Bad Boy: The True Story of Kenneth Allen McDuff, the Most Notorious Serial Killer in Texas History
by Gary M. Lavergne
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Book Summary Information
Author: Gary M. LavergneEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-11-19
ISBN: 0312981252
Number of pages: 416
Publisher: St. Martin's True Crime
Book Reviews of Bad Boy: The True Story of Kenneth Allen McDuff, the Most Notorious Serial Killer in Texas History
Book Review: A powerful argument against parole
Summary: 4 Stars
"Bad Boy" is a compelling case against the idea anyone who commits a violent crime should ever be given a second chance. There are probably people who would be an excellent example of someone given a second chance turning their life around and becoming a positive member of society: Kenneth Allen McDuff was not that person. Every time he was given an opportunity (& it's amazing how many he got) he committed more heinous crimes. Lavergne convincingly suggests McDuff is one of the primary political reasons Texas got really tough on criminals & greatly expanded its prison system. Strengths of the book, which is well above-average true crime but no "In Cold Blood" or "The Executioner's Song," include the portrayal of McDuff's parents, that it documents sources & includes an index, & some well-chosen quotes from other sources, especially one about sociopathy: "Antisocial personality disorder is the current name for what in the past has been known as sociopathy, psychopathy, moral insanity, or in pre-psychiatric days, evil." Why do publishers continue to undermine the genre with tabloid tactics like, "With 8 pages of harrowing photographs" when, in fact, there isn't a photo in the book that could be described as even mildly disturbing? Other than that quibble, this is solid true crime with an above-average research effort behind it.
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