By Reason of Insanity - Hardcover

Stevens, Shane

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0671240587 ISBN 13: 9780671240585

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 1979

Synopsis

At the center of this gripping epic novel of mass murder, pursuit, and psychological terror is Thomas Bishop, a psychotic young killer who believes he is the son of Caryl Chessman, who was executed for rape in California amid intense controversy. Subjected to unmerciful physical and mental torture from an early age, Bishop kills his mother at the age of 10 and is placed in an institution for the criminally insane. He grows to manhood knowing the outside world only through a television screen. At 25, he succeeds in a brilliant escape and change of identity and begins to move across the country, murdering women in particularly gruesome ways. Pursued by reporters, police, and the mob, Bishop manages to elude them all, and the search for him becomes the greatest manhunt in U.S. history. Stevens takes the reader on a harrowing descent into the mind of a mass murderer in this eerily realistic serial-killer novel. The chilling denouement will hold readers spellbound until the shattering, unforgettable conclusion.

About this title

Review

"Extremely effective." --"The New York Times"

"One of the five greatest crime novels of the century." --"Mystery Scene"

"Pure entertainment at its thrilling best." --"United Press International"

"A classic thriller, a gripping suspense story, a massive mystery." --"San Diego Union-Tribune"

"Irresistible, unrelenting suspense . . . Stevens creates a 'monster' for our time." --"Chicago Tribune"

"One of the finest novels ever written about perfect evil . . . I recommend it unreservedly." --Stephen King

"Compelling and genuinely frightening. You have to keep remembering it's only a story. You won't be able to put it down." --"The Boston Globe"

" Extremely effective." -- "The New York Times"

" One of the five greatest crime novels of the century." -- "Mystery Scene"

" Pure entertainment at its thrilling best." -- "United Press International"

" A classic thriller, a gripping suspense story, a massive mystery." -- "San Diego Union-Tribune"

" One of the finest novels ever written about perfect evil . . . I recommend it unreservedly." -- Stephen King

" Irresistible, unrelenting suspense . . . Stevens creates a ' monster' for our time." -- "Chicago Tribune"

" Compelling and genuinely frightening. You have to keep remembering it's only a story. You won't be able to put it down." -- "The Boston Globe"

"The best psycho-killer novel." --"ShelfLife", an "Entertainment Weekly" blog

"The best psycho-killer novel." --"ShelfLife"

About the Author

Shane Stevens is the author of numerous books, including "The Anvil Chorus," " Dead City," " Go Down Dead," " Rat Pack," ""and" Way Uptown in Another World."

Edition details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 1979
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0671240587
• ISBN 13: 9780671240585
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1