How the Killing Began - the prehistory of serial killer Francis Ackerman Jr. now available in paperback (including audio version on CD). Francis Ackerman Jr. looked the wolf in the eyes. He felt a strange kinship with the animal. They were both born into a world where they were destined to be the villains, and neither could do anything about it. No one could change their nature. It was meaningless whether Ackerman wanted to be more than he was. The world had assigned him his role, and people had certain expectations of him. Well then: He would give the audience what they craved. A chilling short thriller from the pen of SPIEGEL bestselling author Ethan Cross.