A Need to Kill: Confessions of a Teen Murderer

Name: A Need to Kill: Confessions of a Teen Murderer
Price: 23.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (237 reviews)
Author: Michael W. Cuneo

by Michael W. Cuneo

Nonfiction History

4.4 (237)

4.4 stars from 237 reviews

304 pages~5.1 hr readPublished by Macmillan + ORMPublished 2011-03-01

$23.99At peak price

Last checked: Jun 7, 2026

Price history: $0.99 – $23.99

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Price range: $0.99 – $23.99

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Perfect for you if...

You're fascinated by true crime that goes beyond the sensational headlines to explore psychological motivation and what creates a killer.
You want a deeply reported account that includes primary source material: diary entries, confessions, and messages that let you form your own conclusions.
You appreciate rigorous, unflinching writing that doesn't rely on speculation or armchair psychology to explain inexplicable violence.

Maybe not for you if...

You need a tidy resolution or moral clarity about why terrible things happen; this book sits in uncomfortable ambiguity.
You're sensitive to graphic depictions of violent crime and prefer true crime that focuses on investigation rather than the actual events.
You're looking for a quick true crime read; this is a serious, introspective work that demands engagement with difficult material.

About this book

A Need to Kill examines the Haines family massacre committed by Alec Kreider, a clean-cut and academically gifted teenager who killed the family of his best friend. One night, Kreider entered the unlocked home with a knife and attacked Tom and Lisa Haines in their bedroom, then Kevin Haines, who fought back. Kevin's sister Maggie awoke to the violence and was the sole survivor. Despite showing no obvious motives, history of psychosis, or remorse, Kreider's crime raised questions about whether he was a serial killer in the making. Michael W. Cuneo's account draws on Kreider's confession to his father, messages to classmates, and diary excerpts to explore the mind of this teenage killer. The ebook edition does not include photos from the print version.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$0.99 – $23.99

Price has dropped 8 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 44 days. Typically stays discounted for 3 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently around #109K in the Kindle store — a niche title. Climbing the charts — 88% improvement recently.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.4★ from 237 reviews

Gaining approximately 6 new reviews per month. Rating has climbed from 4.3 to 4.4. Recent readers are rating it higher.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

Based on past patterns, a price drop could happen soon. It typically goes on sale every 44 days and the last drop was 62 days ago. Typical discount: 96% off.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.

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