The Vampire Next Door

The True Story of the Vampire Rapist

By: J.T. Hunter

Narrated by: Rob Shamblin

Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

John Crutchley seemed to be living the American Dream. Good-looking and blessed with a genius level IQ, he had a prestigious, white-collar job at a prominent government defense contractor, where he held top secret security clearance and handled projects for NASA and the Pentagon. To all outward appearances, he was a hard-working, successful family man with a lavish new house, a devoted wife, and a healthy young son.But, he concealed a hidden side of his personality, a dark secret tied to a hunger for blood and the overriding need to kill. As one of the most prolific serial killers in American history, Crutchley committed at least twelve murders, and possibly nearly three dozen. His IQ elipsed that of Ted Bundy, and his body count may have as well. While he stalked the streets hunting his unsuspecting victims, the residents of a quiet Florida town slept soundly, oblivious to the dark creature in their midst, unaware of the vampire next door.

J.T. Hunter is an attorney with over fourteen years of experience practicing law, including criminal law and appeals, and he has significant training in criminal investigation techniques. He is also a college professor in Florida where his teaching interests focus on the intersection of criminal psychology, law, and literature. This is his debut true crime novel.

©2014 J.T. Hunter and RJ Parker Publishing, Inc. (P)2014 J.T. Hunter and RJ Parker Publishing, Inc.

Poorly Written - Could have been a great story

What disappointed you about The Vampire Next Door?

I have read a LOT of true crime books, and I am not easily bothered or disturbed but this authors descriptions of the crimes committed by JT Hunter was just...wrong. They read a bit like pornography and the horror of the what the victim endured didn't come through. What could have saved this was a well written account of Hunter's motivation or thought processes but that didn't come through either. I have read some pretty harrowing true crime stories and the well written ones describe the criminal activity but don't present it in a titillating or exploitative way, this book did and it left me feeling creeped out and kind of gross. I would like to delete it from my library.

nonfiction described as a novel

The author explains that this is a nonfiction work with some speculation. The one surviving victim relates a riveting description of her capture, torture and rape. Many interesting facts are revealed and this book held my interest. However much of the psychiatric "science" is little more than psycho babble or pseudo science. The murderer's imperfect parents are offered as an explanation for the man's evil which I find unfounded. Prior to the man's death he was smiling an upbeat. This we are advised indicates he was not suicidal. It is a standard principle in psychiatry that once someone resolves to kill them self, their depression lifts and they are nonchalant. Thus, cheerfulness is not an indication that the person did not take their life.
The Narrator neither adds nor detracts from the story.

Too twisted

What disappointed you about The Vampire Next Door?

I do not like listening to overly detailed accounts of sexual violence. And this book gave play by plays of all graphic details.

What aspect of Rob Shamblin’s performance would you have changed?

Rob Shamlin did a decent job.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Vampire Next Door?

I would cut most of the details on the sexual assaults; I literally felt ill after an hour of this book.

Any additional comments?

I have listened to a lot of true crime, so for me to find the book too graphic takes a lot. I could only listen to about 80 minutes and did not finish the book.

Chilling but good true story!

Enjoyed it very much. I guess the only thing I noticed is it seemed to repeat things a bit much.

Good Info, Awful Execution

Lots of information but the book is put together in a random set of chapters repeating and going back and forth in time and really making no sense.
Lots of gore and repeating of 1 incident which loses its cringe appeal the 10th time they tell you about it.
Find an abridged copy if you can is my recommendation.

Never knew

I have read a lot of true crimes. Mostly Ann Rule but I never knew about this case. Think it truly over looked and very good read. The narrative was okay I think. But story was good I thought.

rape erotica disguised as true crime

this book is not for lovers of true crime. this book is erotica disguised as true crime. I have read some true crime books that describe the worst possible assaults and murders imaginable. those particular book told the story as " a factusl case study and examination of a crime, profiles of killers, etc but this book is not a true crime book. when this book describes the rapes , it tells the story in eroticism form. it is plainly obvious the goal of the author (and narrator) is to arouse the reader. I feel the author, publisher, narrator and avid readers of this book should be added to local law enforcement radar. anyone who enjoys this book is a scary, scary person who enjoys sick, sick stuff. I love true crime.i am not offended by this books retelling of a story about a sadistic killer and the twisted crimes he committed. I am disgusted at the way in which this story was told. it is just low class. this author has zero sympathy for the families of the victims as to use their stories in this way. There are some real sickos in this world and you can add the people responsible for the production of this book to the list. I only gave this 1 star because the app made me give at least one star. this book gets zero stars. audible should remove this book. the families of the victims should be compensated in a court of law. Eff this book.

Spellbinding

Great book!!! love the twists and turns and reminds yams all that true monsters don't look like monsters of our storybooks or dreams.

Gripping story, terrible narrating!

This story was sad and fascinating. However, I had to force myself to finish it because the narrator was reading the story in a sing song manner. Though his style is OK for narrating a TV show, where you don't hear much from the narrator, to hear it for hours at a time is really annoying. Who really reads that way, anyway? Had the story not been so interesting I would have given up in the first chapter. I guess I'll just start looking up books by narrator in the future. Kevin Pierce is excellent.

loved

I like it was interesting man um overall I think this a really nice book I wish they can do another one and number two I don't know if they do have one or not but I like

Vampire next door

This was a compelling story that showed how police are tied by red tape, if they had been allowed to do their job effectively people's lives may have been safed