Smooth Talker: Trail of Death

By: Steve Jackson

Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Length: 4 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

One morning in July 1974, Anita Andrews, the owner and bartender at Fagiani's Cocktail Lounge in Napa, California was found dead in her bar - raped, beaten, and stabbed to death in a bloody frenzy. She'd last been seen alive the night before talking to a drifter who sat at the end of the bar, playing cards and flirting with her. But the stranger, along with Anita's Cadillac, had disappeared. Unable to locate a suspect, police investigators sadly watched the case grow cold over the years.

Meanwhile, a month after Anita's murder, young Michele Wallace was driving down a road in the mountains near Crested Butte, Colorado, when she gave two stranded motorists, Chuck Matthews and a man named Roy, a ride. Dropping Matthews off at a bar in Gunnison, she agreed to take Roy to his truck. She was never seen alive again, nor could a massive search of the mountains locate her remains. The trail leading to her killer also ran into dead-ends.

Fourteen years later, Charlotte Sauerwin, engaged to be married, met a smooth-talking man at a laundromat in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. The next evening, her body was found in the woods; she'd been raped, tortured, and her throat slashed. The police suspected her fiance, Vince LeJeune, though he proclaimed his innocence to anyone who would listen. Meanwhile, the man from the laundromat couldn't be located. The three murders would remain unsolved, eating at the hearts, minds and lives of the women's families, friends and communities.

Then in the early 1990s, a rookie Gunnison County sheriff's investigator named Kathy Young began looking into the Wallace case and identified a suspect named Roy Melanson, a serial rapist from Texas.

Smooth Talker is the story of Melanson, his depredations, and the intrepid police work that went into bringing him to justice.

©2016 Steve Jackson (P)2016 WildBlue Press

Chilling And Concise...

tale of a cold blooded rapist and killer whose best weapons were a silver tongue and a slick manner. A good read for true crime fans

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Need more information

Any additional comments?

This was interesting but it could have been so much better if there had been more information. I would have liked to know more about the serial killer - what is his personal/family background? Would love to have more information about the victims, similar to the way Jack Olsen told his stories.

Kevin Pierce helps save the day. He is a fantastic performer and makes books even more interesting than they would be if I read them myself. I love his tone of voice, the emotion he puts into the characters and his rhythm. I sign when I hear his voice because I know it is going to be a good listen.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

An excellent true story of a serial killer

This books title describes the killer perfectly. The only problem I had with this book was with the author, Steve Jackson. I think with all the witnesses they had he should have been caught much earlier. I did however like this book a lot and would recommend to "True Crime Buffs " . As for the narrator Kevin Pierce is THE narrator for this genre. Great !

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Great Story

This book covers 3 different cases perpetrated by the same man, and the work that went in to bringing him to justice. Although it starts out with the bartender victim, I felt that most of the emphasis was placed on the Colorado (the 2nd) victim. The synopsis that accompanied the book when I received it only mentioned the first victim in detail, so I expected that case to receive the most attention.
I found the descriptions of the impact of the killer's actions on the victims friends and family touching, again, especially with the young woman in Colorado.
I remember feeling frustrated that it took so long for justice to catch up to the bad guy, but also a sense of satisfaction as his attempts to paint himself as the victim failed each time it finally did. I also remember feeling certain that there are more crimes he is responsible for that haven't come to light yet, and I wonder if they ever will.
Kevin Pierce does a great job narrating. He is easy to listen to.

I received this audiobook at no cost in exchange for a fair and honest review.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Smooth Talker: Trail of Death

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook B"last."

This true crime drama follows hunt and trial of cold case many years later. DNA use is shown in its development.



The narration was well done.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

great read

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

wonderful book. very well writen and narrated. i really enjoyed this book

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Nothing new, but sometimes there doesn't need to b

Smooth Talker chronicles the crimes of, hunt for, and subsequent capture of murderer and rapist Roy Melanson. Steve Jackson successfully conveys the senseless nature of crime as a whole, as well as how the lives of each victim's family and friends are irrevocably changed forever. Kevin Pierce is my favorite true crime narrator and doesn't disappoint here, his smooth warm cadence is as pleasant as ever. If you enjoy true crime you know what to expect, and if you are new to the genre Smooth Talker is as good a place to start as any. This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Another good one from Steve Jackson & Kevin Pierce

Would you listen to Smooth Talker: Trail of Death again? Why?

Yes

I had listened to the authors "No Stone Left Unturned" so I was familiar with one of the cases in this book. It was very interesting to have case tied in with others perpetrated by the same criminal. That perpetrators criminal movements were laid out well in this book. The author gives fantastic detail and ties in the cases together very well. As a huge fan of true crime I found "Smooth Talker" to be a very well written portrayal of the string of crimes that is known to be done by the perpetrator. The descriptions of the victims and their lives at the time of the crimes and well as family and friends emotions and reactions gave soul to the story. The details of the crimes and criminal gives goose bumps and the complete soullessness of that man.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Smooth Talker: Trail of Death?

How difficult it was to track the perpetrator down and lock him up gave me chills

What about Kevin Pierce’s performance did you like?

I absolutely adore Kevin Pierce's narration. He is pitch perfect always and especially in the true crime genre is a perfect narrator who provides a great listening experience. There is nothing else that needs to be said about the narration. It's simply spot on.

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

Not really. It was well written and performed but not totally "edge of my seat" plus since I knew the details of the Michelle Wallace case there wasn't much new in that part for me.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom

The only thing lacking for me was the beginning of the story. How and where did the criminal grow up? Did he have family? Etc. Those kinds of details build context around a killer that to me is one of the most fascinating aspects of the true crime genre. Perhaps those details are not know in this case. But that was the only thing to knock this book down to 4 stars for me. Other than that it was a great example of true crime writing.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

I thought it was a well researched accoun

If you could sum up Smooth Talker: Trail of Death in three words, what would they be?

Worth a credit.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well I felt Steve Jackson did a very thorough investigation with well researched information.

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

Kevin is like a warm cup of chicken soup on a cool autumn day. He narrated the first audible book I listened to and I've been a fan ever since. I usually read most of the true crime books he narrates. There is something very sincere, and kind in his delivery and I enjoy listening m

If you could give Smooth Talker: Trail of Death a new subtitle, what would it be?

Stranger in the woods.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Kept me glued and drawn in....

If you could sum up Smooth Talker: Trail of Death in three words, what would they be?

Fascinating, Captivating, and Interesting

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

Kevin does a great job. I really enjoy his narration, as he draws the reader inside the story like no other.

Any additional comments?

"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom."

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Well researched, written and read

Great book that focuses on the victims and police investigators bringing this monster to justice.

Engrossing story of missed chances

Horrifying story of how just one person can destroy so many lives without seemingly any consequences for so long. I thought the length was perfect, and I rarely find the narration matches the story as perfect as it was in this book, the voice was pitch perfect for the gruesome details conveyed. Fantastic book.