Hearts of Darkness is the memoir of Jana Monroe’s experiences working in the FBI, when women were a rarity, and of her time in the BSU (Behavioral Sciences Unit) as one of the first female profilers and at the time sole woman in the department. Monroe is probably best known for being the agent Jodie Foster modeled her character on in the movie Silence of the Lambs. The breadth of her experiences and the time period make for a really fascinating story.

This was such an interesting read! I think just the subject of the BSU in general would have been fascinating topic but this book covers not only her personal experience as one of the few woman in the FBI at the time and how the agency was adjusting to women agents, some of the stories are just wild, but it’s also an interesting time period in terms of changing technology and historical events. Not only was she there for the transition from analog to digital but she was actually heading it as an AD at the beginning of the FBI’s Cyber Division. Not to mention being in the FBI during major events such as the Waco siege and 9/11. Reading about her actual experiences gives such a unique and compelling perspective.

If you are interested in the BSU and true crime, what things were like behind the scenes during a really interesting time period for the FBI and what it was like from a woman’s perspective this is a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hearts of Darkness is a fascinating look into the inner workings of the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit. The author Jana Monroe recounts her time as one of the first female profilers at the BSU. The narrative is compelling and at times quite chilling. An excellent read.

I’m a little conflicted about this book. There’s some really interesting commentary here on the author’s experiences with notable, high profile cases. Primarily, though, the book is about her life and work. I’d say this belongs less to the traditional true crime genre, and more to memoir. It’s an autobiography of a career. I appreciate the author’s perspectives and insight. This will be an ideal read for those considering a career in law enforcement.

I enjoyed this book overall. I found it fascinating to have an inside look into the FBI and especially from a female point of view. I would have loved to learn even more about different cases in more depth. I found the parts about the Silence of the Lambs especially interesting and found it super interesting how she consulted for the film. An interesting read for true crime fans!

I loved this memoir from Jana Monroe, the first female agent in the BSU. Having read many of John Douglass’ books, it was interesting to get a female take on the Bureau and some of the similar cases. I would have loved even more in depth detail about her role in the cases instead of a “drive-by” recounting of the highlights, but overall, I couldn’t put this down and read it in two sittings. If you love true crime, forensic psychology, or learning about the behind the scenes of law enforcement, this book is definitely for you.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for providing this ARC copy to read and review. All the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Hearts of Darkness.

Wow, what a great read!

Ms. Monroe's personal reflections on how her humble origins led her to a groundbreaker career in an industry run and ruled by men was fascinating!

I was most interested in her time spent at the BSU, the first and only woman in this prestigious unit at the time, and her contact with the most notorious serial killers of our time, and what she learned from them.

My favorite stories of hers were funny and lighthearted, and the ones featuring Jodie Foster and Demi Moore. Hilarious.

There were a few stories that were so bizarre they were funny because of how strange it was but made you think, "Wow, people are messed up" and no, I'm not talking about serial killers.

Ms. Monroe also offers almost a painful perspective at how hard she and her colleagues work; being separated from your spouse for months at a time, working days back to back without any sleep or showers, having vacations canceled at a moment's notice, how difficult managing a family would be when you may need to jump on a plane in only a few hours, and navigating a whole new world post 9/11.

Some readers might find some of Ms. Monroe's reflections and experiences triggering so beware.

I found Hearts of Darkness fascinating and honest, a realistic behind-the-scenes look at how hard our federal government works at protecting our nation and our people.

This has been super interesting to read!

~This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review