with accepted fact and with itself. Among other criticisms, Doerkson offers these: Morrison uses an idiosyncratic definition of the term "serial killer" as requiring seven victims, which excludes some of her own examples, such as Ed Gein (2 known victims). Most accepted definitions require only 2 or 3 victims. Morrison claims that there are no female serial killers. Most experts recognize that, though fewer in number than male serial killers, there are in fact female serial killers, and that women such as Aileen Wuornos and Jane Toppan qualify. Morrison argues that serial killers are not motivated by sexual urges. It is recognized by nearly all other experts in the field that this is not the case, and that lust is a very common motive for serial killers. Morrison states that "no serial murderers are addicted to drugs, drink, or even smoking." There are multiple known instances of serial killers using drugs or alcohol. John Wayne Gacy was known to smoke marijuana, Jeffrey Dahmer was an alcoholic and Richard Ramirez was addicted to multiple illicit substances ranging from cocaine to methamphetamine. Doerkson further argues that Morrison's theories of a genetic cause for the impulse to serial murder are insufficiently rigorous and not supported by existing scientific evidence. He additionally follows Bell in questioning Morrison's claim to have interviewed over 80 serial killers, when even an extremely significant expert in the field of serial homicide such as Robert Ressler has only interviewed roughly 40. The piece also includes interviews with several law enforcement professionals who were featured in Morrison's book, each of whom claim that Morrison has misrepresented some of the events in the book. See also List of seial killers by country References Sources External links Review by Seamus Sweeney on www.nthposition.com of My Life Among the Serial Killers Non-fiction books about serial killers 2004 non-fiction books HarperCollins books