The document focuses on the analysis of violent serial crime, in particular on the efficacy of profiling in the investigation of those crimes. The articles represent contributions to the analysis of serial offending from around the world, reflecting the fact that much of the recent research on profiling originates outside the United States. One of the central assumptions of profiling is that certain offender characteristics can be ascertained from the crime scene. The volume stresses the importance of considering the nature and context of the offense in understanding offender behavior and outlines nine key questions that should be part of the assessment process in understanding offender behavior. It also questions whether criminal investigative analysis and psychology have the capacity to meet the criteria to be considered scientific. The volume proposes a model of homicide behavior that emphasizes the expressive or instrumental nature of the relationship between offender and victim, and evaluates criminal investigative analysis techniques using data on serial sexual homicide cases involving elderly women. Notes, references, figures, tables