Such a creepy read!

Everything about Sam is disturbing.
He’s smart with the women he preyed on. Women that wouldn’t be missed, people wouldn’t immediately start searching for, and women who wouldn’t be believed.

The FBI had found 60 confirmed cases. He has admitted to 93. He could be “the most prolific serial killer”. If you are a true crime fan. You’ll like this read

Behold the Monster, is about serial killer Sam Little. Everything about Sam Little is disturbing! This books gives us a view into the the eyes of Sam and his victims. We hear not only from him as he speaks with Jillian but also from the victims families along with the four women who were able to escape from him. Sam might be the “most prolific serial killer in American history of record.”

This was great read for those who like the world of true crime. I definitely recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and author for my ARC !

As so many of us are, I am fascinated by the mind of a serial killer. How could someone be so damaged that they feel justified in killing people? That somehow the rules of society don't apply to them. This book looks at that question. Unfortunately, this was a much darker interpretation of the material than I expected. The author related what each murder victim's experience could have been, and beyond feeling voyeuristic, it was concerning that it was unlikely that those details could be corroborated. Perhaps that was by design. Perhaps the author wanted the reader to experience more fully the horror of each victim. I would have preferred not to imagine the lives of the women in details that could not be fully known. Wanting to understand what makes a serial killer tick is different than facing the experiences of their victims. It is horrific whether we know what the victim's experience was, or not. I appreciate the author's viewpoint and experience, and the book was well written. My takeaway is that I'm not convinced that serial killers will ever give us a true picture of what and how they think.

I did not enjoy the writing style of this book at all. The author seemed to jump around and include a lot of extra information including a bunch of imagined things/scenarios. I would not recommend this book to any of my patrons.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review, opinions are my own.

I found Behold the Monster to be an interesting true crime read. I like learning how they used old and new police work to learn about the crimes that Sam Little committed.

This book is definitely a book any true crime lover should check out.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for a copy of Behold the Monster in exchange of an honest review.

If you are a true crime addict as I am, you’re going to want to get your hands on Behold The Monster by Jillian Lauren. Can you imagine having any kind of relationship with a killer? I cannot, therefore I will read books like this and live vicariously through the author’s experiences.

He was sitting right across the table…and he would have killed her if he could. Jillian Lauren had no idea what she was getting into when she wrote her first letter to prolific serial killer Samuel Little. All she knew was her research had led her to believe he was guilty of many more murders than the three for which he had been convicted. While the two exchanged dozens of letters and embarked on hundreds of hours of interviews, Lauren gained the trust of a monster. After maintaining his innocence for decades, Little confessed to the murders of ninety-three women, often drawing his victims in haunting detail as he spoke. How could one man evade justice, manipulating the system for more than four decades? As the FBI, the DOJ, the LAPD, and countless law enforcement officials across the country worked to connect their cold cases with the confessions, Lauren’s coverage of the investigations and obsession with Little’s victims only escalated.

Lauren delivers the harrowing report of her unusual relationship with a psychopath–but this is more than a deep dive into the actions of Samuel Little. Lauren’s riveting and emotional accounts reveal the women who were lost to cold files, giving Little’s victims a chance to have their stories heard for the first time.

This book gives information and details about Sam’s victims, which is not easy to read. It’s out now!

A deep dive into Samuel Little, his crimes, and the impact he had on everyone around him. This was an incredible true-crime read that should be a must-read for true crime fans everywhere.

The author began this book thinking she would write a feature piece for a newspaper…and instead spent YEARS interviewing Little, working with law enforcement across the country, and eventually becoming Little’s next of kin upon his death. She’s the only media who spent this kind of time with him, and because of her work, multiple victims were identified that had previously not been associated with Little’s killings.

Overall, this is a story that a) needed to be told and b) was done in a masterful way, while telling the stories of the women who were taken too soon.

"Behold the Monster" by Jillian Lauren offers a detailed and informative account of America's most prolific serial killer, shedding light on a dark chapter in history. The book delves deep into the life and crimes of the serial killer, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of the events that unfolded. The level of detail and accuracy in recounting the investigations and legal proceedings is impressive and allows readers to gain insight into the complexities of such cases.

Jillian Lauren's writing style is engaging and keeps the reader invested in the narrative. Her ability to humanize the victims and examine the impact of these heinous acts on their families adds a poignant dimension to the story. While the factual presentation is solid, there is a missed opportunity for the author to provide deeper insights or offer her own unique take on the case. Additionally, the pacing felt uneven at times, with certain sections dragging while others seemed rushed.

In conclusion, "Behold the Monster" is an informative and well-researched book that provides a comprehensive account of America's most prolific serial killer. While it might not offer groundbreaking analysis, it remains a worthwhile read for true crime enthusiasts seeking a detailed exploration of the case. With some refinements to pacing and additional contextual information, this book could have even greater potential to captivate its audience.

I knew some about Samuel Little, but not all the detail in this book. The author had many meetings with the Samuel Little and had a lot of material to work with. I struggled with the story being told from the perspective of everyone involved. I felt like it was jumping around a lot. I have mixed feelings about the fictionalized versions of what the victims were thinking in their final moments. I appreciate the attempt to focus more on the victims than the killer. I

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Good book but way too long. It would have been just as good of a story if it was about 100 pages shorter. I’m sure the author felt everything in there needed to be said, but some parts felt repetitive. Interesting story though. Pretty amazing thing this author did.

Behold the Monster is a fascinating story of a serial killer. I never read books like this but the depth of this book is intriguing. There is a lot of information about how DNA testing began and has progressed through time. It also has quite a bit on how law enforcement goes about tracking and capturing a killer.
The book is true crime and written as somewhat of a narrative as Jillian Lauren writes to and befriends Sam Little in jail. Their talks are eye opening and lead to how he murdered so many woman. These woman are forgotten people ( mostly prostitutes) and Sam travels all over the country murdering them. The justice system failed over and over allowing Sam Little to continue his carnage.
This book is not for the faint of heart as it is very descriptive.

Behold the Monster is a true crime book written by Jillian Lauren. It tells the story of America's most prolific serial killer, Sam Little and his many victims. This book also looks into a bit of the psychology of what could have potentially made Little behave the way he did.

I appreciated learning about Little's childhood and upbringing, even though it was at times difficult to read. I also appreciated seeing the victims' stories through their eyes. But again, it was often difficult. What I disliked about the book was the way it seemed to jump from situation and perspective to another. It felt loose and unstructured to me at times. I also felt the author colored it with too much of her own perspective. I'd rather read my nonfiction without the author's added inflections. While I agree Same Little did horrible things, I don't believe anyone would disagree with that. The added commentary is subtle and seldom, but it still knocked me out of my nonfiction mode. It's difficult to describe unless you read nonfiction the same way I do. I just want the information to form my own opinions based on the facts.

With all of that said, I know many will truly enjoy this book! I feel I'm a minority with my criticisms. But I need to be true to my instincts when rating. Otherwise, what's the point in writing reviews? I give Behold the Monster three out of five stars.

I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ever wonder what it would be like to talk to a serial killer? Jillian Lauren knows. She spent years talking and investigating the United States most prolific serial killer, Sam Little.

Surprisingly I didn't know much about Sam Little when I started this book. I had heard the name but that's about it. So I was super excited when I saw this book! While I think Jillian did an amazing job at investigating and researching this book, it wasn't what I expected. I was wanting something a bit more.

Behold the Monster has a killer premise (no pun intended). The author became the world’s only journalist to extensively interview the U.S.’s most prolific serial killer, Samuel Little. She helped solve several cold cases by getting Little to speak about them. For this, she should be commended.

As to the actual writing of the book, the author took way too many fictionalized liberties. She imagined what his victim’s were thinking about when they were killed. She also imagined that some of them used detestable language about other human beings. It was understandable when she’s put herself into Little’s shoes, but she didn’t know what the women thought. It felt disrespectful when she decided they’d have negative opinions of one group or another.

The author also reduced herself to doing favors for Little, including letting him call her one of his girls. Their relationship was definitely odd. However, I wish she’d have written more about what she actually heard instead of musing over what the women might have said, thought, and gone through. I get that she wanted to humanize them, but still. It could have been done in a different way.

Since Behold the Monster is true crime and told from the viewpoint in a non-fictional way, I always find it somewhat difficult to rate a book like this since it’s literally the authors first hand experience. They can’t exactly change how an event unfolded.
I enjoyed the formatting and how all the information was laid out. I found it very informative and would recommend this book because I feel not many people know of Sam Little. In terms of notorious serial killers, he’s pretty much flown under the radar in comparison to others. I felt at first, it was a little hard to get into because it was so dense but once you go the hang of the writing style, it was smooth sailing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC (possibly re-edit?) of this book!

Fascinating and brutally-factual non-fiction work about serial killer Samuel Little. The writer sat with the man for years inside prison asking questions and listening to his recounting of every detail of every murder. I appreciated and found the author’s research about his childhood fascinating as well as background and information about sociopaths and serial killers. Every true crime person will like this book.

As a huge true crime fan, I’m surprised Sam Little isn’t talked about more. Jillian Lauren shares her experience interviewing Little and honoring his victims. As gruesome as his crimes were and was sometimes tough to read what he did, the book was very interesting.

Wow! I can't believe that I have never heard of Sam Little! He was a true monster, truly. How did he slip justice for so long??? It's so sad that b/c he chose to victimize prostitutes he got away with murder over and over again! This was truly a wild read, reading about what Jillian Lauren went through to help get the names and details of victims to help law enforcement convict him.

Behold the Monster is a chilling and thought-provoking true crime masterpiece that delves into the terrifying realm of Samuel Little, one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. With meticulous research and a compassionate narrative, Lauren skillfully navigates the disturbing and complex world of a man whose heinous acts sent shockwaves through society.

From the opening pages, the book grips readers with its unflinching portrayal of the crimes and the lives they forever altered. Lauren masterfully weaves together the haunting accounts of Samuel Little's victims, their families, and the tireless investigators determined to unmask the enigmatic killer. With a profound sense of empathy, the author ensures that the victims are not mere statistics but real people, humanizing their memories and emphasizing the tragic impact of their untimely deaths.

Overall, this is a haunting and compassionate true crime book that confronts the darkest aspects of human nature while celebrating the strength of those who refuse to be silenced. Jillian Lauren's powerful storytelling and dedication to honoring the victims make this book a must-read for anyone seeking to comprehend the depths of evil and the resilience of the human spirit.

This was a well researched well written true crime. Engrossing and Engaging. Though provoking, Creepy. All the good stuff you want from True Crime