Serial killers have never exerted a firmer grip on the nation's imagination. A steady stream of horrific crimes - and the books and movies they inspire - have made serial murder a topic of both tabloid attention and serious study. Now author and professor Harold Schechter, a leading academic authority on serial killers, and coauthor David Everitt have compiled the ultimate reference on this fascinating subject. With hundreds of entries spanning the entire spectrum of serial murder, this vivid, comprehensive resource examines these shocking crimes - and their infamous practitioners - from every angle.