Reviews for Alone with the devil

The average rating for Alone with the devil based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2016-07-29 00:00:00 Jessica Bradley This was an excellent book. It's a slow starter, but if you can get past the pedantic, steeped-in-academia, holier-than-though opening chapters, it's riveting. Written by a forensic psychiatrist in LA who often has to testify at famous trials, Alone with the Devil is a critical look at the failings of the American justice system. Markman explores why criminals are set free, even though it's well known they are still dangerous; why obviously disturbed psychotics are deemed sane in the eyes of the law; and why different personality types kill. I've read a ton of true crime, but this one featured a completely different perspective. It's also a lot more graphic than most--Markman doesn't pull punches, so if you're squeamish, you may want to avoid this one.

Review # 2 was written on 2008-06-06 00:00:00 Mitchell Goossen This book is written fairly well compared to most "serial killer gets analyzed by high profile psychologist" books. The thing that drew me to it is that it contains the most information about Richard Chase, aka 'The Vampire of Sacramento', that I have been able to find. In my opinion the book was worth the price just for the Chase story, as the author seems to have been on of the people to speak with Chase the most in the short time between Chases' incarceration and suicide. There are, however, other interesting stories in the book, including a telling of the Charles Manson/Healter Skelter/Tate-LaBianca murders that involves interviews with the principles, as well as a rare later interview with Roman Polanski, after he was arrested for statutory rape many years after the murders of 1969. But the Authors take on the Charlie side of the story is basically just regurgitated fluff ala the book, Helter Skelter. Still, all things considered, I think it's a good book.