The Last Stone

A Masterpiece of Criminal Interrogation

By: Mark Bowden

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

Length: 13 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

The true story of a cold case, a compulsive liar, and five determined detectives, from the number-one New York Times best-selling author and “master journalist” (The Wall Street Journal).

On March 29, 1975, sisters Katherine and Sheila Lyons, ages 10 and 12, vanished from a shopping mall in suburban Washington, DC. As shock spread, then grief, a massive police effort found nothing. The investigation was shelved, and the mystery endured.

Then, in 2013, a cold case squad detective found something he and a generation of detectives had missed. It pointed them toward a man named Lloyd Welch, then serving time for child molestation in Delaware.

The acclaimed author of Black Hawk Down and Hue 1968 had been a cub reporter for a Baltimore newspaper at the time of the original disappearance, and covered the frantic first weeks of the story. In The Last Stone, he returns to write its ending. Over months of intense questioning and extensive investigation of Welch’s sprawling, sinister Appalachian clan, five skilled detectives learned to sift truth from determined lies. How do you get a compulsive liar with every reason in the world to lie to tell the truth? The Last Stone recounts a masterpiece of criminal interrogation, and delivers a chilling and unprecedented look inside a disturbing criminal mind.

©2019 Mark Bowden. Recorded by arrangement with Atlantic Monthly Press, an imprint of Grove Atlantic, Inc. (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

interesting listen

had no idea what I was getting myself into. had its moments though and did enjoy the accent change 😊

No one’s better than Bowden

Another excellent book by Mark Bowden. This one, like all the rest of his, will just draw you in.

How to get an innocent man to confess

I found it painful to listen the detectives manipulated this poor guy who was happy to get lunch and company. His confession mirrored back what the detectives were telling him. they had no concrete evidence. The author did a good job of compiling the information I just feel that he came to the wrong conclusion. The innocence Project would have A heyday with this conviction.

Okay

I can see the time and effort of the law enforcement team but the story was long and uneventful no clear ending other than to see there are really bad monsters in this world!

Unbelieveable, shocking story - superbly told!

From the minute I started listening to this book, I was entranced and could not stop listening. I have read most of Mark Bowden's books, they are all excellent. This one was a tour de force. The narration was great! You felt like you were in the same room with the murderer and detectives. It was both fascinating and horrifying.

The parents won't get closure from this

Very talented narrator tells such a frightening true story you'll have nightmares, and yet, you cannot stop listening. A little repetitive at points, but mostly gut wrenching. Great for a long long drive. You will not get drowsy.

Lost intersest

Long mark bowden reader but this i just couldnt finish. Just skip this book for something else.

well done, but not my favorite

This book was highly recommended by the Murder Sheet podcast so I decided to check it out. It's well written and researched, but frustrating because there didn't seem to be much mystery from the beginning, so it's frustrating that it wasn't solved for so long. The killer and family are a deplorable bunch, and tough to hear about.

Interesting Story

I’m glad the man is in prison. That the detectives spent so much time on this one case amazes me.

a sad story

I thought the story was a good one. The author told it well enough that I was often sickened. The perp was a disgusting vile human with no remorse.