The Last Victim: A True-Life Journey into the Mind of a Serial Killer
- Narrated by:
- Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release Date:01/04/2013
- Publisher: Audible Studios
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Publisher's Summary
Dear Mr. Manson....
It started with a college course assignment, then escalated into a dangerous obsession. Eighteen-year-old honor student Jason Moss wrote to men whose body counts had made criminal history: men named Dahmer, Manson, Ramirez, and Gacy.
Dear Mr. Dahmer....
Posing as their ideal victim, Jason seduced them with his words. One by one they wrote him back, showering him with their madness and violent fantasies. Then the game spun out of control. John Wayne Gacy revealed all to Jason - and invited his pen pal to visit him in prison....
Dear Mr. Gacy....
It was an offer Jason couldn't turn down. Even if it made him....
The book that has riveted the attention of the national media, this may be the most revealing look at serial killers ever recorded and the most illuminating study of the dark places of the human mind ever attempted.
©1999 Jason Moss and Jeffrey Kottler (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
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What Members Say
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"An exercise in lunacy."
What would have made The Last Victim better?To start with a less robotic narrator. While Fawley tries hard to play each part separately he fails and the pace is slow and monotone.
What was most disappointing about Jason Moss and Jeffrey Kottler ’s story?I could not see past the main character's arrogance and blatant stupidity. The most common element that shines through is how Moss really love himself. He believes he is capable of trapping and training the mind of some seriously damaged, evil murderers and doesn't baulk at including his own younger brother in the mess it creates! The first 16 chapters are filled with this self love and I don't think I can put up with any more of this rubbish.
You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?If the correspondence between Moss and Gacy are factual then perhaps less pornographic examples and more detailing the whole mindset of the man might have redeemed something.
Any additional comments?If you are looking for a 'true crime' story I'd strongly suggest choosing something else.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful -
"An introduction to serial killers… What an introduction!"
I want to read this book after seeing the film the last victim on which this film is based after reading this book I was left with the impression that the author was indeed the last victim. I do not believe that he ever got over his experiences writing to John Wayne Gacy and Richard Ramirez. The book Chronicles this relationship particularly with Gacy but also touched on his relationship with the Ramirez and Charles Manson. Jason was brave and naive to believe that he could outwit these men who committed the most atrocious crimes against humanity. What we learn is what I would like to be a victim of a serial killer and how they must've felt being under the spell. One interesting note Jason managed to contact Jeffrey Dalmers and they wrote to each other briefly before Dalmers death in prison One could only imagine what we could of learned if that relationship had been allowed to develop. This book is very interesting and insightful but you can't help but keep in the back of your mind that the author paid the ultimate price. Previous reviewer said that this was an instruction to serial killers… This is not true as the technique are used to get them to write what's the meticulously analyse their victims and take on their mannerisms in order to gain a victim perspective the end result is both frightening and brave .. I loved this book narration is excellent warning though not for the squeamish
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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Cheryl L. Ring13/08/14
"Narrator"
What did you love best about The Last Victim?It was an a creepy, scary and exciting glimpse into the mind of serial killers.
Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Thomas Fawley?I don't know, but I did not enjoy his narration. Found his voice very irritating. I almost quit listening, but persisted because of the story.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful -
Gregory S. Butlerpit869511/04/13
"Pulling the Covers back and Exposing True Evil"
It is a true story of the autobiographical story of Jason Moss who wrote to serial killers and got into their psyche while doing so by intentionally fabricating stories to tap into their brain to get some insight that could explain their murders. Riveting, Scary and thought provoking. What this book uncovers is the the devils work in a personal setting. There is true evil out there and this book uncovers the shadows of the blackness that truly exist in not just the most commonly known serial killers, but from everyday people who walk down the sidewalk in front of your house.
John Wayne Gacy we all know from what we have heard and read was a terrible person and a psychotic killer. But this book puts you in the same room with John Waynce Gacy and locks the doors. Gacy is a monster. But this book exposes him for the true monster that he really is and help seperates him from any prior thoughts you may a have a had about him. Yeah he is a serial killer, and we know he killed 30 something people and buried them under his house, thats common knowledge. But that really doesn't seperate him from the others right?? Well read this and you will change the way you think. This book also covers Richard Ramirez, Dahmer and Manson. Great stuff.....but listen to it with the lights on and whatever you do don't listen it before you go to sleep. You don't want to let these guys into your dreams at night. The only negative is the narrator who is terrible, but not enough to warrant a 5 star rating.12 of 13 people found this review helpful -
Deanna Davis02/04/15
"Intriguing but I had to listen to it in 3x speed"
This book is definitely not for the faint at heart. It is a true portrayal of a young teenage boy getting caught up in a world with John Wayne Gacy. With that comes all the horror of what Gacy was really like. Sadly, Jason Moss committed suicide back in 2006. But I can't say I'm surprised. His ordeal with Gacy would badly scar anyone for life, regardless of their own mental health.
The narrator read painfully slow though. I usually listen to books at 1.5x the regular speed but this one I used 3x speed and still completely understood every word and heard several noticeable pauses.4 of 4 people found this review helpful -
LeeCelina, TX06/11/14
"Great topic, Inventive technique, but lacks..."
Would you listen to The Last Victim again? Why?No, because the story is not inventive, if the storyline stayed true to the great inventive way Moss gathers his information I would have rated 5 stars.
What do you think the narrator could have done better?Narration was okay, he does a great job changing his voices so you know who is talking, however the voices could have used some improvement.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?Just when Moss decides to share the details of the conversation/letters he received Moss would say it is to graphic to repeat... Ummm, I am an adult and isn't that why you wrote the book?
Any additional comments?Author has a good attempt at writing a book, but he needs some maturity/seasoning on writing. I would recommend solely for the unique and inventive way he gathers the trust and information from his subjects.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful -
CathrynPerth, Australia23/02/14
"Young fool goes looking for trouble - and finds it"
The writer/main character in this book is an ego centric arrogant jerk who goes down a stupid course of action despite being warned by many many people that this could have terrible consequences. Foolishly, and with little regard for the danger he places himself and other people in, he ignores the warnings and it comes back to bite him. Who could have predicted that laying bait for serial killers with a mixture of lies, false compliments and pretending to be their perfect victim type could backfire??? At times interesting, mostly frustrating , this is an immature and foolish young mans story, in his own self righteous and short sighted words. If you read up about the writer after finishing the book you will find he became Gacys last victim in more ways than one.
10 of 12 people found this review helpful -
docJEast Brunswick, NJ, United States18/07/13
"Horrible"
Any additional comments?The narration is slow to the point that it is painful. While the books premise seemed intriguing, the author drones on and on about his childhood, not getting to the actual plot for quite some time. Try as I like, I just couldn't hang in there.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful -
anneRICHMOND, CA, United States25/06/13
"Too much gory detail - from a non-prude"
The story focuses on the author's voice rather than on Gacey's deviant psychology. It is fascinating to see the 'why' and 'how' the author would set about doing what he did, putting himself in such a vulnerable position and how it as all accomplished. I did expect there would be more in terms of unearthing Gacey's own background. Instead, there's a LOT of lingering on the sexual and violent nature of the murders and not much to shed light on why Gacey might've been the way he was. I'm no prude but there was so much graphic detail that I skipped through much of that, not out of squeamishness but out of boredom. Again the author's story and his mind set is fascinating to read about.
The narrator has a stilted quality but somehow fit the voice of the author and did like the reading quite a lot.6 of 7 people found this review helpful -
MichelleRahway, NJ United States13/08/13
"Terrible book all around"
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?Protagonist came off as a spoiled arrogant brat. Narrator was awful. Hard to tell which was worse. Definitely do NOT recommend this book.
What do you think your next listen will be?Bunker Hill
You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?None at all
Any additional comments?Horrible book all around. I generally like true crime and psychology, but I hated Jason Moss and the narrator. I had to force myself to finish the book because I really didn't care what happened to Moss.
9 of 11 people found this review helpful -
Michelle in New York CityNYC04/03/16
"Someone should have Intervened"
As I was listening to this story, I became more and more disturbed that no one in this young man's inner circle noticed how unstable he was. The fact that he was living with his parents and younger brother should have made it much more difficult for him to continue his bizarre obsession. But it didn't seem to impede his intentions at all. In fact, this author indicated, on multiple times in this book , that his mother (and other people he knew) seemed to be in awe of him because of his interactions with these serial killers. Of course, that was only the opinion of the author and I know from reading this book that his reality was quite distorted. The fact of the matter is that this was a young man just out of high school in his first semester of introductory psychology. He had no training . He was quite grandiose and, even though he had no qualifications, called himself a "good behavioral psychologist". He claimed that all of his actions were for a psychology assignment. I am surprised if he had actually consulted with his professor about his ongoing sexually-charged conversations with John Wayne Gacy and his intentions to meet him in person, why the professor (who presumably is a licensed clinician) would not have advised him of how unwise and unsafe his plans were. These plans were not only unsafe for the author but for his entire family. This author was giving out his home address to multiple serial killers and pretending to have the same goals and mindsets as the various serial killers. He spoke on the phone and, eventually, in person to John Wayne Gacy. The author was leading him on as if he wanted to be his boyfriend.The author told J.W.G that he (the author) was molesting his own 14 year old brother in an attempt to "gain his trust". He accepted money and gifts from John Wayne Gacy. In fact, John Wayne Gacy paid for him to come visit him in prison. A fact that the author claims his parents knew about and were ok with. Then he acted surprised when he went to the prison and J.W.G. tried to kiss him and fondle him. I am not sure how any of this could have actually been for any type of college assignment let alone one for a first semester psychology student.
This young man appeared to be slipping into his own mental illness and no one seemed to notice.When the entire story is reviewed, it is clear that there was no clinical point to any of this. What did he learn? That John Wayne Gacy was a bad man? ...that Richard Ramirez was dangerous and creepy? That Charles Manson is a mad man? Everything he learned from his so called "research" was already well known.
I ended up googling this author before the book was finished because I thought I would find that he had ended up psychiatrically hospitalized... instead I found out that he had killed himself 10 years ago. How sad. He really was a disturbed and troubled young man and this erratic behavior was a crystal clear indication of his mental status. This book is an unsettling story of this young man's descent into mental illness. It really is difficult to listen to.2 of 2 people found this review helpful -
Amazon CustomerUSA15/04/16
"Interesting tale"
Interesting story but needs an updated afterward. The author killed himself 7 years after publication
1 of 1 people found this review helpful