Berry-Dee - Talking with psychopaths and savages: beyond evil

Very fortunately, the acknowledgements are the one part of any writers book which the publishers editor/s cannot tinker with. Nevertheless, to curry some favour with my editor-in-chief, Toby Buchan, this book is dedicated to him. Oh, my, what a super chap Toby is, so thank you, sir, for all of the hard work and dedication and support you have given me over so many books published over so many years. You have the patience of a saint.

Also to my publishers and the entire team at John Blake/Bonnier. We go back to 2003 when the indefatigable John Blake first commissioned me to write Talking with Serial Killers. This was the first ever true-crime book where the author was permitted to include vast amounts of the killers own words and it was based on many of the unique filmed then televised face-to-face interviews I had conducted with homicidal maniacs over previous years. A controversial move this was. I had pitched the idea both to Virgin and John Blake at the same time. Virgin who had published me before rejected it instantly telling me that the content might upset their elderly readers. Then John snapped it up. The following afternoon Virgin came back to me with a change of heart. Oops! The book was effectively sold. I have been with John Blake ever since.

Here, I mention my mentor, true-crime historian and author, Robin Odell, who co-wrote several books with me as I started to learn penmanship. Graciously, he gave me lead author credit every time and I owe Bob a great deal of gratitude. Then along the same lines, I thank my former TV documentary producer, Frazer Ashford, who made the twelve-part TV series The Serial Killers. This series was once again a first in TV broadcasting. I could easily write a book about the exciting adventures, trials and tribulations we suffered went through (authors subtle deletion there), but still we remain the closest buddies to this day.

To end the professional acknowledgements, let me thank the media both press and television, including current affairs for not only have you guys helped promote my books, you have invited me to appear on more international TV documentaries and contribute to even more articles than I can count. But, its not just the promotional value I am referring to, for there have been many occasions when they have supported me when trying to help solve cold-case homicides or work on other issues of equal importance. I cannot list the names but you all know who you are. Thank you.

Turning to law enforcement. I have to say that US police are very forthcoming, and I include the FBI, US Marshals Service, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and numerous state, county and city agencies. They are a delight to work with. The same applies to the Russian police, and agencies in the Far East, but only with a few exceptions can I say for the same for our somewhat closed-minded UK law enforcement. Yes, they will work with one if there is something in it for them, and in those instances it has all proved beneficial on both sides, but they still fail to realise that the work some of us writers do can prove to be an invaluable tool in their investigative box.

For personal acknowledgements I refer to my Filipina partner, Maui. Researching and writing true crime can lead one into a dark world and she has brought real light into my life. God bless her. As you will note as you read this book, I love the Philippine people and their country. I also have a great fondness for Russia, come to that. It seems to me that us westerners have become far to materialistic these days so visiting the Philippines brings me back down to earth with a jolt. They are a happy people, ever-smiling despite the hardships the very poor suffer. Maui and I always try to help where we can and if it means rebuilding a couple of squatters homes destroyed in a blaze, providing power, light and an electric fan to cool them down in the blistering summer heat, food, and making sure the kids have new school uniforms and stuff for their lessons as was the case in the two recent fires in Lapu Lapu then thats my small way of saying thank you. So, you see, some of the royalties I earn from the books you read do go to a good cause.

Claire and my son Jack are always in the forefront of my mind. I also thank all of my Facebook pals: Clive, Jon; my co-author on a different subject, BitCoin Pete; Gary Roberts. Boris, Steve, Karl, Jay. The mega-fab Hollie. Wayne and his wife, Sherri;. Jennie aka The Admirals Car Crash Magnet. Paul Dinger Bell. My sister Lizzie and husband, Jim, Laura-Dee and my nephews; also the amazing former Miss World Ann Sidney. Victoria Redstall, Yang Lu, Denis Claivaz, Linda Newcombe, Immy Jj and hubby Steve. Wilf, Robert Pothecary, Christopher Grist Marlow and Riki Read. Last but not least, my dear friend, Martin The MasterChef, Reverend Chris Richardson and Fr. John Maunder.

Hospitality and Travel and No! I am not getting sponsored here Cathay Pacific or Oman Airlines or Philippine Airlines come highly recommended. Oman International Airport is incredible as a stopover en route to Ninoy Aquino Airport, Manila.

If you visit Phil, Id suggest that you get a very cheap taxi to the Oxford Suites Hotel in Burgos Street, Makati. Brilliant place and a very reasonable price for the super staff service they give. In Cebu City, opt for the Park Lane International. Again first-rate, cheap, and the finest buffet youll ever find on Planet Earth. Then, one must visit Palawan and El Nido. The first-class Casa Kalwa resort with its sugar sand beaches and swaying coconut pals is minutes away from the airport, which is serviced by Swift Air another first-rate airline. Although a tad pricey, the staff at Casa Kalwa will make your dream holiday come true.

Travelogue and Acknowledgements now done and dusted, it leaves me to thank every one of you for buying this book, but now is the time to get some red blood painted all over the walls and take a trip into murder most foul.

Happy days.
Christopher
CHRISTOPHER BERRY-DEE

The Gates of Hell are terrible to behold, are they not?

E. A. B UCCHIANERI, AUTHOR OF F AUST: M Y S OUL B E D AMNED FOR THE W ORLD

Im not fucking stupid. Im not fucking stupid, you know. The police say that what I did was criminal. The doctors say the components of my mind are unsafe so, give me back my real brain, hand over my intelligence, because all of you are taking away my faith in anything.

P ETER S UTCLIFFE, AKA, T HE Y ORKSHIRE R IPPER, TO THE AUTHOR AT INTERVIEW IN B ROADMOOR H OSPITAL

Hello dear reader. I hope that I find you all-singing-and-dancing physically fit, full of grace and mentally competent the latter, however, you may well not be when you reach the last page because this book comes with a Health Warning. Do not read further if you have a weak constitution or about to eat your dinner. But, please ask yourself, what would it be like to be without morality, lacking a soul, to never feel compassion; have zero pity, or harbour any emotions at all towards your fellow man?

What must it feel like to be a homicidal sado-sexual psychopath; to become trapped in an ever escalating uncontrollable downward spiral of violence, to be psychopathologically compelled to inflict untold pain, torture and immeasurable suffering on the innocent: babies; young kids; the elderly, the weak, the vulnerable the easiest of prey for, unlike the majority of us, where there should be a conscience, inside the heads of the sado-sexual-serial-killing-for-kicks-murderers there is nothing but a void, a sinister black hole.