Includes bibliographical references (p. 278-279) and index.

In the beginning -- How profiling works -- One step at a time -- At the crime scene -- Organized or disorganized? -- Commuters or marauders? -- Power, anger, and retaliation -- Finding the signature -- Suffer the little children -- Getting it in writing -- Questions and answers -- What profiling can do.

An exploration of criminal profiling that discusses its history, FBI crime scene analysis procedures, the development of a profile, crime signatures and rituals, and other related topics and offers details on more than fifty true crime cases.