Great detailing of true crime events that readers, myself included, are sure to enjoy. I really like how the areas and victims effected were dived into as opposed to most nonfiction books that focus mainly on the killers.

Faces Of Evil takes a look at the most notorious modern-day serial killers from the Western World.

From Harold Shipman, to Ted Bundy, to Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. The 20 chapters cover serial killers you’ve heard of, and some that will probably be new to you.

The author does a good job of neutrally assessing the backgrounds and potential motives of the killers, and respectfully names their victims (where the names are known). It’s a gruesome and gripping non-fiction that true-crime fans will enjoy.

My only critique is that I would have enjoyed a deeper delve in to the psychological aspect of the killers and their motives.

Going into this book, I knew next to nothing about any serial killers, so from an introductory perspective, I thought this book was great. It was sickeningly fascinating and gave just enough of each person's story in order to keep it fast paced and engaging, yet still informative and differentiated between each person.

I'm not sure how Utton selected the killers he included, but it seemed to be a good mix of people throughout English-speaking countries from the 60s and 70s to the near present.

First of all, it's excellently narrated by Tom Alexander. Loved listening to this on my commutes and runs over the last few days.

I'm still rather new and currently hooked to true crime and recently found a love for podcasts such as RedHanded and Morbid. Anyone who's a fan of these - this is for you! Especially if, like me, you're still fairly new to true crime. Here's why -

It covers a lot of Serial Killer's in a succinct and engaging way.
Some of the killers I'd heard about, as they're so well known but I didn't necessarily know their full story and crime. It brought me up to scratch speedily and my attention was held throughout. This was all thanks to Dominic's research and writing along with Tom's narration.

Then there was those killers who I'd never even heard of and now keen to go read and listen more about.

It was a real 101 of Serial Killers to get your knowledge up to scratch and *entertain* (though due to heinous subject matter, this is an odd choice of word) you though out.

A shocking and horrific glimpse into some of the most heinous crimes committed by individuals and couples from around the globe in recent history.
Within these chapters, the stories contained are not for the faint hearted and detail gruesome acts perpetrated on innocent victims by some of the most depraved and violent people to ever walk amongst us.
This is not a book that gives pleasure, to read or listen to as an audiobook on a relaxing evening, it is a tome that gives a little insight and propels you to think long and hard, on the never ending quest to try and decipher why such acts are carried out in the first place and how on earth we can try to prevent them.
These pages do not involve Boogeymen but real people who could be our friends, neighbours or work colleagues
Maybe it’s the friendly cashier or the charming barista? The estate agent or builder? Whomever it may be tread with caution.
Brilliant narration by Tom Alexander.

Goodness gracious me, but what a wicked world we live in. I find serial killer tales fascinating, from the why they do it, to the forensic process and sheer hard work (despite the horrors they see) that put these soulless people where they belong.

I didn't learn anything new about the serial killers that were part of Faces of Evil barring one, the Butcher Baker (Robert Hanson) who quite literally hunted young women. Grim indeed. There are twenty of them in all and the usual suspects are all there, as well as a few less documented. The Rock Spider Killer, Samuel Little, Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, Fred and Rosemary West (ugh, I do shudder at these two), Myra Hindley and Ian Brady (even more so), amongst others, make up this motley crew of misfits and degenerates.

The narrator was excellent, utterly deadpan, with no emotion whatsoever, and let me tell you, he had some truly heinous things to say. This is a good start for a beginner or someone who wants to know more about this interesting topic, but fair warning - it is brutal and extremely graphic.

Notes:

I would have rated it higher except the author kept talking about people being hunted like animals.

Defence lawyers need to check their moral compass now and then, some of them seem to be broken (please note that I said some).

I really enjoyed this audiobook, especially as a true crime fan. The book offers a well-written and engaging look into different serial killers, delving into their backgrounds, crimes, and eventual capture. While the title may be slightly misleading (as there's no actual "unmasking" happening), each chapter provides an exploration of a different serial killer.

I appreciated the fast-paced nature of the book, making it an easy and compelling read. However, if you're looking for a deep dive into each murder and the subsequent trials, this may not be the book for you. Despite that, I found the content to be engaging and thought-provoking, although I understand it may not be suitable for everyone due to its heavy subject matter.

Although I was familiar with most of the individuals mentioned in the book, there were a few who were less known to me, which added to the book's appeal. However, one recurring issue I noticed was the author's repetitive use of a specific phrase, which became somewhat predictable and distracting.

If .... Then.....

If the author realised he was repeating this phase then he continued to do it just to spite me!

On a positive note, the narrator did an excellent job and added to my overall enjoyment of the book. Overall, I would certainly recommend this audiobook to fellow true crime enthusiasts.


Thank you to the author, publishers and Netgalley for the ALC of this audiobook. This review is completely my own.

Faces of Evil: Unmasking the World’s Most Horrific Serial Killers
Dominic Utton
I struggled with this book. The subject matter is dark and disturbing. The author did a great job of writing this book however I was disturbed and sickened by the actions of the killers. We learn about their background which could or could not explain why they did what they did. We learn the names of the victims a bit of their background. The author is careful not to express a personal judgement; he states the facts and allows readers to form their own opinion. Some of the serial killers in this book are well-known while others I had not heard of. Ted Bundy, John Gatz, are two names’ readers will recognize.
I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are all mine.

Fantastic overview of some of the worst people. Descriptively written and narrated expertly. Details were accurate and informative.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bolinda Audio, & Dominic Sutton for the audiobook.

This was a fantastic audiobook. The narrator did a great job. He was very easy to listen to and really drew you in.

The book was very interesting. It went over multiple cases of if serial killers. It provided a lot of information without feeling overwhelming or like listening to a lecture. If you are looking for story format this isn't the book. I really enjoyed the straightforwardness of the author.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a run down of some of the most heinous serial killers, their crimes and a little of their history. The only things I can criticise is, it could have been much longer (which I would have loved) which also featured some kind of analysis or even opinions on the featured names.

However, if you're new to this genre (true crime) or specifically killer crimes, this is a good book to start you with.

Still worth 5 ⭐ from a seasoned true killer crime reader.

3.5 stars
🌕🌕🌕🌗

🎯 Target Audience
- True crime fans
- Serial killers enthusiasts that aren’t looking for deep analysis, just to get to know more of them and their crimes

🧠 My thoughts
The book itself wasn’t bad, it was packed with chronological information about serial killers from the late 20th century until the early 21st century. However, I felt cheated on. In the introduction of the book and also the Storygraph description, the book was supposed to reveal the motives and why these serial killers committed their crimes but I only saw descriptions and background information instead. It felt to me that this book was just an anthology or dictionary of serial killers without analysis. I still enjoyed the book because the narrator reminded me of the narrator of my favorite serial killer podcast and it was pretty informative.

Thanks NetGalley, Bolinda Audio publisher, and the authors for a great advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!

I really appreciate the book's layout, which provides a victim count and location at the start of each chapter. This feature helps you stay oriented without the need to piece together details as you read, unlike some other books. The book effectively details each victim's story, though I occasionally found myself confused by the timeline, possibly due to listening via audiobook. The research is thorough and presents just the right amount of information, avoiding overwhelming the reader with extraneous details.

The narrator does an excellent job with tone, pace, and accents, creating a listening experience reminiscent of a well-produced podcast. This approach complements the non-fiction nature of the book, making it both engaging and informative.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bolinda Audio, & Dominic Sutton for the audiobook.

I listened to the audiobook, well narrated throughout. The narration was even paced and without drama. This is a great listen if you’re a fan of true crime. Whilst some of the stories are widely known, the compilation includes a number of serial killers I haven’t heard of before. I feel the research is thorough and meticulous and Dominic Utton has pulled together biopics that investigate the crime and the motivation. It doesn’t make for comfortable listening at times, but it’s written with compassion and thought for the victims. A great overview of each subject.

Not the book you want to read before bed or on a walk in the woods (both of which I did). This is a chilling account of some of the most horrific serial killers of all time, breaking down their lives, their crimes, and what may have led them down that path of pure evil and violence. While some well-known cases are included like the Golden State Killer and Ted Bundy, it also includes many lesser-known killers.
I thought this was a chilling and well-researched book. However, with the exception of a few of those cases not quite as popular, it also felt like much of this was common knowledge and didn’t have anything new when it came to the notorious cases which make up the majority of this. The narrator was stoic and steady throughout which was is perfect for a researched non-fiction style book.
Thank you to Bolinda Audio for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Having been a fan of true crime for decades I couldn't resist requesting a listen to this audiobook.

Pleasantly surprised by the variety of killers depicted, some of which I hadn't heard of, it was a good listen to an overview of each killer, their motives if known and their victims.

The audiobook was well narrated and researched.

The Faces of Evil is a true crime book that describes the chilling stories of twenty of the world's most prolific serial killers. While some of the serial killers, such as John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy, are well know, this book includes horrifying stories of lesser-known serial killers. Each serial killer chronicle provides a concise, yet comprehensive outline of the killer’s background, the horrifying story of their crimes, their criminal sentencing, and where they are present day. The victims of each killer are acknowledged by name, along with a brief description of their personal story. There are no personal biases expressed by the author but rather straight facts.
The audiobook, produced by Bolinda Audio, was narrated by Tom Alexander. The narration was clear, and the pace was appropriate. There was clear delineation between chapters, so it was easily recognized when one serial killer’s story was ending, and another was started.
This book is great for true crime fanatics who want to learn about multiple serial killers in one resource. Despite each story is a brief description of the serial killer(s), each story is comprehensive with the important facts that the reader needs to know.
Thank you, Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for allowing me the review this audiobook and provide my honest feedback.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for this ALC.

As an avid True Crime fan, this book was just right up my alley. Given that listen for true crime podcasts and watch related videos for years now, it sometimes starts to seem like you know all the stories already. This was most pleasantly not the case with this book. It discovers some of the most prolific but also the lesser known serial killers to unravel their lives, motivations and crimes. I listened to this in audio format, and liked the narrator Tom Alexander. This book is definitely something to pick up for anyone interested in True Crime.

Not a bad book at all!

I had heard most of the stories in this collection, so it didn't really give me any NEW information. However, it did do a good job of sticking to the widely known facts of most of the cases it explored. (Some true crime compilations DO NOT do that. They include random details that literally NO OTHER VERSION of the story includes -- leading one to believe they added them simply for shock value.)

This one presented accurate facts in 98% of the cases. And the 2% that were kind of shady weren't necessarily falsehoods. They were just ... common exaggerations. For example, the author would credit a certain killer with "between x and XX kills" (i.e., between 7 and 62 kills). In a few of the cases, the largest number in that spectrum has widely been disproven by investigators and other true crime writers. However, the killer might have CLAIMED to have killed that many, so the author included it here.

Again, not a falsehood, but also pretty widely believed to be false. Still, it was a good collection of serial killer stories -- not just from the US but from around the globe. (Primarily US, UK, and Australia. If there was another one from somewhere else, I don't remember it.)

It didn't dive into any great detail, but if you're just getting into true crime or you just want a broad overview of some of the most notorious and twisted killers out there, this was a good book for that.

It's also a good one if you're into audiobooks, as the narrator was quite good. I actually listened to this one on 1x speed (which is something I rarely do) and didn't feel the need to speed it up. So yeah. Definitely one worth reading if any of the above applies to you.

A must read for any true crime reader. I have had my eye on this book for a while and was so happy to be accepted on NetGalley for the audio version.

Not for the faint hearted and filled with a lot of triggers… read/listen with caution.

The audio side of things was completely fine also :)