Geoffrey Wansell
An Evil Love: The Life of Frederick West

There has never been a more relentless murderer in British penal history than the Gloucester builder Frederick West, who escaped justice by hanging himself in Winson Green Prison on 1 January 1995. Charged at the time of his death with the murder of twelve young women - including his first wife and two of his daughters - he was probably responsible for the deaths of many more in the course of his fifty-three years.
Despite the massive coverage given to the trial and conviction of Rosemary West, Frederick West himself remains an enigma, his life shrouded in mystery. West, a nondescript little gnome of a man with a ready smile, demonstrated none of the characteristics usually associated with a serial killer.

Now, for the first tme, the full story of Frederick West's extraordinary life and death can be told, the secrets of his appalling crimes revealed.

Geoffery Wansell has had unparalleled access to West's own explanations of his actions, including more than 150 hours of tape recordings West made. With the collaboration of the Official Solicitor, Wansell has also been given access to the views of the people who knew West throughout his life, including the social workers and psychiatrists who came into contact with him.

The book also draws on West's own 100 page 'autobiography' - I Was Loved By An Angel - written during the last weeks of his life, as well as many previously unpublished letters and photographs.

Geoffrey Wansell's definitive biography of Frederick West gives unique insight into the mind of a serial killer, bringing not only an understanding of the motives behind his hideous crimes, but also an appreciation of the lessons society can learn from his behaviuor. The life of Frederick West is, inevitably, an examination of the nature of evil itself.

Good Points

Very detailed accounts of the life and crimes of Fredrick West and the cruelty that went on in 25 Cromwell Street. The best book out on this subject matter so far!

Bad Points

Can be quite disturbing for those faint-hearted readers amongst us.

General Comments

Drawing on more than 100 hours of taped confessions and on his own handwritten autobiography whilst in jail, an account of the life of Frederick West, Britain's most notorious mass murderer, which also provides insight into the nature of pure evil. 

In my opinion, this is the best account of the life and crimes of Fredrick West and the cruelty that went on in 25 Cromwell Street.
Geoffrey Wansell paints a detailed and vivid picture of the life of Fred West, from his family and upbringing to the rape, torture and murder he devoted his life to. The book offers psychological analysis throughout the book, with constant reference and quotations from the various members of the West family. 

I have read many books on the crimes of the Wests and I personally feel that this is the best account.

Running 385 pages, the content of the book is the most disturbing and graphic I have encountered, so therefore I would not recommend this book to the fainthearted amongst us. This book will shock, sicken, disturb and even anger you, but it is an important book, allowing the reader to try and understand the cruelty man is capable of. 

The book was first published back in August of 1996 by Headline.

For a synopsis of any of Geoffrey's books, please click on the appropriate cover.