A Serial Killer's Daughter

My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming (An Insider's Look at the True Crime Story of the BTK Killer, Dennis Rader)

De: Kerri Rawson

Narrado por: Devon O'day

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Read the shocking true story now featured in the Netflix documentary My Father, The BTK Killer.

What is it like to learn that your ordinary, loving father is a serial killer? Discover the true story behind the BTK killer, as told by those closest to him.

In 2005, Kerri Rawson opened the door of her apartment to greet an FBI agent who shared the shocking news that her father had been arrested for murdering ten people, including two children.

That's also when she first learned that her father was the notorious serial killer known as BTK, a name he'd given himself that described the horrific way he committed his crimes: bind, torture, kill. As news of his capture spread, the city of Wichita celebrated the end of a thirty-one-year nightmare. For Kerri Rawson, another was just beginning.

In the weeks and years that followed, Kerri was plunged into a black hole of horror and disbelief. The same man who had been a loving father, a devoted husband, church president, Boy Scout leader, and a public servant had been using their family as a cover for his heinous crimes since before she was born. Everything she had believed about her life had been a lie.

Written with candor and extraordinary courage, A Serial Killer's Daughter is an unflinching exploration of life with one of America's most infamous killers and an astonishing tale of personal and spiritual transformation.

A Serial Killer's Daughter will give you the encouragement you need to learn how to:

• Pick up the pieces of your life when everything falls apart
• Begin to heal from the long-lasting effects of violence
• Trust that light will overcome the darkness

Kerri Rawson's story offers the hope of reclaiming sanity in the midst of madness, rebuilding a life in the shadow of death, and learning to forgive the unforgivable.

interesting

I felt for the author going through this terrible situation, Ive never heard from the child of a serial killer so that was interesting. My only complaint is there was SOOOO much god talk. hard for an athiest to hear over and over and over

Worthwhile book by an impressive woman

I’d seen/heard Kerri interviewed at length on several podcasts and video channels. It’s fascinating to ponder how someone can go through what she has and pragmatically analyze how it’s impacted her. What’s not discussed in this book is the length she’s gone to recently to help law enforcement investigate unsolved crimes potentially committed by her Dad. She knows he’s evil and tells interviewers while he’s denied these unsolved crimes nothing he says can be believed because he’s a psychopath. She does a wonderful job explaining how fondness and extreme distain for a parent can coexist in one’s mind. She courageously describes the logistical struggles family members of notorious criminals encounter as well as the psychological aftermath. She’s well-spoken, interesting, funny and warm. Which is why I was disappointed with the narrator. She does a good job but the tone she chose for the book was a bit whiney and “poor-me”-ish compared to the author’s real voice. I doubt she’s very familiar with Kerri and wonder if they’ve spoken much. When I imagine Kerri reading the words she wrote out loud the impression left would be even more inspiring and entertaining. That said, it’s still a great story and I recommend it heartily. But if you’re on the fence between reading or audio, I think I’d prefer the book.

Worth a Listen

I wanted to LOVE this book. I did really enjoy it, and I’m not sorry I bought it. It was a pretty interesting listen, not only as a true crime junkie but as a local who has lived in the Wichita suburbs for 15 of the last 22 years, including the period when BTK resurfaced and was eventually arrested, it’s all the more compelling. I’d never even heard of BTK before I moved here, despite having lived my entire life two hours away in the OKC area. I will say, there are some things she discusses as they related to her childhood or early adulthood, occasionally at great length, to the point I was wondering aloud what it had to do with anything, A few times they turned out to be little “Easter eggs” when she finally connects the dots for the listener much later in the book. Other times, I never did figure out what the point was. Some have mentioned religion plays too heavily into this book, but it didn’t really bother me. She isn’t preachy about it and it isn’t necessarily the primary focus, she just clearly has a strong faith which she has embraced as she has had to navigate an unimaginable, traumatic experience.

I probably would’ve given it 5 stars if the author had narrated it. Instead, we get to listen to who I can only presume is a 65 year-old woman who probably has no idea who BTK even is and whose voiceover experience consists of narrating commercials for Medicare or feminine hygiene products, not only as she reads the first person account of a (at the time) 41 year-old woman, but also repeatedly mispronounces names and places the author wouldn’t have. Plus her rendition of male voices was just cringey. I mean, if the author isn’t narrating, at least find a younger, or younger-sounding, narrator. Her voice does NOT work with the subject matter either. I got used to it, but unfortunately, it made the difference between liking the book and loving it.

If u like ‘tru life murder mysteries’, you’ll like this book.

Agreed. The 1st 6-8 chaps, only lay the foundation of a ‘normal’ life, which doesn’t make for exciting dialogue. But then, the ‘tru-story crime’ picks up, and overall, I really enjoyed, and appreciated the author for putting this in print. There’s a lot of religious redemption for the author that is a part of this story. I never understood, tho, what triggered the killer. The story alludes to a childhood that involved killing animals in the woods as a boy, but very little of his young life, other than that sentence or two, was explained. Also, what ‘triggered’him as an adult, wasn’t clear. Could have been that some things were too much for the author to bear. That’s understandable. The author has done a remarkable job resurrecting her life.
I suspect there’s a LOT about her father that she still just doesn’t know.

Good

A bit more religious than I would typically read but overall a good story. Sympathy for all that suffered due to this man.