I: The Creation of a Serial Killer

By: Jack Olsen

Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Prize-winning journalist Jack Olsen, armed with unprecedented access to one of the most infamous serial killers in American history, provides a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a murderer in the killer's own words....

In February 1990, Oregon State Police arrested John Sosnovke and Laverne Pavlinac for the vicious rape and murder of Taunja Bennet, a troubled 23-year-old barfly who had suffered mild retardation since birth. Pavlinac had come forth and confessed, implicating her boyfriend and producing physical evidence that linked them to the crime. Authorities closed the case.

There was just one problem. They had the wrong people.

And the real killer wasn't about to let anyone take credit for his kill. Keith Hunter Jesperson was a long haul truck driver and the murderer of eight women, including Taunja Bennet. As the case wound through police precincts and courts - ending in life sentences for both Sosnovke and Pavlinac - Jesperson began a twisted one man campaign to win their release. To the editors of newspapers and on the walls of highway rest stops, Jesperson scribbled out a series of taunting confessions:

I killed Tanya Bennett.... I beat her to death, raped her and loved it. Yes I'm sick, but I enjoy myself too. People took the blame and I'm free.... Look over your shoulder. I may be closer than you think.

At the end of each confession, Jesperson drew a happy face, earning for himself the grisly sobriquet "The Happy Face Killer".

Based on access to interviews, diaries, court records, and the criminal himself, I: The Creation of a Serial Killer is Jesperson's chilling story. It chronicles his evolution from angry child to sociopathic murderer, from tormentor of animals to torturer of women. It is also the story of the fate that befell him after two innocent citizens were imprisoned four years for one of his killings.

Edgar Award winner Jack Olsen lets the killer to tell his story in his own words, offering unprecedented insight into the twisted thought process of a serial murderer. Olsen takes his listeners along on Jesperson's vicious cross-country killing spree, letting him describe how he played his "death game" with eight innocent victims and how he finally came to grips with the fate he deserved.

I: The Creation of a Serial Killer is one of the most revealing and insightful pieces of crime reporting ever published.

©2018 Jack Olsen (P)2018 Jack Olsen Literary Works

What did he just say?

Another Jack Olsen book, with Kevin Pierce at the wheel narrating. A homerun. I would have given it 5 stars, but I couldn't bring myself to do it knowing some of those words were Jesperson's own. His versions of events often play out in perpostous grandiose snuff fantasy. Jesperson designs his fantasy storytelling to trigger the reader's moral disgust, and succeeds. There are parts of those fantasies, that are also100% true. I'm going to go shower now, cuz eww. If there is scarring after listening, "Consider it a life lesson."

Bone chilling...

as Jack Olsen always is. The use of the first person in this book gives it a vivid intensity that ranks it up with the greats like In Cold Blood.

disturbing

I have listened to, read or watched many books about serial killers...but this one was almost too much. Very informative, but disturbing

Riveting tale, tawdry and graphic, superbly delivered

A real “page turner,” this one has a “can’t look, but can’t look away” quality to it. There’s a lot of tawdry content, sometimes reads like a porn novel, laced with depraved animal cruelty/killings. Keith Pierce delivers again as a superb narrator. His first person account of the serial killer’s life is so believable, it’s scary! You won’t be bored with this one.

Wow!

This book is very disturbing. True crime isn't my normal genre but I know the family of someone in the book, so I was curious to know more about Keith Hunter Jesperson. Although his story is very disturbing, it's also very interesting. This all took place when I was a kid and was big news at the time. Thankfully most kids don't pay attention to the news, so I was unaware. Great narration by Kevin Pierce! He narrates all of Jack Olsen's true crime books. I may have to give some more of them a listen.

Beware: very graphic

Another good true crime book. This one is told mostly from the point of view of Keith Jesperson as well as his father. Jesperson blames his upbringing for how he turned out. None of his siblings became killers so either he was treated differently, in a negative way, or he’s full of it. This guy was killing animals and starting fires way before he killed anyone. I can’t imagine the terror the women he killed must have felt as he was strangling them. This guy was 6’6” and about 300lbs!

My advice? Stay away from truck stops and truckers.

Chilling

The story was chilling but the narration could have been better. It was the same narrator throughout the story and it was difficult to determine who he was actually speaking as because he would speak as the narrator and then as the killer and then as others.. I was able to figure it out but it would’ve been much simpler if there was a different voice or at least a distinction when the narrator switched from one character to another.
To summarize however I liked the book.

Great book.

So keep in mind that you’re getting a look into a serial killer’s mind. Someone who is deeply narcissistic and mentally ill. So you’ve got to take his version of events and relationship to other human beings in that context. But it’s well written and fascinating. One of my faves for sure.

Another INCREDIBLE book by the Master!!! ★☆★☆★

Jack Olsen is the BEST true crime writer that has ever blessed the page!

A Legend

I doubt there will ever be another Jack Olsen. Perfectly researched, written and then performed by Kevin Pierce. You just can't get a better combination.