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The Boston Strangler Mass Market Paperback – Jan. 1 1967

by Gerold Frank (Author)

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Boston Strangler
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New York Times Bestseller and Winner of the Edgar Award: The definitive account of the notorious serial killer—and the manhunt that followed his rampage.

On June 14, 1962, twenty-five-year-old Juris Slesers arrived at his mother’s apartment to drive her to church. But there was no answer at the door. After waiting a half hour, Juris shoved his way inside. He found fifty-five-year-old Anna Slesers lying on the kitchen floor, dead, the cord of her housecoat knotted tightly around her neck and turned up in a bow.

Between 1962 and 1964, twelve more bodies were discovered in and around Boston: all women, all sexually assaulted, and all strangled—often with their own pantyhose. None of the victims exhibited any signs of struggle, nothing was stolen from their homes, and there were no signs of forcible entry. The police could find no discernable motive or clues. Who was this insane killer? How was he entering women’s homes? And why were they letting him in?

More than a gripping chronicle of an American serial killer on par with Jack the Ripper, The Boston Strangler is a shocking story about what happens to a city under a siege of terror. Drawn from hundreds of hours of personal interviews, as well as police, medical, and court documentation, author Gerold Frank’s grisly, horrifying, and meticulously researched account was awarded the Edgar for Best Fact Crime.

Language

English
Publisher

Signet
Publication date

Jan. 1 1967
Dimensions

17.78 x 2.54 x 12.7 cm
ISBN-10

0451144910
ISBN-13

978-0451144911
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Review

“Stock up and stand back. . . . It takes will power to lay the book down, almost as much as it would have required of the victims to keep their doors closed to the man who said he’d been sent to repair their plumbing and repaint their apartments. . . . It is a mad genius stroke and Frank’s book will contribute to a legend and literature of America’s Jack the Ripper.” —Kirkus Reviews

“One of the most remarkable chronicles of true crime ever published. A classic in its genre!” —John Barkham Reviews

“A superb true crime account . . . The book tells a sensational story; it tells it simply, candidly, faithfully, and as completely as one could want. Chilling reading . . . An engrossing book and creepy tale.” —The New York Times
--This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

Gerold Frank (1907–1998) was an American author and ghostwriter. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Frank attended Ohio State University. After graduation, he moved to New York with dreams of becoming a poet, and then moved back to Cleveland to work as a newspaperman. Later, he returned to New York to work for the Journal-American. During World War II, Frank was a war correspondent in the Middle East. He won two Edgar Awards for Best Fact Crime, for his books The Deed and The Boston Strangler, the latter of which was adapted into a film starring Tony Curtis. He was a pioneer of the contemporary literary form of the as-told-to celebrity biography. Frank’s books number in the dozens, and include collaborations with Lillian Roth, Mike Connolly, Diana Barrymore, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Judy Garland.
--This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Signet; First Edition (Jan. 1 1967)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0451144910
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0451144911
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 227 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 17.78 x 2.54 x 12.7 cm

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4.2 311 ratings

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Top review from Canada

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Charles Slovenski

Let's have a go at those files!

Reviewed in Canada on June 8, 2001

I always wanted to know more about the Boston Strangler, having read about him in other true crime accounts, but never getting the full picture. This book gives a frightening and touching account of Boston in the 60s and the Strangler's unwitting victims. Frank handles brilliantly the chaotic investigation and numerous (but mesmerizing) deadend leads; his reporting of the case and its frustrations is near perfect. By the time I got to DeSalvo's confessions (and the fact that the case has never been brought to trial!) I wanted to roll up my sleeves and spend an all-nighter going through the files to check facts. Not since reading about Jack the Ripper have I been so engaged by an unsolved crime.

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Pamela S. Simone

Okay

Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2022

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Mr Frank covers a lot of ground and, especially in the earlier chapters, it was a bit confusing. He supports the premise that DeSalvo was the Strangler. It would be interesting to see more from the view that there were other killers or on George Nassar.
It is very clear how little was understood about the forensic psychology of serial killers at the time. So much has been learned such as some vary patterns and killers may not start as killers but escalate from burglary to rape to murder as with Joseph DeAngelo. We know from cases like Ted Bundy that they can appear bound for success but be a brutal killer. He can appear to be the devoted husband and father and even hold a position in his church like Dennis Rader but still relish torturing his victims for hours before killing them. He can run a successful business, organize block parties for holidays, and entertain sick children as a clown yet lure his victims with the promise of a job only to bury the bodies in the crawl space under his own home as with John Wayne Gacy.
Some made much of the difference in the ages or race as an indication there were multiple killers.
It is known that DeSalvo molested at least on nine-years-old girl. There may have been other incidents that were not reported so never would have been on his record.
Based on his statements, age may not have been a factor. He was looking for any female to satisfy his need for sex.
The one case that even the victim’s family was convinced DeSalvo did not commit was eventually confirmed as his crime by DNA.
This is a good book to start with on the Boston Strangler case but I would recommend reading one or two books as well to get a more in-depth evaluation of the case.

4 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Shocking, heart- breaking, and probably all true

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2018

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This account is a lesson in how to write about crime, and anything else. I am a fan of classic fiction and philosophy, and rarely read crime, but this book seems to be about much, much more than a depraved serial killer. The 'Boston Strangler ' speaks creepily down the decades about human wickedness, police failure, human frailty and sin , and all sorts of under the rug goings on, in that pivotal era of the early 60's. It is a work of sociology, criminology, psychology and history. You are left wondering if people in power today could learn much from it's pages.
I found the graphic and quite explicit descriptions of the crimes chilling and almost unbearable , all the more shocking in that were published in the 60's. In fact, this book has aged very little. I think it has stayed fresh and alive partly due to a complete absence of political correctness.
I did, however, have some reservations about this book. The author was obviously fed much of the information by the relevant authorities, a few years after the events, when there were still doubts, in some quarters, about the guilt of the main suspect. Inevitably there were - or are - questions as to motivation and vested interest. However, it seems that recent events involving DNA may have vindicated the author, and the main conclusion of the book.
I was left wanting to read more and more about this extraordinary affair, but also never wanting to think about it ever again.

mapuke

Dated and incomplete account

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 12, 2022

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If you are unfamiliar with the story, it reads well in terms of a slow disclosure. This is more of a journalistic and incomplete account of a remarkable series of events rather than a remarkable book. It was clearly rushed out shortly after the main events, and is consequently dated, incomplete and superficial. Originally written in 1966, this is a 2018 edition. However, it has not been updated from 1966, and ends before the main protagonist's legal status is resolved. It also omits the subsequent and pertinent events that provide closure on both the protagonist and the crimes. A single paragraph related to a comparison with Jack the Ripper contains at least 5 factual errors, which undermines the factual credibility of the main narrative. Homosexuals are repeatedly referred to as 'sexual deviants'. There is a complete absence of maps, exhibits or photos of key players. I had to go to other sources to find out 'what happened and where', what the people/places actually looked like, and what the final outcomes were. I now need to read a book about the whole Boston Strangler story......

2 people found this helpful

Charliep

Moves along well and sucks you in

Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2022

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On a tour of Boston, the guide pointed out one of the locations chosen by the Boston strangler. This quick remark stuck with me. Upon leaving Boston, I purchased this book.

I am not a true crime reader. Even after reading this account, I'm not sure I will be.

This book kept the story moving. The murders, the suspects, the victims, the detectives, the politicians, the doctors, and even F. Lee Baily. The frustration of the police really hooked me. Here they are charged with protecting their citizens and they seem clueless and helpless. I can't imagine.

Then we do finally get to meet the murderer but we are not sure he's the guy. There is so much doubt in spite of a confession.

Crazy set of events. Great insights by the psychiatrists. And then the twist at the end of the book as to the job of the defense lawyer is crazy. Frustration all around.

Great read.

2 people found this helpful

Thomas J Quinn

Not thefull story y

Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2023

Verified Purchase

This bookwas written before certain facts became known regarding the full story became widely known.
Further reading is required.nugh said

One person found this helpful

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The Boston Strangler Mass Market Paperback – Jan. 1 1967

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Gerold Frank

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