Deadly Little Secrets

The Minister, His Mistress, and a Heartless Texas Murder

By: Kathryn Casey

Narrated by: Gillian Vance

Length: 13 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

A man of God...driven by the devil

To his parishioners, minister Matt Baker seemed a pious and good man. To his wife, Kari, he was a devoted husband and caring father. Always sunny and vivacious, Kari never questioned their frequent relocations from one small Texas Baptist church to another. Even when tragedy struck, Kari remained strong - until one day, inexplicably, she took her own life.

To friends and family, Kari's suicide made no sense - and they struggled with questions they couldn't answer. Why couldn't Matt hold a job with any one church? Why did he cut off all contact with Kari's devastated parents soon after her death? And who was the blonde companion he began appearing with just days after the funeral? But it would take a team of investigators and dogged determination to bring Matt Baker's dark secrets to light - revealing a shocking history of lies, infidelity, cruelty, and sexual obsession that may have led a serial predator cloaked in God's word to commit murder.

©2012 Kathryn Casey (P)2013 Kathryn Casey

Preach on

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

A bit lengthy, this book could have been cut in half. I would say it I was killing time, no pun, this book was mediocre.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Well with true crime nothing is shocking.

What three words best describe Gillian Vance’s voice?

Far too fast

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Any additional comments?

Ann rule, by another name.

Tragic but accurate account

As a member of the Dulin family, I just want to say the author did an excellent job writing this book. Kari was an amazing woman and will always be missed.

Kathryn Casey is BAAAACK!

I thoroughly enjoyed this true crime book by Kathryn Casey. She left enough details to keep you riveted, even providing new information during the custody trial rather than revealing everything all at the beginning and allowing us to slog through a boring trial or two. The narrator's voice was crisp and clear, as it was with A Descent into Hell... well worth the credit!

GREAT TRUE CRIME BOOK.

Would you listen to Deadly Little Secrets again? Why?

YES. I REALLY ENJOYED THE STORY. AND IT DID NOT JUST END AT THE TRIAL. THE STORY CONTINEUED ON AND IT WAS QUITE COMPREHENSIVE.

What did you like best about this story?

THAT IT WAS SO WELL RESEARCHED. IT EWENT A LITTLE FURTHER THAN A LOT OF CRIME BOOKS.

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

GREAT READER. CRISP VOICE. EASY TO LISTEN TO.

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

ALL ABOUT ME, MATT BAKER

Any additional comments?

IF YOU LIKE TRUE CRIME, YOU WILL LIKE THIS STORY. IT IS SATISFYING ANG LEAVES NO QUESTIONS. I WILL READ THIS ONE AGAIN.

Outrageous

What did you love best about Deadly Little Secrets?

Justice was served in the end. All the details aren't wrapped up with a bow, and the reader walks away knowing the road to recovery will be long for this family, but it was the best possible result.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deadly Little Secrets?

I think the most memorable was Matt Baker when convicted and his mother shared a tight smile at the reception of the verdict. It was as if they were saying: "This isn't the end of this."

Which scene was your favorite?

A tale this sad doesn't really promote a favorite scene. The best I can do for this one is say that the best was when Kari's parents gained custody of her daughters with the plan of doing everything possible to get them the help they will need to recover.

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

I did listen to this all in one sitting, driving, walking, working.

Any additional comments?

If it weren't for Kari's parents, she would have seen no justice. Kudo's to them for having the courage to keep pushing for an answer.

A true crime page-turner

I found this book to be very well-written. Although you "know" what's going to happen, the author takes you on a journey through the development of the characters & events bit by bit, and doesn't give away events before they happen. Good character development. The reader tells the story without calling attention to herself -- she does slightly different voices well, without detracting from the story. The pace is good. I got so involved in the book, I had to turn it on every chance I got. And after the book was finished, I was so incensed at the perpetrator (and some of the other characters) that I had a little trouble falling asleep!

Excellently written... Excellently Narrated

I loved this book. It was/ is absolutely riveting ! The best book I've listened to so far. I also absolutely loved the narrator. Gillian Vance. She really does a fantastic job with her different usees of different characters in this book and got their dialect top notch. I hope she narrates a lot more. I'm looking now for another from Kathryn Casey... Narrated be Gillian Vance.

Excellent Book

Excellent depiction of true story-truly moving. The narration was often irritating to the point of distracting. I'm glad all the people I know living in Waco do not have the portrayed "texas" accent.

5-star true crime

This book has everything for the true crime fan - gripping story, suspense, emotional involvement, well told, beautifully read. I was left with just one question which I can't spell out in much detail because it would be a spoiler - after suspicion was aroused, nothing was mentioned about anyone having concern for the safety of the girls.

Absolutely unputdownable

I spent an entire day listening to this fascinating, insightful and extraordinarily well researched tale of a man who exemplifies hidden evil. Not for nothing is Satan called “the father of lies”… the battle between love and evil in this book, makes for a riveting tale. And the narrator is perfection.
Off to get another Kathryn Casey book!

How could she not know matt was the devil

Wow just wow every week i read listen to a story like this glad im single how can people be this evil and how didnt she know he was evil so sad he killed them all