"The Serial Killer's Apprentice" by Katherine Ramsland is a deeply compelling yet disturbing look into the dark world of Dean Corll, known as the "Candy Man," and his manipulation of young accomplice Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr. As someone with quite a collection of Ramsland's works, I found this book both fascinating and horrifying. Ramsland's investigative expertise shines through as she delves into not just the crimes but the psychological manipulation and the tragic dynamics of the Houston Heights community during the 1970s.

The book meticulously recounts Corll's gruesome crimes, which may be unsettling for readers unaccustomed to graphic detail. However, Ramsland handles the material with care, focusing more on understanding the minds behind these atrocities rather than sensationalizing the violence. This approach adds a layer of depth that many true crime enthusiasts will appreciate.

On the downside, the gruesome nature of the subject may be overwhelming for some. While it doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of Corll's reign of terror, this level of detail might not be suited for readers who prefer less graphic true crime accounts.

Overall, "The Serial Killer's Apprentice" offers a chilling yet insightful dive into one of the darkest chapters in American true crime. Ramsland’s deep understanding of criminal psychology makes it a must-read for those intrigued by the complexities of predator-victim relationships, though it's certainly not for the faint-hearted. If you're already a fan of Ramsland's work, you'll find this one just as intriguing.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was a fascinating and well structured account of the Candyman murders in Texas during the early 1970's. It focuses on Wayne Henley, the young teenager who was groomed by Dean Corll and participated in several of the murders and their subsequent clean up. I thought the narrative flowed well and that the authors remained objective while obviously sympathizing with Henley's predicament. I particularly appreciated the interludes within the book that looked at other sexual predators, examined the various media coverage of the case, considered the psychological implications of Corll's influence and investigated the possibility of a syndicate of paedophiles operating in the area that Corll had contact with. Overall I found this to be a compelling read and would definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The story of a serial killer in Houston and his teenage accomplices. This one includes actual words from one of the accomplices (who is in jail). He reminisces on adult predators taking advantage of children.

This one was interesting. It is not just a heads up true crime - that is more the first part and the second is more a broader societal analysis. The subject matter is super heavy here. I also don’t know how I feel about one of the accomplices being significantly involved with the book.

I really enjoyed this book! I have enjoyed all of this author’s books. I would love to see this book adapted to film and would love to read more but it’s like this one.

The Serial Killer's Apprentice follows the twisted relationship between a notorious serial killer and the young woman who becomes his protégé. Ramsland and Ullman's explore the psychology driving the killer's actions, while also shedding light on the circumstances that lead the apprentice down a troubling path. We're drawn into a world of moral ambiguity: there is capacity for both good and evil. This book offers an unusual exploration at the darker aspects of the human condition.

I knew a bit about this crime and the trials before I picked up the book, but man, it really opened my eyes. The author dives deep into the criminology and psychology that allowed Dean Corll to not just manipulate Henley and Brooks, but to terrorize a good chunk of Houston back then. It’s not just the murders that make this case stand out, but the ripple effects afterward. The book links to other similar cases and the web of organized crime around them, which is super intriguing. Plus, the insights from psychologists are downright fascinating. It’s a rich, compelling read that I totally recommend to anyone who’s into true crime and wants to get a deeper understanding of the dark stuff.

Something I have learned as a consumer of true crime (podcasts, books, documentaries…) is that there’s an important distinction to be made. Some media talks about cases and criminals, and raises awareness for victims so it doesn’t happen again.
Some media gets into the details of the crimes and could cross a line. It could be seen as giving notoriety to the criminals and reduces victims to being known by what happened to them, not the life they led and legacy they left.

This is an interesting one because it’s not the “main” killer but one of the accomplices, here called an apprentice. The author references a lot of good material to paint a clear picture of the time in which these crimes occurred, other crimes happening outside of these, and those involved in the case.

I think the opening preface was important to establish why this was written and what the author hoped to accomplish through the work. It isn’t trying to diminish culpability of the younger apprentices. There were lies told and avoidance of the “bigger” aspects of the crimes. They are guilty as well but they are also victims because they were taken advantage of as well. They had difficult upbringings and were vulnerable. It in no way excuses what happened and what they took part in, but it’s important to acknowledge all the facts.

This was difficult to read and process, just like a lot of true crime can be. The psychological torture and power dynamics were very chilling.

Important takeaways for everyone would be not painting the “bad guys” of the world as lingering in the shadows in trench-coats. If this case and others like it have taught us anything (John Wayne Gacy, Ten Bundy…etc.) it should be that anyone is capable of these crimes. They are unsuspecting and sometimes charming and appear to be those who contribute to society in meaningful ways. The “candy man” pseudo uncle on the block, the guy who loved to dress up as a clown for kids… we really never know. Not to say don’t trust anyone but there must be caution and boundaries.

I think a really important message was the way grooming occurs. Subtly over time. Breaking small seemingly insignificant rules to make the victim more comfortable with other things later. Dom/sub relationships.

Interesting and well researched book from a pro in the field. I couldn't put it down and would recommend to all true crime fans.

Oh my goodness! What a read. I was hooked from the start, but had to read this in slower sittings, as some of the material was just mind blowing.
I really didn't know a lot about this case, and it was a massive eye opener for me. The amount of depravity that was meted out is beyond compare.

For true crime lovers, this book is a great read. Beware, it may cause some strong emotions as you read through these pages.

Interesting, full of food for thought. I appreciated this book about a less know serial killer and his story
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

"The Serial Killer's Apprentice" by Katherine Ramsland dives into the world of serial killers with a blend of meticulous research and engaging storytelling. Ramsland, known for her expertise in criminal psychology and true crime writing, delivers a gripping narrative that explores the minds and motives of some of history's most notorious murderers.

What sets this book apart is Ramsland's ability to humanize the perpetrators without glorifying their actions, offering readers a nuanced understanding of the complex factors that contribute to the creation of a serial killer. Through meticulous examination of case studies and psychological profiles, she provides valuable insights into the dark intricacies of criminal behavior.

Ramsland's writing is both informative and captivating, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as she navigates through the darkest recesses of the human psyche. Whether you're a true crime enthusiast or simply curious about the inner workings of the criminal mind, this is a must-read that offers a compelling exploration of one of society's most disturbing phenomena that is written by one of today's most credentialed and experienced authorities on forensic psychology.

I really enjoyed this book. It was very interesting to hear about crimes from an accomplice and how he feels he was lead to becoming a murderer.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and ARC of this book.

The Serial Killer's Apprentice is a harrowing and intimate account of "The Candyman," a serial killer who used teenage boys as apprentices to torture and kill other adolescent boys in Houston, Texas. The author (Ramsland) is a forensic psychologist, and Ullman is investigative journalist and documentarian. Together they weave a terrifying recount of the events and perpetrators in the Candyman killings.

The book primarily focuses on Dean Corll and his apprentices - David Brooks and Elmer Wayne Henley Jr., the latter of which is the primary accomplice. It is a disturbing and vivid portrait of true evil (Corll) and all of the horrible things he did. Despite their willing participation in the murders, it is difficult yet important to remember that Brooks and Henley were they themselves targets and victims, having been chosen and groomed as teenagers because they were vulnerable.

This book was very hard to read (trigger warnings for crimes and abuse against children, including case photos at the end). The book talks in length about abduction, grooming, torture, murder, and burial of adolescent children. The author also expands on Corll's background and the work of a larger criminal organization of sex offenders dealing in the trafficking and murder of boys. It is fast-paced and engaging and a very eye-opening and illuminating report of this heinous case.

I definitely recommend this book for true-crime aficionados, or anyone interested in learning more about The Candyman case.

In 1971, fourteen-year-old Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr. met a man named Dean Corll via another local teenager named David Brooks. Corll’s family had once owned a confectionary company and he was known to distribute the sweets to the youth of Houston, Texas, earning the affectionate nickname “The Candy Man”. Unbeknownst to those in his community however, he had groomed David and then Wayne to bring other boys to his house so that he could sexually abuse and murder them, ultimately killing upwards of 20 people, though the true number may never be known and is likely much higher.

The Houston Heights neighborhood that Henley hailed from was poor and many of its children came from abusive, neglectful, or broken homes. Their unfortunate circumstances made them easy targets for Corll and furthermore led to the local Police being dismissive of the numerous reports of missing boys, typically writing them off as runaways. This allowed Dean to continue operating undetected for years, sadistically torturing and then murdering an unfathomable number of children. Henley and Brooks would often be coerced into participating in these acts, partly for Corll’s amusement but also to give him leverage over them, making them feel that they had no choice but to continue to assist him lest they be punished for their actions. That is until Wayne is finally pushed to the breaking point and kills Corll before turning himself into law enforcement and leading them to all the bodies he was aware of.

This book is not for the faint of heart. While the authors avoid using these tragic deaths for lurid thrills, they are still discussed in fairly graphic detail and will certainly impact the reader. Since Corll was killed, it is unlikely anyone will ever know exactly why he committed such atrocities, though the authors make an attempt, using other serial killers to try and explain his actions. They were able to interview Henley in prison, and so can better ascertain his motivations and offer a fascinating yet disturbing look at how someone like Corll was able to gain so much influence over the young man. Again, other similar cases are also examined and the book closes with a list of signs parents should look for to keep their own kids safe.

The Serial Killer’s Apprentice will upset readers and leave a lasting impression on them. While Corll was ultimately stopped, if adults had listened to Henley sooner, or if the Police had taken the wave of missing boys more seriously, his reign of terror could have been ended much sooner and many lives would have been spared. There have been and will always be others like him, as evidence points to him being at least loosely connected to a ring of child sex traffickers, so hopefully Henley’s story can be used as a lesson and a warning to prevent something similar from ever again going unnoticed for so long.

The Serial Killers Apprentice is well written and a very detailed accounting of the Texas Candy Msn killings. Although the book is very repetitive as it basically tells the sane story from every witness’s POV I liked the extra details here and there but the repetitive story was hard to read over and over again and I had to keep putting the book away n going back to it a few days later. Overall it’s a chilly take of how in that time it was easy for a serial killer to find and groom his targets. I was shocked as person after person discounted any attempts to tell the truth or get help no one believed any of the boys m. And I’m still shocked everyone was so accepting of a friendly partying with teenagers on a regular basis. It’s all red flags to read yet so many people thought nothing of it. I hate to wonder how many other victims could still be out there unfound. Very good book chilling and tragic definitely something to think about when it cones to protecting youth from such dangers.

I was not very familiar with the Candy Man killings in Texas. They happened when I was a baby but I am still surprised I didn’t know anything about them. The authors were very thurough in their recounting of crimes and events. I sometimes wished for fewer details and was a little surprised at how repetitive it was. There were entire sections that were repeated word for word. Still, it was an interesting look at how predators work and how they can control those around them, especially when they target children. I wish there had been more on the connection with the national ring and other killers.

I didn’t manage to finish this book as the only format available was via my phone which just did not work for me. From what I did read I did really enjoy this and it gave a lot of background information which made for an interesting read.

The Serial Killer's Apprentice is a dark and disturbing true crime book that seriously haunted me. This was a tough book to read due to the content but expertly written and superbly researched.

I highly recommend it for fans of true crime.

This was a very very intense read but very well written! It always intrigued me on the mind if a serial killer and this book provided a ton of information!

Great job to the author!!!

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review

This was intense! It was very interesting to see into the mind of a serial killer. This book was very well researched and provided a lot of information. The subject makes it a somewhat difficult read, but I knew what I was getting into. This was well written.