The Most Dangerous Animal of All

Searching for My Father…and Finding the Zodiac Killer

By: Gary L. Stewart, Susan Mustafa

Narrated by: Gary L. Stewart

Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Soon after his birthmother contacted him for the first time at the age of thirty-nine, adoptee Gary L. Stewart decided to search for his biological father. His quest would lead him to a horrifying truth and force him to reconsider everything he thought he knew about himself and his world.

Written with award-winning author and journalist Susan Mustafa, The Most Dangerous Animal of All tells the story of Stewart’s decade-long hunt. While combing through government records and news reports and tracking down relatives and friends, Stewart turns up a host of clues—including forensic evidence—that conclusively identify his father as the Zodiac Killer, one of the most notorious and elusive serial murderers in history.

For decades, the Zodiac Killer has captivated America’s imagination. His ability to evade capture while taunting authorities made him infamous. The vicious specificity of his crimes terrified Californians before the Manson murders and after, and shocked a culture enamored with the ideals of the dawning Age of Aquarius. To this day, his ciphers have baffled detectives and amateur sleuths, and his identity remains one of the twentieth century’s great unsolved mysteries.

The Most Dangerous Animal of All reveals the name of the Zodiac for the very first time. Mustafa and Stewart construct a chilling psychological profile of Stewart’s father: as a boy with disturbing fixations, a frustrated intellectual with pretensions to high culture, and an inappropriate suitor and then jilted lover unable to process his rage. At last, all the questions that have surrounded the case for almost fifty years are answered in this riveting narrative. The result is a singular work of true crime at its finest—a compelling, unbelievable true story told with the pacing of a page-turning novel—as well as a sensational and powerful memoir.

©2014 Gary L. Stewart and Susan Mustafa (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

Believable evidence

This is a great read on a rainy day. The author shares and presents some very believable evidence about his father possibly being the zodiac killer.

Great Listen!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Very intriguing and emotional.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Most Dangerous Animal of All?

The way Gary describes both of his fathers. It's very emotional.

What about Gary L. Stewart’s performance did you like?

His performance was sincere. I don't believe that he wrote this book for money or attention. I think that he just wanted to share his story of discovering his origins both good and bad.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Most Dangerous Animal of All.

Any additional comments?

Incredible story both well written and well spoken. Very courageous and compassionate.

Largely Unsubstantiated Claims

While the theory posed by the author is an interesting and exciting notion, I found that he tried his hardest to pass off extremely weak circumstantial evidence as absolute proof of his father's involvement in the murders. By the end of the book I still hadn't heard any compelling proof that the author's father had anything to do with the Zodiac, yet the author seemed quite content with himself for having solved the mystery. I found myself laughing at the author's blatant bias. I got the distinct sense that the author was either trying to capitalize on his father's likeness to the police composite sketch by selling this book, or his judgement was so clouded by a need justify his father's abandonment of him at an early age that he truly couldn't see the inadequacy of his evidence.

Loved it

Would you consider the audio edition of The Most Dangerous Animal of All to be better than the print version?

Yes, prefer listening to reading at my age.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gary, easy to empathize with

Which character – as performed by Gary L. Stewart – was your favorite?

Gary himself.

If you could give The Most Dangerous Animal of All a new subtitle, what would it be?

My amazing journey.

Any additional comments?

Recommend it to all who have an interest in the Zodiac killer.

Should've hired a narrator.

Based on the evidence presented by the author, I'm convinced that he is the son of the Zodiac killer. Which means, after 50 years, we finally can identify the individual responsible for those terrible crimes. A less terrible crime is that the author narrated his own memoir when he's got the vocal acting ability of a piece of concrete.

Well Worth it!

There were many strands to this story - all interesting in there own way. I recommend this book.

Well read and researched, a great murder mystery!

Gary did a great job narrating this book. I really enjoyed the story and the amount of effort he put into it. This was a long journey for him and it tells a great story of the Zodiac. if you enjoy this sort of thing, this is a great listen. Highly recommend.

Great story, possibility of truth?

Regardless of whether or not Van Best Jr was or wasn't the Zodiac, this is really an intriguing story by Gary Stewart. Just like usual, the book is much better than the TV show produced by the same name.

Im convinced!

This book is one of the most unique books Ive heard in years. Where else have you heard of an adopted child on the seach for his bio-parents just to find out his bio-father was a notorious serial-killer? The fact that the zodiac killer case was unsolved makes this story even more fresh and appealing. Gary Stewart does an amazing job at laying out his arguments. im absolutley convinced his father was the zodiac.

The narration was distracting at times with it's halting cadence but that is to be expected with a first time narrator who also happens to be the author. I would say the narration was mediocre but dont let that stop you from getting this audibook now!

great story

i would have liked to of heared the results of the DNA tests. x x