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Book Review: John Douglas and Mark Olshaker, Mindhunter: Inside the FBIs Elite Serial Crime Unit. New York, NY: Pocket Books. 1995. ISBN: 978-1-5011-7996-9 (Paperback). 420 Pages. $8.99.
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Mindhunter: Inside the FBIs Elite Serial Crime Unit is a first-hand account by retired Special Agent John Douglas who was one of the first criminal profilers in the FBIs history. The book details his lifes work by focusing on the psychological profiling that he developed to study the most prolific serial killers in America, and understand the serial killer thought process. The prologue of the book begins by describing a sudden illness that he had never experienced before, and ultimately one that would come close to ending his life. During his time as a profiler, the Special Agent traveled around the country to lecture about the cases he has worked and to help other agencies solve cases. While working in Seattle, he was hospitalized for a high fever and a seizure that ultimately put him in a medically induced coma where he was expected to have permanent brain damage even if he survived the physical trauma.
Mindhunter opens with the first chapter covering details into specific types of crime scenes and how the FBI can support local law enforcement during the investigation process. Douglas compares the mind of a serial killer to that of a hunter and describes how one who is hunting a killer must actually think of hunting the victims that the killer chose. This chapter goes on to describe how clues at a crime scene can tell law enforcement more about the offender and even provide indicators about the offenders personality. He describes his work as a weapon that he has developed over the years while working hundreds of cases. The author then describes his high school, college, and military Theory in Action
experience. Douglas has multiple confrontations with law enforcement during his college experience and discusses how his time in the military was not what he expected.
After a rough patch between school, and his time in the military, Douglas was approached by a special agent from the FBI....