Overkill: Mass Murder and Serial Killing Exposed

In a study that will be of interest primarily to criminologists, Fox and Levin (Mass Murder) categorize serial killers into three types: those who murder for thrills, those who believe they have a mission (e.g., to rid the world of sin) and those who kill for expediency or profit. The authors maintain that most serial killers are not insane, although many are sociopathic and most are loners. The same qualities apparently hold true for mass murderers, with the additional characteristic that they are often individuals who have lost all hope. The authors' conclusions are disheartening: despite the frequent occurrence of these two types of homicide, especially in the U.S., it is impossible evidently to identify either a serial killer or a mass murderer in advance. (Oct.)