No Place for the Weak

A True Story of Deviance, Torture and Social Cleansing

By: Ryan Green

Narrated by: Steve White

Length: 4 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

"It was a scene from the worst nightmare you've ever had, I don't think any of us was prepared for what we saw." (Snowtown officer)

On 20 May 1999, the South Australian Police were called to investigate a disused bank in the unassuming town of Snowtown, in connection to the disappearance of multiple missing people. The police were not prepared for the chilling scene that awaited them.

The officers found six barrels within the abandoned bank vault, each filled with acid and the remains of eight individuals. The smell from inside the vault was so stifling that the police required breathing equipment. Accompanying the bodies were numerous everyday tools that pathologists would later confirm were used for prolonged torture, murder, and cannibalism.

The findings shocked Australia to its core, which deepened still when it was revealed that the torture and murders were committed by not one, but a group of killers. The four men, led by John Bunting, targeted pedophiles, homosexuals, addicts, or the "weak" in an attempt to cleanse society.

No Place for the Weak is a chilling account of the "Snowtown Murders" (a.k.a "Bodies in Barrels Murders"), and one of the most disturbing true-crime stories in Australia’s history. Ryan Green’s riveting narrative draws the listeners into the real-live horror experienced by the victims and has all the elements of a classic thriller.

Caution: This audiobook contains descriptive accounts of torture, abuse, and violence. If you are especially sensitive to this material, it might be advisable not to listen any further.

©2021 Ryan Green (P)2021 Ryan Green

Good Book

This book was a good read. I would recommend. At the moments doing a house clean out and listening to books while I clean and it was easy to follow and held my attention.

Truly Gruesome!

Ryan Green is my go-to choice when I want a quick true crime book. This book is appropriately named: If you are squeamish, don't read this book! As always, the author takes facts from a horrific crime spree and adds enough "fiction" to make it readable instead of just being a bunch of facts thrown together.

John Bunting was responsible for several horrific murders in Adelaide, Australia in the 1990s and the true extent of his crimes may never truly be known. Although Bunting did suffer horrors during his childhood, nothing could justify the tortures he put his victims through. With his cabal, he tortured, murdered, and mutilated those he saw as deserving of such treatment. Then, the bodies were put into barrels and covered with chemicals to destroy evidence.

Bunting also found a way to defraud the government in each of these cases and continued to receive the victims' benefits long after their deaths. Ultimately, this is probably what caused the authorities to discover his horrible deeds.

The narrator is perfect for this book and has become the voice of Green's "True Crime" series. I can't imagine anyone else improving on his performance.

NO PLACE FOR THE WEAK (of stomach)…

A series of grisly murders occurred in and around Adelaide, South Australia, between 1992 and 1999. These murders were committed by John Bunting and a small group of his acquaintances. Since most of the bodies were concealed in barrels which were stowed in the vault of a defunct bank in Snowtown, the murders are often referred to as the “Snowtown murders” or the “bodies in barrels” murders. The horrific crimes of these men have been documented and examined in several books and dramatized in the film, Snowtown. The ringleader, John, along with his acolytes rationalized their unconscionable actions by insisting that they were providing a service to decent society by removing pedophiles and homosexuals - regardless of whether or not such categorizations were applicable to the victims. This book presents a clear and comprehensive picture of their crimes in a style that only Ryan Green can offer. His writing transports the reader into the story with such totality that one not only sees the actions of the characters, but as a result of his psychological scrutiny, you are privy to the character’s thoughts and emotions, as well. In the case of John Bunting, as with so many individuals who have fallen into or ventured decisively toward a life of cruel and sadistic depravity, the trauma of one horrific childhood event certainly influenced John’s development into the malicious miscreant he became. That dreadful experience is described in gut-wrenching detail, but it would be a grievous mistake to assign the full blame for John’s appalling deeds to this one incident. John Bunting made calculated choices and employed skillful manipulation tactics to accomplish his self-assigned “mission”. The true reasons for his actions were founded in greed, a consuming need to control everyone and everything, and his perverse desire to inflict pain on others. This is an absolutely electrifying account of the Snowtown murders but be advised that it is also a difficult read given the repugnant subject matter. Hate, bloodlust, rage, and cruelty to the mentally challenged and to animals are portrayed with disturbing and graphic clarity. To minimize the gruesome nature of John’s crimes might be more palatable but, in my opinion, would be a disservice in that true crime literature is tasked with offering a full and accurate account of what happened. For me, this author always offers the definitive examination of some of the worst events to disgrace the human race, and this book is a perfect example. It is both riveting and revolting but it is also impossible to put down. I read the book as I listened to Steve White provide yet another superlative narration. He is perfect for this genre.

While I did purchase a copy of this book, the author kindly provided me with the audiobook for which I thank him. My review, however, remains unbiased, honest, and voluntary.

Great 👍

love the narrator and the story was well-researched. enjoyed listening to it. highly recommend it.

This book is not for the weak!

I must say, I read the trigger warnings and I am ok with stomaching some detailed disterbing acts. What I wasn't prepared for was the lvl of detail of child sexual abuse in the beginning of the book. A month later and it still makes me sick to my stomach. Overall it was a good book, but of yoi can't handle the child sex abuse, and it is very terrible and detailed, I would skip the beginning and just assume it was one of the worst case scenarios. Especially knowing this is a true story. Overall it is a good book though.

Great listen

Great read but also a great listen and when you can find both it's a AMAZING experience because you can experience the book for yourself as if there one way and mentally see the people how you imagine them to be and imagine the voices however, and then to hear it will change the voices and give you a different experience but to have them line up so well in my opinion is the greatest gift a Author and Narrative Actor can give the Audience and helps them experience whatever it is as they are hoping for them to in the way they are wanting the experience to be like, and I believe Ryan Green and Steve White have found a winning combination and will recommend it to many people to experience writing and hearing books come to life. I look forward to all books and Audiobooks from this Combination of Ryan Green and Steve White because I KNOW it will be a great time that I will hate knowing ended. So if looking for a Audiobook worth a credit or buying outright and it being worth the money you found it and it won't disappoint.

Chrissy

Unfortunate child chose to become a serial killer

One is tempted to feel sorry for this murderer. He suffered a horrific tragedy as a small child. However, he chose to hold on ţo the anger and allow it to grow, to fester, to consume him. He chose to recruit other's to share that hunger for revenge. Yes, my heart ached for the child, but not for the man he allowed himself to become.

Fantastic story, very well read. One of those books you don't want to stop listening to.