Ladykiller: Did This Man Kill Suzy Lamplugh?

by Christopher Berry-Dee, Robin Odell

John Cannan is serving life for the murder of Shirley Banks. He is widely regarded as being the prime suspect for the "Mr Kipper" in the Suzy Lamplugh case. Although convicted of murdering only one woman, was he a serial killer in the making? This study takes the reader on a journey into the mind of a cold-blooded killer. But John David Guise Cannan is not your typical murderer - a dark-haired, blue-eyed charmer who had no problem attracting women - he admitted nothing until he was outwitted by the patient questioning of an astute detective. In order to understand why Cannan's life catapulted off course into realms of fantasy and violence, this book draws on the latest methods of psychological profiling developed by the FBI. But most remarkable of all, the authors engaged in an intense three-year correspondence with Cannan, during which he described his feelings and actions in his own words.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

248 pages, Hardcover

First published November 19, 1992

About the author

Chris was a former Royal Marine intelligence officer. He is now a criminologist who has interviewed over 30 serial killers.

Reviews

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book looks at the life of John Cannan, jailed for increasingly horrific attacks on women culminating in the abduction & murder of Shirley Banks in 1989. One of the things it looks at is whether or not Cannan should be considered a suspect in the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh. If you are not from the UK let me explain that the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh was a huge case in the late 1980s - I was only a youngster then & even I remember this case. Suzy was a 25-year-old woman working as an estate agent in Fulham, London. On the day of her disappearance in 1986, she left a note in her office diary that she was meeting a possible client called Mr Kipper at a house-showing that afternoon. She has never been seen or heard from since & no-one has any idea of what happened to her - except her killer (she has been declared dead even in the absence of a body).

This book looks at the fact that Cannan's modus operandi was very similar to what happened to Suzy, he was in the right area at the right time, & at the place he was staying after his recent release from prison, he was known as 'Kipper' due to his habit of wearing of kipper ties. Cannan denies any involvement but this book looks at his personality & is based on Cannan's interviews with the police & his correspondence with the author of the book. It can be a little hard-going at times as Cannan liked to try & play mind games with the police. I much preferred the last few chapters where the author considered the evidence & probability in the light of the behaviour of other serial killers. This year (2023) Cannan was denied parole & remains in prison.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent portrayal - measured, humane, careful - of a twisted, damaged man who did evil things. But, while maintaining that balance, it never lets him off the hook by under-estimating the harm he did to the women he attacked. A model study of its kind.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an interesting read about the man suspected of abducting and murdering Susie Lamplugh, the estate agent who went missing in the late 1980's and was never found.

John Cannan was convicted of a host of offences and police believe his is responsible for Susie's disappearance. A decent read and a very interesting epilogue.

[Sian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok read..Read alot better quite dull in parts, not much details in some chapters but way too much in others very unbalances