The story of Edward Rulloff should be fascinating—a 19th-century genius-turned-killer, creepy brain-in-a-jar vibes, and early criminal profiling? Sounds like a dark, historical page-turner. But the book kind of falls into that awkward space between podcast recap and true crime deep dive. The details are there, sure, but the pacing gets bogged down, and the science stuff, while cool in theory, doesn’t always hit with impact.

Rulloff is interesting, but the book sometimes feels more in awe of him than critical, and the whole “look how smart he was!” angle gets a bit old. If you’re into historical crime or want a taste of early forensic curiosity, it’s a decent read—but for all the buildup, it didn’t quite blow my (or his) mind.

Historical + True Crime = You Own My Soul. This was a great book and that's saying a lot because I don't really love non-fiction often. I also got to learn about a new serial killer, so yay!

I really enjoyed the details this book brought to such a sad and disturbing story.
Looking forward to purchasing this book for a upcoming bookclub read!

Kate Winkler Dawson’s All That Is Wicked is a captivating dive into the life of Edward Rulloff, a 19th-century criminal whose intellect and depravity earned him infamy as both a scholar and a murderer. For readers fascinated by the criminal mind, this book provides an enthralling blend of historical true crime and an exploration of evolving understandings of psychopathy.

Dawson excels at weaving together Rulloff’s story with a broader investigation into how the fields of criminology, psychology, and neuroscience were shaped by figures like him. The book traces how society's definitions and perceptions of psychopathy developed over time, offering insight into what we thought we understood about the brain in the 1800s compared to what we know now. This dual narrative keeps the story engaging and thought-provoking, appealing to true crime enthusiasts and science-minded readers alike.

One of the book’s strengths lies in its portrayal of Rulloff himself. He is a complex figure, both loathsome and fascinating, whose intelligence and arrogance challenge the conventional image of a criminal. The narrative balances the horror of his actions with an analytical perspective, allowing readers to confront the chilling intricacies of his mind without glorifying him.

For those intrigued by the dark corners of human behavior, All That Is Wicked is a compelling read that satisfies a curiosity about psychopathy and the history of criminal psychology. The book is meticulously researched, and Dawson's storytelling is vivid and engrossing, making it a must-read for anyone captivated by the complexities of the criminal mind.

In sum, All That Is Wicked is not just a true crime book but a lens into the intersection of science, morality, and justice—a fascinating journey into how we’ve sought to understand wickedness itself.

I’m a little late to the reading game with this one, but it was a great read. If you are a fan of true crime, you may already know Kate Winkler Dawson. This book comes from the first season of her hit podcast Tenfold More Wicked. Edward Rulloff considered himself to be a genius, and others felt the same way as we learn. He was poor and therefore couldn’t go on to university to study languages as he wanted to. He met the Schutts family almost by chance while working on the river. He was accepted into the family, marrying a daughter, while opening a school in town. He knew medicine of the time and treated basic ailments of the locals. But he had a temper and eventually that would be the end of his wife and daughter. He would talk himself out of trouble a few times, get people on his side at others before finally going to jail. Throughout the book we are treated to the visitors to Edward while waiting to see if his life would be spared because of his “genius”. A chilling look at how a man who murdered more than once was able to get away with it for so long.

Thanks to Putnam for the copy.

Excellently researched and packed full of historic and scientific information. More than just true crime . Anyone that loves history and science would enjoy this read.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. Kate Winkler Dawson is easy to listen to and keeps the story interesting. I liked the story of Edward Rulhof, as well as the insight into psychology and neuroscience. The chapters were organized well and filled with lots of facts but never felt boring.

Amazing. Kate Winkler Dawson goes above and beyond documenting cases of historic true crime in a way that makes your pulse race as you dive deeper into her research.

I am obsessed with true crime, so picking up this book was a no-brainer. I have never heard of Edward Rulloff before picking up this book. Now I really want to read more about him and his life, and I can't wait to read more from Kate Winkler Dawson. I do own her other book American Sherlock so I will be picking it up very soon. I just loved her writing and you can really tell she did her research, and she didn't make it read like a text book. I will tell all my friends and family to pick this up ASAP.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this

Kate Winkler Dawson's excellent research and storytelling combine to make this a really intriguing and well written story that's a must for true crime readers/listeners. Dawson balances crime, science, and plot well in this one.

All That Is Wicked is the story of Edward Rulloff, a 19th century serial killer also known as the "Victorian-era Hannibal Lecter". He was the first to have his brain studied in an attempt to understand the criminal mind. I was fascinated to learn about the beginnings of criminal psychology and criminologists within that time. When starting this book I was unfamiliar with the author/ her podcast but will definitely be having a listen soon!

I want to thank NetGalley, Kate Winkler Dawsonand PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for the e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

Interesting read about a serial killer during the 19th century. The life and crimes committed by Edward Ruloff were enough to make a good read. The interesting way of comparing the psychology of then with now to explain his motives and reasons was a wonderful addition. A fascinating glimpse at early psychology. The book was written in a very engaging way. Well worth the read.

This a fascinating and well researched book. It starts with the story of Edward Rulloff, a serial murderer, and talks about the evolution of criminal profiling and science. It was a pleasant and informative read. Recommended.

All That is Wicked by Kate Winkler Dawson is an interesting look at serial killer Edward Rulloff.
I was unfamiliar with Ms Dawson's podcast and Edward Rulloff. This was a very informative look at the "Victorian-era Hannibal Lecter" and at some of the earliest "Mindhunters" who spent time studying Rulloff and his crimes.
As the description says" Expanded from season one of her hit podcast on the Exactly Right network (7 million downloads and growing), in All That Is Wicked Kate Winkler Dawson draws on hundreds of source materials and never-before-shared historical documents to present one of the first glimpses into the mind of a serial killer—a century before the term was coined—through the scientists whose work would come to influence criminal justice for decades to come."
found the book to be well written, and informative. If you are a true crime buff this is a great addition to your shelf.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #PenguinGroup, and Kate Winkler Dawson for the ARC of #AllThatIsWicked.

Did not get a chance to read the full text...almost on its way to being archived. My apologies. Seems fascinating, but got overwhelmed.

Edward Rulloff was a serial killer before the term ever existed. A manipulative and intelligent man, he was able to mold himself and charm his way out of most suspicions and situations. Only after murdering a man during a burglary that left witnesses behind was he finally brought to justice.

I came into this book cold. I knew nothing of the author nor anything about Edward Rulloff. The concept of the book fascinated me and I was eager to dive deep into it's pages. Dawson does an amazing job of informing readers of Rulloff's past, education, and of course, crimes. I really liked the information regarding the history and theories on the criminal mind, forensics, and criminal investigation at that time.

Overall, a very interesting and informative book. In fact, it's one I plan on getting for our library and even gifting to a few family members.

While True Crime is not usually my genre of choice, I am a huge fan of well researched non-fictions, and All That Is Wicked is incredibly well researched. It focuses primarily on the crimes of Edward Rulloff, a 19th century serial killer. The book also goes into detail about mindhunting, especially the early stages. This was a fascinating read, and it was especially interesting to read about pre-forensic criminal investigation.

I loved this book! It's so well written and has the feel of an engaging thriller despite the fact that it's nonfiction. It's made me want to go back and listen to the podcast, which I haven't done yet.

The story of Rulloff is told so well, and the information around psychology and criminology back in that area was incredibly interesting. It is incredibly readable while also providing intelligent context, motivations and analysis.

I highly recommend this for anyone who has an interest in history or true crime!

The beginning of the book didn't spark my curiosity. But as I like True crime, I needed to give the book a fair chance. Reading about Edward Rulloff was interesting and did like the flow of the narrative.

However, the narrative is repetitive and felt like it never got to the point.

Thank you #NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for giving me the opportunity to read this.

This true crime book was an interesting read, especially since this was something I have not heard about before. It was very clearly a well-researched book. It was a bit dry at points and I was not as into it as I thought I would be. I wonder if I would have liked it more if I had listened to the author’s podcast.