John E. Douglas Books

Legendary FBI criminal profiler John Douglas, inspiration for the hit Netflix show Mindhunter, and the model for Agent Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs, looks back on some of his most controversial cases—from JonBenet Ramsey to the West Memphis Three—and provides a personal look into the workings of the criminal justice system, and the criminal mind. No one is more familiar with humanity’s most notorious crimes, or those who commit them, than legendary FBI profiler John Douglas. Over the course of his celebrated career, Douglas has pursued, studied, and interviewed scores of violent predators, including Charles Manson, James Earl Ray, Dennis Rader, and David Berkowitz. In this provocative and personal book, the most prominent criminal investigator of our time offers his unique perspective on the criminal mind while also exploring the wrenching challenges involved in seeing justice served. Writing with award‑winning partner, Mark Olshaker, Douglas opens up about his involvement in historic, headline-making cases—including the West Memphis Three, Amanda Knox, and JonBenet Ramsey. Brimming with gripping narratives, Law & Disorder sheds light on some of our most pressing questions about guilt, innocence, the pursuit of justice, and the heart of human darkness.

Presents an organized system for the classification of crime, containing defining characteristics, victimology, crime scene indicators, forensics, and investigative considerations for murder, sexual assault, and arson; and includes a review of the study of crime

From legendary FBI profiler John Douglas and Mark Olshaker -- authors of the nonfiction international bestsellers Mindhunter, Journey into Darkness, and Obsession -- comes an unprecedented, insightful look at the root of all crime.Every crime is a mystery story with a motive at its heart. With the brilliant insight he brought to his renowned work inside the FBI's elite serial-crime unit, John Douglas pieces together motives behind violent sociopathic behavior. He not only takes us into the darkest recesses of the minds of arsonists, hijackers, bombers, poisoners, assassins, serial killers, and mass murderers, but also the seemingly ordinary people who suddenly kill their families or go on a rampage in the workplace.Douglas identifies the antisocial personality, showing surprising similarities and differences among various types of deadly offenders. He also tracks the progressive escalation of those criminals' sociopathic behavior. His analysis of such diverse killers as Lee Harvey Oswald, Theodore Kaczynski, and Timothy McVeigh is gripping, but more importantly, helps us learn how to anticipate potential violent behavior before it's too late.

'John Douglas is the FBI's pioneer and master of investigative profiling' Patricia Cornwell

Now a Netflix original series Discover the classic, behind-the-scenes chronicle of John E. Douglas’ twenty-five-year career in the FBI Investigative Support Unit, where he used psychological profiling to delve into the minds of the country’s most notorious serial killers and criminals. In chilling detail, the legendary Mindhunter takes us behind the scenes of some of his most gruesome, fascinating, and challenging cases—and into the darkest recesses of our worst nightmares. During his twenty-five year career with the Investigative Support Unit, Special Agent John Douglas became a legendary figure in law enforcement, pursuing some of the most notorious and sadistic serial killers of our time: the man who hunted prostitutes for sport in the woods of Alaska, the Atlanta child murderer, and Seattle's Green River killer, the case that nearly cost Douglas his life. As the model for Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs, Douglas has confronted, interviewed, and studied scores of serial killers and assassins, including Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and Ed Gein, who dressed himself in his victims' peeled skin. Using his uncanny ability to become both predator and prey, Douglas examines each crime scene, reliving both the killer's and the victim's actions in his mind, creating their profiles, describing their habits, and predicting their next moves.

From the New York Times Best-Selling Author John Douglas Comes a Story of True Crime That Reads Like Fiction Inside the Mind of BTK tells the incredible true story of how FBI profiler John Douglas tracked and participated in the hunt for one of the most notorious serial killers in U.S. history.

From John Douglas, the renowned FBI criminal profiler and inspiration for the Netflix show Mindhunter, comes a chilling exploration of Larry Gene Bell, a dangerous serial killer. On May 31, 1985, just days before her graduation, Shari Smith was abducted from her home in South Carolina. Law enforcement quickly recognized they were dealing with a sophisticated criminal after receiving a series of taunting calls and a haunting letter from Shari, who expressed her love for her family while facing her fate. This tragic event triggered a massive manhunt, with the FBI enlisting Douglas to help. Shortly after, the family received a call revealing the location of Shari's body, and the abduction of nine-year-old Debra May Helmick confirmed the presence of a serial killer. To stop him, Douglas devised a risky strategy using Shari's lookalike sister, Dawn, as bait. This case showcases one of Douglas's most haunting investigations, where he combined his accurate profiling with innovative police work and forensic science. As Shari's family took immense personal risks to lure the killer, Douglas and the FBI pushed the boundaries of criminal profiling, culminating in a dramatic confrontation with a remorseless murderer.

"The FBI's legendary profiler probes the psyches of killers, rapists, and stalkers and their victims and tells how to fight back." [from cover.].

The authors explore eight major crime mysteries, such as Jack the Ripper and JonBenet Ramsey, offering a new perspective that challenges established beliefs and reconstructs the narratives surrounding these infamous cases with surprising outcomes.

THE SHOCKING FOLLOW-UP TO MINDHUNTER , NOW A SMASH-HIT NETFLIX DRAMAJohn Douglas is the world's top pioneer and expert on criminal profiling. His lifelong work to understand and combat serial killers is legendary among law enforcement circles. Now, following up on his first book, Mindhunter , Journey Into Darkness delves further into the criminal mind in a range of chilling new cases.Profiling suspects from OJ Simpson to the Unabomber, and investigating the assassination of John Lennon and the Waco tragedy, Journey Into Darkness explores the crimes of the century – as well as cases you've never heard of – with the peerless eye of one of the FBI's finest.Douglas, famously the inspiration for Special Agent Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs, reveals the fascinating circumstance of each crime in detail as he explores the larger issues, from crime prevention and rehabilitation to the reasons behind escalating violence in society. A must read for all true crime fans.