Book Review: Bind, Torture, Kill

BIND, TORTURE, KILL | Roy Wenzl
05.27.2008 | Harper
Rating: 4/5 stars

For thirty-one years, a monster was allowed to roam the streets of Wichita, Kansas. A serial killer calling himself “BTK”, standing for “bind, torture, kill” was known for slaughtering men, women, and children. He had the ability to effortlessly enter homes and kill without being caught. Despite repeatedly bragging about his kills to the media, BTK’s true identity remained unknown for decades. The nation was shocked when he was finally revealed to be Dennis Rader, a man who could fill the role of devoted husband, helpful Dad, friendly neighbor, and deadly killer.

Roy Wenzl has compiled an extensive amount of history on Dennis Rader and his life as BTK within the pages of BIND, TORTURE, KILL. The pages of this true crime book lay out Radar’s long career as a serial killer through the use of investigation details, including documents and evidence. Perhaps what sets this book apart in the genre is the contributions directly to the book from the Wichita Police Department’s BTK Task Force. 

If you’re looking for an in-depth and highly detailed look into BTK, this is the ultimate source of knowledge. Prior to picking this one up, I knew the general story of BTK and his criminal career, but what I learned within this book was so much more. Reading this story is completely unsettling as it describes how easy it was for Radar to commit his killings. In addition to having an incredibly well-rounded investigation into BTK, this book also portrays the real-life impact of investigating these crimes by police officers. I truly enjoyed how the Wichita Police Department was described and how the reader was able to gain a look into their lives. If you want to learn about BTK, this is the book!

This book is available to buy from: Amazon | Book Depository

Disclosure: What Jess Reads is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This in no way influences my opinion of the above book.