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Portraits of Guilt
Inside the investigations of the deadly crimes that have shocked our nation -- the Polly Klaas kidnapping, Susan Smith's drownings of her own children, the Oklahoma City bombing -- one woman is the investigative world's secret weapon. You've seen her work: it was her composite drawing that revealed the face of the Unabomber, her hand that put a profile on Oklahoma City's John Doe II, her "dead ringers" that led to resolutions of those and other cases. Now Jeanne Boylan, the gifted forensic artist, whose beauty and compassion make her one of the most fascinating crusaders in the war against crime, tells her own riveting and deeply personal story. Boylan reveals the glories and the costs of a career that calls her to join high-profile manhunts to help pick up the pieces of lives devastated by violence. And in a moving disclosure, she shares the reasons behind her relentless pursuit of justice and how she, too, knows firsthand the price of crime.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 5, 2021
This was such an incredible find. I'm so glad I picked it up, and happy I chose right now to read it.
A lot of women will identify with Jeanne Boylan's story. While her job and gift (I've been told she's since retired) are singular, there are aspects so many of us can identify with: living an "unconventional" (or so we're told) life that's devoted to her calling, rather than a 9-to-5 job, husband or children.
She's the woman who created the iconic sketch of the Unabomber, and who gave peace and healing to hundreds, if not thousands, of victims of violent crimes, and yet often felt like a failure for the lack of a white-picket fence. The freedom and courage in her journey was so inspiring.
In books like this, the insertion of the personal life of the writer can be irritating, but in this case, I was more interested in Jeanne and her challenges and struggles than the famous crimes she was a part of. She's an inspiration to all women who defy convention and who don't fit into that wife-and-mother box.
While reading this memoir, Jeanne began to feel like a cherished friend. I hope she's enjoying her retirement, and that life is treating her well.
A lot of women will identify with Jeanne Boylan's story. While her job and gift (I've been told she's since retired) are singular, there are aspects so many of us can identify with: living an "unconventional" (or so we're told) life that's devoted to her calling, rather than a 9-to-5 job, husband or children.
She's the woman who created the iconic sketch of the Unabomber, and who gave peace and healing to hundreds, if not thousands, of victims of violent crimes, and yet often felt like a failure for the lack of a white-picket fence. The freedom and courage in her journey was so inspiring.
In books like this, the insertion of the personal life of the writer can be irritating, but in this case, I was more interested in Jeanne and her challenges and struggles than the famous crimes she was a part of. She's an inspiration to all women who defy convention and who don't fit into that wife-and-mother box.
While reading this memoir, Jeanne began to feel like a cherished friend. I hope she's enjoying her retirement, and that life is treating her well.
December 4, 2008
Remember the hooded, sunglassed, seemingly generic picture of the Unabomber?
That's the work of forensic artist Jeanne Boylan, author of Portraits of Guilt. This amazing woman, who is also an America's Most Wanted correspondent, has been used to help identify suspects in many high-profile cases, including the drowning of Susan Smith's children, the kidnapping of Ruth Mayer, and the Oklahoma City bombing.
One of the problems with witnesses, Boylan points out in her book, is that police tend not to be sympathetic. They are short on time and need answers now, which puts potential witnesses in a position to try to create information where it may not really exist. Boylan insists on spending time getting to know her subjects and insuring a relaxed and safe environment before she begins collecting information. While this seems like an obvious technique, it doesn't seem to be readily used and she discusses this at length throughout the book.
The book focuses on Boylan's personal life as well as her work with law enforcement because the two are what makes this woman tick. I found the religious references and whining about her failed first marriage mildly irritating because I really wanted to read about how a forensic artist operates, not what she does in her free time. But maybe that's just me. Think of this book more as an autobiography than a book about crime, and you'll do okay. If you approach this as a parallel to, say, something by John Douglas with lots of cases and details, you'll be pretty disappointed.
In fact, if you're expecting rough-and-tough crime stuff, this isn't the book for you. This author's compassion and patience with victims and witnesses comes through in her writing. It's no secret that these are her keys to success and she shares freely how she goes about questioning individuals to develop her drawings. I am often skeptical that police artists' vague renderings are ever useful in identifying criminals, but the resemblances of Boylan's pieces to the perpetrators are very close (with the exception, perhaps, of that hooded, sunglass-wearing Unabomber, of course). I find this particularly impressive since Boylan admits she's never taken an art class. And her drawings are supposed to have helped capture 90 percent of the 7,000 criminals she has been asked to sketch. That's a pretty good record.
I want to point out something really cool about this book: On page 257 of the hardcover edition, there is a photo of Ted Kaczynski and two FBI agents. In the background is a guy holding a camera. That's my brother. But I don't expect you to read this book just for that - I'm a reasonable person, after all.
That's the work of forensic artist Jeanne Boylan, author of Portraits of Guilt. This amazing woman, who is also an America's Most Wanted correspondent, has been used to help identify suspects in many high-profile cases, including the drowning of Susan Smith's children, the kidnapping of Ruth Mayer, and the Oklahoma City bombing.
One of the problems with witnesses, Boylan points out in her book, is that police tend not to be sympathetic. They are short on time and need answers now, which puts potential witnesses in a position to try to create information where it may not really exist. Boylan insists on spending time getting to know her subjects and insuring a relaxed and safe environment before she begins collecting information. While this seems like an obvious technique, it doesn't seem to be readily used and she discusses this at length throughout the book.
The book focuses on Boylan's personal life as well as her work with law enforcement because the two are what makes this woman tick. I found the religious references and whining about her failed first marriage mildly irritating because I really wanted to read about how a forensic artist operates, not what she does in her free time. But maybe that's just me. Think of this book more as an autobiography than a book about crime, and you'll do okay. If you approach this as a parallel to, say, something by John Douglas with lots of cases and details, you'll be pretty disappointed.
In fact, if you're expecting rough-and-tough crime stuff, this isn't the book for you. This author's compassion and patience with victims and witnesses comes through in her writing. It's no secret that these are her keys to success and she shares freely how she goes about questioning individuals to develop her drawings. I am often skeptical that police artists' vague renderings are ever useful in identifying criminals, but the resemblances of Boylan's pieces to the perpetrators are very close (with the exception, perhaps, of that hooded, sunglass-wearing Unabomber, of course). I find this particularly impressive since Boylan admits she's never taken an art class. And her drawings are supposed to have helped capture 90 percent of the 7,000 criminals she has been asked to sketch. That's a pretty good record.
I want to point out something really cool about this book: On page 257 of the hardcover edition, there is a photo of Ted Kaczynski and two FBI agents. In the background is a guy holding a camera. That's my brother. But I don't expect you to read this book just for that - I'm a reasonable person, after all.
September 23, 2018
I’ve read this book a few times. It’s a great read. Ms. Boylan is not your average criminal sketch artist. She takes her own unique approach and her results speak for themselves. As a fan of true crime and memoirs this book satisfies both categories. She shares her experiences, both personal and professional, with candor, empathy, and clarity. I’ve read reviews from others who did not appreciate how she expresses her feelings regarding how her career affects all parts of her life and how she has woven that into this story. I disagree with their opinion that it takes something away from the experience. I feel that it is important to recognize that this is her life, her experience, her personal narrative she shares with us. I appreciate the honesty that comes across as she laments the struggles that she has faced, and continues to, in balancing her professional with her personal life. My advice is go into this expecting a memoir with a little edge as opposed to a true crime, behind-the-scenes real life thriller and you’ll be fine.
July 11, 2011
I write mysteries, so I was an easy sell for this book, by a crime insider - she understands the difficult art of portraiture of suspects, from the often scatterbrained accounts of frightened eyewitnesses. Several cases where her efforts made the difference between catching a criminal or not are given, as are cases where injustice was averted. Not everyone's cup of tea, but for those seriously interested in crime detection, this belongs on your shelf!
April 28, 2025
A fantastic read for those interested in seeing justice served.
The number of cases she has helped is astonishing and yet must be extremely exhausting to be pulled from one case after another and never making it back home to regroup and refresh oneself. That is a sign of a true professional.
Talent for all the rendering she’s done on high professional cases, all while never putting her own case first, shows a truly moral character, one filled with compassion for others, the pride is seeking justice and catching criminals.
Jeanne Boylan is a true inspiration!
The number of cases she has helped is astonishing and yet must be extremely exhausting to be pulled from one case after another and never making it back home to regroup and refresh oneself. That is a sign of a true professional.
Talent for all the rendering she’s done on high professional cases, all while never putting her own case first, shows a truly moral character, one filled with compassion for others, the pride is seeking justice and catching criminals.
Jeanne Boylan is a true inspiration!
July 16, 2017
An interesting read about a woman who is a crime sketch artist.
At a time when it was unique to have a woman lead the field, we as readers are taken through her right and left brain methods of interviewing witnesses for recall of information to get the perfect sketch of perpetrators. Other subplots that went along with the storyline included: her own self doubts, her personal involvement and alignment to the families of the victims, as well as her personal life. Good read!
At a time when it was unique to have a woman lead the field, we as readers are taken through her right and left brain methods of interviewing witnesses for recall of information to get the perfect sketch of perpetrators. Other subplots that went along with the storyline included: her own self doubts, her personal involvement and alignment to the families of the victims, as well as her personal life. Good read!
September 9, 2021
I couldn't put this book down. It was interesting how Jeanne Boylan gets information from eyewitnesses and how the police do it. So many times they got it all wrong and she had to come in and clean up the mess. Most of the time the witnesses are not believed and the police don't follow up on the leads they get. But Boylan goes in and takes her time with the witnesses to get a good description.
She has worked on many high-profile cases and cares for the people she interviews. Great read.
She has worked on many high-profile cases and cares for the people she interviews. Great read.
August 3, 2017
I remember this as an interesting read, if not particularly well written.
December 23, 2024
Fascinating.
September 14, 2017
An interesting book about a lady with a fascinating job. The writing can be a bit dry at times but it's honestly worth it. Jeanne isn't necessarily the best writer or a great storyteller, but her insights on her job and the process of doing crime sketches (at least at the time) make it worth sticking through.
February 3, 2010
Maybe I just didn't get it, but to me this memoir seemed a little trite, sensationalised and self-congratulatory.
I got this book on the assumption that it would provide behind-the-scenes insight into the procedure of criminal profiling, but instead I got 300 plus pages of Boylan complaining about the system and preaching her own method over and over again. I admit that it was interesting the first time to read about how the traditional methods of coming up with a composite face can contaminate eyewitness' memories, but by the time she had brought it up for the fifth time it just became boring. Additionally, every case she wrote about followed the same basic formula which got slightly tedious to read.
However, what I found most irritating was Boylan's narrative voice. She came across to me as self-satisfied and whiny. Some of her confrontations with the FBI and even civilians had a tendency to sound far-fetched for a book that was supposed to be non-fiction, which was a little off-putting. It was also irritating the way she kept complaining about her job.
Nevertheless, despite it not being what I expected, there was still some fairly interesting insights into eyewitness memory that made it worth reading.
I got this book on the assumption that it would provide behind-the-scenes insight into the procedure of criminal profiling, but instead I got 300 plus pages of Boylan complaining about the system and preaching her own method over and over again. I admit that it was interesting the first time to read about how the traditional methods of coming up with a composite face can contaminate eyewitness' memories, but by the time she had brought it up for the fifth time it just became boring. Additionally, every case she wrote about followed the same basic formula which got slightly tedious to read.
However, what I found most irritating was Boylan's narrative voice. She came across to me as self-satisfied and whiny. Some of her confrontations with the FBI and even civilians had a tendency to sound far-fetched for a book that was supposed to be non-fiction, which was a little off-putting. It was also irritating the way she kept complaining about her job.
Nevertheless, despite it not being what I expected, there was still some fairly interesting insights into eyewitness memory that made it worth reading.
September 26, 2007
A top forensic artist and interviewer gives some of her most lauded cases, including the Polly Klaas case, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the Susan Smith case.
Different from Gibson's book, but just as enthralling. There is no explanation for her artistic abilities though. It's also a little disjointed at times.
Different from Gibson's book, but just as enthralling. There is no explanation for her artistic abilities though. It's also a little disjointed at times.
August 20, 2008
easy, interesting summer read. though i read it to specifically understand the benefit of deep listening when interviewing, it was also very entertaining and informative about the criminal justice system.
December 17, 2010
This book is about the woman who profiles America's deadliest criminals. I enjoyed it.
Want to Read
February 17, 2012How Did I get It?
July 2, 2015
Good book for those of us who some day would like to write a crime story.
July 3, 2014
Readers' Digest abridges version
March 20, 2015
Read too long ago to write a review but I remember finding it a fascinating read.
Read
October 22, 2012Gained a huge appreciation for sketch artist Jeanne Boylan.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews