When the Killer Calls. The Legendary FBI Profiler Tracks a Maniac in a Small Town

The legendary FBI profiler John Douglas vividly demonstrates how profiling helps catch a killer – using the case of sexual maniac Larry Gene Bell, who murdered two girls in South Carolina. On May 31, 1985, two days before high school graduation, young Shari Smith was kidnapped near her own home in South Carolina. Everything indicated that the murder was sexually motivated. But the most unusual and terrifying aspect was that the maniac began calling the victim's family, reveling in his power and manipulation over the grieving women – the mother and older sister, Donna – and even sent them a farewell letter from Shari, indicating where to find her body. The investigation is led by FBI profiler John Douglas, who knows that the killer will not stop at this. Soon after, a nine-year-old girl was kidnapped, confirming his fears. The criminal becomes more dangerous, and he can only be lured out by thoroughly studying his personality during the calls and playing on his weaknesses. The only way to do this is to put the Smith family's second daughter, Donna, at risk, to whom the killer continues to call. The maniac warns: she is the next victim. God wants you to join Shari. It’s just a matter of time. You will not be protected constantly… Intriguing and captivating, the book 'When the Killer Calls' clearly shows how studying criminal psychology aids in solving the case and confronting a sadist and ruthless killer. — John Douglas is a brilliant specialist… He knows more about serial killers than anyone else in the world.” — Jonathan Demme, director of The Silence of the Lambs John Douglas and Mark Olshaker tell an enthralling story of how the FBI, working with local law enforcement, solved the case of a particularly heinous murderer. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the work of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit.” — Publishers Weekly Douglas presents the facts concisely, but his empathy for victims and their families makes his true crime a sincere story, co