The Serial Killer’s Apprentice recounts the chilling story of Elmer Wayne Henley Jr.'s descent into becoming the apprentice of serial killer Dean Corll. Henley's involvement in kidnapping and murdering young boys begins at just fourteen years old, driven by financial gain. Despite his actions, Henley grapples with moral consequences and ultimately kills Corll. Ramsland meticulously details the crimes and police investigation, delving into the psychology behind Henley's actions. While not as fast-paced as other true crime books, it offers valuable insights into criminal psychology.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc. This book was well written and takes a hard look at an awful crime. I would recommend it to anyone interested in true crime cases.

Thank you NetGalley, Katherine Ramsland, Tracy Ullman, and Crime Ink Publishing for an ARC! This is a unique non-fiction account of the bizarre relationship between serial killer John Edward Robinson and his protege, Jerry Howell.

The coolest part of this book (for true crime readers at least, lol) is the psychological insight. Most true crime readers love learning about the psychology of serial killing, and The Serial Killer’s Apprentice provides plenty of that. It’s not often we get to see a “serial killer in training” like we do in this book.

There are a mix of short and long chapters, but none of them are too lengthy (which is a big win for me). This title is 320 pages long, which is on the shorter end of true crime books.

At times the writing is a bit clinical, but it’s also very graphic, so the two balance each other out. I’ll take clinical terminology if it describes gore, LOL.

Get your copy on April 16, 2024!

The Serial Killer’s Apprentice by Katherine Ramsland and Tracy Ullman
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: 16 April 2024

The Serial Killer’s Apprentice takes us on a journey through one of the most disturbing cases in true crime history. Ramsland and Ullman do a brilliant job of navigating through the story, bringing together all the different narratives and dynamics in a very unique and solid way, showing just how in depth their research of the subject matter was.

This was an incredibly interesting read, and as someone who might be a little more than obsessed with true crime, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was thought provoking, especially the examination of the grey areas between what makes someone a victim or perpetrator.

I warn you though, this is a dark read and parts for some might be a bit hard to swallow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers/Crime Ink for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I've run across the story of depraved Dean "Candyman" Corll before but this is the most complete account I've read. Dean would lure young boys in with promises of candy or in cases of teen victims-weed and alcohol and then violently assault and murder them. Preying on two teenage boys from troubled homes, Corll groomed them to become accomplices in his gruesome crimes. One of these accomplices-Elmer Wayne Henley Jr, was ultimately responsible for killing Corll and from his prison cell serving six life sentences for his role in the crimes-tells how a seemingly normal kid got sucked into a serial killer's orbit. A little bogged down in places, this was an eye opening account of this string of murders in 1970's Houston. It is mind boggling how many young men and boys went missing and the police chalked it up to them all being runaways.

I had heard of this crime before reading this book, and knew a bit about the background information and trials. However, this book shed so much light on the criminology and psychology behind Dean Corll’s horrific hold on both Henley and Brooks but also so much of Houston at the time. This case is so important not only because of the murders but because of the aftermath. The mentions of other cases similar to this one and the organized crime that surrounds it were very intriguing and the talk of psychologists opinions and knowledge were fascinating. This was such a detailed and powerful read and I can’t recommend it enough to those who are interested in diving deeper into true crime.

Dean Corll's hunting ground was Houston, his prey was young boys and teens. Corll tortured and slaughtered at least 28 boys before he was gunned down by one of his teenaged accomplices in an act of self-defense. True crime noble Katherine Ramsland turns her eye to this oft overlooked case. Through interviews with the last living participant, Elmer Wayne Henley, she shows how a normal teenager can be groomed by a psychopath to become a killer. Ramsland thoroughly explains the grooming process to educate others and help prevent potential abuse. Ramsland also explores Corll's connections to sex rings and John Wayne Gacy, which haven't been breached in previous works. This is a book true crime readers can't miss.

First off THANK YOU! to Netgalley & Penzler Publishers | Crime Ink for my ARC digital of The Serial Killer's Apprentice.

A psychological examination of the blurred line between victim and accomplice—and how a killer can be created.

BRAVO!!!! I devoured this book in 2 settings! This was so detailed and fascinating to read. My jaw was literally on the floor the entire time. I cannot believe this case is not widely known or discussed more. This was such a great read!

While the subject matter is very heavy and at times, hard to read, it was so well written and definitely will be one I recommend to other true crime fans.

First, thank you to Penzler Publishers for this eGalley. While I found the premise of the book fascinating, I have a feeling that I might have liked this book more if I hadn't read it using the NetGalley Shelf App. It was clunky and cumbersome, hard to look through the pages, and glitchy.

As for the book, however, I found myself desperate for some endnotes. Several moments were a bit hard to follow or hard to delineate between chronology, so either a timeline or a series of endnotes would have helped enormously. Especially during the discussions of psychology terminology, I wanted to see which source these definitions came from. Knowing whether definitions came from either the DSM IV or V would be enormously helpful. A compelling tale, but one that needed more structure for me.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

"The Serial Killer's Apprentice" delves into one of the most unsettling cases in true crime history with an intriguing perspective. Ramsland and Ullman present a professionally written narrative that intricately weaves together the experiences of victims, their families, the community, and the perpetrators. The book evokes a range of emotions, from anxiety to heartbreak, as it delves into the horrifying details of the crimes.

One aspect that stands out is the thoroughness of the research, which is evident throughout the narrative. The authors meticulously examine the Candyman case and delve deep into the psyche of the individuals involved. While the focus on Henley and the initial case dominates the first half of the book, the latter half provides a broader exploration of serial sexual predators and their accomplices.

However, it must be acknowledged that the subject matter makes for a challenging read. The emotional weight of the content, particularly the descriptions of torture and premature deaths, is palpable. Despite this difficulty, the book remains compelling and well-written, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of the disturbing realities of serial crime.

This book was CLEARLY heavily researched and was very well written. The author dove deep into the psychological aspect of being an apprentice which I appreciated. This was a difficult read for me due to content but it was also profound.

This book explores the psychological mind of a serial killer. The subject matter gets pretty intense at times. It was very thoroughly researched and very well-organized. It was about a killer that I knew little about, so I appreciated how much was included in the making of this book.

Delve into the chilling tale of Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr., the young apprentice to notorious serial killer Dean Corll, in Katherine Ramsland's riveting true crime narrative, "The Serial Killer's Apprentice." Ramsland masterfully examines the blurred boundaries between victim and accomplice, offering a harrowing exploration of how a killer can be created.

In 1971, Henley, just fourteen years old, found himself ensnared in Corll's web of violence and manipulation. Drawn into a world of depravity, Henley became complicit in Corll's heinous crimes, luring young boys to their deaths in exchange for cash. As the body count rose, Henley grappled with the moral consequences of his actions, ultimately taking matters into his own hands and ending Corll's reign of terror.

Ramsland's narrative goes beyond the shocking details of the murders, delving into the psychology of Henley's transformation from unwitting accomplice to cold-blooded killer. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Ramsland exposes the failures of law enforcement and the devastating impact of Corll's crimes on the Houston community.

"The Serial Killer's Apprentice" is a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of evil, redemption, and the complexities of human nature. Ramsland's compelling narrative sheds light on the darkest corners of the human psyche while offering insight into the mechanisms of manipulation and control. A must-read for true crime enthusiasts, this book is a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking within society's shadows.

This book by Tracy Ullman and Katherine Ramsland follows up on the infamous killings by Dean Corll in the Candyman Murders of Texas in 1972 and 1973. It’s a more in-depth look at the killings and the roles that David Brooks and Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr. played in luring and killing teen boys. It remains a shocking tale that would never have been ended if it weren’t for Henley’s killing of Corll, and his statements to authorities about where bodies were buried.

Detailed and fascinating account of a serial killer and his young accomplices. One of the most shocking things for me is that this is not a case I’ve previously been aware of despite how prolific the killer was and how shocking the circumstances.
The detail is excellent and told from the perspective of the accomplices and how they were groomed (as we would not recognise)
There is good background of the young accomplices and their early lives and difficulties and an excellent investigative description into the key factors which made them vulnerable and exploration into how this can be picked up upon, recognised and prevented. The original statements and some insightful diagrams and analysis of the victims ages etc are included for a good all round picture of the crimes. I also feel that the victims and their families were respected and the details sensitively handled. Definitely food for thought on how nature and nurture could’ve created these circumstances and also worryingly eye opening on how easily potential victims can be groomed, including the young accomplices in this situation. Not an easy read with regard to the subject matter but very well written. Recommend.

As always, Katherine Ramsland shows to be wildly intelligent and understand these depraved killers better than almost anyone else. You can tell this was heavily researched. I don't have anything profound to say but this was a really interesting read.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. This is a great read if your into trying to get into the mind of a killer. I find it fascinating how he got sucked into doing what he did. Well written and very thorough!

3/5 I really enjoyed the content provided and that it goes into a deeper psychological view of an accomplice, more so than seen before. This book also includes witness statements, actual personal interviews and case documents to aide in the telling of this infamous Houston serial murder case. This novel goes into the depths of the mind of teenage Elmer Wayne Henley JR. and how he was molded to aide Dean "Candyman" Corrl in the mass murder of multiple young men in Texas. I definitely recommend this book for those who enjoy true crime and those who enjoy forensic psychology as it does a good job at looking at the different psychological aspects that make an ideal "apprentice".

I’m going to say this is a 4. Throughout, I was struck by how thoroughly researched this is. While the first half of the book is very focused on the Candyman case and Henley, the second half is more important. The second half of the book provides an exhaustive and wide ranging look at serial sexual predators and their accomplices, It delves into the psyche of offenders, ways to look for pre offense behavior, and how to keep children safe. I read a lot of true crime and feel the need to warn readers that the details of Candyman and his accomplices’ crimes are nauseating to the point that I almost gave up reading. The second half goes on to place these crimes in the context of similar murders and provides analysis that was much needed. There are several appendices with pictures (nsfw) and more information about the case.

Want an entrance into the sick mind of a murderer? This book will provide the insight. Difficult to read, but it was worth it,.