Into the Darklands

By Nigel Latta

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Average Rating: (See all reviews) Format: Paperback, 302 pages, Revised edition Edition Published In: New Zealand, 04 February 2005 Quantity Available: 1 24 hour shipping Would you recognise a child molester standing in a supermarket queue? And if you did, would you understand what went on in his - or her mind? Nigel Latta is a forensic psychologist. He spends his working life with the sort of people most of us would prefer to pretend didn't exist. In this ground-breaking book, Nigel takes us inside the minds of some of the most chilling characters to walk our streets. The journey is challenging, and though Nigel has trodden the path many times, he offers no sense of familiarity or contempt. Rather, there is a palpable sense of danger as he treads carefully through the present and past psychological mines strewn through the lives of his clients. His challenge is to make these people confront and admit the damage their actions have caused, and so minimise the risk of them reoffending. It is not an easy task. The case studies in this book, all based on reality, will shock, unnerve and disturb. Yet it is compulsive reading - once you have visited the Darklands, you will never be able to leave. About the Author Forensic psychologist Nigel Latta is the author of one novel, Execution Lullaby. He works in Auckland, where he lives with his wife and two children. Publisher: HarperCollins New Zealand ISBN: 1869505670 EAN: 9781869505677

This book is not a fun read but I am so glad I read it. Nigel Latta is very straightforward in his book about how he treats sexual offenders. No political correctness here but facts and stories from someone who has been working with 'the predators among us'. A few stories in the book are made up, Latta made them in an attempt to explain how people become predators, how this cycle of abuse works...for me it makes it easier to work with people who have done horrible things...it does not make it right, but I can understand why people get completely screwed up. No happy endings either...the fact that abusing children at a very young age results in permanent braindamage again does not make it ok that these children become abusers later on but it gives a lot of food for thought about how to threat them, how to keep children and the community safe.

Written by the man who provided the (in)famous comment about an angelic five year old killer after a high-profile case where children murdered a pizza delviery man called Michael, this book is not an easy read. If you're looking for a reason to lock 'em up and throw away the key, this book is not for you. While the stories in this book do not let anyone off the hook, they do provide vast insight into why predators do the things they do, and what the problems with out criminal justice system might be. I couldn't do Latta's job, but I'm sure glad he can. The book also provides some practical advice about keeping you and those you love safe.