What I particularly liked about this book was that it was written by the lead detective, Kim Mager, who interviewed/investigated Shawn Grate. The reader gets insight into her thoughts and feelings as she realizes that what initially appeared to be a kidnapping and rape case turns out to be a serial murder investigation; and that the rescued "Jane Doe" was one of the rare women who had survived their encounter with Grate. Detective Mager explains her interview strategy and how she tried to gain Grate's trust and keep him talking. The gamesmanship between Grate and Mager and other investigators was interesting, as Grate alluded to people or events and waited to see if Mager would realize that he was dropping breadcrumbs for her to follow, and as Mager decided what information she would let Grate know the police knew or would imply the police knew in order to get him reveal more details. Mager details the "justifications" and "excuses" that Grate gave for why certain women were tortured and killed; while he often acknowledged his guilt, and the wrongness of his actions, he also often blamed the women for what happened to them. Mager also highlights in the book the differences between Grate's portrayal of each victim and the "reality" of that victim based on those who knew her.

A Hunger to Kill is the true-life account of Kim Mager, a Detective tasked with interviewing a man accused of kidnapping a local woman. Through Kim's skillful interviewing, it quickly became apparent that the police were dealing with a disturbed predator who had murdered and abused multiple women. In this book, Kim recounts her actions and interviews with Grate in order to help bring justice for the victims, closure for the families, and knowledge and awareness of how to stop those who commit atrocious crimes as these.

While this story may be infamous in Ohio, it was the first time I'd heard of this case. As someone who has read numerous true crime accounts over the past year, I was intrigued to hear a book told from the perspective of an investigating detective, particularly focusing on the interviews that took place after the arrest. I thought it was interesting to see how the police went about collecting a confession, and what it takes to get a suspect to trust and open up to a detective.

The book is very detailed in its recounting of the crimes and investigation, It can be graphic in its descriptions, but I appreciated the respect and level of care the author had for the victims.

While this was a chilling and informative non-fiction account, the narrative wasn't as seamless as I would have liked. The writing was okay but didn't grip me as deeply as I expected, and the back-and-forth between memoir / true crime occasionally made the book feel a little clunky. I don't mind memoir aspects to books like this as I think they lend authenticity to the author and give you a better understanding of what it's like to investigate these sorts of crimes, it just didn't seem to be fully fleshed out here.

Overall, I thought this was an interesting and intense book.

Hunger to Kill is a gripping tale of a serial killer in northeast Ohio. A true story about how a small town detective solved the murders facing the killer day after day to learn his motive and how he operated. While the story kept my interest, the writing did not. My focus was kept on the true life story on how one human can maim another. I do hope that the editor tights the prose to make this a better read. 4.5 for the story; 2 for the writing.

Wow, this was a suspenseful true crime book written by a seasoned detective. It takes you into the world of Shawn Grate, a disgusting person who took advantage of vulnerable women and ended their lives in a very heinous, disturbing way. You really feel for the investigators involved and can't believe the horror they had to endure cleaning out the main crime scene. It's unbelievable the lengths some people will go to to hurt hurt others. To hear how they recount crimes that leave us speechless in such a way that it's just like doing some mundane, meaningless task is absolutely disturbing. Kudos to Detective Kim Mager and her ability to foster trust with Grate so that he confessed to more murders than what was actually known. Also, if it had not been for a woman being strong enough to get away and call for help (the only known survivor of this monster), he could still be walking the streets murdering countless women. This story is just astonishing. Shawn Grate is the epitome of evil.

As a true crime I found this was a book that was better than many I have read in the past. The book was very detailed. I wish I could of given it a higher rating

I'm a huge fan of true crime but this one just didn't work for me. The author was certainly the key to unlock the confession and conviction of these horrendous crimes. However, the reader doesn't need to be reminded of this every other page. It almost read like a memoir rather than a true crime story. I felt the story was drawn out with tidbits that weren't necessary. The book is interesting but needs more polish - I found it difficult to finish. Finally - all good true crime books have pictures - this has none. Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
The interviews with Grate were definitely shocking as he told of his killing of women. I really think the detective had a great approach to her interviewing process. Grate threw in clues along the way that she was mostly able to pick up on and get more information from Grate.

On a quiet morning in 2016, the tranquility of small town Ashland, Ohio is shattered by a 911 call from a woman saying a man has taken her hostage. Not just any man, but serial killer Shawn Grate, tagged as “The Ladykiller.” After the young woman’s rescue and Grate’s arrest, the real story begins. Enter sex-crime investigator Detective Kim Mager. She interviews the victim before turning her attention to the killer. What follows is a series of interviews, a true cat-and-mouse game, that crack the killer and lead to his confession to five murders and multiple sexual assaults. This is a chilling first-hand account of those interviews. True crime fans will find this story fascinating, and disturbing.


DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series

While I do not feel this rose to 4 stars, it was also better than 3. I was disappointed that this turned out to be far more of a memoir than a true crime book. The author did a good job of weaving the material into a story but there was too much material about the author. It began to feel as though the author was the focal point ant not the crime or sociopath who committed the crimes. too much time was spent ensuring that the reader knew how skilled and adept the detective was. Overall, it was an entertaining read but there was too much self-promotion in this book. Background info is great in a true crime book but it should not detract from the focus or topic. True crime is a difficult genre when it comes to writing and the author did a good job with ensuring overall flow and connections between the collection of evidence. It would have been so much better if there was far less highlighting and self-touting of the author. Can't give 3.5 stars but that is essentially where it stands for me.

What an interesting book! I love finding out information about crimes that have actually happened. This was very well-written and I couldn't put it down!

I received a free copy of, A Hunger to Kill, by Kim Mager: Lisa Pulitzer, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Serial Killer, Shawn Grate met his match when he met, and was interviewed by Detective Kim Mager. Mr.. Grate thought he could control Kim like he controlled other women. This was a really intense but good read. Im so glad there are people out there like Det. Mager, who can put animals like Mr. Grate behind bars.

I am the type of reader who loves it when a writer just tells the story. That isn't to say an author can't try something new or put a new wrinkle in their narrative. But, I am simple man with simple tastes. If the story is interesting, tell it and don't try to get fancy just for the sake of it.

This approach is taken to perfection by Kim Mager with Liza Pulitzer in A Hunger to Kill. Mager was one of the detectives assigned to an abduction case which quickly turned into an investigation of a serial killer. Mager was the main interviewer of Shawn Grate. He is a terrible person on so many levels. However, Mager makes it clear she knows that, but also needs to interview him as if he isn't. This is how she will get him to talk.

There are a few minor things which Mager and Pulitzer do in the narrative which make this so readable. First, of course, is the sticking to the story which I have already ranted about. Second, Mager doesn't make herself out to be some super detective. Sure, she's highly skilled and this case is right up her alley. However, she makes it clear that while the story revolves around her actions and will take up much of the page count, every police case is a team effort. She takes center stage, but she's not the only actor. Third, backgrounds are kept to a minimum for everyone. You get what you need to in order to understand each character. The final aspect, which I appreciated immensely, deserves its own paragraph. So let's go!

I am very much over true crime which spends an inordinate amount of time on the killer and, in a way, glorifies them. On the surface, A Hunger to Kill might give people pause because a lot of ink is spilled on Grate. However, Mager makes sure the victims are given their due and most importantly, Grate is presented as the awful, confused, hypocritical, and pathetic person he is. In a way, Mager is treating him as an object just like he did his victims. Grate is a tool to give closure to the victim's families, justice to the town, and information on how to stop people like Grate in the future. If you love true crime, this is a must for you. No, it doesn't revolutionize the genre. It just tells a great story about putting away the bad guy.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press.)

🔍 Just devoured "A Hunger to Kill" by Kim Maher and Lisa Pulitzer and it's a gripping true crime read! 📖💥 Maher and Pulitzer unravel the chilling story of a killer's insatiable thirst for blood with meticulous detail and suspense. From the shocking crimes to the intense investigation, every page keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you're a fan of true crime and love a story that leaves you breathless, this is a must-read! 🕵️‍♂️🔪 #TrueCrime #AHungerToKill #PageTurner #KimMaher #LisaPulitzer

I have heard/read a bit about Shawn Grate so when I saw this title, I knew I had to read A Hunger to Kill. This is a good, in depth book about the crimes Shawn committed against others, his victims, and the police that helped capture him.

I received an ARC of A Hunger to Kill thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin Press for a fair review.

What a fantastic retelling of the serial killer,Shawn Grate. I live about 35 miles from the crime scene town of Ashland and remember seeing missing posters of Stacey Stanley Hicks in the area. It was so sad to hear of her fate. Thank you for letting me read an advanced copy of the book. It was awesome! #ahungertokill #netgalley #kimmager #lisapulitzer

This is the true story of a man who admittedly killed several women. This was written by the detective who was brought in to interview him many many times. This is her account of what happened.
I found only a handful of grammatical errors, which did not take away from the reading in any way. It being written, firsthand, by the detective, made this sink into my soul a bit more than it might have if it were written in a different point of view.
If you like true crime stories, this is a must read. Will definitely recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For all my friends who are a fan of true crime this is absolutely one you should add to your TBR! I love learning about the inner workings of crimes and how the investigators do what they do.

I was able to read an ARC of this novel thanks to St Martins Press, NetGalley and the author. I really enjoyed this novel that focused on the investigation surrounding the crimes of Shawn Grate in Northern OH. I was not familiar with this case prior to reading this however the author wrote this in such a way I was invested in finding out more. I really appreciate Kim Magee, a former police detective coming forward and working to write this novel and lay out the truths surrounding these horrific acts. As indicated in the novel, if we do not learn, then how can we keep this from happening to other victims? I would definitely read more novels focused on topics such as this and the writing style was great.

"...This book pulls all the punches of a primetime police procedural and Mager is a real-life Olivia Benson..." - Full review to appear in BookList.

Kim Mager is a good cop and a good writer. She tells a good story. For some reason I lost interest in the story and didn’t finish it.