The Killer Across the Table: Unlocking the Secrets of Serial Killers and Predators with the FBI’s Original Mindhunter

John Douglas and Mark Olshaker, two former FBI agents, share their insight into how they profile a killer. In their book The Killer Across the Table: Unlocking the Secrets of Serial Killers and Predators with the FBI’s Original Mindhunter, the two men discuss the conversations they have had with four killers and how they tap into their mindset during the murders. As they say, “this is a book about the way violent predators think – but really a book about conversations.” With each killer, the story is told, as graphic as it happened, with comments made by various people involved. Then more insight is given about the killer and their reasoning for their crime. Then one of the authors have a one-on-one session with the killer in prison in which they help determine their parole status.

For me, reading about these violent crimes was hard. I cannot help but put myself in the parents’ shoes and feel for everyone, which is why I have respect for FBI profilers. These are people who hear many stories of horrific events on a continuous basis, and they can’t do anything about it because it happened and will continue to happen with undiagnosed mental illness in the world.