Preview
  • The Anatomy of Motive

  • The FBI's Legendary Mindhunter Explores the Key to Understanding and Catching Violent Criminals
  • By: John Douglas, Mark Olshaker
  • Narrated by: Joe Barrett
  • Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,125 ratings)

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The Anatomy of Motive

By: John Douglas, Mark Olshaker
Narrated by: Joe Barrett
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Publisher's summary

In this eagerly anticipated book from the internationally best-selling authors of Mindhunter, Journey into Darkness, and Obsession, legendary crime fighter John Douglas explores the root of all crime: motive. Every crime is a mystery story with a motive at its heart. Understand the motive, and you can solve the mystery.

The Anatomy of Motive offers a dramatic, insightful look at the development and evolution of the criminal mind. The famed former chief of the FBI's Investigative Support Unit, Douglas was the pioneer of modern behavioral profiling of serial criminals. Working again with acclaimed novelist, journalist, and filmmaker Mark Olshaker, and using cases from his own fabled career as examples, Douglas takes us further than ever before into the dark corners of the minds of arsonists, hijackers, bombers, poisoners, serial and spree killers, and mass murderers.

©1999 Mindhunters, Inc. (P)2017 Tantor
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Critic reviews

"An informative, provocative page-turner.... Douglas is a good teller of gruesome tales." (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about The Anatomy of Motive

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Disagree with John Douglas on gun control.

I learned a lot from this book and I can understand why he feels as he does about guns.
But if his job gave him more access to those who used guns for self defense and less to those who are the worse of society, would he have the same view on guns?
If he had to counsel women who used a gun to fight off a rapist, a man who defended his family from multiple home invaders with an AR15, or a young man who defended himself from a street gang with a pistol, would he still have the same view?

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it!!!

Everything John E. Douglas writes is amazing!! I have most of his books and I haven’t been disappointed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Puts you in his shoes

The author speaks to the listener as if he is coaching a junior investigator trying to build up their knowledge. The book makes you think about what’s next and has you guessing trying to figure out the motive or suspect.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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I liked it

Good, but I wish he had gone in to the psychology behind some of the more intense stuff..

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10 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Very Interesting. Very Brilliant.

This is absolutely amazing. this is a great start for those interested and furthering their knowledge of the criminal underbelly.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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This is what Audible was made for.

Excellent narration.
Excellent subject matter

Felt like being in a fascinating college class that you hate ends because the teacher is great and you learn a lot.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Educational

I will listen to all of John Douglas’ books because his work is outstanding. Watching the news and life in general will be with new understanding of “why” people do what they.

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just had to taint it,

almost the very end and for some reason just had to bring up the o.j. simpson and nicole brown dynamic. It is not similar to the example he gives in this book! dang. Acquitted needs to start meaning something to Americans. Or maybe we should impliment the Irish option, NOT PROVEN GUILTY.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Smuckers jelly narration. Still good.

I do see a lot of neg. reviews due to voice. If you can get past that, give this book a listen. Without going into the details this book has a lot of good info, stories and lessons. Stories are gruesome and detailed and make you think about the human race but they are good.
Rating 3 stars due to smuckers jelly voice narration. Overall very entertaining.

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25 people found this helpful

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I love to learn the "behind the scenes"

Finally.A true life crime investigator who is both humble and so knowledgeable - I loved learning the motives behind these abnormal acts- fire setting was especially informative/who knew it was so very telling of deeper motives- I sure didn't.

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2 people found this helpful