Murder in Wisconsin

Most Evil Serial Killers in Wisconsin History

By: Jack Rosewood

Narrated by: Miles Taylor

While Wisconsin is now perhaps best known for its die-hard love of both the Green Bay Packers and its cheese, deep beneath the surface of Wisconsin history simmers a cesspool of nightmares that began before the term serial killer had been coined. The horror started when Ed Gein tried desperately to bring back his dead mother by first exhuming bodies, then by killing in order to harvest female body parts that he himself would wear. His story sparked a nation's macabre fascination with American serial killers, though its bizarre tale of grave robbing and decorating with the dead meant that when other true crime stories surfaced from the state, no one was terribly surprised. Ed Gein was among the first to undergo criminal profiling - was he transgender, a woman trapped in a man's body, or did he really just miss his mother? - but he would not be the last.

Wisconsin's infamous list of true crime serial killers includes the lonely Jeffrey Dahmer, who attempted science experiments in hopes of creating a sex slave to call his own, sex criminal David Spanbauer, who preferred raping little girls when he got the chance, and Walter Ellis, who preyed on prostitutes because he thought he would be able to get away with it. Turns out, he could, for more than a decade.

Wisconsin is full of secrets, and very bad men. This biography of four prolific serial killers steps into the heart of the state's madness, and is likely to make their nightmares yours, at least for a spine-tingling night or two, especially when you realize that what happens in the movies is sometimes horrifyingly real.

©2016 Oscar Johansson (P)2016 Oscar Johansson

Chills from Wisconsin

Where does Murder in Wisconsin rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Murder in Wisconsin ranks near the top of my list for it's attention to detail, interesting narration, and content of the bonus section.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the variety of content in the book, as well as the detailed information given in the bonus chapter. Mr. Rosewood has done a excellent job providing the reader/listener with a well-rounded, informative experience.

Which scene was your favorite?

With the author's close attention to detail, there are many "moments" from each story that have stuck in my mind. One detail that I found especially disturbing was that police returned Dahmer's young victim, Konerak Sinthasomphone, to him after being convinced by Dahmer that they had merely had a lover's disagreement and he would take the "drunken" 19 year old back home. The young man was so very close to being rescued, yet ended up being added to Dahmer's heinous murder list.

Miles Taylor's narration enhances each disturbing detail and brings a vivid, descriptive sense of reality to each case.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

One of the interesting tidbits that I picked up from this story was that most serial killers think that they are unique, but they're not. I also found the profiling similarities very interesting and how accurate some professional profilers can be, right down to the criminal changing out of his pajamas and into the three piece suit that the profiler said he would be wearing when police arrested him. Uncanny, intriguing, and yes, a little bit creepy!

Any additional comments?

I thoroughly enjoy Mr. Rosewood's true crime case stories and find them to be interesting, informative, and unsettling!

A very good read

This book is a good read. It's hard to put down. You received good information on 4 notorious serial killers all from Wisconsin.

I could do without the bonus chapter though

But all in all a well told and good written book

More info on my blog. Best wishes yours truly ReadingGhost

redundant

The story is interesting enough. However, almost half of the narrative is prefaced, then the narrative is told. This was very annoying and made it difficult to continue to the end.

Murder in Wisconsin

Short and to the point. Not impressed with the narration for this kind of book. This could have been more intriguing had it been longer.

I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Blast.

Mispronunciations abound!

Narrator needs to study the pronunciations of Wisconsin cities. His performance really took away from the book.