The most common triggers for homicide are fear, rage, revenge, money, lust, and, more rarely, sheer madness. This isn’t an exact science, of course. Any given murder can have multiple triggers. Sex and revenge seem to be common partners in crime. Rage, money, and revenge make for a dangerous trifecta of triggers, as well.
This book offers my memories of homicide cases that I investigated or … or oversaw. In each case, I examine the trigger that led to death. I chose this theme for the book because even though the why of a murder case may not be critical in an investigation, it can sometimes lead us to the killer.
And even if we solve a case without knowing the trigger, the why still intrigues us, disrupting our dreams and lingering in our minds, perhaps because each of us fears the demons that lie within our own psyche—the triggers waiting to be pulled.
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Killer Triggers: Murder Comes Down to Sex, Drugs, or Money, Joe Kenda, 2021 (non-fiction)
My favorite quote: “They say life is random. Death has it beat.”
Notable characters: Lt. Joe Kenda, the retired homicide detective
Most memorable scene: When a sweet little girl kicks Kenda right in the shin for (rightfully) sending her daddy to prison
Greatest strengths: The voice. Joe Kenda definitely has a way with words. His deadpan humor and take no shit attitude brings this book to life in a way that makes it impossible to stop reading. You’ll catch yourself thinking, “Well, my, my, my,” Kenda-style, long after you finish it
Standout achievements: Joe Kenda’s level of dedication is the standout achievement
Fun Facts: In his 21 years as homicide detective and commander of the major crimes unit, Kenda and his team solved 356 of his 387 homicide cases — which is a 92% solve rate
Other media: The American true-crime documentary, Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda, which ran for nine seasons, and the new series, American Detective, which is still going
What it taught me: Too much to mention. When it comes to law, crime, forensics, and police procedure in my own writing, I return again and again to Joe Kenda’s books and television series
How it inspired me: This book gives readers an intimate look at the sacrifices made by the men and women who serve and protect us and it gave me a whole new appreciation and respect for them
Additional thoughts: With his dry wit, dedication, and compassion for the victims, Joe Kenda adds a new layer to the true crime genre — one that, in my opinion, has been much needed for a long, long time
My rating: 4.5 of 5
Haunt me: alistaircross.com
In this true-crime novel retired Colorado Springs Homicide Detective, Lt. Joe Kenda, recounts some memorable cases. These cases all have one thing in common, a killer trigger. From greed to madness these cases cover all the bases on what motivates murderers. Complete with his witty Kendaisms, and vivid descriptions of police procedures it’s a fantastic read for any true crime fan.
I am a fan of the show, Homicide Hunter, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to review this book. Lt. Kenda gives insights on the inner workings of a homicide investigation and a glimpse into his personal life during these investigations. His matter-of-fact style of writing pulls you in immediately. I have to give credit to his wife Kathy, she is a saint and he clearly values her love and support during his time as an investigator. His brand of gritty humor is not for everyone, but I enjoyed it. I would highly recommend this book to any true crime fan and fans of Lt. Joe Kenda.
Joe Kenda did a great job explaining some of the behind the scenes issues involved with homicide investigations. I had a similar job in a Midwestern college town–with far fewer homicides–and I thoroughly enjoyed Joe’s sense of humor and irony throughout the book. Good Job Joe!
Joe Kenda has lead a very interesting life, his stories are awesome.
I’m a Joe Kenda fan from his Homicide Hunter series. This book is a must read for any fan of his show!
This was a highly informative book about what makes murderers click — most of the time. I enjoyed the no-nonsense language by the author, and his little asides and humorous remarks that prevented the book from becoming too dark. Great, fast-paced read!
Got to love Lt. Joe Kenda and his contempt for knucklehead criminals and murderers. He is also not afraid to discuss how the horrors of his job have affected his personal life and how he worked through that. His stories are told from his viewpoint and they are most interesting. Highly recommend.
If you liked the series with Joe Kenda then you will love this book and discussion of various cases. Great to read because each chapter is a different case. So can open and start to read anywhere and read as little or a lot as your desire.
If you fell in love with Joe Kenda while watching Homicide Hunter on TV you’re bound to like his newest audiobook. This is Joe all over again, only this time he allows his story and vocabulary to be a bit more colorful in a few places.
Since I think I watched every episode of Homicide Hunter I couldn’t wait to get this audiobook. The minute it started playing I relaxed. Kenda was back. I’m pretty sure if he hadn’t read his book, it would have been lacking a very important element.
Much like on TV he narrates with his dry wit and humor. And as I mentioned above, it’s not always squeaky clean language. Yet it didn’t occur often enough to bother me.
Each story/case is quite different and requires somewhat different skills in solving them, especially since at that time modern techniques weren’t available.
And as I mentioned earlier Kenda does a wonderful job of being well . . . Kenda. He speaks distinctly and doesn’t rush his sentences.
My Concerns
The listener needs to be aware ahead of time that this is true crime, which can be concerning to some.
Final Thoughts
If you love true crime (okay that doesn’t sound right), and I hope you know what I mean by that, and you’re a fan of Joe Kenda, by all means pick up this audiobook.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ability to listen to this audiobook and review it.
Kenda read this book to me, as my mind could hear his voice saying every word. I could see his expressions as he made each scene real. Very educational on the life of an exceptional man.
HUGE fan of Joe Kenda’s! Have been a fan of Homeside Hunter for years! The world needs more men/women with his kind of dedication to police work and family.
This book is like a continuation of the Homicide Hunter, love it! Lt. Joe Kenda has served twenty years as a detective with Colorado Springs Police Department, solving close to 400 cases. The cases are gruesome and devastating to families to hear, Lt. Kenda does not sugar coat words and he gives each case his undivided attention. As with this both he speaks about the triggers that killers have. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.
Finally, I understand the fascination with the true crime genre! I have not been a fan of true crime television or books previously, but I think I need to investigate the genre more.
Joe Kenda is a seasoned detective turned celebrity and author who succinctly and factually lays out the details of some of his most intriguing cases. I appreciated the to-the-point style of his writing. Each chapter in this book focuses on a different case, and that made the book easily digested in delicious chunks. If I were to liken it to a fiction style, it would be similar to short stories.
Each chapter features an intriguing case where Mr. Kenda gives his readers a summary of the case, the key players on both sides of the law, and the journey to the outcome. It’s a refreshing read that not only gives readers insight into the individual cases but also faith in the detectives working for the greater good.
It was quite amazing how I felt so much like Joe was talking to me, rather than I was reading a book. The stories were intense, vivid, and it sucked me in immediately. I’ve been a fan of his shows for a long time, so this was wonderful to read. Highly recommend.
Lt Joe Kenda is back! In Killer Triggers, Kenda discusses a handful of crimes and the reasons behind them.
I have always liked Kenda’s no nonsense style. In this story, he details a handful of murders he worked or oversaw, from beginning to end. Some of them took years to solve. Kenda delivers each story with his lack of frills pattern describing the victim, the crime, and the reason behind it. He details the efforts taken by police to solve it, as well as expressing how every victim deserved respect and care from the detectives.
I think in some ways, Kenda is more personal in Killer Triggers. He discusses how the TV show and previous book were cathartic. He shares stories about his long suffering wife, Kathy. He shares anecdotes about times he had to come down hard on an officer for not caring enough, or come down hard on a suspect who was not being straight with him.
True crime fans will enjoy Killer Triggers because the cases are obscure; these will all be unheard cases not covered by tv shows, podcasts, and other authors. Add in Kenda’s flair and you have a true crime delight! The audio is wonderful-Kenda’s speech patterns and unique quality are part of what makes him so great!