Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

A Hunger to Kill: A Serial Killer, a Determined Detective, and the Quest for a Confession That Changed a Small Town Forever by Kim Mager and Lisa Pulitzer is a chilling and deeply personal true crime narrative that delves into one of Ohio’s most infamous criminal cases. The book recounts the harrowing journey of Detective Kim Mager as she unravels the dark and twisted mind of serial killer Shawn Grate, whose reign of terror left a small town forever changed.

Mager’s account is gripping and unsettling, providing an insider’s perspective on the relentless pursuit of justice. Her determination and resilience shine through as she navigates the complexities of the investigation, ultimately securing a confession that would bring closure to the victims’ families and the community. The collaboration with Pulitzer, a seasoned journalist, ensures that the narrative is both meticulously detailed and compellingly written.

The book excels in its portrayal of the psychological cat-and-mouse game between Mager and Grate. Readers are taken behind the scenes of the interrogation room, experiencing the tension and stakes firsthand. The authors do an excellent job of humanizing both the detective and the victims, making their stories resonate on a profound level.

For true crime enthusiasts, A Hunger to Kill offers a raw and unflinching look at the realities of criminal investigation. It’s a testament to the courage and tenacity of those who work tirelessly to bring justice to light.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A young women manages to make a phone call to police to save her life. After the arrest of the suspect and interview by police, one detective is able to make a connection to this man, gaining his trust and gathering important info that leads to the bodies of several other woman.
This telling follows the interview process in conjunction with the search teams on the ground trying to verify the suspect's confessions.

Interesting insight into police investigations that any true crime junkie will enjoy.

A Hunger to Kill
By Kim Mager

The author is a real life detective in a small city in Ohio. She wrote this book to tell the true story of how Shawn Grate, one of Ohio's most notorious serial killers, was arrested – and how her interrogations managed to wear away at his defenses and ultimately led to his convictions for many more murders than anyone originally expected.

Shawn Grate was first arrested when one of his chosen victims – after being abducted and brutally raped repeatedly – managed to escape with the help of a 911 dispatcher and local police. After interrogating the victim, Detective Mager was called in to question Mr. Grate about these crimes – but also to try to get information about some other missing women that he might have harmed or killed.

This book deals primarily with the interrogation sessions: how the detective managed to psyche out the perpetrator's mind set and how she eventually convinced him to come clean and "do the right thing".

Reading about the mindset of a serial killer is a very scary thing. And to consider the strength and guile required of the detective to work with this sick mind to the end gives the reader pause to reflect on the men and women in blue who work every day to protect us from such monsters.

Thank you to the author, ST, Martins Press and Net-Galley for the copy of this book. I love a good crime book and this one was different from all the others I have read. I really enjoyed how Detective Mager wrote this book and made me feel like I was right there in the interrogation. I liked how she did her questioning of the suspect, how it was different from the other detectives and the FBI agent.

I had heard a little bit about serial killer Shawn Grate but not a lot. Reading all about his crimes was hard and sickening. My heart broke for the families and the victims knowing what they all went through. Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders have my support and respect as what they see and deal with on a daily basis isn't an easy thing and the toll it takes on them and their families is something I couldn't even imagine.

If you like true crime and a real eye opening book this one is for you.

This was my first non-fiction book about a serial killer and it was equal parts interesting and creepy. Hearing Grate talk and how Det. Mager had to hold in feelings of revulsion to "befriend” a sick individual to get his confession was inspiring and I'm thankful there are people in this world that stand between us and them every day. The book was good but there were times when some of her personal thoughts and life were distracting to the story although I loved how her son helped the case in the end.


Thank you to St Martin's Press for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I would like to thank NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

'A Hunger to Kill' is a memoir written by Detective Kim Mager focusing on the Shawn Grate case which occurred in Ashland Ohio. I was not familiar with this case prior to reading this book. Detective Mager outlines this book in chronological order of how the events occurred. Naturally, it started with Jane Doe and her 911 call. This horrific crime was not common to the area and shocked the community. I appreciated how the detective provided a break down covering her four days of interviewing Shawn, while conducting other aspects of investigating his crimes. She made a point to highlight the importance of paying attention to small details and looping back as Shawn was dropping hints to other crimes. This book really takes you through investigating the crime prior to the commencement of the criminal trials. While the book focuses on her own police investigation, the detective does discuss testifying in the criminal trials. She noted he was sentenced to death in 2025. I do wonder if all his victims were ever found.

loved this book. riveted from the beginning and couldn't put it down.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I love to read True Crime stories, escpecially ones like this. This was written by the detective who interviewed the Ohio serial killer, Shawn Grate. I really enjoyed reading her perspecive on the interview process she went through.

Though I’d seen a show about Shawn Grate on TV, I was anxious to read the details shared by the police detective who was part of this investigation, Kim Mager. Detective Mager shares this story of her part in bringing to light information about a serial killer, kidnapper, and sexual predator who assaulted women across Ohio.

When a kidnapped woman calls 911, the police find her in a house with a sleeping Shawn Grate. This is where Mager comes into play since she specializes in abuse and sexual crimes.

For those familiar with true crime books, this one might be different than you’re used to. In the case of this serial killer, you might say the story starts at the end, with the capture of Shawn Grate. Then this book focuses on Police Detective Mager questioning Shawn and gaining confessions of everything he has done. While this happens we also learn more about the detective's life.

This could be off-putting to those who like more suspense and unraveling of a crime, but it was still quite interesting.

A HUNGER TO KILL is a hard book for me to review.

This is true crime, about the (accidental) takedown of a serial killer in a small Ohio town, written by the female detective in charge of all the interviews. It’s also that detective’s memoir, of sorts. The combination didn’t work well because the two storylines conflicted with more than they complemented each other.

What I found fascinating:

-The way this killer was caught
-The various interviews with the killer, which the author recreated verbatim
-The unraveling of the murders, as the killer gradually opened up to the detective

What I didn’t enjoy:

-The chunks of time we spent learning about the author’s day-to-day life, her history, her husband and kids. All of this had nothing to do with the true crime aspect of the story, and the content simply didn’t flow well.
-Repetition of various information
-The author’s constant interjections about her feelings
-Somewhat clunky writing

A riveting story is waiting to be teased out of this, but I don’t think we quite get to it here.

This was a really interesting book that was a little let down by the writing style. Mager worked as a detective who interviewed a suspect that turned out to be a serial killer. The conversations between the two of them are fascinating, especially the ways in which she used specific techniques to keep him talking. The background on the killer (and of his victims) was also really well-researched. The part that I didn't love was when Mager inserted a lot of her own life into the story. This took me away from the meat of the story and made it feel more like a memoir to me, which wasn't what drew me to the book initially. I think if those sections had been taken out, it would have been much closer to a five-star read for me. Otherwise, it's still a solid true-crime book that is intriguing because of its look at the psychology of a killer.

3.5 stars

A Hunger to Kill by Kim Mager and Lisa Pulitzer  is a true-crime account of a serial killer targeting women in Ohio.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin’s Press (and in particular Natalie Sun for sending me a widget), and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions):
The small town of Ashland Ohio is generally a very safe place to live.  However, in September of 2016, and in response to a 911 call from a woman who was abducted, raped, and held for three days,  a serial killer is caught.

Detective Kim Mager, who specializes in crimes against women and children, is called to interview both the victim, and the abductor.  Soon she discovers that this is more than just an kidnapping.   Shawn Grate is a serial killer. At one point, as other policemen leave to find evidence that Shawn is telling the truth, Kim realizes she is left alone to interview a killer.  All her back-up are out following up on other leads.  But Shawn makes no move against her.  He has latched onto her, and will ask for her again and again.  Kim will eventually spend over 33 hours interviewing him.  Building a rapport with Grate, she gets him to confess to much more than the abduction of "Jane Doe".

As the dead bodies slowly surface, Shawn only admits to them as they are discovered.  Although Kim is sure there are more dead bodies out there, it's going to be hard


My Opinions:
First, I have never heard of Shawn Grate, so this was a "new" serial killer for me.  I agree with the author, I think there are more dead bodies out there, and I don't think they'll ever be linked to this man.  But at least he won't be free to kill again.

The conversations with the killer were really interesting, as were the leads they had to follow.  I also thought the way the officers were portrayed was really well done. I loved Kim.  Knowing that these are real people, with real lives outside the force only made the story stronger - in some ways.

I did, however, had some problems with the book.  Parts that didn't relate to the actual crime (Kim's family life, and her early life), were really boring. A little would have been okay, but there was too much.  We didn't need to know her entire life story.  I wanted to know more about the victim's background and the killer's background -- we got that, but there was a lot of "fluff", and some repetition.    I found myself skimming. 

Okay, on another note.  It's a little scary that  if the "kidnapper" had not been overly talkative, the police may not have even known a serial killer was out there.  They certainly weren't looking for him. I'm not sure what this says about this county,  but it is scary.  

So, overall, the story of the killer and his crimes was really interesting.  The method of telling the story was a little "off" ... but that's only my opinion.  It's still a true crime story,  so if you are a fan, you should read it.  Especially if you are like me, and have never even heard of this guy.

A Hunger to Kill is a well written true crime book which also contains some added personal information about the author as she conducts her investigation. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Thank you to Net Galley for this e-copy of A Hunger to Kill by Kim Maher and Lily Pulitzer.This is a powerful first hand account of. Detective Kim Mager’s interviews of Shawn Grate, a serial killer who was apprehended in 2016 in Ashland, Ohio when a woman referred to as Jane Doe calls police to report she is being held captive in a house in the city.As Kim interviews Grate , he plays a cat and mouse game with her slowly revealing that he is responsible for 4 more murders.It is believed he is responsible for more but as their interviews continue detectives learn that he intends to hurt Kim and their interviews cease.This is a very insightful book into the mind of a killer and even though it is depressing at times it is a fascinating well - researched viewpoint of how our childhood experiences can lead to violent behaviors in adulthood.

I read the true crime genre to try to understand why people do what they do. I like my true crime to focus on the victims, and the investigation and then the perpetrator, finally the trial. In 'A Hunger to Kill' , Mager wrote in a totally different way that I have never seen with True Crime. We know at once who the perpetrator is, and then what he has done comes out in her interviews with him. It didn't work for me.

Mager wrote a lot about herself. It was more like a memoir with a true crime thrown in. I feel that the memoir parts of the book just seemed to bog it down. I feel the way she grew up was not a vital part of the book. She came across as a caring person, I just didn't like that part of the book.

Other readers seemed to enjoy the book, so if you enjoy the True Crime Genre, you may enjoy the book. That's the great thing about books, two people can read the exact same book and get something different from it.

Published July 23, 2024

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, Marger, and Pultizer for the E~ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

🙂Happy Reading 😊

#netgalley #stmartinspress #kimmarger #lisapultizer #ahungertokill #truecrime #nonfiction

I had never heard of this serial killer, which kind of surprised me, but I was kinda busy with a new career when all this broke, so this story was all new to me. I liked the way it felt like the detective’s memoir - her backstory and how she got into her job, her family and her up-bringing, and the development of her interview/interrogation techniques made it more interesting than the gory, glamorizing-a-killer feel truecrime can sometimes give. It’s the Midwest, so of course there were a lot of references to god, and at times it felt a bit slow, but otherwise it’s a really interesting and well done book.

A fascinating look into the mind of a serial killer by the detective responsible for insuring he never walks free to terrorize women again. When Det Mager first questioned the man who was known as The Ladykiller, she was unaware of the magnitude of his crimes and the depth of his contempt for women. She pushed aside her fear and anger to get justice for his victims and closure for their families. The story is told in first person. Readers see Shawn Grate through Mager's eyes and hear his confessions first hand. An excellent book for true crime lovers.

This book details a case that I remember reading about in the news. This book gives a detailed account of what Mager went through as a detective on the case. She writes about interviewing the suspect and the work that went into ensuring that the truth was found. The book is paced well and the writing keeps the reader engaged.

This is the true crime story of an officer who made an arrest of an abductor whose victim managed to escape while he was sleeping. While interrogating him, he makes admissions to other victims dating back over 10 years and several jurisdictions. Through her questioning of him, we see her discover the depth of his crimes and just how depraved he really was.
While the story was fascinating because it kept unraveling right before your eyes, the author added a lot of her own personal backstory, which to me felt kind of unnecessary because it really wasn’t about her growing up years, in my opinion, but I guess who she was as a kid contributed to how she became the detective she was. I don’t know. It just felt like that part was a bit too memoirish. I would have liked more focus on his background than hers. And maybe more details on the crime scenes themselves but that’s my personal preference I guess

Thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed this book. The author really kept me on my toes from the first page. I had a hard time putting the book down. Highly recommend if you love reading about true crime.