Dangerous Ground
My Friendship with a Serial Killer
by M. William Phelps
HardCover, 350 Pages
ISBN 13: 978-1-4967-0952-3
ISBN 10: 1-4967-0952-7
Visit M William Phelps Online
"Dangerous Ground is a horrifying glimpse into the mind of a murderer and its' effect on those who dare to challenge the flame." --RJ
3.5 Stars
Review:
There are lots of crime books on the shelf, but only a select few authors know how to deliver a true crime story. You say True Crime and three names come to mind instantly, Anne Rule, Diane Fanning, and M. William Phelps.
Dangerous Ground is a departure from the style and tone we have come to expect from Phelps. This is an eye-opening, hard to read, not for the faint-at-heart story that proves the old saying may be old but still holds true - "if you fly to close to the flame you will get burned." Phelps flew around an open flame for five years with a devious, manipulative, psychopath code-named Raven. Convicted in the 90's for the murder of eight women, Keith Jesperson, also known as The Happy Face Killer, is a cold hearted...no that's not accurate. This man doesn't have a heart as we define it. He doesn't feel empathy and compassion for others. He uses those emotions within others as a means to his selfish, sadistic end. He is a murderer. A serial killer that delights in the pain and suffering of his victims, long after the crimes.
Dangerous Ground is the retelling of Phelps relationship with Raven. Throughout the narrative, Phelps gets deeply personal, often allowing Raven into areas of his heart and mind that should have been off-limits. It is dangerous to play such a mind game with a narcissistic, serial killer. Even from behind bars Raven has the ability to blur his image - causing educated, normal people to question just how bad he really is. The longer Phelps spent with Raven the more human he became. These encounters caused Phelps to walk away with a lot more than he bargained for. I could see these encounters were causing issues Phelps wouldn't be able to leave at the prison. He would carry them back out into the world, into his everyday life. It's how he deals with this that will determine where he is able to go from here. While he suffered pain, Raven boosted his ego. While Phelps questioned what he already knew to be true, Raven reveled in his ability to manipulate. Dangerous Ground is a horrifying glimpse into the mind of a murderer and its' effect on those who dare to challenge the flame.
Dangerous Ground is a must-read for true crime enthusiasts. Phelps put everything here. He didn't hold anything back. Nor did he fan Jesperson's celebrity flame. He never portrays the killer as misunderstood. He doesn't make excuses for Jesperson. He took five years of communication and penned a novel that will stay with the reader long after the final word has been read.
Happy Reading,
RJ
Adult Content Warning
This book contains strong language, depicts heinous crimes against women in graphic detail and may be offensive to some readers.
