Tracker: Hunting Down Serial Killers

Tracker describes the intricacies of Dr. Godwin's style of geographic and psychological profiling, and then documents how it has been successfully used in various cases. Tracker is not redundant because it does not cover old territory; rather, it explodes the myths about profiling and introduces a new discussion on profiling from a scientific viewpoint--all in a reader-friendly tone. What makes Tracker unique is that it is the only profiling book that uses scientifically valid quantitative data for profiling, versus qualitative information; challenges the hallowed pronouncements of FBI profilers; and discusses the next quantum step in tracking criminals--geographic profiling. Finally, as a reader who found this book refreshing, I find it odd that the other reviewers failed mentioned the many cases that Dr. Godwin has assisted on (pro bono) to help bring some resolution to missing persons' families.

Tracker: Hunting Down Serial Killers was one of the best true crime books I have read in a long time. It presents a new way of tracking down serial killers, something called psychogeographic profiling, created by Dr. Maurice Godwin. In real life case after case, including the BTK case prior to Dennis Rader's capture, Godwin shows how his profiles either helped capture or pinpointed the areas where active serial killers could be found. Popular true crime author Fred Rosen is Godwin's co-author, to good effect. Without Rosen's deft hand, this stuff could be downright boring but Rosen takes Godwin's maps and uses them as the basis for one breathtaking serial killer narrative after another. A terrific job!