#Review: India’s Most Dangerous Serial Killer by Rakesh Goswami

India’s Most Dangerous Serial Killer: Shankariya Kanpatimar 

Author: Rakesh Goswami

Publisher: Penguin Random House

Rating: 4/5

India’s Most Dangerous Serial Killer: Shankariya Kanpatimar by Rakesh Goswami is a chilling and deeply researched account of one of India’s earliest recorded serial killers. What makes this book stand apart from sensational true-crime writing is its commitment to detail, documentation, and atmosphere. Rather than relying on shock value alone, the narrative reconstructs the crimes through police files, interviews, FIRs, and investigative records, making the reading experience feel disturbingly real.

The writing is straightforward yet gripping. The author avoids unnecessary dramatization, which oddly makes the horrors even more unsettling. The descriptions of Shankariya’s methods, movements, and confessions are stark enough to leave a lasting impact. At the same time, the book also captures the social climate of the 1970s—the limitations of policing, communication gaps, and the fear that spread across states as the murders continued.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is how it balances crime reporting with procedural investigation. The investigative sections involving officers, case tracking, and identification add depth and authenticity to the narrative.

At times, the abundance of procedural details may feel slightly dense for readers expecting a fast-paced thriller. However, for readers interested in true crime, criminal psychology, and Indian investigative history, this is an absorbing and unsettling read that stays with you long after the final page.

Find this book here.