Killer Triggers
The most common triggers for homicide are fear, rage, revenge, money, lust, and, more rarely, sheer madness. This isn't an exact science, of course. Any given murder can have multiple triggers. Sex and revenge seem to be common partners in crime. Rage, money, and revenge make for a dangerous trifecta of triggers, as well.
This book offers my memories of homicide cases that I investigated or oversaw. In each case, I examine the trigger that led to death. I chose this theme for the book because even though the why of a murder case may not be critical in an investigation, it can sometimes lead us to the killer.
And even if we solve a case without knowing the trigger, the why still intrigues us, disrupting our dreams and lingering in our minds, perhaps because each of us fears the demons that lie within our own psyche--the triggers waiting to be pulled.
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Lt. Joe Kenda spent twenty-one years chasing killers as a homicide detective and commander of the major crimes unit in Colorado Springs. After retiring from law enforcement, he starred in the true-crime series Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda which features murder cases told through his personal experience. In his new series, Homicide Hunter: American Detective, Kenda trades in his own case files to bring forward astounding investigations from across the country. Both series air on Investigation Discovery (ID), the number one true-crime channel available in more than sixty-six million homes, and are available to stream on Max.
"A bona fide true-crime star."
-- "Vulture""Legendary...For twenty years Lt. Joe Kenda served as a detective with the Colorado Springs Police Department. During that time he solved 356 of the 387 murder cases he investigated. This is a staggering accomplishment, one almost unheard of in modern American law enforcement."
-- "Salon""One of the most successful crime fighters in history...he's also one of the most quotable tough guys to ever put on a badge."
-- "Men's Journal""Sitting down to read Joe Kenda's Killer Triggers is like settling in to listen to a masterful storyteller sharing his own story."
-- "J. A. Jance, New York Times bestselling author ""The book offers an insider's look at criminal cases, from the 911 call to the sentencing of the convicted...Kenda does share some useful perspectives; he discusses a criminally neglectful slumlord, argues for the importance of investigative print journalism, and highlights the role therapy and talking can play in healing those who regularly see the worst of humanity. True crime stories with all the gory details."
-- "Library Journal""My wife and I have seen every episode of Homicide Hunter multiple times and I love that while reading this book, you can almost actually hear Joe Kenda narrating it. Having had the privilege of meeting him on more than one occasion I can say without reservation that we are enormous fans of Joe both professionally and personally. Besides being an exceptional detective and one of the greatest and most authentic true-crime storytellers of all time, Joe has tread in the darkest and most horrific regions of humanity and instead of plunging into nihilism, he has managed to emerge with the utmost empathy and compassion for the sanctity of human life."
-- "Chris Hardwick""In this exceptional memoir, Kenda chronicles the highlights of his twenty-one years as a Colorado Springs, Colo., homicide detective. Kenda investigated or oversaw 387 cases, and here uses them to offer insights into why killers kill...His Colorado cowboy cop humor and compassionate voice help make the dark stories he tells easier to bear. This is must reading for true crime fans.
-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"
