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Articles • Books
The Last Victim
Author: Jason Moss with Jeffrey Kottler, Ph.D.
Publisher: Warner Books
This review written by
Amy Goldman
Leaves the reader with much to consider
This book is about a young man who,
for a school project, decides to try to understand serial killers from an
inside perspective. Moss wrote to killers such as Gacy and Dahmer, as well
as others, pretending to be what he thought the killers would be most
interested in. For example, he wrote to Gacy as a sexually confused young
man. He wrote to Ramirez as someone who is satanic. This book is about his
journey into their minds, his attempts to further the understanding of the
way serial killers think-even at great personal risk to himself. The reason
the book is called The Last Victim is because Moss felt he was truly Gacy's
last victim when after many letters and phone calls, Moss decided to take
the ultimate plunge and visit Gacy in prison. Gacy did, in fact, tell Moss
he was going to kill him...the details are simply too graphic to post on
this site, but believe me-Gacy had every intention of killing Moss.
Jason Moss has always seemed to
have a way with people- he listens and then starts evaluating them to find
out what it is that they either need or want to hear. Because of his way
with people, he was able to do his research to find out what killers like
Gacy, Ramirez, Dahmer, and Manson would most likely prefer to hear. He was
able to find out which method would most likely get results. He did this
skillfully. The beginning of the book, I'd say the first sixty pages, fill
you in on his background, his family life, the things that have shaped him.
He also details the events that shaped how this entire project got started.
Moss is an excellent story teller. I
mean, that his writing is extremely easy to read, you feel like you're being
talked to, not at. The pages seem to breeze by as if it were a
conversation. The story he is telling, however, is not a story. The things
in this book are true and very thought provoking. Moss spins multiple webs
of deceit, thinks he is in control of them, and in due course learns that he
is not.
I found his attitudes regarding the
"so called experts" to be a little unsettling. After all, the experts
generally have guidelines they must follow. They are not allowed to pretend
to be a sexually confused 18 year old young man who is abused by his father
or a devil worshipping lunatic who gets off on physical violence. He
especially makes reference to the police, which I felt badly for because the
police have more than just serial killers to deal with. However, the point
that Moss is trying to make is not missed-if law enforcement were able to
take more time to understand these offenders better, perhaps more could be
done to help victims. So while I do clearly see where Moss is coming from,
I'd also like to see him put himself in their shoes. I also wonder if his
objective of victim awareness and offender apprehension, victim/offender
interaction has remained an objective?
I wish I could say that the entire
purpose for Moss was to learn about victimology versus predators but in the
beginning, that was not the case. He had a view of serial killers than many
of us do-that serial killers wield power, are successful predators, and are
very intelligent. Sometimes that's true...sometimes it's not. He initially
admired the power and skill. Ultimately, however, he came to see the
significance of what victims go through. He came to see how easy it is to
become a victim before you even realize that you are one. I question if
now that time has gone by and his book seems to be doing well, he has
remembered those lessons?
I liked that Moss educates his
readers about serial killers and how manipulative they are. It is impossible
to make any decisions without knowing who you are dealing with. Moss could
have ignored that or simply left it out, but he let us know that the men he
were writing to are manipulative, had not changed in prison, and with the
proper incentive, will teach others their ways. I also liked that Moss let
us in on both what he wrote and what the killers wrote. Although he used
deceptive methods and flat out lied to get his answers, his purpose was
truly to obtain an understanding of the serial killer mind from a
perspective that is very unusual. This is information he intends to use in
his career in Law and in the end, I believe will be beneficial to many, if
used correctly.
I am a little concerned that
publishing his findings for the mass media/public is a bit dangerous. The
information in the book concludes that these killers can be reached by
people who think like the killers do. As Moss mentions, people who would be
willing to further the cause of the Manson family, or join Ramirez in his
cult activities. Gacy gave Moss many explicit sexual 'lessons', to include
how to have a sexual relationship with Moss's own brother...it's scary. By
the way, Moss was totally repulsed by this idea and frightened that Gacy
was fixated on his (Moss) brother.
On the other hand, though, by going
the mass publication way, Moss will reach many people with the message that
serial killers do not and will not change. He can alert people as to things
that go on in the prisons. For example, the guards conveniently disappeared
and left Moss alone with Gacy. Moss states that Gacy was treated like a
celebrity. The more people who know about these kinds of behaviors, the
better.
So...did I like the book? Yes, I
really did. I liked that it made me think of so much-good and bad-about his
experiences. My favorite part, however, was the ending...after Gacy's
execution. Moss shares with us the ways that these experiences have changed
him. He demonstrates how unhealthy and even dangerous it can be to
communicate with a serial killer. He shows that even when you walk into
this type of relationship with knowledge of what you're dealing with, you
too can become a victim. Moss has nightmares still as a result of all of
this. He was forever changed by his experiences and in a way, it seemed kind
of sad to me that someone that young, 18 at the time, would have to know
those kinds of lessons.
I know many people who are not
going to like this book, who are going to consider it sensationalistic. I
would be able to see that view point. However, putting that aside, it does
address the big questions: why the fascination, what can be done with the
knowledge, and what has truly been accomplished by this book? The book
left me thinking of many questions for Jason Moss. I finished it at about
3:00AM and my mind was spinning...thinking about his reflections,
experiences, consequences of writing to serial killers, what he's going to
do with the insight he's gained, and what he's going to do next.
I do suggest this book to those who
really want to understand how easy it is to be manipulated into the role of
victim, or how viciously a killer like Ramirez would attack you. I think
Moss has locked on to something that has many possibilities, but only if the
information is used for a purpose rather than to make a name for himself and
sell more books. I think it would be a complete misuse to not try to
further the educational possibilities that came with this book.
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