Malicious Intent: A Writer's Guide to How Criminals Think

by Sean P. MacTire

Book Overview

This books takes readers into the mind of the criminal, exploring fact and fiction of who these people are, why they commit their atrocities, how they choose their victims, and how the police catch... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0898796482
• ISBN13: 9780898796483
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

It's not ment to be a bible

I found this book useful as an entry level resource into understanding criminal behavior much in the same way law enforcement does. It's not ment to be the concrete last word in criminal thinking. As no one can possibly cover all aspects of criminal psychology, I find it a tad insulting that this whole review section is filled with people angry about the offense supposedly directed toward their religious beliefes. But the book for what it says it offers. Try the bible for religious needs. Nowhere in the title does it say, "the writer's guide to how murderers, robbers, rapists, and other criminals think; and making you feel good about your religion." The book offers insight, and that's what you gain, if your not bias enough to stop after the chapter that might have pointed out that some of the sickest and most dangerous criminals were bible thumping church goers on a mission to clense the earth.

A useful introduction and reference for writers.

"Malicious Intent" is one of the best writers guides to how murderers and other violent criminals think. The author approaches his material with a mind/personality/psychology/human behavior perspective. The book's coverage is broad, including history, profiling, serial murder, cult murder, and sexual predators; it looks at the role played by victims and drug abuse. Sean Mactire's background in the prevention of child abuse shows up in his detailed treatment of child molesters and murders.Mactire's chapters on serial murder and on terrorists are especially usable.While all books I have read in the "Howdunit Series" have been helpful, "Malicious Intent" has been the most useful. My copy has so many Post-It Flags marking material and references it looks like a porcupine.

Excellent resource for new crime writers.

I found this book to be very helpful in learning how to properly write a 'profile' of a serial killer for a story I am working on. Of all the writer's guides I have used, 'Malicious Intent' was the only one that gave me detailed background on serial killers, and how 'Profiling' came to be used by law enforcement.

Terrific

An excellent resource for authors and readers alike. Very useful for telling your friends what mental disorders they have.