Deviant: The Shocking and True Story of the Original Psycho

by Harold Schechter and Harold Schector

Book Overview

Schechter explores the incredible career of the man who committed what TIME magazine called one of the century's most gruesome crimes. Here is the grisly story of Ed Gein, the killer whose fiendish fantasies inspired Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Reissue.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671644823
• ISBN13: 9780671644826
• Release Date: May 1989
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Weight: 0.39 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Addicted to this author

I was worried when I bought this bookIf the author would do justice to Ed gein, some true crime books are written so dry and boring the book feels like torture reading them. But this book was interesting, personable, well written, gave intimate even details you don’t find on a quick google. So glad I stumbled on this book/author because I bought 5 other true crime books by him and can’t wait to get started on them! I highly recommend this book and author to everyone!

OUT OF AMERICA'S HEARTLAND...

This is a well-researched book about Ed Gein, the mild mannered, Midwestern psychopath from Plainfield, Wisconsin who, in the nineteen fifties, would shock the nation with his gruesome crimes. Ed Gein would become the basis for the best selling book by Robert Bloch, "Psycho", as well as for the Hitchcock film of the same name. Accounts of Ed Gein's heinous crimes would also enter the consciousness of a young Tobe Hooper who, as an adult, would write and direct the classic cult film, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". The author writes a cogent, factual account of the life of Ed Gein and the grisly crimes that shocked the nation at the time of their discovery. It details the hold that Ed's domineering mother had on him, a hold that would manifest itself in unimaginable ways. It is almost hard to believe that this small, inoffensive man could be such a madman, but who but a madman would do what he did? Ed Gein, it was discovered, had turned his small farmhouse into a gruesome charnel house, replete with furnishings adorned with human flesh and bones. Aficionados of true crime will find this book fascinating, as it is a well-written account of one of the most horrifying and bizarre series of crimes ever to be committed. Eight pages of photographs are included in the book and serve to provide the reader with a brief, visual glimpse into the life of Ed Gein, a man with a secret hobby so depraved that it would shock the entire nation when it came to light. Lovers of true crime accounts will be fascinated by this well researched foray into the life of a seemingly innocuous man from America's heartland who ended up being so deviant from the norm.

The Best of Edward Gein

Edward Gein, pronounced Geen, is often credited as the a forefather of America's fascination with serial killers. Because Gein is credited as being the inspiration for such films as Psycho and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, many misconceptions exist about him. Harold Schechter sets the record straight in Deviant. Schechter begins the story in Gein's bizarre childhood which is noteworthy because of his lazy and abusive father and dominating mother. It is his dominating mother that had the greatest influence on him. She taught him that women were evil. His mother's death left a void in his life that left him longing for her and the saintly image he placed on her. This led Gein to punish women less worthy than his mother to live by killing them. Gein only admitted to killing two people. The body parts that were scattered over his property would indicate more victims. Additionally, Gein believes he has the power to will his mother back to life. While he is unable to bring his mother back from the grave, he does remove many with similarities to his mother from their graves. When Gein's crimes were discovered, little known Plainfield, Wisconsin was forever changed into a tourist attraction for gapers. Although Gein died largely anonymously in a mental health facility, the stories of his house of horrors prospered. While his story is often obscured in films and other books, Schechter sets the record straight. This is a thoroughly researched, commendable book. It is the best book available on Edward Gein

OUT OF AMERICA'S HEARTLAND....

This is a well-researched book about Ed Gein, the mild mannered, Midwestern psychopath from Plainfield, Wisconsin who, in the nineteen fifties, would shock the nation with his gruesome crimes. Ed Gein would become the basis for the best selling book by Robert Bloch, "Psycho", as well as for the Hitchcock film of the same name. Accounts of Ed Gein's heinous crimes would also enter the consciousness of a young Tobe Hooper who, as an adult, would write and direct the classic cult film, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre".The author writes a cogent, factual account of the life of Ed Gein and the grisly crimes that shocked the nation at the time of their discovery. It details the hold that Ed's domineering mother had on him, a hold that would manifest itself in unimaginable ways. It is almost hard to believe that this small, inoffensive man could be such a madman, but who but a madman would do what he did? Ed Gein, it was discovered, had turned his small farmhouse into a gruesome charnel house, replete with furnishings adorned with human flesh and bones. Aficionados of true crime will find this book fascinating, as it is a well-written account of one of the most horrifying and bizarre series of crimes ever to be committed. Eight pages of photographs are included in the book and serve to provide the reader with a brief, visual glimpse into the life of Ed Gein, a man with a secret hobby so depraved that it would shock the entire nation when it came to light. Lovers of true crime accounts will be fascinated by this well researched foray into the life of a seemingly innocuous man from America's heartland who ended up being so deviant from the norm.

Very Interesting...

I am from WI so Ed Gein was a household name. I hadread one book before, but this one was MUCH better.It grabs you from the moment you start it. Even thoughyou know the ending, it gives you a lot of insight intoEd Geins world, which was wicked. What you saw on theoutside. A man with no family left, a mother who taughthim women were evil. People made mention of the factthat he was "weird" but just Eddie Gein. Little didthey know the evil inside his mind and his farmhouse. Yes, he was mentally ill but I do believe he knew whathe was doing,as he made lampshades etc. In a way you do feel sorry for him, only a little.It took me one day to read. Lets just thank he was neverlet out....

True Crime Writing at its Best

In "Deviant," Harold Schecter presents an interesting, informative, and meticulously-researched treatment of one of the most notorious figures in the annals of American crime. Without resorting to sensationalism, Schecter creates a factual, in-depth portrait of Ed Gein, who has both horrified and fascinated Americans for over four decades. Schecter's work is well-organized and highly readable, and gives the reader an unsettling glimpse into the twisted mind of a maniac, without the luridness which is so often encountered in other works of this genre. A wealth of background information provides great insight into the making of a modern-day monster. Highly recommended!