The Serial Killer Whisperer

How One Man's Tragedy Helped Unlock the Deadliest Secrets of the World's Most Terrifying Killers

By: Pete Earley

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Fifteen-year-old Tony Ciaglia had everything a teenager could want: good grades, good athletic skills, and good friends - until he suffered a horrific head injury at summer camp. Pronounced clinically dead three times by helicopter paramedics before he reached a hospital, Ciaglia lapsed into a coma. When he emerged, his right side was paralyzed and he had to relearn how to walk, talk, and even how to eat. The areas of his brain that were damaged required him to take countless pills to control his emotions and rages. Abandoned and shunned by his friends, he began writing to serial killers on a whim and discovered that his traumatic brain injury - which made him an outcast to his peers - enabled him to emotionally connect with notorious murderers in a unique way.

Soon many of America's most dangerous psychopaths were revealing heinous details to Tony about their crimes - even those they'd never been convicted of. The killers opened up to him, trusted him, and called him a "best friend". But there was a price. As Tony found himself being drawn deeper and deeper into their violent worlds of murder, rape, and torture, he was pushed to the brink of despair and, at times, forced to question his own sanity - until he found a way to put his unusual gift to use. Asked by investigators for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for help in solving a murder, Tony began launching his own personal searches for forgotten victims, incredibly with clues often provided to him voluntarily by the killers themselves.

The Serial Killer Whisperer takes listeners into the minds of murderers in a way that has never been done before - straight from a killer's thoughts. It is also an inspiring (albeit sometimes terrifying) tale of an American family whose idyllic life is shattered by a terrible accident and how healing and closure came to a tormented man in the most unlikely way: by connecting with monsters.

©2012 Pete Earley (P)2012 Tantor

Really interesting - graphic but not too much

I think true crime aficionados will enjoy this new perspective on the subject. It doesn’t disappoint. Worth the credit.

Tony's story is extraordinary

This is the true story of a brain injured boy who finds, after a long strange journey that he is uniquely equipped to use his altered view of the world to serve law enforcement, and the survivors and families of victims of the most heinous crimes imaginable.
Along the way it was necessary for the author to include the killer's own descriptions of their crimes. Certain stories were obviously sick wish-fulfillment fantasies that read like a version of Penthouse Forum for sadists, and as such were easier to turn into gross mental cartoons and hold at arm's length. Other stories were utterly gut-churningly believable. Be prepared to shield your mind from some of this stuff. One chapter was so disgusting that I actually thought okay, I get it, lets get back to Tony's story, and skipped to the next chapter.
There has never been anyone like Tony, and his contribution to the catalogue of information about the minds of serial killers has been unique and invaluable to those who study and hunt such monsters. A really challenging read, but fascinating as well. Kudos to the reader who sent chills up my spine.

Beauty from ashes

Where does The Serial Killer Whisperer rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the 50%. Great Book about the purpose and place one can find for oneself even in the midst of what seems irreparable!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Serial Killer Whisperer?

The deep love the parents had for their son and their long suffering attitude.

Which character – as performed by Alan Sklar – was your favorite?

The voice of the serial killers. Great job with that.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was difficult to put down but some parts were difficult to listen to when the killers were telling their stories through their letters.

Any additional comments?

This book leaves you feeling very aware of the menacing individuals in our society and so sad for the lives destroyed by these monsters!

excellent

I do not normally review. as gruesome as it was, it was fascinating. excellent read

Very disturbing, graphic sexual violence

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The book lingers on the graphic sexual violence, trying to illustrate how depraved these killers are, but I felt it was unnecessary to put so much detail into the book. Since most of the readers are not serial killers, a little bit goes a long way toward making the point. And if a reader is a serial killer in a prison somewhere, this is like pornography to them. I wish the book would have focused more on how Tony and his family, through the relationships they had established with the SKs, helped families of the missing, and how it helped Tony realize his goals of having a useful life.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I was stunned that his parents would let their child write to serial killers, let alone become so involved with so many. I found it interesting that the SKs were still so manipulative even behind bars, after all those years. I understand that Tony was initially so interested because he was afraid that he was potentially a serial killer, and over time he realized that in spite of his brain injuries he would never evolve into a killer.

Which scene was your favorite?

There was no "scene" which was my favorite, but I am glad I finished the book because Tony finds something useful to do with his bizarre relationships with these deeply disturbing people

Did The Serial Killer Whisperer inspire you to do anything?

It has actually put me off reading mysteries with sexual violence in them.

Gruesome

Well narrated, this book has spellbinding gruesomeness woven throughout its chapters. I will definitely listen to it again.

Horrific listen!

This book was very graphic! It was interesting but I don't think anyone should hear the horrible stories the serial killers in this book told! Wish I could un hear it!
Be careful on this one. I have read a lot of true crime stories but this one takes the cake! OMG!!

Terrifying killers and a family's love

Would you listen to The Serial Killer Whisperer again? Why?

No. I think once was enough for me. The stories of the killing and rapes were sometimes hard to get through but the overall story of Tony and his family made it worth it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tony's father. The love for his son was so strong. It was really inspiring.

Which character – as performed by Alan Sklar – was your favorite?

I don't know if he was my favorite because he was so scary but that was the point so my favorite person who Alan Sklar voiced was Arthur Shawcross.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was moved throughout the book by the brutality of these men and that they had not remorse. It makes you shutter inside to know that there are these types of people around us!!!

Any additional comments?

Good book. Disturbing but also hopeful. I do believe that there is true evil walking around in this world but I also believe that Tony and his family were put here to help control that evil.

Well written and very informative yet graphic

What made the experience of listening to The Serial Killer Whisperer the most enjoyable?

I listened to it to find out more about how serial killers think and why they do the things that they do. I didn't enjoy any of what I heard, it is unbelievable how these people think. The narrator was really good.

What other book might you compare The Serial Killer Whisperer to and why?

Don't have one to compare. This has, by far, been the most graphic book about serial killers that I have read. I want to finish the book but it's so graphic into the mind of the serial killer that I can't. Maybe one day I will be able to hear the rest of it.

Which scene was your favorite?

The story of the author and how he came to write about serial killers is my favorite part. I was very surprised to find out that his accident had happened at Camp Grady Spruce. We have property on Possum Kingdom Lake and my kids will be going to this same camp. I will always think of this story while out at the lake and especially when my kids are swimming in the lake there by camp.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, I had an extreme reaction to this book. It was of complete shock and disgust hearing how these people think, what they do and how they react to things. It was so shocking and I thought I could take reading this book. Don't get me wrong, all the credit is due to the author. This book is very well written and is intended to show exactly what I have heard and I knew this going into the book. That's why I am really going to try and finish it sometime soon, if I can work up enough guts for it (no pun intended)!

Any additional comments?

Great personal story of the author, the writing, research and stories (if you can handle them).

Amazing!

Would you listen to The Serial Killer Whisperer again? Why?

Yes and I have relistened to the beginning again already. This story is fascinating and the insight it gives the listener on top of that, quality.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Serial Killer Whisperer?

The letter from the killers themselves are chilling, but this is why I chose this book.

What about Alan Sklar’s performance did you like?

Perfect voice for reading a killer's words. It grumbled ever so slightly when reciting the letters from serial killers without ever going overboard while reading everything else.

Any additional comments?

Some reviews mark down the book because it is graphic, but what kind of book did they think they were listening too? The letters from serial killers in this book are obviously going to be graphic, but please don't mark the book down because you expected otherwise from these murderers. Much of this book exposes what serial killers did and thought at the times in their lives when they performed these horrible acts. Gross yes, but a glimpse into something you can't find in many other books on the subject.