New series about 'genius' inspiration for Netflix's Mindhunter is leaving people stunned

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A third season of Mindhunter has been on an indefinite hold for the past five years, but fans might finally have the closest thing to a new season.

Based on John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker’s 1995 novel Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit, Mindhunter revolves around FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff), Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), and psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv).

The series gripped viewers as it followed the trio delving into the minds of imprisoned serial killers, in hopes of understanding their psychology to solve future cases and improve the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit.

Executive produced by David Fincher, the Netflix original essentially dramatizes Douglas’ real-life work with the FBI, with its lead character, Holden Ford, loosely being based on Douglas himself.

But what many viewers might not know is that Douglas had a colleague who single-handedly changed the way the FBI catches serial killers to this day — Ann Burgess.

A professor and former forensic nurse, Burgess joined what was then a widely male-dominated FBI division as a consultant in the 1970s, where she interviewed some of America’s most notorious serial killers — and yes, Ted Bundy was one of them.

Her career has inspired a myriad of shows including Mindhunter and Criminal Minds. But true crime fans can now get an unprecedented look into Burgess’ life through a new documentary series Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer, which you can watch on Hulu.

Mastermind tells the real-life story behind Mindhunter. (Netflix)

Chronicling Burgess’ career and novel findings that eternally changed the way the FBI understands serial killers, Mastermind is already being hailed by fans and critics alike as a must-watch for any Mindhunter fan itching for some more juicy true crime.

One viewer on Twitter wrote: “Mastermind is a wonderful 3-episode docu series on the life and work of Professor Ann Burgess and her incredible work which was instrumental in Dept of Behavioral Science Unit at FBI. If you have seen Mindhunter, this is a fab addition to it."

Ann Burgess was the only woman at the FBI. (Hulu)

Other fans have been describing Mastermind as the ‘real story’ of Mindhunter, citing that the character of Wendy Carr is lucidly based on Burgess herself.

“I am so excited. I just found this Hulu documentary about the people who Mind Hunter is based on and it’s so good,” one Twitter user writes. “It’s called ‘Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer’ and I’ll be busy for the rest of the night…”

So if you’re someone who’s capable of reciting Mindhunter line-for-line, or if you’re someone who’s always been curious about what it’s like to sit down with a serial killer, Mastermind promises to satisfy every true crime craving you have.

And yes, Ann Burgess is without a doubt the absolute coolest to ever do it.