Gorilla Killer

A True Story of Betrayal, Brutality and Butchery (Ryan Green's True Crime)

By: Ryan Green

Narrated by: Steve White

Length: 4 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

On February 20, 1926, landlady Clara Newman, 60, opened her door to a potential tenant who enquired into the availability of one of her rooms. Despite his grim and bulky appearance, he introduced himself politely and in a soft-spoken voice whilst clutching a Bible in one of his large hands.

She invited him in. The moment he stepped into her home, he lunged forward, wrapping his oversized fingers around her throat and forced her to the ground. She couldn’t scream. He had learned the dangers of a scream. She slowly slipped into darkness. Given what would follow, it was probably a kindness.

The "Gorilla Killer", Earle Nelson, roamed over 7,000 miles of North America undetected, whilst satisfying his deranged desires. During a span of almost two years, he choked the life out of more than 20 unsuspecting women, subjected their bodies to the most unspeakable acts, and seemingly enjoyed the process.

The concept of serial killers were largely unknown to the North American public in the 1920s, but the local authorities and press were fast becoming aware of the devastating and horrific reality that unfolded before their eyes. Nelson would eventually become the first real "superstar criminal" who everyone had heard of and talked about. Before Bundy and BTK, there was Earle Nelson.

Gorilla Killer is a chilling account of Earle Nelson, the first known American serial sex murderer. Ryan Green’s riveting narrative draws the listener into the real, live horror experienced by the victims and has all the elements of a classic thriller.

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

©2020 Ryan Green (P)2020 Ryan Green

Kudos for Gorilla Killer

I had never heard of this serial killer until this book. The writing was very good and the narration by Steve White was awesome too. It kept me engaged to see what would happen but also as a character study on the killer’s belief system and internal monologue of how he justified a strong belief of God while committing heinous crimes. I will check out other titles by this author and narrator in the future definitely.

Not for the faint of heart

This is a retelling of the life and murders of Earle Nelson. It was graphic in some places, not just pertaining to the murders. Overall this story was good.

"I only do my ladykillings on Saturday nights"…

It is with those diabolical words that Earle Nelson firmly cemented his position in the annals of infamy as one of America’s most shameful contributions to humanity. In 1926, his eighteen month long frenzy of murder and rape earned him the dubious distinction of being heralded as America’s first twentieth century serial sex murderer. Like so many serial killers, he had a hauntingly tragic start in life which was compounded by a horrific accident at age 10 that most certainly left him further damaged. None of this excuses his actions, but it makes for a spellbinding story. No fewer than 22, and quite possibly up to 25, lives were mercilessly and violently snuffed out at the massive and uncannily powerful hands of this damaged and deranged individual. His legacy of rape, necrophilia, extreme violence, mutilation, infanticide, and murder have assured that his stain on the pages of history will not be soon forgotten. Earle’s compelling story is carefully and meticulously chronicled in this latest offering from Ryan Green. This “impossible-to-put-down” book showcases the author’s signature blend of painstaking research, astute psychological analysis, and riveting storytelling acumen which brings Earle’s story to life. The audiobook version is narrated by Steve White who, once again, offers his vocal talents to provide the perfect listening experience. For me, reading along while listening to this book was absolutely absorbing and very educational, therefore, I have no reservations about recommending it to all enthusiasts of the true crime genre.

THE best true crime author!!

I love every book by Ryan Green I've read! This is my first audible book by him and I loved it!

Gripping read.

this story is amazing from beginning to end. It's a horrible history of a necrophiliac.

Riveting

Great book! Details were just enough to keep me turning the page. Highly recommended if you like books based on reality.

Gorilla Killer

This was another great true crime book by Ryan Green. Earle Nelson was probably one of the earliest serial killers in the United States and we will probably never know how many people he actually murdered.

His early childhood was horrible, with both his parents dying from venereal disease. It is probable that Earle's mental issues started due to syphilis contracted at birth. Even though his upbringing was horrific and you have to feel some sympathy for him, his crimes were beyond despicable.

Since Earle's murder spree was during the 1920's, sharing information and distributing crime reports was very different than it is today. In light of today's TV series, movies and books, Earle's crimes were not as bothersome as they would have been to the naive citizens in the Twenties.

I "enjoy" reading the author's take on true crime stories of the past. His style of adding his own embellishments to enhance the facts that he can find make the stories easier to read and add a fresh perspective IMHO. If you want a completely factual recitation of the crimes, you might not like this type of book. But, if you enjoy a well-written book and don't mind the gruesome details involved in the true crime genre, Ryan Green's books should be a perfect fit.

The narrator, Steve White, does a great job with his narration. His pacing is perfect and his performance adds a lot to the listener's enjoyment. I was given the chance to listen to this audiobook by the author and chose to review it.

Vivid and intriguing

Another great Ryan Green work. This story is written so well that you see the characters and feel what makes them tick.