On Jack Unterweger, and On Reading Hiatus

CLEWS is on a one-week hiatus to catch up on reading and writing projects, and I shelve a brief book review in the meantime.

A Review of The Vienna Woods Killer I recently swore off serial sex killer stories. Too gory, too awful. They start to seem simple creatures after a while. There's nothing interesting left to learn about such men after you've met the 40th. Rippers - blech. Then I read the story of Jack Unterweger.

I found Jack on the porch. He bore English stamps. And he had a tree cover. I like those. There was no note, just an advanced reading copy of Jack's story. It's The Vienna Woods Killer by John Leake and it's coming out from his UK publisher, Granta Books, in October.

Maybe only women can understand the appeal of a man like this. Part Casanova, part Beau Brummel, part Ted Bundy. I couldn't get enough of him.

His life revolved around pleasing - and sometimes killing - women. He was the consummate, the ultimate manipulator. The author spoke at length with many women seduced by Jack. They stayed with him for a night, some for a season. Some moved halfway across the world for him, on his whim. Some trusted him enough to go into the woods with him....

How did he do it? This is an eye-opening story for anyone who has ever wasted a few days, or even weeks, or (did you let it go on that long?) 9 1/2 weeks with a psychopathic playboy. It's much better (and maybe nearly as exciting) to read books about men like this than encounter one, unprepared, in the wild.

This book is dense, well researched, quite detailed, well written, and of such large scope it's bound to be regarded as the definitive book on its subject and a highly regarded entry on the shelf of serial killer literature.

For more, read CLEWS Interviews True Crime Author John Leake

Comments

[Katie]

I am going out and buying this right away. When does it come out????? Sounds absolutely engrossing. Can't wait!

[John Leake]

I am happy to see that CLEWS enjoyed my book. Publication of the above (British) edition has been postponed till November 19, 2007. The North American edition, titled "Entering Hades: The Double Life of a Serial Killer," published by Sarah Crichton Books/FSG, will be published on November 13, 2007.

For more information, please visit the book's website: www.enteringhades.com

It should be up and running by October 1.

Thank you for your interest.

John Leake