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Jennifer Hughes's Reviews > Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers
Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers
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Unlike Caroline Fraser’s well researched, award winning book “Prairie Fires,” her new book “Murderland” argues that many of America’s serial killers developed their violence and desire to murder from chemical disasters without much direct evidence. The concept is interesting, but the evidence linking environmental disasters to serial killers is minimal - yet treated as a foregone conclusion. It’s an interesting idea, but I would have liked to see more direct evidence.
Fraser also attributes crimes to specific killers that have not been officially connected to them, writing as if the killers had in fact committed the crimes. That seems unethical. In addition, she includes sections where she asks readers to imagine killers acting in certain ways - again without any evidence they actually acted that way.
Finally, the writing could be very interesting, but also confusing. She would talk about different criminals from one paragraph to the next, frequently switching who she was writing about, and it could be hard to follow.
I loved “Prairie Fires,” and I’m really disappointed I didn’t like this book much, especially since it covers so many topics I’m interested in - true crime, psychology and psychiatry, genetics, health, the environment, and the Pacific Northwest.
Fraser also attributes crimes to specific killers that have not been officially connected to them, writing as if the killers had in fact committed the crimes. That seems unethical. In addition, she includes sections where she asks readers to imagine killers acting in certain ways - again without any evidence they actually acted that way.
Finally, the writing could be very interesting, but also confusing. She would talk about different criminals from one paragraph to the next, frequently switching who she was writing about, and it could be hard to follow.
I loved “Prairie Fires,” and I’m really disappointed I didn’t like this book much, especially since it covers so many topics I’m interested in - true crime, psychology and psychiatry, genetics, health, the environment, and the Pacific Northwest.
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Reading Progress
June 19, 2025
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Started Reading
June 19, 2025
– Shelved
June 28, 2025
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Finished Reading
She could have put more graphs which might have helped, but there is no more direct evidence than by looking at the past objectively. For instance in 1990 there 2,245 murders in NYC and so far this year about 130. There can be no other explanation to me than the rise and then fall of Lead exposure. In fact if you look at blood lead levels in association with violent crime rates you will find a connection. South side Chicago and East St. Louis are examples.
I think intuitively everyone can see this connection but find it hard to believe their behavior can be influenced by passive respiration. I will say I spent my career looking at Lead contamination as well as remediating it and people just do not fathom the exposure. For instance when the National Guard shot 4 dead in Ohio, most of their rifle ranges were located in the basement of their armories with zero air movement. I spent the early part of my career closing these things down and every indoor rifle range has a fan pulling the air away from he shooter's face.
At outdoor ranges most people think all the lead problems are where the bullet lands down range, which is incorrect. The most problematic lead is found in the blast zone within 10 feet of the shooter. If you see kids picking up brass or playing in the sand at a rifle range, then mark him down as the next likely person to commit a violent crime.