American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century

Compare and contrast Payne’s methodical, patient approach to interrogation with Feldis’s impulsive, self-focused methods. What broader arguments about expertise and authority is Callahan making? How does this juxtaposition of the two interrogators inform the text’s thematic engagement with The Strengths and Limitation of Criminal Investigation Procedure?

Analyze the symbolic significance of Keyes’s death by suicide and his final messages (“WE ARE ONE” and “BELIZE”). What do they reveal about his self-perception and goals?

How does American Predator challenge the traditional image of a serial killer in American culture? In what ways is Callahan’s theme of The Psychological Profile of a Serial Killer distinct or unique in the broader context of the true-crime genre?

What is the role of gender in the narrative? How does Keyes’s treatment of female victims and female interrogators like Doll reflect broader cultural patterns of misogyny and power?

What role does media coverage, or the lack thereof, play in shaping the investigation and public understanding of Keyes’s crimes? Would the case have been different if the national media had been involved from the start?

How does Callahan structure American Predator to build suspense, even when readers already know Keyes was caught? How does her use of pacing and foreshadowing affect the narrative?

What role does the setting, particularly the rural isolation and insular nature of Anchorage, Alaska, play in shaping the events of the case and the investigation? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

How does American Predator use Keyes’s childhood environment, parental neglect, and radicalization to explore the question of nature versus nurture in the development of a serial killer?