A Hunger to Kill: A Serial Killer, a Detective, and the Confession That Shocked a Nation

In this fascinating & profoundly chilling account, Detective Kim Mager, a real-life version of Clarice Starling, reveals how she closed in on--and broke--one of Ohio’s most infamous serial killers.

In fall of 2016, authorities in Ashland, Ohio arrested serial killer Shawn Grate on kidnapping charges. Grate immediately latched onto Detective Kim Mager, an experienced sex offenses specialist assigned to his case, and repeatedly demanded to speak with her, perhaps convinced that he could control her like he controlled his victims. But he was wrong.

For eight days of brutal interviews, Detective Mager successfully elicited Grate’s damning confessions to five murders. These recorded conversations would be key to his later conviction and death sentence. A Hunger to Kill reveals the psyche of one of the most brutal serial killers in American history from the woman who took him down in collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Lisa Pulitzer.

Detective KIM MAGER is a 30-year law enforcement officer who retired from the Ashland City Police in 2022. Mager works for a prosecutor’s office and still holds a law enforcement commission. Mager specializes in sex offenses, violent crime, and child abuse and has investigated over 2,000 cases. She has a BA from Ashland University and graduated Top Gun of her Police Academy. Mager is married to husband, Dan, and they have three children, Corbin, Macy, and Reed.

LISA PULITZER is a former correspondent to the New York Times and author/co-author/ghostwriter of more than 50 non-fiction titles, including many New York Times bestsellers. Ms. Pulitzer has written about numerous high-profile individuals and celebrities, and has been featured in a two-hour special by ABC News’ 20/20 news magazine based on her book.