Just Killing Time

Like many of the book's readers, I have "Just Killing Time" on my "10 best books" list and at the very pinnacle of my "serial killers" list. Also like many others, I picked it up for "beach reading" in 1994. After stumbling across it so unexpectedly, I could not imagine such a well written and reseached book being so unknown to me - especially since I read the genre extensively.In 1997, I first read about a Dr. Laszlo Tauber, MD in the Washington Business Journal. I was shocked by the obvious convergence between his life and the character of Dr. Ruben Jaffe. Today,I have just read of Dr. Tauber's passing...Given Van Arman's apparent research and the thinly veiled references to "a fire storm of controversy" in his Acknowledgements, I just cannot belive the similarity is accidental.Hence, I would now recommend this excellent book not only for its narrative but also for its potential value as an untold story of greed, racism and pain. I gave "Just Killing Time" to a friend who is a resident of Cabin John, MD to read. After doing so, he expressed his pleasure over the story. But he absolutely discounted the book's telling of the history of John's Cabin. I must say that my curiosity has been greatly piqued. I am extremely impressed by this book's long lasting power. You will find it an exceptionally good read.

Derek Van Arman is one of the finest writers of our time. I have known the byline from his articles with the Baltimore Sun, New York Times and Washington Post. This book represents the culmination of his writing talents as it mixes the very elements of our modern day emotional makeups into a searing thriller in which good very seldom comes to the fore, yet when it does I found myself clapping and cheering. This is a well researched book featuring outstanding character development, a tight plot and endless themes. If you are man or woman enough to get through it, somehow find a copy of this book, read it, and then thank God that your life is not mixed up with some of the miscreants created in these pages.

I am an inveterate true crime/mystery murder reader. I judge an excellent book by this standard: I can't wait for the book to finish, but I don't ever want it to end. I'm disappointed this author has not come out with a new novel. I often wonder if he ghosts under different names. I first read this book when it initially was released, and I still read it four or five times a year. For those of you who want an excellent ride, this book is it. Happy reading!

It is truly unfortunate that this novel isn't better known, for it surely ranks as one of the greatest serial killer novels ever written along with the twin novels by Thomas Harris(Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs) and Shane Stevens novel By Reason of Insanity, and a few others. The psychological development, continuity and attention to detail were superior. I've read HUNDREDS of books in this genre, and this is in the top 5.

I first heard of Derek van Arman when he spoke to Nicky campbell on BBC Radio 1 in England. His graphic description of the minds of serial killers captured my attention and I went out immediately to buy the book. This lead me to read many books on serial killers since then.I have just read Derek van Arman's book for a second time and I had almost forgotten how good it was. It surpasses all the other books on the workings of the minds of serial killers.