by John Leake
First published 2007
John Leake reconstructs the true story of Austria's Vienna Woods killer, a criminal who maintained a shocking double identity. The killer operated in the forested areas surrounding Vienna, managing to deceive not just local authorities but an entire country about his true nature. Leake documents how this real-life figure embodied the classic Jekyll and Hyde duality, presenting one face to society while hiding his murderous activities. The case reveals how a single individual can manipulate public perception on a national scale. Through careful investigation of the crimes and the killer's methods of deception, Leake exposes the psychology behind this extraordinary case of sustained fraud and violence that captivated Austria.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, crime, thriller, 21st-century
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: unreliable-narrator
Setting: Austria, Vienna
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
400 pages · Hardcover · Granta Books