Invisible Darkness: The Strange Case of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka

Steven R. Hewitt is an assistant professor of history at the University
of Saskatchewan.

Few Canadians are unaware of the sordid case of Paul Bernardo and Karla
Homolka and their victims, Kristin French, Leslie Mahaffy, and Tammy
Homolka. Invisible Darkness is one of the more serious contributions to
the myriad books devoted to this case. Adopting a contextualized
approach and generally eschewing sensationalism, Williams seeks to
broaden our understanding of the horrific events that occurred in St.
Catharines, Ontario.

A primary focus is Karla Homolka’s role in the crimes. In contrast to
Bernardo, a sexual sadist who grew up in a very dysfunctional family,
Homolka came from a “normal” middle-class background. Why was she
drawn to Bernardo? To what extent did his use of violence and
intimidation compel her participation in the atrocities? Williams makes
a convincing case (one that is now widely accepted) that she was much
more of a willing participant than a victim of battered woman syndrome.

This riveting account demonstrates the superiority of the considered
study over the “quickie” treatment.