Deadly Innocence (Scott Burnside)

Fascinatingly repulsive pair of Canadian "thrill killers" who adbucted young girls, filmed their sexual violation, and then killed them, dumping their bodies in the area near Niagara Falls where they lived. There's no real explanation offered as to what creates a thing like Paul Bernardo, who was both infantile and sadistic, and maybe there is no explanation that can be offered, in a paperback book or anywhere else. Thankfully, he was captured, and is condemned to spend the rest of his miserable existence behind bars. His companion, Karla Homolka, spent a minor amount of time in captivity, and I believe she has been released and is somewhere in the Caribbean or thereabouts, living with a new boyfriend. I know what's been said about the psychology of battered women...similar things that have been said about Homolka were also said about battered wife Hedda Nussbaum from NY...but it's hard not to read this book and feel a seething sense of anger that she walks freely in the world. Somethi... Read more

As a forensic psychology student, I have found this rare case deeply interesting and tragic. The authors excellently recount the facts and chronology of the Bernardo-Homolka case, with a satisfying level of accompanying detail. However, I found the quality of editing, along with quite a few grammatical errors, disappointing. Overall, an absolutely excellent book.

This is a very good true crime book. The authors start out detailing the attacks that took place and the information provided about them. They then took the time to talk to the friends of the couple and more of the story is revealed. We see the murderers as human beings who drink and hang out with their friends, and how their friends saw them as people and never expected them to commit acts that are so inhumane, despite the flaws that were visible in the relationship. (Karla moved too quickly with guys, she was too submissive to Paul. Paul was a jerk who always cheated on Karla when he left town, etc.) More of the story is revealed as Paul is arrested, and Karla begins to tell the police and her friends and family what was REALLY going on the entire time (And it's beyond horrific.) As the book progresses, it's revealed that Karla herself is possibly just as crazy and the trial (complete with video tapes) shows us the true depth of the depravity that they sunk to. I agree with a... Read more

I love to read; however, if a book bores me, I tend to put them down, never picking them up again. This book, on the other hand, was a page turner. It was well written, detailed, and interesting. What a tragedy though for the families involved. As far as True Life Crime books go, this one was fabulously written.

Until I read this book, I thought Anne Rule's the Stranger Beside Me was the best read to date. I could not put this book down and a week later I cannot stop thinking about these 2. I couldn't help but feel somewhat sorry for Karla after all that Paul did to her. I can see how a young girl could be mentally "screwed" up and brainwashed after encountering and having their first relationship w/a man like Paul. I too have been a victim of abuse and can somewhat understand what this mentionally and emmotionally does to a person although I left long before it could get worse (I was a few years older than Karla before I got involved w/an abusive man so maybe I just knew better.) I do believe that Karla got off too easy but I don't feel that she should've spent the rest of her life in prison. 25 years would of been sufficient for her but I also believe that Paul Bernardo is probably the sickest most evil man I have ever read about and am very glad he is spending the rest of his life conf... Read more

This sordid tale stayed with me for a long time. It even prompted me to rent movies mentioned in the book that Paul Bernardo tried to emulate. The story is well written and very detailed and caused me to tell everyone I know about it as I read it. We still joke about "Snuffles". Read this and you will be in the know!