American Ripper

The Enigma of America's Serial Killer Cop

By: Patrick Kendrick

Narrated by: James Romick

American Ripper is the true story of Gerard John Schaefer, a Florida law enforcement officer who was a prolific serial killer in the late 1960s early 1970s. The decade that was thought to be filled with love, peace, and happiness became a new dark age, breeding more serial killers than any other time in US history including Charles Manson, the Zodiac Killer, the Son of Sam, John Wayne Gacy, and Ted Bundy, who was held in the same prison as Schaefer and whom he both idolized and resented for the recognition his crimes brought him, a recognition Schaefer never received.

This book chronicles Schaefer's life, education, his career as a cop, and his path to become a sadistic murderer. Based on extensive empirical research that includes reviews of the case's investigation and subsequent trial, interviews with families of victims, numerous police and attorneys involved with the case, forensic doctors, and the killer himself, the author attempts to discern how Schaefer became the antithesis of what a lawman should be. Schaefer's metamorphosis can never be rationally explained, but reviews of the case's transcripts, the killer's psychiatric evaluations, and the author's own experience with Schaefer help paint a picture of an unfettered mind that fed on its own darkness.

©2020 Patrick Kendrick (P)2022 Patrick Kendrick

Critic reviews

"Chilling. Compelling. Kendrick’s account of Gerard John Schaefer, a serial killer/cop, is riveting. Drawing on a wealth of data including interviews with Schaefer himself, Kendrick provides an in-depth study of one man’s descent into darkness and, along the way, insight into the rash of serial killings of the 1960s and '70s. Once you start listening to this book, you won’t want to put it down.” (Harriet J. Ottenheimer, PhD, professor of anthropology and American ethnic studies, emerita, Kansas State University. Author of Cousin Joe: Blues from New Orleans and The Anthropology of Language)

recitation of facts rather than the telling of the story.

the subject material was interesting. the authors presentation was not the best. it was more a recitation of facts, which the author was very knowledgeable of, than the telling of the story. the performance was not the greatest. however, the narrator was not given much to work with.

although I suffered through it, I will avoid this author and narrator in the future.

As Read by a Robot

Nope. Off you go, Sir. Terrible. I just can’t even. Not worth a penny. Not a penny.

Why is there such a disparity?

I'm 20 minutes into this book and I've heard that it's a terrific book, so far the writing seems to bear that out. However the narrator is one of the worst I've ever heard. if I manage to finish this book without shoving pencils through my eardrums it will be a miracle.

The Narrator Suffered, Huh?

This Narrator tried his best to read some of the most horrifically grotesque depictions of murder, necrophilia and utter indecency I've come across yet. The narration is only particularly bad at the start of the book, but it eventually grows on you. I say the Narrator Suffered because of the monotone he dons when reading Schaefer's writings or the crime reports. And you know what? That's a self defense mechanism. Cut him some slack. Oh also there's animal mutilation, lots of necrophilia, and a weird obsession with feces. If you can look past that, you'll be very pleased with the amount of information listed here. It's probably even where Bundy got some ideas about identity concealment, and may explain why he chose to flee to Florida if you can make any good inferences. It's definitely more disturbing than any other crime book I've read so far, including "I: The Making of a Serial Killer" by Jack Olson (Olsen?).

Not so great narration of a great story.

As a true crime content aficionado, I was really surprised to find I had never heard of Gerard Schaefer before. He truly was an evil human being. I could have done without the long chunks interview transcripts. Especially the one with his roommate. Easily could have cut that down to keep only the relevant and interesting parts. However the narrator wasn’t great. I actually googled him and he’s a professional voice actor with formal training which makes it all the more puzzling. The way he gave everyone from the same area of the States different accents. And don’t get me started on how he read the women’s quotes. He made everyone woman in this story sound like an airhead. I would have preferred him to read this in his own voice the whole time than those awful accents.

Just Ok

The first few chapters and the details of the attacks are sickeningly graphic. Definitely not recommended for those who are sensitive to postmortem rape and sodomy in graphic detail. I wish I had not listened to this one.

Awful dictation

This man's monotonous voice and ridiculous impersonation of a "southern" accent almost made this impossible to listen to.

Very very iffy

Narration was really distorted to sound like an old fashioned computerized voice. Long long stretches of infinitesimal detail that I would have skimmed over if reading but had to listen to ad nauseam. The story is chilling and new to me, so I learned something which is why this didn’t get two stars.

Great read

Great read. Very thorough but keeps your attention. I received a free copy and left my honest review

excellent

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall