Butcher, Biter, Spy

De: Ryan Green

Narrado por: Steve White

On the bloodstained floor lay an array of butcher’s tools and a body without a throat, torn out by Fritz's “love bite”...

Deemed psychologically unfit to stand trial for child abuse, Fritz Haarmann was locked up in a mental asylum until a new diagnosis as “morally inferior” allowed him to walk free. His insights into the criminal underworld convinced the police to overlook his “activities” and trust him as an informant.

What harm could it do?

When the dismembered and ravaged remains of young men began to wash up on the banks of the river, a war-torn nation cowered under the threat of the man known as the Butcher, Vampire, and Wolf Man.

The hunt for the killer was on, and he was hiding in plain sight.

Butcher, Biter, Spy is a chilling retelling of one of the most brutal killing sprees in German history. Ryan Green’s riveting narrative draws the listener into the real-live horror experienced by the victims and has all the elements of a classic thriller.

CAUTION: This audiobook contains descriptive accounts of torture, abuse, and violence. If you are especially sensitive to this material, it might be advisable not to read any further.

©2022 Ryan Green (P)2023 Ryan Green

Bone-chilling!

Once again, Ryan Green has managed to utilize his astonishing skill as a writer to bring to life in vivid, bone-chilling detail, the life and horrendously violent crimes of a man who defies explanation. Complementing this grizzly tale is the spot-on narration of Steve White. The combined talent of the author and narrator will transport you to Germany in the wake of WWI to follow the evolution of a young boy into a monster that killed without remorse or regret. As is the case with so many serial killers, mass murderers, and spree killers throughout history, Fritz Haarman did not enjoy an idyllic childhood, or even a reasonably normal one, for that matter. Regardless, how an individual could possibly veer so very far from societal norms and yet seem so comfortable with himself is hard to fathom. He was responsible for at least two dozen (if not more) grizzly deaths of boys and young men. Fritz’s “love bite” is the stuff of nightmarish legend which inspired the moniker “Vampire of Hanover” and his extreme brutality and callous disregard for human life earned him another ghoulish nickname, “The Butcher of Hanover”. Ironically, he did work as a legitimate butcher at one point but that fact coupled with his involvement in the post-war black market meat trade gave rise to some incredibly grim rumors. I thought the fact that Fritz’s father rarely expressed anything short of pure hatred for his son doubtlessly contributed to Fritz’s emotional instability but still…. Be warned, this story, this man, these events, will haunt your thoughts long after reading and/or listening to this book. That said, this riveting and unforgettable examination of a deeply flawed and diabolically disturbed man should not be overlooked by any aficionado of the true crime genre.

I was provided with a copy of this audiobook, for which I thank the author, but I am sharing my honest and unbiased review on a completely voluntary basis.

great book ,must listen

this book was very insightful into a old true crime . I was sceptical about it at first ,but as I listened I found it to move along very well .The author does not get stuck on a particular aspect and writes the story in a way so it flows along .It is a very interesting case and highly recommend this book especially if true crime history is you're thing ,since the crimes are set in the era after WW1 you also get a glimpse into the life people lived in Germany on that time

True Horror

Once again, author Ryan Green has taken an unknown serial killer and exposed him to modern day readers in a horrifying story of brutality and mayhem.

Fritz Haarmann was a serial killer in Germany in the 1920's who was also a police informant. This fact alone was probably a big factor in his being able to stay undiscovered for so long. Also, the times in which he lived were chaotic due to war and society itself. Homosexuality was just beginning to be (at least partly) acceptable and his effeminate mannerisms only added to his stealth.

Mr. Green has taken the facts of this case and woven it into an almost unbelievable story of horror. This book will make even the most jaded true crime fan cringe and I know that I will remember it for a long time. You can't go wrong with one of Mr. Green's books and I would recommend this one to anyone with a strong stomach who wants to learn more about one of the most heinous killers I have ever read about.

The narrator, Steve White, does his usual incredible job in narrating this tale of true horror. His pacing and tone of voice is perfect for the content and he has become the voice of Mr. Green's true crime sagas.

German serial killer leaves his mark, circa WW1

Who doesn't love a story about a serial killer? Well, all of us TC aficionados' of course! But if you are tired of listening/reading about the same old infamous characters over and over again, then you're in luck. Ryan Green's latest, "Butcher, Biter, Spy" is about a SK just as sick and twisted as any of the more notorious ones, except that you've probably never heard of him. Green's story telling expertise is on par with all the TC greats, but his subjects are mostly unknown sadistic SKs'. This "unknown" factor makes his stories fresh and intriguing. You never know what will happen next and that makes the story even more scary, which is why I always love listening to his audio books. Who knew there were so many hideous, yet obscure serial killers hidden throughout history? Well, R. Green did! Here, his latest horror story is so full of foul, merciless mutilations it will tide you over until his next. Narration by Steve White is superb as always.

Great Read

Butcher, Biter, Spy: A True Story of Madness, Mutilation and Unspeakable Acts of Brutality was another good true crime story by Ryan Green. Fritz Haarmann endured child abuse that deemed him psychologically unfit to stand trial. A body was found without a throat from his “love bite” on a bloodstained floor with butcher’s tools. He was locked up in a mental asylum until he was diagnosed as “morally inferior” which allowed him to walk free. The police overlooked the things he did and trusted him as an informant. At the same time dismembered and ravaged remains of young men began to wash up on the banks of the river. I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to read more by the author.