This is a must-read for anyone who loves a real life thrilling mystery with unexpected twists and a jaw-dropping conclusion . The clever plotting, intricate character motivations, and perfectly executed reveal make it a standout in the genre. It left me thinking long after I turned the last page—exactly what a great mystery should do.

I don’t know about you but I love reading true crime stories. It throughly amazes me just how evil a human can be. This monster is one truly terrifying evil creature! Pick it up and find out for yourself!

Thank you to NetGally and the Publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Behold the Monster: Confronting America's Most Prolific Serial Killer by Jillian Lauren is a chilling account of the author's investigation into the life and crimes of Samuel Little, one of America’s deadliest serial killers. Through interviews with Little, Lauren dives into his disturbing psyche, uncovering the stories of his many victims and the systemic failures that allowed him to evade justice for decades. The book blends true crime with Lauren’s personal journey, which adds a unique, reflective layer to the narrative. However, while it’s compelling and well-researched, some readers may feel that the book's pacing and narrative focus can be uneven at times. This is a disturbing but thought-provoking read for true crime fans, especially those interested in the overlooked lives of Little's victims.

“Behold the Monster” is a gripping dive into the dark abyss of America’s most notorious serial killer, and it caught me off guard in the best way possible. I picked it up expecting a dry recitation of facts, but what I got was a chilling, yet engaging exploration of evil that feels disturbingly relevant.

The author masterfully balances chilling details with a compassionate examination of the victims and the psychological complexities surrounding the killer. It’s not just a catalog of horrors; it’s an investigation into the monster and the society that allows such monsters to thrive. You might find yourself gasping one moment and nodding thoughtfully the next.

While it’s heavy on the macabre, the prose is sharp and compelling, pulling you in with a narrative that reads more like a thriller than a true crime account. This book doesn’t just recount; it confronts, making you question how we perceive evil in our world.

If you think you can handle a haunting yet thought-provoking journey into the darkest corners of humanity, “Behold the Monster” might just surprise you. It's a must-read for anyone willing to confront the uncomfortable truths lurking in our society.

I am torn on this one. I am a true crime junkie; it's basically the only kind of podcast I listen to, I love a good true crime book, etc. While the writing style was good, this book kind of jumped around a bit, and didn't flow well as a result. However I do feel the author tried her best to honor the victims, as well as the ones who got away. 3.5 stars, rounded down.

Jillian Lauren wrote a letter to Sam Little, hoping to interview him in prison. She found herself becoming his confidante and getting him to confess to a multitude of murders. He is believed to have murdered 93 women. Fortunately, a few of his targeted victims were able to escape. Jillian worked together with law enforcement to solve many more murders, attributing them to Sam Little than originally suspected.
This is a well researched book, full of forensic information, but also gruesome in that it recounts many of Little's stories about how he went after his victims and killed them.
If you enjoy true crime, you might enjoy this, but it was bit gruesome for me.

I thought this was a fascinating look into the serial killer Sam Little. The details were disturbing but I liked that they were on the page. I liked how she worked at honoring the victims as well as the four who got away. It also brought into the idea of nature vs nurture - I don't think that serial killers are born but made - and this reinforced that idea. Sam's background is that he had a tough life up until the end but that doesn't excuse anything. I hope, through this book, the victim's families were able to find some sense of peace.

One of the most jaw dropping parts of the book was the fact that the author was next of kin for Sam. That just blew my mind that, in the end, she was the only person that he really trusted. Hard to read, hard subject matter, but I feel that it was well handed with this author.

As a true crime junkie, I was originally very excited to read this book. However, I ended up finding this one hard to read and found myself wanting to DNF it several times. It felt like it was all over the place and jumped around a lot.

Behold the Monster is a candid documentary of Jillian's research into serial killer Samuel Little (with whom she had built an unlabelable 'friendship' before his passing), as well as dramatized fiction that sheds light on his victims—writing from their point of views moment before their death.

The overall structure reminds me of I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara, where it is as much about the author's personal experience as the researched subject. Perhaps the book's nonlinear chapters resembles more closely the winding path of her investigation, but a clearer organizing structure would've helped making the information more easily digestible, as currently it tends to jump from topics such as the US justice system, deep dive into psychology, interaction with Samuel Little, the victim's POV, and Jillian's personal anecdotes at seemingly random order. Still, as a true crime nonfiction, this is packed to the brim with facts and emotions.

3⭐️

DNF - but what I did read was a decent creative nonfiction piece about a serial killer. This book just went on too long in my opinion. While I understand the desire to give the victims their last moments, there are so many that is not enjoyable to read (which I’m sure is the point!). He was a terrible man who did terrible things, but this book doesn’t offer much in the way of uncovering any mystery. Someone else who enjoys true crime may enjoy this, but it wasn’t for me.

This book was too disturbing for me to complete in entirety. Although it was well written, the subject nature bothered me more than I thought it would. In the past, I was able to read true crime stories with no problems. I don’t know. This one got to me. I appreciate the opportunity to read & review this book.

True crime is a genre that is fascinating but can at times be difficult to read due to the content. Overall, I found Behold the Monster by Jillian Lauren fascinating, and felt like I was right there, following along, as she worked to get Sam to confess to more murders, in order to achieve justice for the families of the victims.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I’m a true crime fan and enjoyed how this was written. It’s a great blend of fact and fiction. If you love crime novels, you’ll enjoy this one.

I'm probably the wrong person to review a book of this nature. After all, Jodie Foster in Silence of the Lambs was my literal idol. From all the movies and books I read, to the major of Criminal Justice in college, I was always ready to be her. Unfortunately for me I was too sick and couldn't pursue my dreams, but reading a book like this made me feel like I was there with Jillian visiting Sam in prison. Making phone calls, and doing favors for a murderer, just to solve one more cold case, and get justice for another one of his "babies."

This book follows the journey of journalist Jillian Lauren, who helped to bring justice to some of Samuel Little's victims. Sam claimed responsibility for the murders of over 90 women, although it hasn't been proven for all the victims he talked about. Some bodies have names and some don't. Jillian and several other detectives across the US have worked to match unidentified bodies with the accounts of the murders and body dumping that Sam did. Thankfully he remembered things in detail, and there have been many victims identified and at the very least their families have closure and know what happened to them.

The work that Jillian did to help get these women justice, in combination with the work of detectives all over the country, should be applauded. What they have undertaken is not easy, and yet they have succeeded in doing so much for these families and victims. Definitely a book I would recommend reading, although it isn't for the faint of heart, and there are some trigger warnings too.

Jillian Lauren's "Behold the Monster: Confronting America's Most Prolific Serial Killer" isn't your typical true crime shockfest. Instead, it delves deep into the psyche of Samuel Little, a prolific killer, while weaving a narrative that breathes life back into his forgotten victims.

Lauren's writing feels almost like a conversation, drawing you into the chilling world of Little and the investigation. It's both unsettling and strangely intimate.

Lauren avoids sensationalizing the crimes. She paints a picture of the victims, not just as statistics, but as real people with stories and loved ones. This makes the tragedy all the more impactful.

The book offers a chilling glimpse into the mind of a killer. Lauren doesn't glorify Little, but allows readers to understand the twisted logic that fueled his actions.

"Behold the Monster" is a powerful read. Lauren's conversational approach makes the horror all the more real, but it's her focus on the victims that elevates this book beyond a standard true crime story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the chance to read and review.

Being a true crime junkie, I really appreciated the way this book was written. It felt like I was in the room with Jillian Lauren as she interviewed Samuel Little. While it did feel a little hard to get into as the view point does jump around once I was in I was hooked. Learning about the "why", and the methods used to pick victims was absolutely intriguing. Also the way that Jillian Lauren makes it a point to give a voice to the victims by speaking with their families and discussing those hard feelings. I really loved this book and its one that will stay with me as a reader.

The content was hard to read at times. I would’ve preferred this to be fully nonfiction & with less hoping around.

Thank you Net Galley & to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

True crime is extremely popular but I found this book to be dull. I appreciated learning about Littles childhood. What I didn’t like is how the author added her own prospective. I would rather read nonfiction crime without the authors opinion.

Wow...this was a big look into Samuel Little. I had only heard of him in recent years, although I am a huge true crime fan. It was interesting to learn his childhood issues and wasn't hard to see why he became a monster. He is the true definition of a narcissistic psychopath. This book has very heavy language and often vile, disparaging remarks about women, but they are coming from the mouth of Samuel Little himself. If you are into true crime, you must read or listen to this. I was appalled at just how many victims were tied to him and there are countless possible others that they will never know for sure as he died in 2020 from COVID complications. This man started his crimes in 1970 and did not stop until 2005. He confessed to 93 murders in vivid detail!!! Don't miss this one if you love true crime.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

This book is a great blend of facts and fiction, allowing you to get into the mind of a serial killer & his victims without being voyeuristic. While it toes the line at times, Jillian Lauren clearly spent a lot of effort to try and not glamorize what happened during the decades Samuel Little was murdering people. This book is graphic, and so it can definitely be triggering to read, so be warned on that front. I think it was a fascinating way to get inside the psyche of someone who committed heinous acts, and Jillian is a great storyteller at weaving this narrative in a way that doesn't feel like a textbook. There were moments where I wasn't sure if it was truth or fiction with the narrative, but overall it is a great way to learn more about this person without feeling too voyeuristic. 3.5/5