Lustmord: The Writings and Artifacts of Murderers

by Brian King (Editor)

Lustmord - A compilation of essays, short stories, memoirs, confessions, letters, manifestoes, poetry, drawings, photographs and other works created by serial killers, mass murderers, cannibals, necrophiles, sexual sadists, psychopaths and assassins. These compelling documents are now available for the first time in one volume - an aesthetic testimony to the emotion and logic of a murderer's mind, a mind filled with terror and hatred, absurdity and horror, pathos and iniquity.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Psychology, Serial Killer, Biography

328 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 1996

Reviews

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me years ago by a friend since I worked with serial killers at the time. The book is creepy and disturbing but that is what I had expected. It does give background on the killers and their crimes before presenting their writings and artwork. This book is getting harder and harder to find. Disturbing to most. Interesting to me because of what I did for a living.

[Bird · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh. These people are boring. Strange selection of writers and writing. One kid is clearly schizoid, so why include him? Other people are just windy. Why no inclusion of Pee Wee Gaskins' writing? He's got a whole book.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

For starters. Tiny print. I wear reading glasses and it was pretty difficult reading this book. As far as content, not what I was expecting. I figured that this book would be a lot crazier. There was moments of darkness and people letting their crazy show, but mostly uninteresting letters or dull poems. I expected more psychopathic type writing I guess. Some people seem to enjoy it but I did not.

[Oriana]

This has been sitting on my shelf for probably four years. Why haven't I started it yet?

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The background on each profile is interesting. However, the majority of the letters and poetry don't reveal much other than the borderline illiteracy of most of the subjects.

[wixlet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating, but extremely disturbing.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I had written a huge review about this and GR decided to delete it 🤬🤬🤬 so tldr I'll just say it was interesting but could've been better. The author added some nice notes but it's not as disturbing as people made it out to be. Overall I'd say 7/10.

[Amber Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book although it's incredibly disturbing. The fact that all of these writings came from the murderers themselves made this far more interesting than any other book I've read about serial killers/murderers. Some of the passages are extremely graphic and after I finished with this one, I felt pretty disturbed. In spite of that, it's worth reading to get inside the minds of criminals.

[Michael X · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is becoming more and more rare. It is a collection of writings, drawings and artifacts of murders. Fascinating read, but the print is very small and the book is a good size, so it's hard to sit and read it front to back. It would be better to look up your "favorites". If you happen to see one, grab it up. I myself have found four throughout the west coast. Good luck!!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok...so0oo this book is writings from various killers, and by 'killers' I mean it in the very literal sense. Soo0oo uhm yeah...super fucking creepy and disturbing beyond all reason. I have a sick sick fascination with death. It contains poems..stories..plans...drawings..letters.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful. Particularly disturbing yet interesting are the writings of Carl Panzram...chilling.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is morbidly fascinating. Expect to be disturbed.

[Angela]

excellent for students of abnormal psychology. educates without being insensitive to victims.

[lindz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beyond disturbing. Actually got this as a gift from a "friend", whose friendship I clearly need to re-evaluate. Not for the faint of heart or stomach.

[Nate Jordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soohoohooper creepy....

[Thresk · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely invaluable resource for serial murder researchers. Psychopathology straight from the killers' pens. Notable for its inclusion of Panzram's complete writings.