Probing the mind of a serial killer
Bates and Cliff bring the reader inside the mind of a prolific serial killer, who admitted to killing young women in the United States, and overseas. John Eric Armstrong isn’t a household name like Ted Bundy or John Wayne Gacy, but the authors detail the many deaths Armstrong is responsible for, and additional killings he may have also committed.
The authors interview the co-workers and friends that knew Armstrong. In sometimes typical remembrances, Armstrong didn’t seem to pose any threats. He was liked by many, with associates stunned when they learned of Armstrong’s violent side. He served his country in the United States Navy, but when he left the service and settled down in Michigan, he appeared to come off the rails.
I appreciate the fact that the authors researched the backgrounds of the victims, as many true crime books glance over where innocence was lost in these senseless crimes. This book interviews family members and friends that lost someone tragically by Armstrong, who was dubbed a “killing machine” during the police investigation’s search for his whereabouts. Armstrong said he hated prostitutes and took pleasure in controlling them.
The author also includes interviews with some of the victims that survived their encounters with Armstrong, one pretending to be dead. When it was all over, Armstrong admitted to killing women overseas during his stints in the Navy. The book examines these claims. The storytelling is engaging, and Lee Ann Howlett provides compelling narration.
By: B.R. Bates, Gerald Cliff
Narrated by: Lee Ann Howlett
Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins
Release date: 10-14-24
