The Killer's Shadow is a true crime novel that covers the hunt for a notorious white supremacist serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin. Instead of traditional investigation tactics, the book delves into the behavioral analysis aspects of the FBI. It begins in the 1970’s, around the time of Franklin's first murders, and stretches until his capture almost 15 years later. The book not only covers Franklin's crimes, but the motive and reason behind them. It investigates behavioral analysis tactics, discusses the appeal and reason behind hate groups and helps people understand the origins of hate.
I loved this book because it took a different approach on true crime and was written in a very interesting way. It jumps between past and present, but always talking in past tense, much like an actual report. The facts are spot on and I actually learned a lot about criminal psychology. While the crimes Franklin committed were terrible, this book was a fantastic read.