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Linda Fairstein

Linda Fairstein unmasks the true face of psychopathy, and reveals the warning signs that every woman should know
The 2009 “Craigslist Killer” murder case shocked America, not just because of the heinous nature of the crimes but because their perpetrator—a handsome young law student with an unsuspecting girlfriend—seemed a very unlikely suspect. This killer, like others before him, had learned to leverage his charm and golden-boy looks to lure his victims, a skill many psychopaths learn to master. In Killer Charm, legal expert Linda Fairstein draws on her decades of experience in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office to uncover what traits psychopaths often share, and how to spot them. She illustrates these points with the stories of some of America’s most notorious sex criminals, such as Ted Bundy and Marvin Teicher. Originally published in Cosmopolitan, this essay is now available in digital format for the first time and features a new introduction by the author.

Open Road Media

From the Files of Linda Fairstein

Killer Charm: The Double Lives of Psychopaths

Crime expert Linda Fairstein reveals the sinister ways that rapists select and attack their victims, and what you need to know to protect yourself 
From the man who haunted midtown Manhattan’s high-rise office buildings, to the stalker in the wooded suburbs near Nashville, serial rapists often have one chilling trait in common: They operate in “comfort zones.” Sometimes they find their own comfort zones, such as the stairwell of a familiar office building. Other times they may pinpoint their victims’ comfort zones, such as the bedroom of an unlocked house. In both cases, experienced sexual predators exploit their potential victims’ most unguarded moments. In How Serial Rapists Target Their Victims, Linda Fairstein breaks down the patterns of these violent criminals and describes the day-to-day ways that women can best safeguard against them. Originally published in Cosmopolitan, this essay is now available in digital format for the first time and features a new introduction by the author.

How Serial Rapists Target Their Victims

A harrowing investigation into law enforcement’s failure to process hundreds of thousands of rape kits across America—allowing many rapists to walk free. In 2011, advocacy groups estimated that up to 250,000 rape kits sat untested in police storage across the country. These kits, some from crimes dating as far back as the mid-1990s, represent a disturbing breakdown in law enforcement that has allowed many violent criminals to remain on the streets. In some cases, rape victims are kept in the dark about the investigations into the crimes committed against them. Legal expert Linda Fairstein illustrates this injustice with the story of a Los Angeles woman whose experience, Fairstein writes, “is a tragic example of the outrageous backlog of untested rape kits that has existed nationwide for more than a decade.” In The Rape Scandal that Puts You at Risk, Fairstein lays bare these failures of law enforcement and issues a rallying cry for women everywhere to demand change. Originally published in Cosmopolitan, this essay is now available in digital format for the first time and features a new introduction by the author.

The Rape Scandal that Puts You at Risk

Crime expert Linda Fairstein reveals the surprising locations where women are most vulnerable to attacks, and what they can do to stay safe
Leaving work, riding in a taxi, even sitting in the comfort of one’s own home, these places are linked by one harrowing feature: They are where women often feel most at ease, and they are among the most common locations where abductions of and attacks against women occur. In The Five Most Dangerous Places for Women, Linda Fairstein explains exactly where and why unexpected threats occur, and how to guard against them. Drawing from her years as a groundbreaking prosecutor of sexual crimes in New York City, Fairstein delves into the minds of violent criminals to show the best practices women can use to protect themselves—especially in everyday situations where danger often lies just around the corner.

The Five Most Dangerous Places for Women

Legal expert Linda Fairstein’s guide to protecting your home—and yourself—from violent crime
Though we often consider them to be safe havens, at least a quarter of all violent crimes occur in our homes. Regardless of the neighborhood, an open window or unlocked door can be all the invitation someone needs to break in, leaving our homes more susceptible to invasion that we realize. In The Most Surprising Crime Zone, Linda Fairstein explains the nature of this danger, and what you can do to avoid it, driving her points home with examples of real-life home invasions. Originally published in Cosmopolitan, this essay is now available in digital format for the first time and features a new introduction by the author.

The Most Surprising Crime Zone: Your Own Home

A legal expert’s investigation of why some women falsely claim rape, and the devastating effects on those who have been wrongfully accused.
 For each criminal category, a small percentage of claims are proven to be unfounded. Unfortunately, cases of rape are no exception. As a district attorney in New York City, Linda Fairstein encountered these false claims more than a few times. This kind of accusation not only results in the unjust punishment of innocent men, but also serves to trivialize the experiences of rape survivors. In Why Some Women Lie About Rape,Fairstein draws upon her decades of experience to shed light on this difficult issue, including the motivations behind a false rape accusation. Originally published in Cosmopolitan, this essay is now available in digital format for the first time and features a new introduction by the author.

Why Some Women Lie About Rape

The complete collection of true crime stories and articles by the New York Times–bestselling author and former prosecutor.

 In this collection of horrifyingly true stories, Linda Fairstein provides an in-depth look inside the minds of such psychopaths as Ted Bundy and the Craigslist Killer. Drawing on decades of experience as a sex crimes prosecutor in New York City, she delves into the atrocities of these cold-blooded criminals and explains how they target their unsuspecting victims. A true victim advocate, she deftly touches on taboo subjects like law enforcement’s astounding failure to process rape kits, as well as the false rape claims that ruin innocent people’s lives.
 
 With her background in the Special Victims Bureau, Fairstein offers an unfiltered view of rape in the United States. But she doesn’t stop there: She uses her understanding of the inner workings of violent criminals’ minds to outline ways for women to protect themselves.
 
 Originally published in Cosmopolitan magazine and collected here for the first time, each essay features a new introduction by the author.