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True Crime Writers-----> JOHN DOUGLAS or ROBERT RESSLER?

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View Poll Results: Whose books on criminal profiling do you enjoy more?
John Douglas
2
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Robert Ressler
0
0%
(others) *like Roy Hazelwood*
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0%
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True Crime Writers-----> JOHN DOUGLAS or ROBERT RESSLER?

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Old 06-11-12, 12:14 PM
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True Crime Writers-----> JOHN DOUGLAS or ROBERT RESSLER?

Both were former FBI Profilers, worked in the Behaviorial Science Dept at Quantico, both interviewed and wrote about Serial Killers.....

But whose books do you enjoy more?

John Douglas wrote:
01: Mind Hunter
02: Obsession
03: BTK: Inside The Mind Of
to name a few.

Robert Ressler wrote:
01: Whoever Fights Monsters
02: I Have Lived Inside The Monster
03: Justice Is Served
to name a few.

Of course, there's also Profiler-turned-author Roy Hazelwood, who wrote "Dark Dreams," but that's another story.
Old 06-11-12, 01:30 PM
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Re: True Crime Writers-----> JOHN DOUGLAS or ROBERT RESSLER?

I think I've only read one of Ressler's, and I've read several of Douglas's, so I give the nod to him. But I credit his co-author (Mark Olshaker, I think) with creating a good "story" out of the experiences.
Old 06-11-12, 03:11 PM
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Re: True Crime Writers-----> JOHN DOUGLAS or ROBERT RESSLER?

I've read quite a bit from both guys (including the Douglas text books) and I think that Douglas gets the edge for early work. But Douglas has become an ego-maniac in his writings, often pushing himself as some sort of mystic force of justice like a superhero. The guy has very little humility left in his books... It's like an infomercial.

Ressler never engages like Douglas does, but also doesn't balloon into a cartoon character either.
Old 06-23-12, 08:35 PM
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Re: True Crime Writers-----> JOHN DOUGLAS or ROBERT RESSLER?

Douglas's Mind Hunter is a classic and ought to be read by anyone is interested in true crime and how he helped develop profiling for serial killers. The section on Ed Gein alone will make your skin crawl. I agree with the previous post that his later work is not as good.

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