*****

A severed head in the refrigerator, two more in the freezer, skulls and a skeleton in a filing cabinet. These are among the items found in Jeffrey Dahmer’s apartment when he was arrested in 1991. But Dahmer didn’t merely kill people – he also used their body parts for sexual gratification and as pieces of a bizarre shrine.

Charting the life and upbringing of one of America’s most notorious killers, this book goes deeper than a simple run-down of his crimes. Detailing the murders of 17 men and boys over a period of 13 years, the author delves into Dahmer’s state of mind and the motives for his killing spree. During the trial, the jury were faced with many conflicting opinions on what motivated the murders. Brian Masters cuts through the theories, unravelling and exploring each point of view to get to the heart of what drove Dahmer to kill.

A fascinating, if gory, account. Not for the fainthearted.