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303rd out of 318 books
—
453 voters
Cellar of Horror
by
Ken Englade
Serial killer Gary Heidnik's name will live on in infamy, and his home, 3520 North Marshall Street in Philadelphia, is a house tainted with the memory of unbelievable horrors. What police found there was an incredible nightmare made real. Four young women had been held captive--some for four months--half-naked and chained. They had been tortured, starved, and repeatedly ra...more
Paperback, 277 pages
Published
April 15th 1992
by St. Martin's Paperbacks
(first published April 15th 1988)
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Sure, it's sensational. But sensational can be interesting if the story is true. "Cellar of Horror" tells the story of Philly psychopath Gary Heidnik. He kidnapped, raped, beat, killed, cooked and force fed women chained in his basement.
The first half covers the madman's criminal exploits. Author Ken Englade takes plenty of time depicting the hyper-sensational insanity. It's by far the most interesting portion of the book. But reader beware. You'll have to clench your teeth to keep the vomit dow...more
The first half covers the madman's criminal exploits. Author Ken Englade takes plenty of time depicting the hyper-sensational insanity. It's by far the most interesting portion of the book. But reader beware. You'll have to clench your teeth to keep the vomit dow...more
My Dad is the arresting officer of this guy. His name is mentioned on the very first page and then a few times throughout it. Caution: If you read it, be prepared to probably have nightmares. It's a true story.
3.0 out of 5 stars This guy should have been locked in a basement......, August 21, 2008
This review is from: Cellar of Horror: The Story of Gary Heidnik (Mass Market Paperback)
I love true crime and this was an interesting story but to me the real message was that this guy should never have been out in the normal population in the first place. It ended up being more a commentary on the problems associated with housing and treating the severely disturbed and mentally ill people in our society. Th...more
This review is from: Cellar of Horror: The Story of Gary Heidnik (Mass Market Paperback)
I love true crime and this was an interesting story but to me the real message was that this guy should never have been out in the normal population in the first place. It ended up being more a commentary on the problems associated with housing and treating the severely disturbed and mentally ill people in our society. Th...more
This author had all the makings of a wonderful, suspenseful, thriller. But like so many true crime writers today. He quickly writes this book. Only 270 pages and puts it out on the market. For a quick sell. This book reminds me of the True Detectives magazines from long ago. Just disgusted with all the writers that do this. I have quite of number of these type of books. You can read them in an hour.
Jul 30, 2011
Sheri
added it
This crime takes place in Philly, about an hour away from my hometown, so it interested me. It documents an insane man who holds women captive in his cellar for very long periods of time & uses them as sex slaves. It kept my interest.
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The Philadelphia connection was very interesting. However, there are two "unsolved mysteries" of this book that I would LOVE to discuss with anyone familiar with the case...anyone?
This book was better than I thought it was. I had this book for several years and kept overlooking it. It was a good fast read. This man was a nut.
I love true crime stories. This was special (and scary!) because it happened kinda locally to me. Real serial killer stories are appalling and page turners all at once. Gary Heidnik was a seriously derranged man whom slipped through the justice systems hands too many times before he was caught. The author had some tongue-in-cheekiness, but since the story itself is so horrid in nature, it wasnt so bad. Read only if you can handle the graphic nature of his crimes. It was not easy for me.
Very interesting story, poorly told. This story should have been written by someone else.
Amazing true story, but I didn't think the author told it very well.
This book is awesome, true and twisted right up my alley!
True and terrifying. You wont believe the things this man did to women.
This book was really interesting. I couldn't seem to put it down. I kept wanting to know more. This man was a nut no doubt about that.
Great beginning. Court stuff I found really boring and rambling. Couldn't face finishing the book.
The title says it all!
I enjoyed the first half of the book but the second got repetitive. Other than that it was a very interesting and disturbing true story.
2 1/2 stars.
But the last half, when they. get when they get to the trial, drags.
Mar 23, 2013
♥ Marlene♥
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
True Crime fans
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The first half of the book discussing this wacko's crimes and long history of schizophrenia was interesting. However the 2nd half dicussing the trial was very boring. All in all I think this had the ability to be an interesting book. The story is just not told very well.
Horrible crime that scared the hell out of me but as for his writing, well it left something to be desired. The crime itself kept me interested but I felt the book drug on for too long. Kinda like....let me outta here, tell me the ending.
Very good but gruesome tale of Gary Heidnik, a notorious serial killer. This book is more well written than most true crime I have read and it actually got me rooting for the defense lawyer. I never feel that way! Get this book!
Dec 25, 2010
Dara S.
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
true-crime
This was a lot more about the trial and whether or not he was insane than the crime.
This book is very graphic, but very well written.
Jun 17, 2013
Rachel Watson
marked it as to-read
Jun 16, 2013
Cindy Boss
marked it as to-read
Jun 16, 2013
Gena Cota
marked it as to-read
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