The Serial Killer Whisperer

How One Man's Tragedy Helped Unlock the Deadliest Secrets of the World's Most Terrifying Killers

By: Pete Earley

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Fifteen-year-old Tony Ciaglia had everything a teenager could want: good grades, good athletic skills, and good friends - until he suffered a horrific head injury at summer camp. Pronounced clinically dead three times by helicopter paramedics before he reached a hospital, Ciaglia lapsed into a coma. When he emerged, his right side was paralyzed and he had to relearn how to walk, talk, and even how to eat. The areas of his brain that were damaged required him to take countless pills to control his emotions and rages. Abandoned and shunned by his friends, he began writing to serial killers on a whim and discovered that his traumatic brain injury - which made him an outcast to his peers - enabled him to emotionally connect with notorious murderers in a unique way.

Soon many of America's most dangerous psychopaths were revealing heinous details to Tony about their crimes - even those they'd never been convicted of. The killers opened up to him, trusted him, and called him a "best friend". But there was a price. As Tony found himself being drawn deeper and deeper into their violent worlds of murder, rape, and torture, he was pushed to the brink of despair and, at times, forced to question his own sanity - until he found a way to put his unusual gift to use. Asked by investigators for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for help in solving a murder, Tony began launching his own personal searches for forgotten victims, incredibly with clues often provided to him voluntarily by the killers themselves.

The Serial Killer Whisperer takes listeners into the minds of murderers in a way that has never been done before - straight from a killer's thoughts. It is also an inspiring (albeit sometimes terrifying) tale of an American family whose idyllic life is shattered by a terrible accident and how healing and closure came to a tormented man in the most unlikely way: by connecting with monsters.

©2012 Pete Earley (P)2012 Tantor

Wow

It is true what they say - excellent book with gruesome details. It does not leave place to imagination - it gives all the details you need. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys TRUE crimes.

Brave & Curious Tony

Where does The Serial Killer Whisperer rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best.

What other book might you compare The Serial Killer Whisperer to and why?

Cant think of one just yet,

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

The way he narrated it with such compassion and understanding.

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

Tonys Pen Pals

Any additional comments?

We know there are evil people out there and Alan Sklar narrated it in such a way that he makes us realize how dangerous & soulless people can be, without a conscious but proud of how they tormented anyone who crossed their paths.just for their sick enjoyment.

Recommend!

Great story line! Lots of details to keep you hooked on wanting to listen to more and more. Although it constantly made me cry and feel for the victims. MTRIP!

Good book, but not for everyone

Any additional comments?

This is definitely an interesting story worth being told. However, be advised that the stories from the serial killers are not only disturbing, but told in their own extremely crude language. If that stuff doesn't bother you, then this is a good book.

The voice of Alan Sklar was annoyingly low and husky at first, but I realized it fits with the content of what he is reading. I got used to it.

Fascinating, Had me at the first chapter

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I enjoyed this book on several levels, the support and love from this young man's recovery from his own misfortune assisted in solving this crime

What other book might you compare The Serial Killer Whisperer to and why?

The finer details of the events and it's protagonist were spell binging

Have you listened to any of Alan Sklar’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I love Kevin Pierce so it's difficult to put any one up against him but i though Alan did a better than average narration.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, the ending was incredibly emotional for me. As a father of three wonderful girls I could not imagine what the parents of these victims went through.

Any additional comments?

Great book and Kudos to our young man who overcame his life circumstances

Narration and writing excellent. scary to profile

I had to stop a couple times due to details, tragedy =triumphant
love you Tony!

The book that started it all!.. For me and anyway.

Would you listen to The Serial Killer Whisperer again? Why?

Yes, its amazing how fast this book sucks you in.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Serial Killer Whisperer?

The conversations between the main character and the killers. Very disturbing but couldn't turn it off.

Any additional comments?

Found myself sitting in the driveway after work listening till my wife came and got me. Couldn't stop listening.

Inspiring story

What did you like best about The Serial Killer Whisperer? What did you like least?

Best.....inside story's from murderers.Worst...a bit too much personal info on author to maintain interest.

Would you recommend The Serial Killer Whisperer to your friends? Why or why not?

Depends on the friend.

What about Alan Sklar’s performance did you like?

earthy...good.

Did The Serial Killer Whisperer inspire you to do anything?

no

Any additional comments?

I know you should never critique a book half way through it....but as talented a writer, and as inspiring as it is.....about half the information about Tony's brain injury & private life could be removed, and replace this space with more on the killers, would make it better for me.

Worth the grit

I had a hard time listening to some of this- and I am NOT squeamish at all.

The story about Tony is very interesting- his TBI and his journey. I loved his family.

The perspective of these horrible crimes thru the disgusting words of the killers I think is an excellent reminder of what put these killers behind bars. I had recently listened to Defending Gacy, which I enjoyed, but it defintely missed the mark on the reality of the horror of what the victims went thru and how casually their lives were tortured out of them.

The overall story here though was worth the graphic nature- graphic for shock effect isn't worth it- but graphic in reality- it's just reality.

LOVED IT,NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE IT!AMAZING!BEST

STORY1OF A KIND, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS TRULY, GRIPPING AND COULDN'T PUT IT,DOWN,THE BEST!!! AWESOME!!! CAN'T FIND A FAVORITE PART,SINCE I LOVED IT ALL!ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THE SAME THING,WRITE TO SERIAL'S SINCE I WAS A CHILD.I WAS ALWAYS FASINATED BY THESE PEOPLE,ALWAYS WANTED TO GET INTO THE MIND'S AND WANTED TO KNOW WHAT,WHY MAKES SOMEONE DO THESE THING'S.TONY IS MY HERO, HE'S A TRULY AN AMAZING AND JUST SUCH A SPECIAL PERSON!!I THANK HIM TEN FOLD FOR HIS STORY AND FOR HELPING EVERYONE"VICTIM'S FAMILIES EVEN THE KILLER'S THEMSELVES!!THE NARRATOR WAS ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT IN THE WAY HE REALLY PUT EVERYTHING ACROSS, COULDN'T HAVE DONE BETTER!!THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR EVERYTHING.THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE BOOK AND THAT'S SAYING ALOT😁