Fiend

The Shocking True Story of America's Youngest Serial Killer

By: Harold Schechter

Narrated by: Kyle Tait

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

A monster preyed upon the children of 19th-century Boston. His crimes were appalling - and yet he was little more than a child himself.  

When 14-year-old Jesse Pomeroy was arrested in 1874, a nightmarish reign of terror over an unsuspecting city came to an end. "The Boston Boy Fiend" was imprisoned at last. But the complex questions sparked by his ghastly crime spree - the hows and whys of vicious juvenile crime - were as relevant in the so-called Age of Innocence as they are today.   

Jesse Pomeroy was outwardly repellent in appearance, with a gruesome "dead" eye; inside, he was deformed beyond imagining. A sexual sadist of disturbing precocity, he satisfied his atrocious appetites by abducting and torturing his child victims. But soon, the teenager's bloodlust gave way to another obsession: murder.   

Harold Schechter, whose true-crime masterpieces are "well-documented nightmares for anyone who dares to look" (Peoria Journal Star), brings his acclaimed mix of compelling storytelling, brilliant insight, and fascinating historical documentation to Fiend - an unforgettable account from the annals of American crime.

©2000 Harold Schechter (P)2019 Tantor

Graphic descriptions of child torture

I only managed the first few chapters. After the seventh consecutive, graphic description of child torture, I felt too sick to keep listening. I wanted a story about dark child psychology, not... whatever this is. Just nope. Nope nope nope.

Fascinating story, but a bit long in the tooth.

This is an extraordinary story about a truly disturbed young man who’s crimes are so vile and reprehensible as to belie his 17 years. Unlike most books in this genre, here the author spends for less time on Jessie H. Palmaroy’s crimes and determining his guilt than it does on his entire life story. This would not be so bad except it is incredibly repetitive in many places and you just get the sense that the author could’ve told the whole story in 1/3 of the length. Still, the story is worth the effort and the narration is terrific. Totally worth the purchase.

Fiend: The Shocking True Story of America's younge

I truly enjoyed this book. The narrator delivery held my attention from start to finish. Well written and very well read!

Sensational yet Hugely Researched

All the books I've listened to by Schetchter are a little dramatic at times, occasionally including including peeks into a person's emotional state or unwitnessed actions, but that doesn't stop them from being the flat best serial killer biographies that I've read

You cannot read them and not be impressed by the sheer weight of research that went into them, including a great deal of letters, reports, quotes, articles, and court records from all relevant parties. Moreover, he spends so much time on relevant side-jaunts that you get a greater sense of context, how this case fits into both its contemporary world and ours of today

Kyle Tait is just enjoyable. His voice lends itself perfectly to this, what more could I say?

Riveting

For anyone who thinks kids are bad now, this book will change your mind. I was shocked and enlightened about the " Good 'ol Days".

some things never change

This is a true life story in the late 19th century, of a wicked, deranged, and sadistic boy, and what he did to get a life sentence in prison. but the insane crazy liberals would of let the murdering psychopath out if they would of had there way!! thank God they didn't.

Grear Book.

I've always heard about Jesse Pomeroy when reading other novels about Victorian era true crime and was finally time to take the plunge.
Interesting read. Recommended!

interesting and we'll put together

It was a good audiobook, it is interesting to get into the mind of a killer. The story is well put together with different sources of information being used to make it complete.

Darn good

Learned some stuff about Pomeroy that I had no idea about. Wasn’t a bad listen.

Finished in 3 days

I really enjoyed this book. The first few chapters were a little rough, (violence toward children). Once you pass those initial graphic parts the rest is entertaining. It is very long and very detailed. If you like books that are quick and to the point this one isn’t for you. I enjoy these types of books because you get a little insight into the darker side of the human mind.