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Anyone You Want Me to Be: A True Story of Sex and Death on the Internet
Legendary FBI profiler and #1 "New York Times" bestselling author John Douglas explores the shocking case of John Robinson, a harmless, unassuming family man whose criminal history began with embezzlement and fraud -- and ended with his arrest for the savage murders of six women and his suspected involvement in at least five disappearances. Most disturbing was th...more
Mass Market Paperbound, 432 pages
Published
May 25th 2004
by Pocket Star Books
(first published 2003)
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A reconstruction of the life of John Robinson, white collar criminal turned serial killer. The title is a bit misleading, actually, as this book covers much more than Robinson’s eventual adoption of the internet as hunting ground for new sexual and financial victims. Just as a portrait of a criminal life, this book is riveting (this would be something I like, because I really like that sort of thing). Robinson conducted an extraordinary forty year campaign of lies, trickery, financial schemes, u...more
I have a morbid fascination with forensics. This is the true story of a Kansas murderer and sex predator, John Robinson. He was actively involved in his church, had a wife, kids and spent all kinds of time with his grandchildren. Also he murdered several women and had master/slave contracts with them, some of them he put in barrels in his storage unit...the works. SO disturbing, and yet, what causes a person to become this way? That's what keeps me reading.
This disturbing piece of non-fiction tells the story of John Robinson, the first internet serial killer. With that said, this book is NOT FOR EVERYONE. I am a mature adult who has studied serial killers in hopes to find some answers on why our society creates such monsters, and I was very disturbed at many, many parts of this book.
Robinson started off his life of crime many years before the internet became a household must-have. He smooth-talked his way into countless jobs, and swind...more
Robinson started off his life of crime many years before the internet became a household must-have. He smooth-talked his way into countless jobs, and swind...more
I've read several books by John Douglas, the man who started the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit, and so while browsing the true crime section in Borders (my guilty pleasure), I was thrilled to see another one. Douglas typically writes with co-author Mark Olshaker, and his take (while admittedly, one point of view) on high-profile crimes and the role of behavior in understanding them is often fascinating and entertaining.
This book, while based on a very interesting case, was markedly ...more
This book, while based on a very interesting case, was markedly ...more
This is a fast paced true Crime novel about the murderer John Robinson, who started off his criminal career with fraud and embezzling money. Later as the Internet became more popular he would surf the net looking for his victims. Finding women who he could lure into his sadistic life.
This book has some really graphic parts and also deals with the world of S&M, getting into detail about his relationships with some of the girls and how he made them sign slave contracts.
On...more
This book has some really graphic parts and also deals with the world of S&M, getting into detail about his relationships with some of the girls and how he made them sign slave contracts.
On...more
Although I am not usually a great fan of Mr. Douglas, I found the subject of this book engrossing enough to keep me reading. The story reads like fiction, except that unfortunately it is true. Robinson, the subject of this book is a psychopath who lured trusting women to their death, picking the most vulnerable as his victims. He shows the Internet for what it is: A place where anyone can be who they want to be, and nobody is really what they are. A sobering and chilling read.
An interesting and disturbing study of the life of serial killer, John Robinson who after a life of petty crime as a con man, moved to darker deeds. In the early days of the Internet, he worked a scam to lure vulnerable women to their death. It also details the initial computer forensic process which eventually brought Robinson to justice. An interesting book, fairly well written......it will make you think twice about surfing the net.
I can't remember too much about this- I didn't even know I'd definitely read it until I read the description here on GR.
I would say that says a lot about the book but in reality, it only says a lot about my memory. Or lack of memory I should say.
Douglas is a well known figure in the true crime field so I would never steer anyone away from this book, even knowing I can't remember too much about it.
I would say that says a lot about the book but in reality, it only says a lot about my memory. Or lack of memory I should say.
Douglas is a well known figure in the true crime field so I would never steer anyone away from this book, even knowing I can't remember too much about it.
Its absolutely disturbing to read about what people were able to get away with in the days before the internet. And its even more disturbing to learn what could be done in the early days of the internet before people were internet savvy. Definitely an interesting read.
Bob
rated it
Recommends it for:
youngsters who use the internet, their parents and those who use the net to meet people
There is good information in this book which may prevent many tragedies from happening such as the ones to the victims of John Robinson, a white collar criminal, turned serial-killer, who found much of his prey in the dark pathways and chat rooms of cyberspace.
Excellent book written by a retired FBI Profiler. an "adult content" book but really good to read for anyone who is single and uses the Internet to meet people. Also good for anyone interested in crime/law enforcement and how the internet affects such.
Quite simply the one book every young woman should read before meeting anyone from the internet. A detailed account of human depravity, how easily it can be hidden, and also the lengths to which the lonely will go to be loved.
A good book for those like me who enjoy true crime books especially about serial killers. The story of a man who met women on the internet and lured them to his city for bizarre sexual relationships before killing them. John Douglas does an excellent job of writing about serial killers, I enjoy his books.
Amazing the depths of depravity that the human mind can sink to . Informative and offering a new perspective on the out of sight out of mind attitude to the internet and allowing people into our lives .
It has been so many years since I read this book but I do remember how intrigued I was. Especially since he used the then pretty new medium Internet to find his victims.
Must re-read again soon.
Must re-read again soon.
This is a creepy story. I read it so long ago I could barely remember it. But there are aspects of the story that have stuck with me so long that I was reminded about it.
Claudia
rated it
Recommends it for:
Anyone who loves reality more than fiction and can get over the dry tone.
Not too impressed. A horrific story, sure, but this could've been another wednesdaynight movie on some random channel.
Not my cup of tea.
Not my cup of tea.
This chilling true crime book could also double up as Internet user's manual. When you log in, beware!
Unbelievable. You hear about sex crimes on the Internet but this book really made it real for me
This is a book following a person that used any means he could to lure women to him. And in most cases he then killed them. It is amazing how much a person can get away with before he is finally cought. This story will amaze you. The book could have used a better editor as some things were repeated over and over throughout the book making it a bit tiresom. The writers could have been more professional. They really knew their stuff but could have taken a few lessons on keeping things flowing bett...more
this was CREEPY, especiall since it was true. It certainly broadened my knowledge of kinky fetishes..who knew?!?! So interesting to think of the Internet's role ad how what was once perverse and hidden by some, sudenly sems ok and almost accptable when they can find hundreds of other freaks who also likes what they do. No wonder the world is CRAZY.
I read true-crime because I want to know the history of what made them bad. This book, however, offers very little history of before Robinson started his crime spree. It was a quick read and it had many statistics about the internet; some that you don't really want to know.
This is a true story of crimes committed in the Midwest. It was very interesting to follow and try to solve/understand some of the events. This book should be ready with a tough skin, as some of the material is gruesome.
I met John Douglas through a mutual friend. Great author and very interesting life. He worked on a lot of high profile cases (including the Jon Benet Ramsey murder investigation.)
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John Douglas tends to be full of himself but still writes some interesting books. I've read all of his stuff and like the content - I could just use less of his ego.
A chilling story of one of the first serial killers to use the internet to find victims. This story is not for the weak in the stomach.
Completely fascinating and quite scary
Just getting started
Kellie
is currently reading it
the first internet serial killer...his past, his crimes, his ever increasingly more horrific crimes (but gratefully not in gruesome detail) and his trial... the internet is as powerful as a gun & just as loaded, but as any tool, it all comes down to how it's used & by whom for what purpose
Melissa
marked it as to-read
need to get
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John Edward Douglas is a former United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent, one of the first criminal profilers, and criminal psychology author. He also wrote four horror novels in the mid 1990s.
-Wikipedia
More about John E. Douglas...
-Wikipedia
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