The best book on this serial murderer.

Thoroughly researched, unbiased, and more-ish! This is one you'll have a hard time putting down for sure, and completely readable in one sitting if you have the time.

I actually have the hardcopy, brought it years ago, but wanted the ebook version as well because it's that good!

Thanks so much for my copy.

I received this book for free before it's release from Netgalley.com and agreed to give it a review.

Butcher, Baker is the horrific true story of serial kidnapper, rapist, and killer Robert Hansen’s reign of terror in Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska State Trooper Walter Gilmour and writer Leland E. Hale tell the story of Hansen’s twisted depredations—from the dark urges that drove his madness to the women who died at his hand and finally to the authorities who captured and convicted the killer who came to be known as the “Butcher Baker.”

Being that I have a MA in Psychology with an emphasis in Forensics, stories about serial killers have always intrigued me, and this book did not disappoint. While there were some typos in the book that were a bit distracting, I found the story both fascinating and disturbing. You just never know when the clean-cut, businessmen and neighbor next door may be a prolific, and extremely disturbed, serial killer. And this man was married with kids. I could not imagine how his wife was able to reconcile all of this. It made me think a lot of John Wayne Gacy.

Overall, it was a good story, and a good read. I don't usually see films based on books, but I may give this one a go.

Butcher, Baker by Walter Gilmour and Leland E Hale

I saw this movie a couple of years ago called Frozen Ground. It is based on the true story of Alaska's most prolific serial killer Robert Hansen. It is also chronicles how one Alaskan state trooper named Glenn Flothe who is now retired, relentlessly pursued Robert Hansen. The two authors of this book wrote it in such a way that it is mostly dialogue. The dialogue is taken from court transcripts and police transcripts and the authors interviews. Robert Hansen is described by one victim who escaped as having facial acne and horned rimmed glasses. He preyed on young topless dancers and prostitutes. He would offer a girl $200-$300 to go out to lunch or dinner with him. The lucky one's thought that was too good to be true or an outrageous amount of money wouldn't go with him. The victims would often be taken at gunpoint to his house where he would handcuff them or He would take them in his small aircraft and fly them to remote areas in the unforgiving wilderness.

Robert Hansen had started his double life of crime as early as 1971. When he started preying on these young girls he was able to get away with it because of the vast landscape. He had a wife and two children that had no idea what he did until after his arrest. By the time he was finally arrested their were between fourteen and twenty-seven suspected killings. He was sentenced to 471 years plus life in prison. He was a barber while he was in prison. He was 75 years old when he died of natural causes on August 21, 2014, at the Anchorage Regional hospital. Glenn Flothe said of the date of Hansen's death: "On this day we should only remember his many victims and their families, and my heart goes out to all of them. As far as Hansen is concerned, this world is a better without him." I have to agree with him and If it wasn't for the hard work and dedication of Glenn Flothe and the Alaskan State police Hansen wouldn't have been convicted.

In 2013, the University of Alaska Justice Center said that Alaska is the number one in the United States for sexual assaults. It has been said that the behavioral profile of present day serial killers and mass murderers too often match Robert Hansen. Those behaviors have to be identified early and steps need to be taken to reform bad behavior. The authors of this book say "See something, say something." To help speed up the processing of evidence, Alaska has built a $56 million dollar crime lab. This was a very well written book that was tastefully written. I don't like anything with gratuitous violence or sadistic. It was interesting and was read in one sitting. It was inspiring to read about State Trooper Glenn Flothe and the other Alaskan State Troopers triumphant quest of good v evil.

Thank you to Net Galley, Walter Gilmour and Leland E Hale and the publisher for my digital copy for a fair and honest review. (less)