The encyclopedia of mass murder

About this book

The Encyclopedia of Mass Murder is a remarkable, revelatory exploration of the world's worst cases of mass murder. This comprehensive guide has been recently revised and updated for its U.S. debut from two true-crime experts. From this chilling collection, a significantly consistent pattern emerges of the person who commits mass murder: almost always male, a loner lacking in social skills, unable to form stable relationships. Bearing a grudge against society in general or blaming certain individuals in particular, he seeks revenge in the most extreme way. Among the 200 notorious cases profiled are Timothy McVeigh, responsible for the deaths of 168 people in the Oklahoma City bombing, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, two heavily armed students who opened fire at Columbine High School, killing 13 students, and Brenda Spencer, a rare instance of a female mass murderer, who shot dead eleven junior high classmates "because," she said, "I don't like Mondays." Eight pages of black-and-white photographs are included.