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Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber and the Invention of Criminal Profiling
by
Michael Cannell (Goodreads Author)
Long before the specter of terrorism haunted the public imagination, a serial bomber stalked the streets of 1950s New York. The race to catch him would give birth to a new science called criminal profiling.
Grand Central, Penn Station, Radio City Music Hall―for almost two decades, no place was safe from the man who signed his anonymous letters “FP” and left his lethal devic ...more
Grand Central, Penn Station, Radio City Music Hall―for almost two decades, no place was safe from the man who signed his anonymous letters “FP” and left his lethal devic ...more
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Community Reviews
(showing 1-30)
An amazing journey into the search for a bomber, Incendiary has impeccable sources and details that make you part of the hunt. Michael Cannell's skills for building the tension made me feel frustrated along with the bomb squad and officials, scared as the residents must have felt, and confused how someone could be so twisted. Full Disclosure: I was allowed to read a copy of this book for free as a member of NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. The opinions I have expressed are my own an
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In Incendiary, author Michael Cannell takes a long, detailed, highly readable look at the Mad Bomber; the police who investigated the case; the psychiatrist who created such an accurate profile of the bomber that he appeared to be psychic; the newspapers that covered the bombings; and the bomber's dedicated defense lawyer. George Metesky was definitely mad, both in his mind and in his feelings for Consolidated Edison, the company he felt ruined his life. For 16 years, he planted bombs in various
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I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for feedback and review.
This book is great. Definite shades of Lawrence Wright. Cannell really expertly weaves the facts and reporting of the case of the Mad Bomber into an easy to follow narrative. I really appreciated how many perspectives you get: from the newspapers to the police to the profiling psychiatrist.
I was attracted to this book because I didn't really know the story of the Mad Bomber, and this was about as comprehensive a look at him ...more
This book is great. Definite shades of Lawrence Wright. Cannell really expertly weaves the facts and reporting of the case of the Mad Bomber into an easy to follow narrative. I really appreciated how many perspectives you get: from the newspapers to the police to the profiling psychiatrist.
I was attracted to this book because I didn't really know the story of the Mad Bomber, and this was about as comprehensive a look at him ...more
Advance copy courtesy Minotaur/St. Martin's Press via the Amazon Vine program
These days, with a steady flow of news and fiction, it would be easy to take the concept of criminal profiling for granted.
Just how much a shame that would be is apparent within the first few chapters of Incendiary. Michael Cannell transports readers to Manhattan in the 1950s, where residents and police are increasingly concerned about a rash of bombs that have caused injuries and damage, but no deaths ... yet.
Police g ...more
These days, with a steady flow of news and fiction, it would be easy to take the concept of criminal profiling for granted.
Just how much a shame that would be is apparent within the first few chapters of Incendiary. Michael Cannell transports readers to Manhattan in the 1950s, where residents and police are increasingly concerned about a rash of bombs that have caused injuries and damage, but no deaths ... yet.
Police g ...more
How much do you like to know about a book before you start it? The answer may tell you something significant, but not necessarily flattering, about yourself, like some kind of marshmallow test for the type of adults who feel about books like children feel about marshmallows.
I consistently fail this marshmallow test for adults. For example, when reading William Gibson, I cannot sit by and wait for the author-created argot of the future to make itself clear by inference after repeated use, because ...more
I consistently fail this marshmallow test for adults. For example, when reading William Gibson, I cannot sit by and wait for the author-created argot of the future to make itself clear by inference after repeated use, because ...more
FAV QUOTES:
Schizophrenics follow their own logic. We just don’t understand it.
How does one apprehend the wits of a madman?
He looked unremarkable in every way, as if life had failed to make a distinguishing mark on him.
He was content in the company of bombs, despite the harrowing possibilities. If anything, he was too brave.
Incendiary power had not been his main goal. He was not trying to kill people, not yet anyway. He was simply trying to make a point.
Instead of starting with a known personalit ...more
Schizophrenics follow their own logic. We just don’t understand it.
How does one apprehend the wits of a madman?
He looked unremarkable in every way, as if life had failed to make a distinguishing mark on him.
He was content in the company of bombs, despite the harrowing possibilities. If anything, he was too brave.
Incendiary power had not been his main goal. He was not trying to kill people, not yet anyway. He was simply trying to make a point.
Instead of starting with a known personalit ...more
Incendiary is a unique book that chronicles the Mad Bomber of New York and the various police, psychiatrists, journalists, and judges who ultimately brought his 16 year campaign of domestic bombings to an end. The book explores the story from the first bomb being set to the bomber's eventual demise in extreme detail. This is both the main fascination the book provides, and my chief complaint.
Michael Cannell provides a level of depth and detail that goes beyond what most historical crime novels a ...more
Michael Cannell provides a level of depth and detail that goes beyond what most historical crime novels a ...more
In Incendiary, author Michael Cannell manages to encapsulate a time period when police work was beginning to merge with science and was galvanized into further considering the psychological component of repeat offenders through the terror caused by one man. The Mad Bomber of New York, as the newspapers dubbed him, had set off over thirty bombs and his chilling choice of highly public venues like movie theaters and train stations added another level of terror. Signing any communications he made
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Felt immediately swept up and transported to another time and place. Engaging, suspenseful, well paced. Bravo.
'Incendiary' looks at the beginning of criminal profiling and the individuals who helped develop the field. Cannell writes engagingly and with verve; his style is journalistic and almost reads like a novel with the colourful character sketches. Definitely worth reading, particularly for anyone interested in psychology or mid 20th century New York.
Michael Cannell’s “Incendiary” is a magnificent example of inexhaustible research spawning a great nonfiction book. His story of a psychotic bomber, an eccentric psychiatrist, and the genesis of modern profiling will linger in the reader’s mind long after the reading ends. The cites for his information are extensive.
The Mad Bomber had successfully terrified NYC residents and baffled the city’s police force for almost twenty years. Pipe bombs had been secreted in venues such as Grand Central and ...more
This book is the history of criminal profiling in America and how it became an art form. Who knew that the art of criminal profiling came from 3 men working together to try to identify a serial bomber in NYC, in the 1950's? In the 1950's, in NYC, a mad man was setting off bombs in public places such as movie theatres, train stations and libraries. At that time there was no such thing as criminal profiling and the NYPD didn't have the skills necessary to identify the bomber, or more importantly,
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This book is about the Mad Bomber in New York City during the 1950's. The mad bomber terrified New York City with dozens of home made bombs over a 16 year period of where he was unanimous. This book is about the hunt for the killer. This book was also about the beginning of criminal profiling. Criminal profiling got its roots from this hard to solve case.
Overall I rated this book four stars out of five. This book was well written and very informative. It captured all aspects of these crimes. I ...more
Overall I rated this book four stars out of five. This book was well written and very informative. It captured all aspects of these crimes. I ...more
Michaell Cannell’s work Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber and the Invention of Criminal Profiling offers not only a turn paging thriller, explosive to the nerves and senses, but it gives the reader a comprehensive look into how forensic profiling began as a research tool in understanding the criminal, the act, and the apprehension. While crime writers will find this work both entertaining and fascinating, others who enjoy thrillers, mysteries, television show such as NCIS and Criminal
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This is more 3.5 stars, but I rounded up. The only thing that dropped the rating is that it moved slow in places. I can't explain why, it held all the information I expected. But at points it just seemed slow. It could very well be me.
Great story, love the history provided on previous bombings - not such much history that it detracts from the story, just enough to catch a reader up to speed. Very well done.
I'm still creeped out by the smile on F.P.'s face when he's in the custody of officers. ...more
Great story, love the history provided on previous bombings - not such much history that it detracts from the story, just enough to catch a reader up to speed. Very well done.
I'm still creeped out by the smile on F.P.'s face when he's in the custody of officers. ...more
Well, this was definitely an interesting book. There were parts that were dry and lagging, but I persevered. It was worth it. I thought the Epilogue was actually better than the rest of the book, of course you need to read the rest of the book, but it was fascinating and wraps everything up in a nice, neat package.
Intriguing read about a serial bomber in 1950's New York that baffled the police. The police captain found help from a psychiatrist by the name of Dr. James Brussel. Dr. Brussel was an expert in criminal profiling and used the evidence to trace the habits and the mindset of the serial bomber. This was the first real case in history where criminal profiling became a useful tool.
Enjoyed the book, especially the first half, although I was definitely losing interest once they caught the guy. Wasn't "Devil in the White City," but it was good.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a free advance readers' edition for my review.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a free advance readers' edition for my review.
I didn't know anything about the Mad Bomber, and found this to be an interesting and informative book. I didn't love the author's writing style, but the story moved right along and kept me interested throughout.
Interesting book about the development of criminal profiling in the late 50's. Got a little dry in places, but a good read.
Such an interesting book. I won it in a contest and it was a good read!
The most interesting chapter of Incendiary was its epilogue, when Cannell finally pulled all of his interweaving threads together to tell a concise ending for his story. In my opinion, he spends far too many words on the Mad Bomber and the NYC police department and too little concretely connecting them to the psychologist who used reverse psychology to catch said bomber. This could have been a great magazine article, stripped of its fat and zeroed in on just how revolutionary a case it was. As i
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INCENDIARY. (2017). Michael Cannell. ***.
The revisit to the story of the “mad bomber” of the 1950s was OK. What ultimately led to my skimming of much of it was the author’s style. How would I best describe it? How about like a compendium of Batman and Robin adventures. The characters talked as if they had balloons over their heads. As an introduction to the art of criminal profiling, it was hokey. Dr. Brussel, the alleged inventor of profiling, would be amused to re-read his words as put down in ...more
The revisit to the story of the “mad bomber” of the 1950s was OK. What ultimately led to my skimming of much of it was the author’s style. How would I best describe it? How about like a compendium of Batman and Robin adventures. The characters talked as if they had balloons over their heads. As an introduction to the art of criminal profiling, it was hokey. Dr. Brussel, the alleged inventor of profiling, would be amused to re-read his words as put down in ...more
Outstanding book. Provided so mush information that was new to me as a lover of history. The author did a great job of presenting the story/information while holding my interest. Quite a story from start to finish. Very interesting how the "Mad Bombers" life played out. I highly recommend this book. I won this book in a GoodReads Giveaway!
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Michael Cannell is the author of three non-fiction books: "Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber and the Invention of Criminal Profiling"; "The Limit: Life and Death on the 1961 Grand Prix Circuit" and "I.M Pei: Mandarin of Modernism." Michael edited the House & Home section of The New York Times for seven years. He has contributed to The New Yorker, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and man
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