“I thought about Malcolm’s assertion more than once as I read Martha Elliott’s excellent new book, The Man in the Monster: An Intimate Portrait of a Serial Killer. As its title indicates, the book explores the gruesome misdeeds of a murderer (and rapist), but it is also an extended reflection on how and why one might write about, and even befriend, such people. On both counts, it is an admirable success.” —The National Book Review
“Sturdily written and well researched…the book will appeal to those curious about why killers kill, and those who can stomach what they learn.”- Boston Globe
“A disturbing and multifaceted exposé of both a ruthless killer and the sympathetic, merciful journalist at odds with his capital fate.”- Kirkus
“A fascinating, in-depth analysis for true-crime buffs, sociologists, and others grappling with nearly impossible-to-comprehend actions and their consequences.”-Booklist
“This should be a welcomed volume to both general readers and criminal justice professionals.”- Library Journal
The Man in the Monster is arresting at every turn.”- Bookpage
“Elliott’s harrowing story pulls off something brilliant and new. Elliott peered into the mind of a serial killer by becoming his friend. A narrative that is riveting, honest, and devastating.” – Jack Hitt, author of Bunch of Amateurs: A Search for the American Character
“Martha Elliott takes us inside the mind of serial killer and rapist Michael Ross. Elliott spent ten years getting to know the man behind the monster, and the pace of her book is as fast and merciless as a thriller.” – Rebecca Tinsley, author of When Stars Fall to Earth
“Martha Elliott has done something no other journalist has done–she devoted ten years getting to know a serial killer, giving the reader a rare glimpse into the mind of a man, a “monster,” who killed eight women. No matter what your views are on capital punishment or mental illness, this will be a thought-provoking read. You won’t want to put it down.”-Steven Greenhouse, author of The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for American Workers
“Martha Elliot has written a commanding book about a death row inmate she met as a journalist and talked with at least once a week for ten year…When you read this book, I think you will be overwhelmed as I was and find that Martha Elliot has written a book that makes us look seriously at capital punishment. This is a great read and a must read and I urge it for people in every generation.”-Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., Jesse Climenko Professor of Law; Founding & Executive Director, The Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race & Justice
“Martha Elliott provides us with a rare close-up of the mind behind a serial killer already tried and facing the death penalty. Her meticulous and dispassionate reporting pries open the story behind the series of repulsive crimes the killer has committed against his vulnerable victims. A normal college graduate with girlfriends and, at the same time, an obsessive, demented man stalking young women, the killer reveals himself to the reporter as the complex story of childhood traumas and mental illness unfold. The book is a highly readable contribution both to the debate about capital punishment and the criminal justice system, and, at the same time, journalism as compelling drama.”-Joan Konner, Dean Emerita, Columbia Graduate School of Journalism
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