Killing Time With John Wayne Gacy: Defending America's Most Evil Serial Killer on Death Row

John Wayne Gacy raped, tortured, and murdered 33 boys and young men, burying most of them in the crawlspace under his Chicago home. Karen Conti was in high school at the time watching the bodies being removed on the television news.

Fourteen years pass. Through a twist of fate, Conti, now a young and inexperienced attorney, is called upon to handle Gacy’s final death row appeals. The serial killer soon becomes her most famous, difficult, and haunting client.

Thirty years after Gacy’s execution, Conti looks back through the eyes of a seasoned professional on the legal and media circus that ensued—and her countless hours of detailed conversation with the killer clown. We hear for the first time about Gacy’s gruesome “Body Book.” Were there more victims? Conspirators involved in the murders? What secrets were buried with him?

If one were to ask Conti, “How could you represent such a monster?” she would respond, “What you really want to know is, ‘What was he like?’” This book answers that question.

REVIEWS:

“This addictively readable book about Karen Conti’s representation of John Wayne Gacy, perhaps the most prolific serial killer ever to be put to death in this country, answers some of the law’s most fascinating questions."
—Scott Turow, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“For those interested in the legal system: This book offers a fascinating glimpse into the challenges and ethical dilemmas faced by criminal defense attorneys!”
—Robert Shapiro, a member of the “Dream Team” of O. J. Simpson’s attorneys

“Killing Time is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience."
—Sister Helen Prejean, author of the best-selling book, Dead Man Walking

“While many have exploited the story of John Wayne Gacy with varying degrees of success, Killing Time with John Wayne Gacy is a completely refreshing take. "—Tracy Ullman, Executive Producer of the Peacock Original docuseries John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise

“It is so well done and packed full of very credible information not only on Gacy but Conti’s career and snippets of other cases. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys true crime with a twist." —Ann Wolbert Burgess, Professor at Boston College, one of the original trailblazing “Mindhunter” FBI criminal profilers

"This addictively readable book about Karen Conti's representation of John Wayne Gacy, perhaps the most prolific serial killer ever to be put to death in this country, answers some of the law's most fascinating questions..."

-Scott Turow, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Presumed Innocent and Ultimate Punishment

"For those interested in the legal system: This book offers a fascinating glimpse into the challenges and ethical dilemmas faced by criminal defense attorneys!"

-Robert Shapiro, a member of the "Dream Team" of O. J. Simpson's attorneys

" Killing Time with John Wayne Gacy is a compassionate, articulate narrative that demonstrates how it's possible to treat one of society's designated monsters as still human. As the only female attorney involved with Gacy's death penalty defense, Karen Conti offers an intimate sense of the serial killer as a person awaiting his execution. Her part in Gacy's story is unique and engaging..."

-Dr. Katherine Ramsland, professor of forensic psychology and award-winning author of Confession of a Serial Killer:

The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer

"... so well done and packed full of very credible information not only on Gacy but Conti's career and snippets of other cases. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys true crime with a twist..."

-Ann Wolbert Burgess, Professor at Boston College, one of the original trailblazing "Mindhunter" FBI criminal profilers and author of Killing by Design: Murders, Mindhunters, and My Quest to Decipher the Criminal Mind

"While many have exploited the story of John Wayne Gacy with varying degrees of success, Killing Time with John Wayne Gacy is a completely refreshing take..."

-Tracy Ullman, Executive Producer of the Peacock Original docuseries John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise

"Karen Conti's book is a fascinating look at her time spent with the infamous serial killer John Wayne Gacy. Through Conti's story you may realize that your assumptions of a serial killer's personality may be far different than expected."

-John Borowski, award-winning filmmaker/author, The John Wayne Gacy Murders: Life and Death in Chicago

Karen Conti is one of Chicago's most prominent lawyers and legal analysts. As an aggressive and driven litigator and trial lawyer with over thirty years of experience, she has handled numerous high-profile and noteworthy cases across the country, including a U.S. Supreme Court appeal and several well-known Chicago-area criminal cases, such as the death-row appeals for serial killer John Wayne Gacy. She has produced and hosted award-winning radio shows, including Legally Speaking and The Karen Conti Show.