What do you think?
Rate this book
Mind Behind The Crime
Nurses and neighbours, partners and parents - all murderers who shocked Australia with the severity of their crimes. But what makes them tick? Society couple Michael O'Neill and Stuart Rattle had it all - their lavish country property, their interior design business - until Michael bludgeoned Stuart to death with a cooking pan. Akon Guode intentionally drove into a lake, leaving three of her children trapped in the car to drown. Geoff Hunt, pillar of the local community, shot dead his wife and their three children before killing himself. From feuds on the farm to the infamous Lindt Café Siege in Sydney, Mind Behind the Crime profiles Australia's most horrific, and often most unlikely, killers.Renowned psychologist Dr Helen McGrath and prolific journalist Cheryl Critchley, authors of the bestselling Why Did They Do It? , join forces again to unpack the crimes and discover the personality disorders of the perpetrators. They use psychoanalysis and scientific methodology to uncover the circumstances and motives of our country's most notorious murderers, and to really understand the mind behind the crime.
464 pages, Paperback
Published June 26, 2018
16 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 12, 2018
I feel like this book was trying to be too many things at once and so ultimately failed at all of them.
There are three main components to it:
-The true crime stories
-The psychology of criminal acts
-How the psychology of criminal acts is relevant to each specific crime
The book opens with a long-ass introduction that discusses what cases will be included and what disorders are relevant to these cases. Then it talks about different types of murders. Then it touches on the psychological disorders behind different types of murders. So just in the introduction alone we already have a serious case of repetition. Not gonna lie, I skipped a lot of it when I realised it was being repeated (and then when it came up again in relation to each case).
Then each case is grouped under a general disorder/murder type, with an introduction that AGAIN discusses the traits of the disorder/murder.
The cases themselves are set out in a rather messy manner, and to me it didn't really seem to flow. First you get the 'character' list, then motive/short summary of the crime, then an introduction that sets the scene, then the actual crime and its fallout, followed by an overview of the murderer's background/history. Then some more about the relevant disorder and how it applies to the murderer (yet again).
But not always.
The subheadings change, the order is sometimes different, some include a LOT of extra detail and some are quite vague. I found it incredibly frustrating.
I felt like I was reading the same thing repeatedly when it came to the psychological stuff. There is some really fascinating information here but it's kind of just dumped so you have to be pretty patient to wade through it all. I found that when it related to the behaviours of the murderers it was quite interesting and easy to understand, but there was always the patronising info-dump either in the introduction or in the conclusion (or both) that seriously undermined it.
Then the cases themselves were really interesting but tainted by the personal opinions of the author(s). This bugged me so much. You'd get this nice long paragraph about the influence a personality disorder has, and how it affected the murderer, and it would really make you think about how much psychological disorders are responsible for unacceptable behaviour. But then you'd get this naive, black-and-white statement where the author basically says, 'the disorder is irrelevant because this person committed murder which makes them a horrible person. Full stop.'
I mean, I agree, there are seriously terrible people in this book, and the crimes are absolutely heinous, but you can't write a book about the influence of personality disorders and then inject your own biased opinions. That's not how science works.
I think this would have been better had it focused in one direction. For example, if it was just the true crime stories, including fleshed out characters with personality disorders. Or if it discussed how different personality disorders can have criminal implications, with reference to some true cases. I think going into this much detail for both aspects just made it a tedious read.
It was quite interesting to read about some cases that I'm actually familiar with, and I was horrified to learn some of the details that were obviously withheld when I watched the story emerge on the news. It's quite sobering to think that these crimes were committed only a few years ago in most cases, and some not too far from where I'm currently living. That fact had the potential for such a massive impact, and I think it's important to emphasise that so many of these murders came completely by surprise.
Unfortunately our society has become such that we must be constantly aware of our surroundings, be vigilant, and take serious note of suspicious behaviour. I feel like this book is trying to say, 'these are homicidal tendencies, PAY ATTENTION!' but the message is buried by all the superfluous crap.
So it wasn't a great read but it does contain some fascinating, important information and I'll keep it as a reference book for sure. Even if it's just for the fun of picking which personality disorders most suit the people I know ...
There are three main components to it:
-The true crime stories
-The psychology of criminal acts
-How the psychology of criminal acts is relevant to each specific crime
The book opens with a long-ass introduction that discusses what cases will be included and what disorders are relevant to these cases. Then it talks about different types of murders. Then it touches on the psychological disorders behind different types of murders. So just in the introduction alone we already have a serious case of repetition. Not gonna lie, I skipped a lot of it when I realised it was being repeated (and then when it came up again in relation to each case).
Then each case is grouped under a general disorder/murder type, with an introduction that AGAIN discusses the traits of the disorder/murder.
The cases themselves are set out in a rather messy manner, and to me it didn't really seem to flow. First you get the 'character' list, then motive/short summary of the crime, then an introduction that sets the scene, then the actual crime and its fallout, followed by an overview of the murderer's background/history. Then some more about the relevant disorder and how it applies to the murderer (yet again).
But not always.
The subheadings change, the order is sometimes different, some include a LOT of extra detail and some are quite vague. I found it incredibly frustrating.
I felt like I was reading the same thing repeatedly when it came to the psychological stuff. There is some really fascinating information here but it's kind of just dumped so you have to be pretty patient to wade through it all. I found that when it related to the behaviours of the murderers it was quite interesting and easy to understand, but there was always the patronising info-dump either in the introduction or in the conclusion (or both) that seriously undermined it.
Then the cases themselves were really interesting but tainted by the personal opinions of the author(s). This bugged me so much. You'd get this nice long paragraph about the influence a personality disorder has, and how it affected the murderer, and it would really make you think about how much psychological disorders are responsible for unacceptable behaviour. But then you'd get this naive, black-and-white statement where the author basically says, 'the disorder is irrelevant because this person committed murder which makes them a horrible person. Full stop.'
I mean, I agree, there are seriously terrible people in this book, and the crimes are absolutely heinous, but you can't write a book about the influence of personality disorders and then inject your own biased opinions. That's not how science works.
I think this would have been better had it focused in one direction. For example, if it was just the true crime stories, including fleshed out characters with personality disorders. Or if it discussed how different personality disorders can have criminal implications, with reference to some true cases. I think going into this much detail for both aspects just made it a tedious read.
It was quite interesting to read about some cases that I'm actually familiar with, and I was horrified to learn some of the details that were obviously withheld when I watched the story emerge on the news. It's quite sobering to think that these crimes were committed only a few years ago in most cases, and some not too far from where I'm currently living. That fact had the potential for such a massive impact, and I think it's important to emphasise that so many of these murders came completely by surprise.
Unfortunately our society has become such that we must be constantly aware of our surroundings, be vigilant, and take serious note of suspicious behaviour. I feel like this book is trying to say, 'these are homicidal tendencies, PAY ATTENTION!' but the message is buried by all the superfluous crap.
So it wasn't a great read but it does contain some fascinating, important information and I'll keep it as a reference book for sure. Even if it's just for the fun of picking which personality disorders most suit the people I know ...
November 6, 2018
This was a really in depth and interesting read that didn't delve into the realm of hard to understand scientific language.
I had a few issues/difficulties here and there, namely;
- it felt very repetitive in parts, largely in the filicide section. I understand why though, and don't really fault the authors for it.
- I really struggled with the transition from the section on narcissistic personality disorder to dependent personality disorder. This is largely because the NPD section concludes with the advice to sever ties or distance yourself from anyone with malignant NPD, and that leaving is the most dangerous time. Which then switches gears to these people with DPD who killed their partner couldn't "muster the courage" to leave their partners. This just rubbed me the wrong way considering in particular Chamari Liyange's case with her very violent and abusive husband.
Other than that, I definitely recommend. It was an insightful read.
I had a few issues/difficulties here and there, namely;
- it felt very repetitive in parts, largely in the filicide section. I understand why though, and don't really fault the authors for it.
- I really struggled with the transition from the section on narcissistic personality disorder to dependent personality disorder. This is largely because the NPD section concludes with the advice to sever ties or distance yourself from anyone with malignant NPD, and that leaving is the most dangerous time. Which then switches gears to these people with DPD who killed their partner couldn't "muster the courage" to leave their partners. This just rubbed me the wrong way considering in particular Chamari Liyange's case with her very violent and abusive husband.
Other than that, I definitely recommend. It was an insightful read.
January 6, 2025
This is an excellent exploration of the criminals responsible for some of Australia's highest profile killings. The author details the murders and what led up to them, however, she also delves into the psychology of the killers. It is a fascinating look at disorders such as Anti-Social Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Dependent Personality Disorder, and Histrionic Personality Disorder. While not everyone with a personality disorder will kill, the book does describe the role that these disorders may have played in the murders. The book is well-written and is a compelling read. Highly recommended.
April 5, 2024
Brilliant book - a short and ‘light’ course into psychiatry. Very easy to read, sobering thematics. I remember almost all the real life cases and was pleasantly surprised and relieved to see that the authors share my opinion about media not calling spade a spade (particularly with Damian Little case).
Some chapters are more interesting than the others. Some are shocking but intriguing and make me want to investigate and research into similar thematics further.
Thank you authors for this thrilling and very informative read.
Some chapters are more interesting than the others. Some are shocking but intriguing and make me want to investigate and research into similar thematics further.
Thank you authors for this thrilling and very informative read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2018
This is a really fascinating read and offers an interesting psychological analysis of some of Australia's famous murderers. It was great to see the authors call out the "good blokes" who kill their families for what they really are Murderers! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of true crime. The book is very insightful and gives some great tips on some of the traits of the personality disorders covered and recognising them in others.
September 5, 2020
A fascinating look into some of our more recent and well known murders in Australia. It provides insights into the minds and what leads these killers into committing murder and why some seem to lack any remorse for their heinous crimes. An interesting and informative read. #mindbehindthecrime #tea_sipping_bookworm #bookstagram #bookqueen #amazon#kindle #greatreads #litsy #truecrime
May 23, 2024
A truly facinating read - using real examples of the various personality disorders that perpetrators incurred - to conduct horrendous acts of violence against loved ones, children, neighbours and random strangers.
August 9, 2018
Very interesting but a bit repetitive in parts.
August 25, 2018
This book was a very interesting read. A bit too clinical for me, but informative.
October 20, 2018
I liked the first book better, but this is again filled with extraordinarily well-researched accounts of the psychology of perpetrators of violence.
March 13, 2025
This book was educational in some ways. However, it did not really delve into the “mind behind the crime”. There was a lot of judgement towards the perpetrators. It was also very repetitive.
April 10, 2020
𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
There is nothing I love more in a true crime book than one that goes into the psychology behind the crimes and the history of those who committed them.
I listened to this as an audio book which I found enjoyable to listen too. I liked how it was all set out. Each part was a different mental health diagnosis and then it would talk about the crime, the outcome of court and the background of the offender. It would also explain the psychology behind the disorder in a general sense and then related it back to the case being told.
I liked that throughout the book it was clear that mental health was not an excuse for the crimes that were committed and it was rather a contributing factor to what led to the crime but that the person was in control at the time they committed the crime and was not suffering from an illness that cause them to lose touch with reality or have severely impaired judgement.
I work in the field of mental health/psychiatry and there were still things that I was able to learn and reflect on while I was listening to the book. It was also interesting that all the cases were from Australia.
Authors - Cheryl Critchley and Helen McGrath
Publisher - Macmillan Australia @macmillanaus
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
There is nothing I love more in a true crime book than one that goes into the psychology behind the crimes and the history of those who committed them.
I listened to this as an audio book which I found enjoyable to listen too. I liked how it was all set out. Each part was a different mental health diagnosis and then it would talk about the crime, the outcome of court and the background of the offender. It would also explain the psychology behind the disorder in a general sense and then related it back to the case being told.
I liked that throughout the book it was clear that mental health was not an excuse for the crimes that were committed and it was rather a contributing factor to what led to the crime but that the person was in control at the time they committed the crime and was not suffering from an illness that cause them to lose touch with reality or have severely impaired judgement.
I work in the field of mental health/psychiatry and there were still things that I was able to learn and reflect on while I was listening to the book. It was also interesting that all the cases were from Australia.
Authors - Cheryl Critchley and Helen McGrath
Publisher - Macmillan Australia @macmillanaus
Read
June 12, 2021Previous reviews were correct. It was very repetitive in parts. Audio narration was a little monotonous.
September 24, 2025
The subject is fascinating, and the authors succeeded in making the material accessible, if not always enjoyable to read given the subject matter. But while they succeed in this aspect, others are not so good and I have to comment on it.
Firstly, there is the inconsistent manner of referring to people. It would be considered professional and standard to refer to people by their surnames. This is not always the case. Some, such as other journalists, are referred to by first name and others by surname. It's minor, but it's an issue.
What is NOT minor, however, is the little habit the authors have of passing judgement on the perpetrators. Sure, these people don't deserve our sympathy, and maybe they are/were evil (very subjective anyway), but that's up to the reader to decide. Journalism 101 says the writer ought not to include their personal opinion, yet they go ahead and tell the reader what to think as if he can't draw his own, valid, conclusions and needs the assistance of the writers. This guy was bad! I noticed the ladies get off a bit more lightly. This is rather poor form and let's the book down, big time.
Firstly, there is the inconsistent manner of referring to people. It would be considered professional and standard to refer to people by their surnames. This is not always the case. Some, such as other journalists, are referred to by first name and others by surname. It's minor, but it's an issue.
What is NOT minor, however, is the little habit the authors have of passing judgement on the perpetrators. Sure, these people don't deserve our sympathy, and maybe they are/were evil (very subjective anyway), but that's up to the reader to decide. Journalism 101 says the writer ought not to include their personal opinion, yet they go ahead and tell the reader what to think as if he can't draw his own, valid, conclusions and needs the assistance of the writers. This guy was bad! I noticed the ladies get off a bit more lightly. This is rather poor form and let's the book down, big time.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews