What drives a fiction novel serial killer to only kill other serial killers?

Often, it's a complex mix of factors. Maybe they have a personal vendetta against serial killers, or they believe they have a unique mission to 'clean up' the criminal world. It could also be a result of their own twisted sense of morality and power.

In some of these books, the serial killers are often highly intelligent. For example, in 'The Girl in the Ice', the killer is very cunning and leaves few clues. They are also usually very methodical in their killings. They have a pattern or a ritual that they follow, which makes them both terrifying and also a challenge for the detectives to figure out.

The serial killers in 2015 fiction tend to be highly intelligent. Take 'The Kind Worth Killing'. The character in this book is intelligent enough to manipulate those around him to achieve his murderous goals. They may also have a hidden motivation that is slowly revealed throughout the story. Sometimes it could be revenge for a past wrong, or a warped sense of justice. And they are often depicted as being able to blend into society, making it difficult for others to suspect them.

In the 'Saw' series, Jigsaw is a unique serial killer. He doesn't kill his victims directly in most cases. Instead, he creates elaborate and sadistic traps that force his victims to face their own 'sins' and make difficult choices. His actions are often justified in his own twisted mind as a form of moral correction, which adds a different dimension to the typical serial killer trope in fiction.

Jigsaw from the 'Saw' franchise is a unique one. He doesn't kill his victims directly in most cases. Instead, he puts them in elaborate and deadly traps to test their will to live and their ability to change. His warped sense of justice and his elaborate schemes set him apart as one of the best fictional serial killers.

In the TV show 'Hannibal', there are female characters with serial - killer - like tendencies. Alana Bloom, for example, has moments where she straddles the line between good and evil. Her character development shows the gray areas that can exist in the minds of fictional female characters with violent tendencies. It also shows how their actions can be influenced by the complex relationships they have with other characters, like her relationship with Hannibal Lecter.

I think 'Red Dragon' by Thomas Harris is also a top pick. It's the first book in the series that introduced Hannibal Lecter. It delves into the mind of another serial killer, Francis Dolarhyde, known as 'The Tooth Fairy'. It shows how his twisted mind works and how the FBI tries to catch him with the help of Lecter. And then there's 'Misery' by Stephen King. Although not a traditional serial killer story, Annie Wilkes, the deranged fan in the book, has some of the traits of a serial - like obsessive and violent behavior towards the writer she holds captive.

Fictional serial killers also tend to be solitary figures. They operate alone, away from the prying eyes of society. This solitude allows them to carry out their heinous acts without being easily detected. Additionally, a lot of them have some sort of signature or pattern to their killings. This could be a specific type of victim they target, or a unique way they leave their mark at the crime scene. For instance, Jack the Ripper in fiction (based on the real - life case) has a distinct pattern of killing prostitutes in a particularly brutal way. It becomes part of their identity in the fictional world and makes them more memorable and menacing.

They provide direct insights. For instance, we can learn about the killers' modus operandi. A survivor might tell how the killer lured them, like using false pretenses or charm.

The Zodiac Killer is another very well - known serial killer. He taunted the police with letters and ciphers. He committed a series of murders in Northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His identity remains a mystery, and his case has intrigued people for decades, with many trying to decipher his messages and figure out who he was.