Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Did you enjoy reading this book? Why or why not?

2. How would you describe Fraser’s writing style? Did you find it compelling? Why or why not?

3. Compare and contrast this book with other true crime books you have read, like Michelle McNamara’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark or Ann Rule’s The Stranger Beside Me. What are the similarities and differences?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Murderland contains graphic depictions of sexual assault and violence. Did you find the book difficult to read? Why or why not? Have you read similar books in the past?

2. Author Caroline Fraser had direct experience with toxic chemical exposure when her father forced her family to build a boat using toxic chemicals without proper ventilation. Have you ever had a dangerous exposure while on the job or in your personal life? What happened?

3. As a teen, Fraser and her friends bragged when they knew someone whom Ted Bundy had approached. Have you ever had a tangential relationship to famous instances of violence?

4. Murderland covers the period from the late 1960s to the early 2010s, focusing primarily on the 1970s and 1980s. In which of these decades were you alive? How do Fraser’s observations match your recollections?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does Murderland contribute to the existing literature about serial killers? How does Fraser distinguish herself from the many other writers who have studied Ted Bundy and other serial killers?

2. Murderland focuses primarily on industrial activity and murder sprees in the Pacific Northwest. Are her arguments about such activity applicable elsewhere?

3. How does the book’s thematic interest in corporate greed and environmental collapse in the late 20th century apply to life in 2025? What similarities and differences do you see between then and now?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does the book’s narrative structure (which weaves true crime reporting into environmental research) affect the reading experience? Did you find the transitions jarring? If so, why?

2. How did the inclusion of Fraser’s personal backstory affect the reading experience? How did her experiences reflect in her larger arguments in the book?

3. Analyze the tone of Murderland. How does Fraser’s narration support her arguments? Does the form match the content? Why or why not?

4. Explore the role of greed and desire in the book. How did these impulses motivate ASARCO executives and serial killers like Ted Bundy?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine that you are adapting this book into a TV show. Would you structure it chronologically, dedicate one episode to each of the serial killers described in the book, or take another approach?

2. If you could dedicate a movie or TV series to telling the story of one of the women whom Ted Bundy hurt or killed, which would you choose? What measures might you take to ensure that the story honors her rather than the perpetrator?

3. Murderland ends with an invocation or prayer in which Fraser seeks justice against the perpetrators and restoration of justice for the targets of violence. Write your own incantation or prayer for those who have been targets of violence in your community, based on Fraser’s example.