Mind Hunter

Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit

By: John E. Douglas, Mark Olshaker

Narrated by: John E. Douglas

Length: 2 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

He has hunted some of the most notorious and sadistic criminals of our time: The Trailside Killer in San Francisco, the Atlanta Child murderer. He has confronted, interviewed and researched dozens of serial killers and assassins -- including Charles Manson, Richard Speck, John Wayne Gacy, and James Earl Ray -- for a landmark study to understand their motives. To get inside their minds.

He is Special Agent John Douglas, the model for law enforcement legend Jack Crawford in Thomas Harris's thrillers Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs, and the man who ushered in a new age in behavorial science and criminal profiling. Recently retired after 25 years of service, John Douglas can finally tell his unique and compelling story.

With journalist Mark Olshaker, he gives us a behind the scenes look at his fascinating career, revisiting his journeys into the dark recesses and calculated madness present only in our worst nightmares. This is the true-crime work everyone has been waiting for -- by the Mind Hunter himself.

©1995 John Douglas (P)1995 Simon & Schuster

Very good

Being a true-crime fan, I’ve enjoyed all of John Douglas’s books. They are particularly good in audio-format. They are informative, honest, and properly laced with real-life personal experiences. I imagine he teaches and speaks much like he writes.

Great Book!

I’ve listened to several of John Douglass’s books and waited to listen to this on as the last one to this point. Don’t want to spoil anything but it was great.

Really Short

I was honestly hoping for more. More depth and detail. More about how the profiling really works. I kinda feel more teased than satisfied. What there was was good and interesting.

Need the unabridged version!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

For true crime buffs, this is a must read. This is the guy who created the Behavioral Science Unit at Quantico (though it's called something else now, this is the most recognizable title). Definitely recommend this for anyone interested in criminal profiling, FBI, law enforcement, serial killers, and again, true crime.

Any additional comments?

I really, really wish there were an unabridged version of this.

Love It

I love his voice. His accent is fun, and his obvious passion for his work is contagious. He also has a personable, humble personality that comes out in this book. I find myself wishing it was longer.

very insightful

Great insight! Tough work. So glad for a unit like this. Crime is a moral crime. Fix that, lower crime.

Real Review

I would first like to address the other comments that claim the author comes off very arrogant and I find that not to be true. The author was telling HIS story with the FBI and that shouldn't be construed as arrogant. I found the book to be an enjoyable read, that was informative and left me with a new appreciation of the FBI's Criminal Profiling Dept. My only criticism is that the book wasn't longer with some added cases.

Fascinating

Subject matter and insight to the history of profiling was extremely interesting. If you enjoy the mindhunter series on Netflix, you will enjoy the audio book.

Enjoyed and listened twice-will listen again

I am a big fan of Douglas, and very much enjoyed this book and will listen to his others. Facinating to say the least. His work inspired me to change my career field after 25 years of nursing- to go into computer forensics. He does a wonderful job at reading his own work. Anatomy of Motive was the first of his work I read and I have been a fan ever since. I recommend this book very much.

Abridging this makes it almost pointless.

Would you try another book from John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker and/or John E. Douglas?

Yes but not if it is abridged.

What was most disappointing about John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker ’s story?

The abridged version robs it of any intricacies. It really takes away the depth of what's going on here.

What does John E. Douglas bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He sounds professional and sincere.

Did Mind Hunter inspire you to do anything?

Double check and make sure i am not purchasing the abridged version.

Any additional comments?

I don't see how it was a good idea to truncate this. It is such a deep and involved subject matter. Its not a story. So how can you just leave out parts of the picture?