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

Entertaining Listen...Disturbing Stuff

What did you love best about The Serial Killer Whisperer?

Getting an unfiltered window into the minds of serial killers. Understanding how they think about killing. What it means to them. How little they think about consequences.

What did you like best about this story?

The letters back and forth between David and the killers. When the writer finally opens up the book to portray some of the victims as people.

Did Alan Sklar do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

For the most part. He was a little over the top and a little off-putting at first, but as the story grabs your attention the narration becomes less of an issue

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

There is nothing moving in this book. It's an entertaining read, but it is all about bad people doing bad things. Not many places to find hope.

Any additional comments?

It's a good book to gain insight into the criminal mind. You have to have a strong stomach.

If you want to know about Serial Killers Read This

If you could sum up The Serial Killer Whisperer in three words, what would they be?

I can't, the book is well done and TRUE. Thank God there are people willing to do the "not normal" and help others in the process!!

What does Alan Sklar bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His characterization for each person that he brought them to life, his tone, his speed, it's chilling!

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

OH MY YES

Any additional comments?

Great Story and Book

Well written - Good Narration - Hard to handle...

It's a great book, very interesting, detailed and flows well. however this book is NOT for the feint of heart. This book is detailed, filled with the sickest people on the planet's own words, so keep that in mind if you're reading this book. I had some parts where even as a person who sees some of the worst of the worst in my work with State Correctional Facilities, had a really hard time not losing my lunch over. If you want a hard hitting, true crime novel that is an incredibly well written book in which the main plot line is actually a really fascinating story about a boy with brain damage, not these monsters and their letters, than this is a great read. But don't forget the Monsters are still there, and they're the loudest voice of them all.

Very interesting

I found this book very interesting even though some parts were disturbing to here. Really makes you think.

Graphic and crude but well worth a listen.

A great listen for those who are fascinated by serial killers. Sad and graphic at times.

What a backstabber

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked hearing what the serial killers had to say. I liked the main character until he betrayed his friends. That's when I stopped listening.

Which scene was your favorite?

All the scenes where the whole focus was on what the killers were saying.

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

Yes, the author and narrator did a good job. I listened to it on a road trip.

Any additional comments?

If you like true crime, I do think you'll like this book. I didn't finish the book because I got disgusted by the boy. He got all these serial killers to trust him and they told him all kinds of interesting things. Then he stabbed them in the back by doing the one thing he convinced them he wouldn't do.

Riveting

This is a compilation of serial killers from a young man's letters to them. At first I thought it would be kind of jumbled up. But, this is well put together. Easy to follow along and listen to. I wanted to hear more of the letters, but they really put in just enough.

He talks about Art Shawcross, the Genesee River Killer, and those letters. If you have not read The Misbegotten Son by Jack Olsen, you should. It would pair up with this very nicely.

I was enthralled by the way this man took to serial killers and how he helped unfold more information from them just by being a real person to them. Not using them for fame or fortune. He was trying to understand himself from his TBI he endures.

I would encourage anyone with TBI's to read this or have it read to them. I understood more than I ever thought possible and I don't even have anyone with a TBI in my family. But, his relating to serial killers with the rage was emotional. I think it shed a lot of insight into how we might rethink our thoughts about serial killers.

He wasn't writing to them in awe of them. Or even to get gruesome details of those crimes. He wanted to understand why he had urges he couldn't control.

Well written, well narrated. You wont be disappointed.

Pete Earley hit another one out of the park

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

Yes. the story was captivating and kept my interest throughout.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Obviously Tony is the protagonist but I thought his dad was interesting as well.

Which scene was your favorite?

Digging in the orange grove, just so well written.

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

Not necessarily. The letters to/from the killers were good places to stop and reflect.

Any additional comments?

I loved Earley's book

Tragedy's can sometimes lead to greatness

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

Sure. I would be interested in learning more about the serial killers, reading more about their crimes and history; and then read it again when I know the people better.

What did you like best about this story?

It didn't sugar coat the crimes, but also didn't get too gory. I also liked the fact that many people would have written Tony off after his brain injury, but instead his work helped heal others.

What does Alan Sklar bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He did a different voice for the serial killers; the bad part was, he used the same "voice" for each person. So the killers had the same "laugh", etc... But, overall I would listen to him again.

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

Same as the headline: Tragedy's can sometimes lead to greatness

Any additional comments?

I recommend studying up on Tony and the killers prior to reading. You don't HAVE to, but I think it would add value.

Great read.. I mean great listen

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

Yes if you can handle the details

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

Yes I had a hard time putting this one down