The Killing Kind

By: M. William Phelps

Narrated by: J. Charles

Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

She was seventeen years old, a beautiful girl with a Hollywood smile and luminous brown eyes. Sprawled in a culvert just off the gravel road like an abandoned doll, she wore only toe socks, a sweatshirt, and a necklace. She was not the killer's first victim. Nor would she be the last.

The lush, green hills that mark the border of North and South Carolina are home to a close-knit community. When the savaged remains of high-spirited Heather Catterton and sweet-natured Randi Saldana were found and a local man was linked to their murders, residents were forced to face an evil in their midst. The killer was one of their own….

Danny Hembree was far from being an upright, law-abiding citizen. But he was part of the fabric of the local scene, devoted to his mother and sister. No one saw him as a remorseless killer who preyed on those who trusted him. When questioned by police, Hembree didn’t just play cat-and-mouse and then confess. He bragged. Taunted. Laughed about his merciless deeds.

In The Killing Kind acclaimed, award-winning investigative crime journalist M. William Phelps delves into the background of Hembree's victims, bringing listeners into their lives in intimate detail. With exclusive information from detectives and prosecutors, Phelps reconstructs the chilling clues that led to Hembree's arrest, and the media sensation surrounding his trial, mistrial, and ultimate conviction.

As the victims' loved ones attempt to heal, Hembree continues to widen the scope of his crimes from behind bars. M. William Phelps draws on interviews and correspondence with the serial killer himself, bringing listeners into the minds of murderer - and into the heart of a real-life story of bloodshed, tears, and the long road to justice.

©2014 M. William Phelps (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Manipulated to Death

If you could sum up The Killing Kind in three words, what would they be?

sick perverted human

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Spot on for True Crime

What does J. Charles bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A very authoritative voice brings the crimes and sick notions to life

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

It would of been nice to but at times you have to reflect on the monstrosities this person committed.

Any additional comments?

M. Williams Phelps does it again, a terrifying look into the deaths of some friends all within a little group of drugs, sex, and violence.

He peels back the layers of this dark and violent crime exposing a dangerous manipulator pushing people and then just snuffing out their lives.

I also enjoyed the insight from John Kelly and the background M. Williams Phelps includes of what he went through trying to bring this story a story you will never forget.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Great Book. Very well written

I have spent nearly 30 years as a Police Investigator and recently retired as Chief of Police from a Southern state. I cant say enough that this Author really did his homework on entire case. He has really captured this story.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

interesting...but...

i found the story interesting especially after doing my own internet research...my fundamental problem was the narration...the author indicates he specifically chose the type of narration to reflect local dialect but it was too tough to listen to and really threw me off...would have enjoyed it better without attempting too hard to sound like the locals...

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Not much to like here

Huge disappointment. The book was poorly written, but was made even worse by the narrator's attempt at Southern accents and dialects.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great Author

I do enjoy the writings of this author. The narrator was easy to listen to.

Very detailed information.

I was hard to put down and kept me wanting more information about the people involved.

Lots of info in a Disorganized fashion

Lots of info but the story is tough to follow with it circling around and retelling of certain parts by dif ppl.

one of Phelps' better books

although I still hear some grammatical errors, word misuse and concept misuse (these things always bother me when done by professionals; they are paid to do a better job).
The research and study showed even more than usual.
I will continue to work my way through all of his books.
Mrs. P