Description

Between 1999 and 2003, a wave of terror swept through rural China. Villages that had known only quiet isolation were shattered by the brutal crimes of one man — Yang Xinhai, the "Monster Killer." Moving silently through Henan, Shandong, and Anhui provinces, he slaughtered entire families, leaving behind no witnesses and almost no trace. For years, his reign of violence went unnoticed, concealed by geography, bureaucracy, and fear.

In Yang Xinhai: True Crime Serial Killers, author Johann Bachmann delves into the chilling story of one of history's most prolific serial murderers. Drawing from police records, survivor accounts, and court transcripts, Bachmann reconstructs the crimes, the investigation, and the systemic failures that allowed the killings to continue for so long. Through the eyes of Detective Zhang Wei — a man determined to expose the truth despite corruption and silence — readers are taken deep into a world where justice is fragile, and the line between civilization and chaos is paper-thin.

This true-crime narrative goes beyond the details of the murders to explore the psychology of evil, the societal neglect that made it possible, and the emotional toll on survivors like Li Mei, who lived to tell her story. It is as much a psychological study and social critique as it is an investigation — an unflinching portrait of how a nation's rural heartlands became the hunting ground of a monster.

Yang Xinhai: True Crime Serial Killers is a haunting reminder that even in the most remote corners of the world, darkness finds a way to thrive when no one is looking. Compelling, deeply researched, and profoundly human, it stands as both a chronicle of horror and a call for accountability.

Perfect for readers of:

True crime and investigative nonfiction Psychological thrillers based on real events Criminology and forensic case studies Fans of books about Ted Bundy, Richard Ramirez, or Jack the Ripper