The Mad, the Bad, and the Innocent: The Criminal Mind on Trial--Tales of a Forensic Psychologist

by Barbara R. Kirwin

Into the heart of a killer The Mad Over the past twenty years, renowned forensic psychologist Barbara Kirwin has confronted a terrifying lineup of murderers, rapists, paranoids, and psychopaths--including notorious serial killer Joel Rifkin--to distinguish the truly mad from the bad trying to cop an insanity plea. The Bad Here, in chilling detail, she recalls her most grisly cases and offers riveting psychological portraits of other infamous killers, including "Son of Sam" David Berkowitz, Colin Ferguson, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, the Menendez brothers, Susan Smith, and John W. Hinckley, Jr. The Innocent Moving from prison holding cells to sensational courtroom trails, Kirwin tells the truth about the insanity defense and its abuse by criminal lawyers conjuring up outrageous defenses--from adopted child syndrome to postpartum psychosis to sleepwalking. As she pries open the criminal mind, Kirwin takes us on a riveting journey into the heart of darkness, where madness and evil thrive.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Psychology, Science, Crime, Mental Health

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 11, 1997

Reviews

[Cindy Minnich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent description of the views of and implications of mental illness in the legal system. She goes through cases she's been called to work on. In doing so, she gives a great explanation of the "insanity defense" and where it works and does not. Fascinating read whether you're interested in crime, criminal law, or psychology.

[Arielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't finish this one. Got to about page 200 and couldn't bear to go on. Although at times interesting, Kirwin often drags on and on.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly differentiates between criminals as to whether they are evil, innocent or insane. Very interesting book for anyone who is interested in the criminal mind.

[Denver Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

An in-depth look at the criminal mind! Truly fascinating, well, composed and packed full of truly educational material. I found this authors manifesto at the end to be so like-minded with myself and others that I know. Heavily ladened with truly fascinating case work, and ad hoc warning though there are many triggers throughout this book.

[Mario Cerqueira]

A good eye opener into the world of mental health. Where it's going I don't know.

[Sharon]

I had hoped this would be more intresting, but I lost intrest, which is a pity, as this is a topic that normally would intrest me.

Found it contained quite a bit of legalize, and I just did not like the way she told her story.

I admit I did not finish this book, maybe it would have got better, but I just was not intrested enough to find out.

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read with a lot of interesting case examples. Read this one to find out what you never knew about Joel Rifkin. I have to say I'm very sorry to hear a clinical psychologist descend into brackish, superstitious terminology like "evil" when she describes a clearly-diagnosable case of Asperger's. Otherwise it was well-written and usually well-thought-out.

[Tara Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I love reading clinical work from the field, I tend to find that most of these first personal clinical narratives are over-hyped to provide a good story. I'd really appreciate some unbiased narratives with an objective presentation of the facts, but this book doesn't deliver.

[Vanessa]

Bored me.

[Armineh Noravian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. A must read.