A Need to Kill: Confessions of a Teen Murderer

by Michael W. Cuneo

***Please This ebook edition does not contain the photos found in the print edition.***Alec Krieder knew his best friend's family never locked their doors—making Kevin Haines and his family the perfect targets for a crime. One night, he waited until they were asleep…then entered the house with a knife. Alec burst into the master bedroom and stabbed Tom and Lisa Haines first. Then he attacked Kevin, who fought for his life. Meanwhile, at the end of the hall, Kevin's sister Maggie awoke to the sound of violence—and was the only one who made it out alive. Clean-cut and academically gifted, Alec seemed to have no motives, no history of psychosis—and no remorse. Some believed he was a serial killer in the making, a soulless monster plagued by "demons." Now, for the first time, acclaimed author Michael W. Cuneo shares the inside story—with shocking details of Alec's confession to his father, disturbing messages to his classmates, and chilling excerpts from his diaries—and takes you inside the dark, troubled mind of this teenage killer.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 17, 2011

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

***NO SPOILERS***

This is an organized, tight recounting of the triple murder on May 12, 2007, of Tom, Lisa, and Kevin Haines in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Readers wanting to know more about this particular case should be happy because it delivers well on that front. This book's main drawback is that it takes an exceedingly long time before the killer is fully introduced. No doubt most readers are reading mainly out of curiosity as to the killer's motives; however, they will need a hefty dose of patience. The author, Michael Cuneo, does not delve into the killer until "Part Two," which is a little more than halfway through the book. Up until that point, he includes commentary (arguably much more than is necessary) on each of the police officers in charge of the case, how many times Maggie Haines--the sole survivor--was interviewed, and the finer details of innumerable false leads. It seems Cuneo could have excised a good deal of this, especially the background on the officers. A sentence or two on each officer could have sufficed while keeping the story on track. Additionally, every time Maggie is re-interrogated (four, maybe five times), the reader is told once again about the events of that early morning when her family was murdered.

In all likelihood, the book could have been improved had it had an "every-other-chapter" format, with one chapter focusing on the investigation and the officers' frustration trying to solve this difficult case, and the next focusing on the killer. In other words, a distinct "Part One" and "Part Two" makes for more boring reading than a balanced every-other-chapter format would; this kind of format is similar to the exceptional Columbine by Dave Cullen, and one of the reasons that book is so captivating.

The book contains photos at its middle point. Unfortunately, this section is disappointing, with no photos at all of the Haines family (an exclusion that stands out glaringly) except for a single video still of Maggie, no photos of the killer posing with Kevin Haines (his supposed best friend since fifth grade), and no photos of Manheim Township High School. The book's cover boasts "Eight pages of dramatic photos," yet one of these photos is of an Amish horse-and-buggy and another of a covered bridge.

Nevertheless, this book does deliver on its promises to explain the killer's motives (albeit very late in the book). It does not skimp on the details most readers probably are curious about--the crime scene, the Haines family, the killer and the killer's family, how the actual crime unfolded. Fans of true crime stories should be able to appreciate this little book.

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is surely not a "who done it" as the book description gives it away in the first sentence. The book reads like your typical true crime book though, with the killer named in time if you didn't read that part and just dived in like I did. Alec Kreider is a strange sort of serial killer for sure, killing people he is friends with, and I don't doubt for a second that he had plans to kill lots more, including his own family and people around him he knew. He claimed he just couldn't seem to tolerate people who were too "happy". The author seemed surprised that Kreider pled guilty and took such a big sentence. He ended up with three life sentences served consecutively (in a row). But I felt the killer had already planned to commit suicide anyway. They kind of said that he was good for not putting the family of the victims through a trial and for not putting his own family through any more . Making him look magnanimous. But he really didn't have a chance in hell of getting off in a trial with all the evidence plus his confession anyway. After I finished the book I did a little searching and was amazed to find that he did kill himself just this past January 23rd, 2017. So he waited 8 years and did it. It kind of surprised me to see confirmation in print about my feeling that he was going to kill himself after taking that plea. Creepy.

[Ed Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A blurb on the back cover reads, "Cuneo's writing does not flinch." I didn't even know that writing could flinch! After reading this one, however, I think I get it. Cuneo's narrative lays out all of the essential details, tackles the big questions of motive and survivor impact, and seems to intuit the reader's every question. The Lancaster setting and Cuneo's genuine and justifiable admiration for the law enforcement officials who worked the case make the account all the more powerful. Great book.

[Abby Rosselli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book.

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

What to say about this book. I did find it interesting but after a while I did get a bit bored. The author tells us everything the detectives do, meaning every lead we get to hear about, every interview every ideas of suspects. it got tedious after a while but I was thinking okay it will be very interesting to find out how he was caught expecting the police had done some brilliant work. Guess what, he only got caught because he confessed! Then after that I read that the police cracked the case? Huh? Not that they did not do their job but I guess there was not much else to say so that's why the author focused on the detective work which ended up being stuck.

Normally when i read true crime I am all for a killer getting the most severe punishment but I wasn't so secure in this case. Yes he did not show he was sorry but it is weird that in America you are not allowed to drink till you are 21! but you are allowed to do what this guy did. Decide not to go to trial but accept 3 times life. I've read he has tried to appeal but to no avail. 3.5 stars

[Mari Stroud · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author sticks primarily with investigative details and avoids personal judgements until the very end. This should not dissuade you from the book, as his writing style is rich and engaging, and his assessments are made all the sharper by their restraint. Alec is one of the rarest of serial killers (for he himself admits that he would have gone on and on if teenaged hormones had not cracked his restraint): no history of abuse, no evidence of frontal lobe damage, nothing to explain what he is other than the admittedly unscientific conclusion of evil.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuneo wrote clearly, kept his opinions out of the writing, used a variety of sources and properly cited them, and laid out all the facts in an organized manner. As much as is possible in this sensationalized yellow journalism, Cuneo was sympathetic to the families of those involved, both as victims and perpetrators. He chose a good case to write about here; Alec is one scary kid, and we get a good picture of his life. Well written true crime, with a chilling story and a satisfying ending.

[Carmen Tudor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrifying case in which a teenager killed his close friend and the friend's parents. As awful as these types of books are, I think author Cuneo avoids making a spectacle out of the murder for its own sake and reminds us to neither forget the victims, nor the possibility that even the most innocent-looking of perpetrators is capable of such calculated and narcissistic atrocities.

[Shannon L Szadis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

I like true crime novels that spell out the facts and don't treat the guilty party like a victim if they are not.

[Amber Galindo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such an interesting story. I feel like it spent a lot of time on the investigation and then just kind of quit telling the story once the killer was revealed. I would have liked more of his side of the story and how that investigation went and what was going on from his point of view. Otherwise, very good story for sure.

[Crystal M · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ This book covers the triple murders of three family members in 2007. The murders were committed by a teenage friend of one of the victims who was only 16. He snuck in their house in the middle of the night and stabbed and killed 3 of them before the daughter could run next door and summon help. He didn’t go to trial because he plead guilty, he got life in prison.

[Marissa Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. I d k y it took me so long to read it but writing was easily digestible and contained very good information.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evil

I've been searching for years for the reason why so many hate life and "love" to kill. In this book is the handbook of "evil incarnate". This boy, had all the classic sociopathic personality signs. And still teachers/ even parents missed it.
This thing, who was said to be human, has no humanity at all. He's an empty shell.
It's not GOD's fault, as some would say. His parents divorce didn't cause it.
No rather it is evil incarnate, festering under the guise of normalcy. A demon invaded this human and took up residence in front of everyone.
When you are empty, it leaves an open door for something to come in...that door sometimes cannot be closed. And evil vanquished.
Those poor people he came near.

[Teresa Locklear · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the library just because it sounded pretty good. I think all in all it was a decent book, but it just seemed to lag in a lot of places for me. I honestly don't know if that's because that's how the story truly was or just the writing. There was definately enough information to be able to picture everything that was going on, but I just found myself having to force myself to read it at certain points. It's definately sad to know that someone so young could do this and for basically no reason.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certainly interested, but probably mostly because the event occurred in the county where I live. If it had not been a local crime, I may not have kept interest in the book. That being said, it was chilling enough to affect my sleep pattern when I read it before bed. And the fact that I finished it in less than a day pretty much sums it up. The writing left something to be desired, but the story itself was interesting.

[Sae-chan · Rating 2 out of 5]

If the blurb on the back cover didn't rat out who did this crime, it would have been quite interesting for us who didn't hear the story before.

And after all, no one could make this boy spill out what was on his mind. So what's the meaning of the whole book? Just an account of triple murder? I didn't get anything out of this book except for the dreadful feeling that anytime I could be next.

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read about a very odd murder case. Sad to say, all the evidence to answer the burning question "Why!?" is right there, but none of the specialists who examined him apparently knew how to read it. Not that it would have kept the killer's keester out of the jug...

[Lene Bear]

I didn't finish this book. I don't think true crime is on the top of my list of favorites.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very good at a painting picture of a growing sociopath. It was well written and held my interest.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly disturbing to think that people can be so normal and happy on the outside but actually be homicidal freaks in their guts.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a disturbing boy. 16yo and kills his best friend and his best friends parents...and doesn't even feel remorse for it! If he wasn't caught I am afraid to know what would have happened!