The Man Your Mama Warned You About
This is one of those stories where truth is stranger than fiction. As a true crime geek, I have no problem admitting that I�ve read my share of info on serial killers. For some of us, they�re fascinating. So how was it that I missed this guy? Who is Sam Little, and how did he become the most prolific serial killer in the US? How did he fly under the law enforcement radar for decades? Perhaps more to the point, why was a killer whose victim count probably extends beyond 90 so under-reported?
I had questions. Jillian Lauren has the answers in her book ââ?¬Å"Behold the Monster: Confronting Americaââ?¬â?¢s Most Prolific Serial Killer.ââ?¬Â?
The whole natural world was an ecosystem of predation, decay, rebirth. He was the prince of destruction.
Jillian Lauren was an investigative reporter when she first heard about Samuel Little and his victims. She felt this was a seriously under-reported killer, and she wanted to know more. She requested permission to visit him for an interview in prison and found a unique, highly intelligent, and profoundly manipulative old man. She began to see Little regularly in prison, visiting him on family day under the premise of being a relative. She also spoke with him often on the phone, life imitating art, as their talks became reminiscent of Silence of the Lambs in their scope and intensity. This story stealthily took over the author�s life, as she devoted the next four years to the mind and manner of Samuel Little.
The investigation, research, and total immersion the author gave to this case is remarkable. Through her tenacity and persistence, she and several law enforcement officers from different branches were able to piece together the information she received from Little with the known facts of numerous unsolved cases around the country. Many cold cases in several states were eventually put to rest because of their combined endeavors, spear-headed by Jillian Lauren�s bulldogged determination to see justice for the victims. She was spending the hours that law enforcement wished they were able to devote to researching these cold cases.
This is a mind-blowing read as the author lays out the childhood, abuse, decades of murder, and the mindset of this man. Born to a poor family in the Deep South, this black man with blue eyes; eyes that even his family referred to as ââ?¬Å"devilââ?¬â?¢s eyes,ââ?¬Â? started life with no roots. He was abandoned early and often; no home, no parents, no hope. As an adult, he racked up a rap sheet over 100 pages long with various crimes from 24 states. Thatââ?¬â?¢s half of the contiguous US. Yet he slipped through the fingers of law enforcement in one way or another each time, doing only minor sentences for a few small offenses.
The author�s literary style is unique. There was a certain kinetic energy about it, the way she transitioned between storylines and timing. She also has a great wit that helps break up a bit of the serious intensity. A favorite victim of her quick tongue was a Texas Ranger who worked extensively with her to resolve a cold case in his state. His persona was such an alien concept to her that she never failed to mention him in interesting ways.
Behind two sets of double doors stood Texas Ranger James B. Holland, Company B, straight backed, hands folded in front of him, tall hat, boots made from some endangered species he�d no doubt wrestled and skinned himself.
Jillian Lauren�s interviews were a far different style than those of FBI agent Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs, though. Law Enforcement, prison staff, and even her family were confused and concerned as the relationship between the author and the serial killer was often reduced to pet names, dancing, and singing childish songs. Little was a master manipulator and Lauren would do what it took to get the information she sought. While her method may seem like madness, no one can deny its effectiveness.
Fans of true crime thrillers and students of criminal minds alike will find this a fascinating and sometimes terrifying read. It is not for the faint of heart, as raw descriptions of Littleââ?¬â?¢s heinous acts as well as crime scene photos give flavor to this work. While her research would earn a stellar 10 stars, Iââ?¬â?¢m only allowed to give 5 for the book itself. I can easily recommend ââ?¬Å"Behold the Monster: Confronting Americaââ?¬â?¢s Most Prolific Serial Killerââ?¬Â? by Jillian Lauren.
