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American Predator by Maureen Callahan

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True Crime Book Club

"American Predator" by Maureen Callahan

2026-04-20 13:00:00 2026-04-20 14:00:00 America/New_York True Crime Book Club Maureen Callahan delves into the story of how serial killer, Israel Keyes, could go undetected for so long. Over 14 years he traversed the country committing crimes using kits he had buried before. Westlake Porter Public Library - Dover Room

Monday, April 20
1:00pm - 2:00pm

Add to Calendar 2026-04-20 13:00:00 2026-04-20 14:00:00 America/New_York True Crime Book Club Maureen Callahan delves into the story of how serial killer, Israel Keyes, could go undetected for so long. Over 14 years he traversed the country committing crimes using kits he had buried before. Westlake Porter Public Library - Dover Room

Maureen Callahan delves into the story of how serial killer, Israel Keyes, could go undetected for so long. Over 14 years he traversed the country committing crimes using kits he had buried before.

We will meet on the third Monday of every month, except July & December. This will be a great way to discover new and classic True Crime writing.

In April we will read Maureen Callahan's "American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century."

From Amazon

Ted Bundy. John Wayne Gacy. Jeffrey Dahmer. The names of notorious serial killers are usually well-known; they echo in the news and in public consciousness. But most people have never heard of Israel Keyes, one of the most ambitious and terrifying serial killers in modern history. The FBI considered his behavior unprecedented. Described by a prosecutor as "a force of pure evil," Keyes was a predator who struck all over the United States. He buried "kill kits"—cash, weapons, and body-disposal tools—in remote locations across the country. Over the course of fourteen years, Keyes would fly to a city, rent a car, and drive thousands of miles in order to use his kits. He would break into a stranger's house, abduct his victims in broad daylight, and kill and dispose of them in mere hours. And then he would return home to Alaska, resuming life as a quiet, reliable construction worker devoted to his only daughter.

When journalist Maureen Callahan first heard about Israel Keyes in 2012, she was captivated by how a killer of this magnitude could go undetected by law enforcement for over a decade. And so began a project that consumed her for the next several years—uncovering the true story behind how the FBI ultimately caught Israel Keyes, and trying to understand what it means for a killer like Keyes to exist. A killer who left a path of monstrous, randomly committed crimes in his wake—many of which remain unsolved to this day.

"American Predator" is the ambitious culmination of years of interviews with key figures in law enforcement and in Keyes's life, and research uncovered from classified FBI files. Callahan takes us on a journey into the chilling, nightmarish mind of a relentless killer, and to the limitations of traditional law enforcement.


View and print the list of books and check out the Book Discussion page for more book clubs and resources!

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Books and Authors |

TAGS: | True Crime | book discussion | book club |

Westlake Porter Public Library

Phone: (440) 871-2600
Fax: (440) 871-6969

Hours
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Mon, Apr 06 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Apr 07 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Wed, Apr 08 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Thu, Apr 09 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Fri, Apr 10 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Apr 11 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Apr 12 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Mon, Apr 06 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Apr 07 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Wed, Apr 08 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Thu, Apr 09 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Fri, Apr 10 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Apr 11 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Apr 12 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Westlake Porter Public Library is an independent public library serving the residents of the city of Westlake, western Cuyahoga County and eastern Lorain County. The library is located at 27333 Center Ridge Road in Westlake, Ohio. Anyone who lives, works, owns property, or goes to school in Ohio can register for a free library card.

Upcoming events

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Mon, Apr 13, 10:30am - 11:00am
Porter Room

Mon, Apr 13, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Craft Room,Teen Lounge

Mon, Apr 13, 4:30pm - 5:15pm
Technology Training Lab

Mon, Apr 13, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Westlake Room

Tue, Apr 14, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Porter Room

Tue, Apr 14, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Porter Room,Zoom Programming 2

Wed, Apr 15, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Craft Room

Wed, Apr 15, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Study Room YS-Group

Wed, Apr 15, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Westlake Room

Wed, Apr 15, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Thomas A. Fox Board Room

Wed, Apr 15, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Porter Room

Thu, Apr 16, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Technology Training Lab

Thu, Apr 16, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Dover Room

Fri, Apr 17, 10:30am - 11:30am
Dover Room

Sat, Apr 18, 10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime Room

Sat, Apr 18, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Storytime Room

Sun, Apr 19, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Dover Room,Porter Room

Sun, Apr 19, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Storytime Room

Mon, Apr 20, 9:00am - 9:00pm
Registration opens Monday, April 13 2026 at 9:00am

Mon, Apr 20, 11:00am - 11:45am
Storytime Room
Registration opens Monday, April 13 2026 at 9:00am

Mon, Apr 20, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Dover Room

Mon, Apr 20, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Craft Room,Teen Lounge

Mon, Apr 20, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Westlake Room

Mon, Apr 20, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Technology Training Lab

Tue, Apr 21, 10:00am - 11:30am
Dover Room

Tue, Apr 21, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Makerspace

Tue, Apr 21, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Craft Room
Registration opens Tuesday, April 14 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, Apr 22, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Craft Room,Teen Lounge

Wed, Apr 22, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Dover Room

Wed, Apr 22, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Study Room YS-Group

Wed, Apr 22, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Westlake Room

Wed, Apr 22, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Technology Training Lab

Wed, Apr 22, 6:00pm - 6:30pm
Makerspace
Registration opens Wednesday, April 15 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, Apr 22, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Porter Room,Zoom Programming 1

Thu, Apr 23, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Thomas A. Fox Board Room

Thu, Apr 23, 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Storytime Room

Sat, Apr 25, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Porter Room

Sat, Apr 25, 11:00am - 11:45am
Storytime Room
Registration opens Saturday, April 18 2026 at 9:00am

Sat, Apr 25, 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Sat, Apr 25, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Makerspace
Registration opens Saturday, April 18 2026 at 9:00am

Rescheduled
Sat, Apr 25, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
New date Saturday, April 25, 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Sat, Apr 25, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Youth Services

Mon, Apr 27, 10:00am - 10:30am
Storytime Room

Mon, Apr 27, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Craft Room,Teen Lounge

Mon, Apr 27, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Westlake Room

Tue, Apr 28, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Craft Room
Registration opens Tuesday, April 21 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, Apr 29, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Craft Room

Wed, Apr 29, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Study Room YS-Group

Wed, Apr 29, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Westlake Room

Wed, Apr 29, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Dover Room

Wed, Apr 29, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Technology Training Lab

Thu, Apr 30, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Online

Sat, May 02, All day
Entrance Lobby

Sat, May 02, 10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime Room

Sat, May 02, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Makerspace
Registration opens Saturday, April 25 2026 at 9:00am

Sat, May 02, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Dover Room

Sun, May 03, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Technology Training Lab

Sun, May 03, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Storytime Room

Mon, May 04, 9:00am - 9:00pm
Registration opens Monday, April 27 2026 at 9:00am

Mon, May 04, 10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime Room
Registration opens Monday, April 27 2026 at 9:00am

Mon, May 04, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Westlake Room

Tue, May 05, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Makerspace
Registration opens Tuesday, April 28 2026 at 6:00pm

Tue, May 05, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Porter Room

Wed, May 06, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Westlake Room

Wed, May 06, 6:00pm - 6:30pm
Makerspace
Registration opens Wednesday, April 29 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, May 06, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Dover Room

Thu, May 07, 1:00pm - 7:00pm
Porter Room

Thu, May 07, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Technology Training Lab

Sat, May 09, 10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime Room

Sat, May 09, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Makerspace
Registration opens Saturday, May 2 2026 at 9:00am

Sat, May 09, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Dover Room
Registration opens Saturday, May 2 2026 at 9:00am

Sat, May 09, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Storytime Room

Sat, May 09, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Porter Room

Mon, May 11, 4:30pm - 5:15pm
Technology Training Lab
Registration opens Monday, May 4 2026 at 4:30pm

Mon, May 11, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Westlake Room

Mon, May 11, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Porter Room

Tue, May 12, 10:00am - 11:00am
Dover Room
Registration opens Sunday, April 12 2026 at 9:00am

Tue, May 12, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Craft Room
Registration opens Sunday, April 12 2026 at 9:00am

Tue, May 12, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Porter Room,Zoom Programming 2
Registration opens Tuesday, April 14 2026 at 9:00am