The Michigan Murders

By: Edward Keyes

Narrated by: Pete Cross

Length: 15 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

In 1967, during the time of peace, free love, and hitchhiking, 19-year-old Mary Terese Fleszar was last seen walking home to her apartment in Ypsilanti, Michigan. One month later, her naked body stabbed over 30 times and missing both feet and a forearm was discovered on an abandoned farm. A year later, the body of 20-year-old Joan Schell was found, similarly violated.

Over the next two years, five more bodies of female students were uncovered around the area. In the wake of these murders, southeastern Michigan was terrorized by something it had never experienced before: a serial killer. But after multiple failed investigations, a chance sighting finally led to a suspect: an all-American boy studying elementary education at Eastern Michigan University who wasn't all that he seemed.

©2010 Edward Keyes (P)2017 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Intriguing true crime!

Some stated they did not enjoy the narration but I thought he did a great job. Even knowing the crime this book keeps you locked in! So interesting, I would recommend this for anyone wanting a true crime book or even just a good book in general.

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

keeps your attention

narrator was great. the story line is woven so well it keeps you eagerly waiting for more. this is told not from the family of the victims view bit is still an awesome book

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

narrator is hard to listen to

I expect better quality narration. interested. but just had to return it after trying to listen to just one chapter.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Give It Some Time

In all honesty, 10 minutes into this book I wanted to return it- I am not sure if it was the narrator or the story, but I was on a long drive and so I pressed on- Somewhere along the way the book just took on a life of its own- I was truly fascinated with the story, the police work, the beginning of forensics, and of course the amazing twists that happened ! Very glad I let the book develop on its own-

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great story, disturbing, story...

This book was well written with great narration. I appreciated that the names were changed. It was a little drawn out, but I liked that it was detailed and in chronological order so it was easy to follow.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Narrator Selection Doesn't Match Story

What disappointed you about The Michigan Murders?

The narration - I could not follow along.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

No changes to the story - it's probably very intriguing but I could not get past the narration. Returned the book 6 chapters in.

Would you be willing to try another one of Pete Cross’s performances?

No.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Timeless True Crime.

This is a gripping telling of a series of terrible murders in the late 60's early 70's. The story is very well written with all of the facts, details, interviews and investigatory outlines crucial to every true-crime book. I am a huge fan of this genre and this book brings it. Excellently narrated, I highly recommend this book to any fan of True Crime. #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Always kept you in suspense

the narrator always makes it sound like a bomb was going to drop and it annoyed me a bit but really good overall. I liked the way the true events were put together and there were a lot of details.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Narrator was monotone

This book started out fairly well and then took a turn for the worst , when it was simply the reading of transcripts from the trial. Totally Anticlimactic!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Interesting Story

Great story! However, the author was a bit too wordy foe me. Many, many unnecessary details that added nothing to the story.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Intriguing yet mildly laborious at the end

Strong performance and a story that locks you in. That is, until the trial, when it gets mildly laborious and technical. Too much detail when you want the author to cut to the chase. There it loses its narrative fabric but gets back on track at the very end.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

An enthrallling book

In 1967, a 19-year-old EMU student was last seen walking home to her apartment in Ypsilanti, Michigan. A few weeks later, her violated, naked body was found on an abandoned farm. Over the next few years, six more bodies were discovered, leading the police into a murder investigation that would taunt them with a maddening lack of evidence, suspects or the slightest clue as to who the killer might be.

Though I also have the paperback version, this review is based on the audiobook, which is superbly narrated by Pete Cross. First published in 1976, this is a fascinating account of a series of murders that terrorised Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor in the late sixties. The details of the crimes, particularly relating to the difficulties and frustrations of the police investigation, reveal a well-researched and skilfully told story of how one man almost escaped capture simply because he was exactly what the authorities did not expect – an intelligent, clean-cut all-American guy.

The story held my attention from start to finish and had me rooting for the cops through all their defeats and dead-ends. My only grumble in terms of the writing, is that the author chose to change the names of not only the victims and their families, but those of several witnesses and even the person responsible for the killings. While it may have seemed an understandable courtesy forty years ago, for anyone wishing to do further research now, it’s a bit irritating.

That aside, provided you have a strong stomach (there’s lots of gory detail), this is an enthralling book that’ll appeal to anyone who enjoys true crime.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

One of the best true crime stories I have listened to.

I read / listen to many true crime stories. This has to be one of the best. It has been meticulously researched and extremely well presented. Five stars from me.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Superb.

Great book and great narration. Loved it. Listening to it again, great for driving to ;) Thankyou.