Seven Days of Rage: The Deadly Crime Spree of the Craigslist Killer

A good read. The authors relayed the story as if you were there at the crime scene.

Seven Days of Rage: The Deadly Crime Spree of the Craigslist Killer comes from two journalists who tell of a Craigslist Killer's modus of using an online bulletin board to pick out his victims. This in-depth profile of criminal murderer Markoff and his crime reveals how a 'beautiful person' hid his obsession from the world - and turned to the Internet to make his nightmares reality for his victims. Any library strong in true crime needs this.

Virtually everyone familiar with the accusations against Philip Markoff wonders why a Boston University medical student engaged to a beautiful, loving woman would engage in risky, subcultural, and criminal behaviors that imply profound hostility toward women. Like Neil Entwistle, the Brit convicted of fatally shooting his American wife and baby daughter (see Neil Entwistle's Day In Court), this defendant, reportedly indifferent to his fiancee's charms, surfed websites offering "adult companionship." Like Thomas E. Toolan III, a New York investment banker convicted of mortally wounding his artistic fiancee with multiple stabs from a four-inch knife (see The Trial Of Thomas E. Toolan III), Markoff is said to have a background that includes at least one reported incident of physically restraining a female friend. Like Raymond Clark, the Yale University laboratory cleaner of mouse cages who was recently arrested and charged with the murder by asphyxiation of graduate student Annie Le, was Markoff thought to be a "control freak"? Did all four have negative feelings toward a strong-willed mother, feelings that generated contempt toward women in general? Were their upbringings devoid of moral and/or religious constraints? Seven Days of Rage does not attempt to answer these questions, but the work does offer a suggestion that perhaps Markoff was being blackmailed by someone who observed him entering a gay bar. The authors report that the prosecution believes it has enough evidence to convict Markoff without proving a motive, so these troubling questions may never be answered.

Since this case had not yet gone to trial I was not expecting a resolution. It is an exploration of the person/ personality of the accused and those close to him. With strong evidence backing up the accusation it seems a foregone conclusion he will either be convicted or plea bargain. It will be an interesting case to follow. A quick read and I found that the book answered many questions I had not found elsewhere about the crimes involved in this case.

Philip Markoff, a recent Boston University graduate, trolled Craigslist and numerous other adult sites looking for sexual thrills. But apparently he was looking for something more than sex. The women he chose had placed ads in the (former) Erotic Services category on Craigslist. Two would live to tell about their encounter with The Craigslist Killer, but 25-year-old masseuse Julissa Brisman would not. How would investigators catch this killer on crime spree? It's much more simple than you might imagine. Seven days of Rage is a book written shortly after the capture of Philip Markoff and long before his trial will begin; something typically of which I am not fan. However, having immensly enjoyed the previous writings of Paul LaRosa, I eagerly gave this one a try too. Much to my own surprise I found Seven Days of Rage to be an awesome read, even without trial information. In his typical easy-flowing style, LaRosa details the crimes of The Craigslist Killer with facts that keep a reader engrossed in the story, anticipating the next chapter. Combine those intruging aspects with the talents of Boston Globe reporter Maria Cramer, and you've got an explosive true crime book that's sure to be a bestseller. It's as simple as this: Seven Days of Rage was so interesting, that I read all 212 pages in less than 24 hours! I think it goes without saying that I strongly recommend this fantastic new release from the 48 Hours Mystery series.