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

The ugly truth!

Great book. Great performance. Facts and research done is impeccable. Excellent job and kudos to Tony and his family. Thank you for showing the world that TBI isn't the enemy but can be a wonderful gift

Armchair Serial Killer Researcher a different side

Would you consider the audio edition of The Serial Killer Whisperer to be better than the print version?

The actor who reads this out loud gives the laugh that the serial killers pepper their correspondence with a chilling nonchalance that reminds you of where these letters are coming from.

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

If you have read the multitudes of books that surround serial killers then you have gotten the basic profile down. In this book "Tony" is the investigator in all of us that simply asks, "Why? Ok I see you killed them but WHY did you do it?" Sometimes he gets an answer and sometimes not but even the dodges are interesting to read.

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

The first time he laughed as "Arther Shawcross" it really grabbed my attention ha...ha..

Eye-Opening

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

2nd

What did you like best about this story?

Getting inside the brains of serial killers

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

Tony

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

Yes, when Tony realized his purpose

Any additional comments?

I wasn't sure I was going to like the book at first because I expected to get right into the serial killer letters. It took a bit to get past Tony's story, but it was worth the wait.

Good listen, not for the squeamish .

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

I don't feel like this is one of those books you re-read (listen)... i enjoyed it, but once you know the details there isn't a suspense factor anymore.

What about Alan Sklar’s performance did you like?

Very good. He kept you hooked.

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

No, it took some time. The topics aren't something you grab on to when your in certain moods.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book, the murders and victim contact scenes were extremely detailed. But if your intrigued to these kinda books, it's what your here for.

Rare point of view

Tough to get through (I had to stop multiple times and listen to a comedy book in order to go back), but definitely an interesting read.

An Intriguing New Perspective For True Crime

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

Yes, the book managed to stay true to the genre while creating an endearing cast of characters with the protagonist's family. This wasn't an edge of your seat type of book, but it was one that kept me glued to my headphones.

What about Alan Sklar’s performance did you like?

Everything about his performance was done really well - it was well paced, professional, and helped move the narrative along.

loved this book amazing to hear the truth

amazing story omg! tony and his family amazing hearing the things these killers did was shocking ....makes you look at everybody glad this horrible tradgedy turned out great GOOD BOOK

Raw

This is for people that like the gory details. It's tough to listen to, definitely not for the faint of heart. Serial killer accounts were loosely organized around a story of a sympathetic ear, resulting from traumatic brain injury. Would have been more compelling if it was better organized.

Very distrubing and sad

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

No because the material was so disturbing but addictive. I needed to take a break to clear my mind.

If you want graphic

This book is not your average study about serial killers. It's mostly the narrator reading the letters exchanged between a young man who has a traumatic brain injury and convicted serial killers. So you hear them recall their crimes and hear how they answer the questions the man asks. It is rather graphic when crimes are being retold so if you have a weak stomach this isn't or you. I found myself looking around a lot more (for safety) the more I read this. Interesting use of the information the man gets and at first you think it's insane the parents went along with it.