Letters to the Purple Satin Killer by Joshua Chaplinsky

Release Date: April 6, 2024

Jonas Williker is considered one of the most sadistic serial murderers of the modern era. This epistolary novel explores the aftermath of his arrest and the psychological trauma of those who lived through it. The Pennsylvania native brutalized his way into the zeitgeist during the early part of the new millennium, leaving a trail of corpses across five states before his eventual arrest. All told, Williker was responsible for the rape and murder of 23 women, and is suspected in the deaths of dozens more. His calling card—a torn piece of fabric found on or inside the bodies of his victims—helped popularize his now ubiquitous nickname. The Purple Satin Killer.  In the years following his arrest, Jonas Williker received hundreds of letters in prison. Collected here, these letters offer a unique glimpse into a depraved mind through a human lens, including contributions from family, the bereaved, and self-professed “fans.” They represent a chilling portrait of the American psyche, skewering a media obsessed culture where murderers are celebrities to revere. What you learn about the man from these letters will shock you, but not as much as what you learn about yourself.

Overall Rating

5/5

Spooky Rating

3/5

Quick Take

Letters to the Purple Satin Killer by Joshua Chaplinksy is in the running for my favorite novel of 2024. It is a unique take on the serial killer subgenre and forces us to confront our obsession with true crime and the way our society characterizes serial killers as celebrities. Brilliant is an understatement. Go into this one blind, and you will be blown away!

Tell Me More

Let’s just say that this book took me by the throat and would not relent! 

Letters to the Purple Satin Killer is one of the most unique and ingenious novels I’ve ever read. Rather than being from the perspective of the serial killer or telling a full-length novel regarding the serial killer in question, it is written in letters sent to the Purple Satin Killer as he sits on death row. By utilizing this format, Chaplinksy gives the reader insight into who this man was based on how others viewed him, what he did, and the relation they had to him. But it also challenged the obsession our culture has with serial killers in general. It is written as though it is a true crime book (which took me forever to realize that it is actually fiction, it was that well formatted) and the amount of time and dedication Chaplinsky put into this story to keep track of the varying storylines was beyond impressive. 

There are quite a few twists and turns that I did not expect, as well as connections between some of the letter writers. Getting a sense of who this man was based on those he impacted was mind blowing – especially those who had no personal relation to him at all! I loved how dark it was, but in a subtle way, and the lingering sense of dread it produced was palpable. This book asks a lot of its reader by forcing the reader to piece together all of the little nods and hints, making it a kind of puzzle. The Purple Satin Killer is clearly based off of Ted Bundy, which made it feel like a satire, and I enjoyed it immensely.

I seriously cannot recommend this novel enough. It is in the running for my favorite book of the year, and I am recommending it to everyone! However, I do have to mention that there are some graphic and unhinged elements in some of the letters, so be forewarned about that. This book doesn’t shy away from some of the most grotesque atrocities that humans have committed, thought, or felt, and the level of discomfort you will feel upon finishing the novel will leave you changed. Go on, take the plunge! I dare you.