11-06-2025
Uncovering the Pacific Northwest's violent history and toxic legacy
'Murderland' is, by design, an extremely disturbing book. To begin with, there are the blunt descriptions of multiple horrific crimes perpetrated by serial killers prowling America, mainly around the Pacific Northwest, in the second half of the 20th century. Next, the scathing parade of statistics detailing the amounts of lead, arsenic and other toxic chemicals spewed into the atmosphere by smelting companies across the country. Then, there are the references to numerous scientific studies, dating back to the 1920s, linking high blood lead levels in children to behavioral problems including cruelty and aggression.
