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The Serial Killer Whisperer: How One Man's Tragedy Helped Unlock the Deadliest Secrets of the World's Most Terrifying Killers Audiobook
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(3.02) - 326 listener ratings
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Fifteen-year-old Tony Ciaglia had everything a teenager could want—good grades, good athletic skills, and good friends—until he suffered a horrific head injury at summer camp. Pronounced clinically dead three times by helicopter paramedics before he reached a hospital, Ciaglia lapsed into a coma. When he emerged, his right side was paralyzed and he had to relearn how to walk, talk, and even how to eat. The areas of his brain that were damaged required him to take countless pills to control his emotions and rages. Abandoned and shunned by his friends, he began writing to serial killers on a whim and discovered that his traumatic brain injury—which made him an outcast to his peers—enabled him to emotionally connect with notorious murderers in a unique way. Soon many of America's most dangerous psychopaths were revealing heinous details to Tony about their crimes—even those they'd never been convicted of. The killers opened up to him, trusted him, and called him a "best friend." But there was a price. As Tony found himself being drawn deeper and deeper into their violent worlds of murder, rape, and torture, he was pushed to the brink of despair and, at times, forced to question his own sanity—until he found a way to put his unusual gift to use. Asked by investigators for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for help in solving a murder, Tony began launching his own personal searches for forgotten victims, incredibly with clues often provided to him voluntarily by the killers themselves.
The Serial Killer Whisperer takes listeners into the minds of murderers in a way that has never been done before—straight from a killer's thoughts. It is also an inspiring—albeit sometimes terrifying—tale of an American family whose idyllic life is shattered by a terrible accident and how healing and closure came to a tormented man in the most unlikely way: by connecting with monsters.
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"This book is definitely not for the squeamish and the detailed descriptions of the events taking place in this book paints a very disturbing picture. The book is very well written and it delves deep into the minds of serial killers, cannibals, and rapists. Even if you don't like reading books about serial killers you should make an exception for this one. I feel like it sends a very strong message about how a tragedy could sometimes pave the road to a new beginning. The main character is very likable despite his struggles of self acceptance and it sends a clear message that no matter what a person may be going through if they have someone who loves and supports them it can make a huge impact on the lives of many. This book gave me a completely new perspective on life and it is definitely in my top five favorite books. I highly recommend this book."
— Trena (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“For [listeners] of true crime and psychology and others interested in the workings of the brain.”
— Library Journal -
“Definitely not for the faint of heart, this as a macabre, stomach-turning glimpse at true crime’s most evil villains.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
For [listeners] of true crime and psychology and others interested in the workings of the brain.
— Library Journal
The Serial Killer Whisperer Listener Reviews
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" I am sorry I read this awful book. It contains a plethora of morally bankrupt narrative composed by some of the most monstrous killers on death row. Unlike others, I did not consider it pornographic, so much as boring. These are empty people who think and act in horrible ways. They do not need an audience for their rants and their reliving of their vicious deeds. I was not particularly shocked as others have been because this book contains no more shocking material than the average Ann Rule book. It's just that the murders themselves describe their deeds in their own empty, affectless way. As far as Tony and his family -- oh please. I cannot believe that this family encouraged this guy to correspond with AND TO VISIT these monsters. They kept much from the police and they played at "Criminal Minds" which is kind of perverse. The most disgusting aspect was that Tony shared details of his sex life in his correspondence with these killers. And we are supposed to think he is an upstanding guy who helped the cops?? I think not. Don't bother with this one. "
— Wanda, 2/11/2014 -
" Tony's story was quite interesting. I skipped all the rest of it. "
— Laura, 2/6/2014 -
" I think its important to research and understand all aspects of human nature and history. I could not keep reading this book however, the descriptions of violence and graphic crimes were too much for me and I became ill, still I think there are some very positive messages in book with regards to recovery and hope. "
— Tiffany, 2/5/2014 -
" Slow starter but gains speed about halfway through with more citations from the letters by the killers. Earley does a great job taking the reader back and forth between the life of the Whisperer, Tony, and the inmates. "
— Steve, 1/28/2014 -
" So far pretty good. Very interesting. The excerpts from the killers' actual letters are occasionally disturbing but its pretty good. "
— Hannah, 1/27/2014 -
" Way too much detail from these killers. Even I had a tough time with it and had to put it down. "
— Scottp, 1/8/2014 -
" Subject matter was good, the gore didn't bother me as much as I'm sure it would bother other people. Wasn't a huge fan of the narration, felt there were some tone issues that threw me off a bit. Excerpts from the serial killers letters were good insights. "
— Cassandra, 11/17/2013 -
" Meh. 2.5 stars. This book could've been so much better if the author didn't have the writing sophistication of a ninth-grader. It was bland and disjointed. I may be desensitized to what goes on with serial killings, but I'm not unaffected by bad writing. "
— Michelle, 10/4/2013 -
" BE CAREFUL. This book is not for everybody. "
— Cindy, 9/2/2013 -
" Another view inside the mind of serial killers. Interesting book. "
— Sonjav, 7/17/2013 -
" This book was extremely difficult subject matter for me to read. But very interesting. I hope that Tony continues his quest to help find answers to cold cases and give peace to family of lost loved ones. "
— Chelsea, 7/5/2013 -
" interesting, but incredibly disturbing. The Ciaglia family story is incredible. "
— Megan, 1/2/2013 -
" Scariest book ever. Paranoia, you are my friend. "
— Sara, 12/24/2012 -
" Good, but not for the faint of heart. Pretty twisted and gruesome. "
— Michelle, 10/25/2012
About Pete Earley
Pete Earley, a former reporter for the Washington Post, is the author of several works of nonfiction, including the bestsellers The Hot House and Family of Spies, and the multi-award-winning Circumstantial Evidence. According to Washingtonian magazine, he is one of ten journalist/authors in America “who have the power to introduce new ideas and give them currency.” Earley is also the author of three New York Times bestsellers and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
About Alan Sklar
Alan Sklar, a graduate of Dartmouth, has excelled in his career as a freelance voice actor. Named a Best Voice of 2009 by AudioFile magazine, his work has earned him several Earphones Awards, a Booklist Editors’ Choice Award (twice), a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award, and Audiobook of the Year by ForeWord magazine. He has also narrated thousands of corporate videos for clients such as NASA, Sikorsky Aircraft, IBM, Dannon, Pfizer, AT&T, and SONY.