Acclaimed crime writer Carol Anne Davis explores the minds of sadistic killers: their childhoods, their growing pathology and horrific crimes. Knowing what some of these killers endured doesn’t even begin to excuse their crimes – but it does explain them. Davis delineates the different subgroups of sadists – for example, those who kill indiscriminately – in Britain, the US and Australia.

There are also chapters on:

• female sadists, who tend to be overlooked by the media.
• consensual sadomasochism – including a rare interview with a well-known female practitioner, Lynn Paula Russell.
• input from a psychologist who has helped rehabilitate some of Britain’s most violent men.

Sadistic Killers is a compelling look at the formative influences of a sadist and at his or her crimes. Unflinching in detail but never gratuitous, this is an informative read with a hopeful ending.