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vampireophelia's review
dark
informative
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, Pedophilia, Murder, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Violence
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
If you are looking for the kind of True Crime book that will make it hard to wipe that look of horror off your face, this is it. I'm new to Harold Schechter's work but thank God there's a lot of it because he's a master at this. His gift is finding really horrible crimes of the past and exploring them all over again.
"Deranged" is the story of Albert Fish, and yes, it really is shocking. You think you have lost that capacity? I hope you're wrong.
Fish, a wizened old guy with shabby clothes and a gray face, was responsible for the murders of at least seven children in the 1920s and '30s. What takes the story from that level of horror is Fish's own perverse mental illness and the extraordinary way it manifests itself. And despite all that, he married several times and fathered six children.
Schechter reports the story, which makes it bearable although using reports in 1930's tabloids is about as florid as it gets. "Deranged" is well done and highly recommended for anyone with a yen for historical true crime.
"Deranged" is the story of Albert Fish, and yes, it really is shocking. You think you have lost that capacity? I hope you're wrong.
Fish, a wizened old guy with shabby clothes and a gray face, was responsible for the murders of at least seven children in the 1920s and '30s. What takes the story from that level of horror is Fish's own perverse mental illness and the extraordinary way it manifests itself. And despite all that, he married several times and fathered six children.
Schechter reports the story, which makes it bearable although using reports in 1930's tabloids is about as florid as it gets. "Deranged" is well done and highly recommended for anyone with a yen for historical true crime.
johnbreeden's review
4.0
Insanity is one thing; Fish is an entirely different level.
I have come to like this series of books for its candid look at some of the worst murderers ever. I feel that Schechter keeps any bias out of the story, for the most part. A good read for those interested in macabre true crime.
I have come to like this series of books for its candid look at some of the worst murderers ever. I feel that Schechter keeps any bias out of the story, for the most part. A good read for those interested in macabre true crime.
readingwithstardust's review
5.0
Utterly enthralling, horrifying, and at times nauseating. Would recommend to any true crime lover. A tremendously readable book.
It did bother me that there were no citations in this book, but I assume that was a standard of the time it was written (god I can't believe I just said that about the year 1990).
It did bother me that there were no citations in this book, but I assume that was a standard of the time it was written (god I can't believe I just said that about the year 1990).
thriller_chick's review
5.0
Of all the true crime books I have read this tops the list as my favorite! I love this author and Albert fish was quite a fascinating individual.
carlys987's review
challenging
dark
informative
tense
4.5
I feel weird giving this one a rating, but I used the CAWPILE system and got this so we're going with it lol. This deals with extremely dark, heavy, disturbing material, so I don't know if I'd really recommend it? That being said, I checked it out because the Morbid podcast series on this strange little man was so interesting and I wanted to know more. I definitely know more now (grimacing).