Black People, Muslims, Left Groups, etc.

For an "investigator" such as Mr. Douglas, I would truly hope he researches how President Trump has helped many people of all different races, genders, and religion.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.