Foreword by Marilyn Bardsley

Periodically, the vampire subculture becomes a popular subject for books, games, movies, and television programming. The vampire myth combines the romantic appeal of sex, eternal life, and supernatural power, but it is also intrinsically infused with the need to kill to sustain the vampire’s existence. For most people, vampire stories are a source of entertainment, but for a few mentally unstable individuals the vampire subculture becomes an inducement for murder.

The Vampire Trap is an example of what kind of tragedy can occur when an alienated and unstable young man becomes dominated by the fantasy of vampiric power.

Dr. Katherine Ramsland is unique in having extensive experience in researching and writing about the vampire subculture, criminal psychology, and forensics. She holds graduate degrees in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, and philosophy, and is working on a master’s degree in criminal justice. Currently, she teaches forensic psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University in Pennsylvania.

As the founder and editor of Court TV’s (now truTV’s) Crime Library, I was fortunate enough to have several authors of Dr. Ramsland’s caliber to write for the Website. It takes a particular talent to transform forensic information and psychological analysis about a criminal case into a moving, dramatic story. Dr. Ramsland has that talent in abundance.

She has published over 1,000 articles and thirty-eight books, including The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds, Beating the Devil’s Game: A History of Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation, The Human Predator: A Historical Chronicle of Serial Murder and Forensic Investigation, Inside the Minds of Serial Killers, Inside the Minds of Healthcare Serial Killers, Inside the Minds of Sexual Predators, and Inside the Minds of Mass Murderers.

Additionally, she has written several books on the vampire subculture, including The Science of Vampires, The Vampire Companion, The Heat Seekers, The Anne Rice Reader, and Undercover with Vampires in America Today.

Her background in forensic studies positioned her to assist former FBI profiler John Douglas on his book, The Cases that Haunt Us, and to co-write a book with former FBI profiler, Gregg McCrary, The Unknown Darkness. She also co-wrote a book with Henry C. Lee, The Real Life of a Forensic Scientist. Ramsland speaks internationally about forensic psychology, forensic science, and serial murder, and has appeared on numerous documentaries, as well as on such programs as The Today Show, 20/20, Montel Williams, NPR, Larry King Live and E! True Hollywood. She was the recurring expert for theAmerican Occult series on the ID network, and her latest book is The Mind of a Murderer: Privileged Access to the Demons that Drive Extreme Violence.

For The Unknown Darkness

“This is a must-read for true crime fans. A beautifully written expert analysis of high profile killers.”
−Ann Rule

For The Forensic Science of CSI

“With the mind of a true investigator, Ramsland demystifies the world of forensics with authentic and vivid detail.”
− John Douglas

“Fascinating…a must for anyone who wonders how the real crime solvers do it.”
–Michael Palmer, bestselling medical novelist

For Inside the Minds of Serial Killers

“In the area of psychological research on serial k,illers, Dr. Katherine Ramsland has distinguished herself as a unique thinker with a fascinating approach to case analysis.”
− Robert K. Ressler

For The Mind of a Murderer

“Dr. Ramsland writes with a clarity of prose and elegance of style that makes her the envy of forensic commentators and establishes her as a genuine authority in her field.”
− Dr. Michael Stone

For Beating the Devil’s Game

“Once again Katherine Ramsland has brilliantly captured the insights and drama of some fascinating cases.”
− Dr. Henry C. Lee

“This is a must-read for true crime fans. A beautifully written expert analysis of high profile killers.”
—Ann Rule, New York Times bestselling true-crime author, writing about Katherine Ramsland’s bookThe Unknown Darkness 

A young woman and her baby daughter visit a child’s clothing store and that is the last time anyone sees them alive. In THE VAMPIRE TRAP by forensic psychologist and vampire expert Katherine Ramsland, a troubled young man’s dark obsession with the vampire culture’s larger-than-life charisma becomes the center of the police investigation.

From the best true crime authors in the business, many of whom have seen their books made into major motion pictures, comes Crimescape® — a new collection of compelling short nonfiction crime e-books from leading independent e-book publisher RosettaBooks. Taking readers into the dark heart of the criminal mind and the tense hunt to bring perpetrators to justice, Crimescape® authors stand apart from other true crime writers because they have personal experience in crime investigation, whether as police detectives, investigative reporters, forensics professionals or criminal psychologists. Riveting storytellers, Crimescape® short nonfiction writers give readers all the information they need to understand relevant clues and the interwoven influences in each criminal case.

Paul Alexander, the #1 bestselling true crime Kindle Singles author of Murdered and Accused said, “What makes for a good true-crime story? Interesting characters, an engrossing plot, situations that often teeter between life and death. But here’s the MacGuffin about true crime: What you’re reading actually happened. Sometimes truth really is more compelling than fiction. And that’s why you will enjoy reading Crimescape® true crime series.”

THE VAMPIRE TRAP is one of the first six releases in the continuing Crimescape® series from RosettaBooks. For an author interview or a PDF review copy, please contact:

Hilsinger-Mendelson East
Sandi Mendelson — 212.725.7707 — smendelson@hmieast.com