Letters to the Purple Satin Killer
by Joshua Chaplinsky
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Pub Date 6 Aug 2024 | Archive Date 20 Aug 2024
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Description
Jonas Williker is considered one of the most sadistic serial murderers of the modern era. This epistolary novel explores the aftermath of his arrest and the psychological trauma of those who lived through it.
The Pennsylvania native brutalized his way into the zeitgeist during the early part of the new millennium, leaving a trail of corpses across five states before his eventual arrest. All told, Williker was responsible for the rape and murder of 23 women, and is suspected in the deaths of dozens more. His calling card—a torn piece of fabric found on or inside the bodies of his victims—helped popularize his now ubiquitous nickname.
The Purple Satin Killer.
In the years following his arrest, Jonas Williker received hundreds of letters in prison. Collected here, these letters offer a unique glimpse into a depraved mind through a human lens, including contributions from family, the bereaved, and self-professed “fans.” They represent a chilling portrait of the American psyche, skewering a media obsessed culture where murderers are celebrities to revere. What you learn about the man from these letters will shock you, but not as much as what you learn about yourself.
Advance Praise
“Letters to the Purple Satin Killer is in turns horrifying, illuminating, darkly hilarious, and always surprising.” —Fangoria
"This book. It made me wince, cringe, chuckle, guffaw, check the locks on my doors, shake my head, and maybe utter a few swears at the author. Letters is a unique satire of an American nightmare." —Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts and The Cabin at the End of the World
"Chaplinsky breathes some much-needed life into the serial killer genre, taking the unique and utterly brilliant angle of turning the focus onto us, and our morbid fascination with these depraved individuals. This book ought to come with a bottle of bleach, to dip your soul in after you're done." —Rob Hart, author of Assassins Anonymous and The Warehouse
"Akin to Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer fucking Les Liasons Dangereuses, then strangling it, this sadistic epistolary novel reads like a crime scene smattered in the DNA of Richard Chizmar and Thomas Harris. Better wear rubber gloves when you crack open this brutally captivating book." —Clay McLeod Chapman, author of What Kind of Mother and Ghost Eaters
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781960988096 |
| PRICE | US$21.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 340 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Michelle H, Reviewer
This is a brilliant piece of serial killer fiction that reads like true crime. Disturbing and genuinely creepy at times with the odd drop of satire. A fantastic read.
David R, Reviewer
This excellent novel blew me away with it's true crime vibe and the way it's presented.
Seriously, if you like true crime this book reads like one. To the point where you might find yourself using Google to see if these events are real or fictional.
These are letters written to a notorious serial killer. We never hear from him though. But there's enough information in their correspondence to tell an extremely creepy and unsettling narrative. Even behind bars and facing execution, this killer manipulates and motivates people.
From potential girlfriends and mates, to his mother who is clearly in denial, to fans of his "work", to people who want to exploit his crimes for profit, to religious people trying to save his soul... they all write to him and we get glimpses into their minds as we're reading. And I'm telling you, it's uncomfortable at times because it's so realistic. You don't have to stretch your imagination to see these things happening in real life.
I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend it.
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