The Vampire Trap

Crimescape #6

by Katherine Ramsland

(A 65-page True Crime Short with photographs) A young woman and her nineteen-month-old daughter are last seen alive at a child’s clothing store. A troubled young man’s obsession with the currently popular vampire culture’s larger-than-life charisma becomes the center of a police investigation. The current fascination with vampires makes some people identify with these supernatural figures who dominate their world, taking whatever they want for themselves. It is here that the killer’s story opens a window on the fringe of this subculture, where people act out the more violent aspects of the vampire.

Genres: Nonfiction

ebook

First published July 19, 2011

About the author

I've loved books since I was 3, and the library was a highlight of my childhood. I've been fortunate to be able to find great joy in what others have written and sometimes to give this to readers. I follow my own muse, because it leads me on interesting adventures. I began my writing career with "Prism of the Night: A Biography of Anne Rice." I had a bestseller with "The Vampire Companion." Since then, I've published 69 books and over 2,500 articles, reviews and short stories. I have also been an executive producer for "Murder House Flip" and "BTK: Confession of a Serial Killer." From ghosts to vampires to serial killers, I have taken on a variety of dark subjects, mostly in crime and forensics. I hold graduate degrees in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, criminal justice, creative writing and philosophy. Currently, I teach forensic psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University. My books include "I Scream Man," "How to Catch a Killer", "Confession of a Serial Killer", "The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds", "The Mind of a Murderer", "The Human Predator: A Historical Chronicle of Serial Murder and Forensic Investigation", "Inside the Minds of Serial Killers", "Inside the Minds of Sexual Predators", and "Inside the Minds of Mass Murderers". My background in forensic studies positioned me to assist former FBI profiler John Douglas on his book, "The Cases that Haunt Us", and to co-write a book with former FBI profiler, Gregg McCrary, "The Unknown Darkness", as well as "Spree Killers" with Mark Safarik, "The Real Life of a Forensic Scientist" with Henry C. Lee, and "A Voice for the Dead" with James Starrs. I speak internationally about forensic psychology, forensic science, and serial murder, and has appeared on numerous documentaries, as well as such programs as The Today Show, 20/20, 48 Hours, NPR, Dr. Oz, Coast to Coast, Montel Williams, Larry King Live and E! True Hollywood. Currently, I'm working on a fiction series, The Nut Cracker Investigations, which features a female forensic psychologist who manages a PI agency. "I Scream Man" is the first one.

Reviews

[Katia M. Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting little true crime account of a murder inspired by vampirism. It gives a brief history of the influence of vampires in crime and then details the crime, investigation and conviction. Good read if you are interested in true crime.

[Eric Lama · Rating 3 out of 5]

very short story

If you get it free through kindle unlimited, you may want to read it. I would have like a more in depth analysis into the killer and less info on the detectives. The hopping around to other cases really pulled me out of the story and didn’t make sense to even include them considering there was no details to even tie it to this case other than “vampire.” Even OJ was mentioned, lol!

[Elizabeth Engstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a look into the weird modern day vampire culture, and there is no one better qualified to discuss the matter or delve into its perpetrators and victims than Dr. Ramsland. Nicely done!

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is still another good book by Ms. Ramsland. I just didn't love it as much as the other's I've read. Maybe because in involves a child.