All thrill seekers are different. Some need to bungee jump or chase tornadoes to experience a rush of adrenaline but for me, there is nothing more exciting than opening a book and meeting a brand-new fictional character for the very first time. And the best characters are the ones who make me feel…something. Because they’re the people who remind me that despite all our differences, sometimes we feel the same emotions and think the same thoughts. The fact that I can emotionally connect with a figment of someone else’s imagination is beyond exciting. It’s exhilarating. And it means I never have to go kayaking or jump out of a plane.  

The fictional characters who have the greatest emotional impact on me are the ones who will stay with me forever, and they’re often not the nicest people in the book. Far from it. In fact, sometimes they’re the worst breed of villain—serial killers. A murderer who kills once is bad enough but the people who strike again and again, should surely terrify and repulse me—shouldn’t they? Well, sometimes they do, but not always. Sometimes, for reasons I don’t fully understand, I find myself rooting for the serial killer, desperately hoping they won’t be caught. 

In my debut novel, You’d Look Better as A Ghost, I introduce Claire—a serial killer who sees her victims as ghosts before they die. Despite being a brutal, unforgiving psychopath, Claire is often described by readers as being extremely likeable and strangely relatable, prompting me to wonder why. What is it about her that resonates? Her difficult childhood, perhaps? Her authenticity? Or is her likeability directly related to her dark humor? Are we more forgiving of the people who make us laugh? 

With this in mind, I’d like to consider seven books that have introduced us to unforgettable characters and pose the question—why do we find these serial killers so likeable? (And what does that say about us?) 

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

As readers, we warm to serial killer Dexter Morgan in Jeff Lindsay’s series of books, because we know we’d be safe around him, wouldn’t we? After all, Dexter only goes after the bad guys who do terrible things, and this is part of his appeal. We agree with his assessment of other people and appreciate his wit and the peculiar logic to his code of ethics. Plus, he’s intelligent and good at his job as a forensic blood splatter analyst, and he treats both the women in his life—his adoptive sister and his girlfriend, with respect. I think we like him because when he’s not killing bad people, Dexter is extremely charming. 

Codename Villanelle by Luke Jennings

Whilst not as overtly comical as her character in Killing Eve—the TV adaptation of Luke Jennings’ novel, Villanelle is an undeniably fascinating creation. One of the world’s most skilled assassins, she is glamourous and unflappable with an ever-present, understated wit. But she is also a cold, brutal killer, so why do we, as readers, care about her? Perhaps the answer lies in her troubled childhood. After her mother’s death, her questionable father was often absent, leaving the young Villanelle in the care of orphanages, and us to ponder—would a different childhood have created a different girl? 

Hannibal by Thomas Harris

Someone else who is extremely interesting to ponder but definitely from a safe distance, is Hannibal Lecter. In fact, if one was brave/unfortunate enough to meet him in real life, the list of questions for the serial killer first introduced in the novel, ‘Red Dragon’ by Thomas Harris would be endless. How can a genius doctor and cannibalistic monster co-exist in the same human form? And maybe therein lies the answer. Maybe the behaviour of Hannibal Lecter is so extreme, so far removed from conventional norms that we no longer consider him human. Perhaps it is his complete lack of morality that allows us to skim over the killing and be entertained instead by his intelligence, charisma and sharp wit. Any character who ‘preferred to eat the rude’ is indisputably grotesque, but certainly not boring. 

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Whilst Korede isn’t the serial killer in Oyinkan Braithwaite’s novel, she acts as accomplice for her murderous sister, so why are we on her side? Maybe it’s because the siblings are so different. Whereas Ayoola is beautiful, reckless and messy with her kills, Korede is average-looking, organised and meticulous in cleaning up each crime scene. And when Korede is read and understood in the context of her family—abusive father, passive mother, sociopathic sister—her determination to protect her sibling at all costs, can be more easily understood. Perhaps our sympathy for Korede’s position within her family and life, clouds our judgment and makes us more forgiving. 

Sweetpea by C.J. Skuse

Rhiannon Lewis, the anti-hero in C J Skuse’s series of books, survived a traumatic crime when she was young that left her with a serious brain injury. Years later, armed with an abundance of dark humour, brutal one liners and a kill list of those who annoy her, the reader is never sure whether Rhiannon would always have developed into a merciless, albeit hilarious psychopath, or whether her brain injury is solely to blame. Regardless of this, I think the reason we find ourselves rooting for Rhiannon is because if we’re honest, we all have murderous thoughts about the people who irritate us, and spending time with a character who not only shares those thoughts but acts on them, is highly entertaining and strangely reassuring. For all our faults, we’re not that bad. 

How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

We know we shouldn’t like a woman who calmly killed numerous members of her family whilst experiencing not a moment of upset or regret, but there is something very intriguing about Grace Bernard, the protagonist in Bella Mackie’s novel. Maybe she’d be less relatable if this story was solely about revenge, but her rage at the class system and patriarchy certainly resonates. Grace refuses to conform; she doesn’t exhibit behaviours we have been conditioned to expect from women, and this is so refreshing to read. Yes, she’s often angry, cruel and self-important and yet there are times when we find ourselves agreeing with her. Maybe it’s the conflict Grace creates within the reader that makes her such a fascinating character.

Jaws by Peter Benchley 

Whilst not a conventional serial killer, the star of Peter Benchley’s novel certainly racks up a decent number of victims and I think deserves a place on this list. Without the shark, Jaws is just a story about Police Chief Brody working in Amity during the busy summer season. But with the shark, this is one of the most exciting stories of all time! And from the safety of the shoreline, I have to admit that I’m a big fan of the shark, who after all, is just doing what sharks do. And, returning to my initial question, maybe that’s the best answer of all. Maybe the reason I find the fictional serial killers on this list so likeable is quite simple. I love characters who are unashamedly themselves.