Letters To The Purple Satin Killer

Letters to the Purple Satin Killer by Joshua Chaplinsky cover

Title: Letters To The Purple Satin Killer

Author: Joshua Chaplinsky

Page Count: 340 pages

Publisher: Clash Books

Genre: Serial Killers

Themes: serial killer fandom

Synopsis: "Jonas Williker is considered one of the most sadistic serial murderers of the modern era. This epistolary novel explores the aftermath of his arrest and the psychological trauma of those who lived through it. The Pennsylvania native brutalized his way into the zeitgeist during the early part of the new millennium, leaving a trail of corpses across five states before his eventual arrest. All told, Williker was responsible for the rape and murder of 23 women, and is suspected in the deaths of dozens more. His calling card—a torn piece of fabric found on or inside the bodies of his victims—helped popularize his now ubiquitous nickname. The Purple Satin Killer.  In the years following his arrest, Jonas Williker received hundreds of letters in prison. Collected here, these letters offer a unique glimpse into a depraved mind through a human lens, including contributions from family, the bereaved, and self-professed “fans.” They represent a chilling portrait of the American psyche, skewering a media obsessed culture where murderers are celebrities to revere. What you learn about the man from these letters will shock you, but not as much as what you learn about yourself." - Via Amazon

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Review

I watched Long Legs last week and needed to read something with serial killers after watching that masterclass. There were so many things that I enjoyed about this book but also some misses.

We follow the letters that are send to The Purple Satin Killer while he awaits his execution in prison. Some are from loved ones and others from psychotic “fans”.

What I enjoyed

- It is fiction but felt so real that I had to double check.

- It was both horrifying, but also felt like a study in grief, denial, and our country’s obsession with serial murder

What I didn’t enjoy

- The book was too long

Final Recommendation: For people who enjoy serial killer stories.