Inside the Mind of the Backpack Killer: Ivan Milat by Tanya Farber and Jeremy Daniel is a good detailed look at the killer and his victims as well as the acts themselves.

This is the type of true crime book that doesn't take too much effort to read, there is not a lot of analysis that might require understanding and everything is laid out nicely. If you enjoy books that give you the information and offers some surface level psychological assessment this will be up your alley. I usually prefer ones that delve deeper into the psychology and sociology of the crime(s) but I enjoyed this one as a break from some of the darkness those books can generate. The crimes here are certainly dark so maybe not getting too far into his mind is a good thing. I did like that we got to know the victims a little better than many books. In some ways that took this from potentially being a dark book into being more of a sad book.

I think most true crime fans will enjoy this. It is definitely more than some of the books that are really nothing more than previous articles paraphrased into a book. This has structure and a good voice, and will keep you turning pages.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley & Gemini Books Group for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

As an Australian I was always fascinated by this case and this book gave me so much more insight into the victims and their families.
It was written quite well and there were only a few times I felt it was a little repetitive.
Otherwise it is a very well written true crime book.

This is a well-written documentary about Ivan Milat, the Backpacker Killer from Australia. There are a lot of in-depth facts about the crimes he committed. Very easy to follow along and understand the time lines given.

There are numerous trigger warnings for this true-crime book. It is definitely not for the faint-of heart.

#NetGalley #InsidetheMindoftheBackpackerKiller

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Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**This review DOES contain some spoilers**

TW - rape, murder, kidnapping, self harm, anorexia?, animal abuse, domestic violence

I went into this book without any knowledge on this case, I’ve never heard of it before. After reading, I just don’t understand how he was let off so many times. Holy , this guy is an evil POS, along with his attorney. I feel so horrible for every victim, if they were surviving or deceased. This was written in a way that I can easily understand, and it wasn’t confusing - straight to the point. Also the ending?? What the actual .

This case has always fascinated me and I've listened to multiple podcast episodes about it. The book does a great job of going into way more detail and filling in some gaps in the timeline that was very helpful. This guy was an absolute monster and I'm glad that he was apprehended before he could kill more innocent people. Very thorough and complete story that I enjoyed.

This book was written very well. I thought that I knew most everything of the “backpacker murders” in Australia but there was so much more the Ivan Milat. I feel such sadness for all of the victims and their families. If you enjoy true crime then this is a worthwhile read. Thank you NetGalley for the enlightening ARC

Thanks, Goodreads and Gemini, for giving me a copy of Inside the Mind of the Backpacker Killer by Tanya Farber in exchange for an honest review.

Having once been a backpacker in Australia, albeit in a time of mobile phones and internet, I was intrigued as to how Farber would report on Milat, who by all accounts was sadistic but with unresolved questions as to why he did what he did.

Farber's most interesting chapters are on his background, Milat, being one of 14, who grew up in an emotionally stunted family. Common in books of this quality, this is given as a factor but prefaced with a 'other kids suffered but didn't become sadistic serial killers' type of line.

Whilst I think Farber writes well about her subject, I think it is obvious that the book is fleshed out from other reports and books, thereby giving a perfect summary of what happened. It's three sections worked out quite well though and I think the descriptions of the flora were quite strong.

Perhaps I wanted a bit more about the supposed cooling-off period. There's a minor chapter about potential victims, which I would say tallies well with an opportunist who enjoyed hunting birds of prey. I always think it's sad that victims are left unaccounted for. This, for a future edition would be worthwhile to extend on to have contemporary information about the ongoing work bringing to light his villainous behaviour. Additionally, there is surely more information about Milat. This was quite light.

Was I glad to have read it? Of course, undoubtedly. Will I read others? Of course, undoubtedly.