John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster

By: Sam L. Amirante, Danny Broderick

Narrated by: Robin Bloodworth

For the first time Gacy’s lawyer and confidant tells his chilling tale of how he defended an American serial killer.

“Sam, could you do me a favor?”

Thus begins a story that has now become part of America's true-crime hall of fame. It is a gory, grotesque tale befitting a Stephen King novel. It is also a David and Goliath saga - the story of a young lawyer fresh from the public defender's office whose first client in private practice turns out to be the worst serial killer in our nation's history. This is a gripping true crime narrative that reenacts the gruesome killings and the famous trial that shocked a nation.

©2012 Sam L. Amirante and Danny Broderick (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Well written

The narrator does a terrible Chicago accent. It sounds east coast. 6 million people in the metro area and they can't get a narrator that can do a proper Chicago accent. Or just don't do an accent. He also said "Des Plaines" wrong approximately 200 times. Not a big deal but it was annoying. He did a good job otherwise and I recommend.

Holy crow!

Holy crow, chapter 12! If you are reading this in your car you will not stop halfway through chapter 12... you’ll sit in your driveway till the whole hour has passed, with your mouth agape, unable to stop listening. And the reader for this book is awesome. He makes you believe you are listening to JWG’s words verbatim out of his own mouth. Excellently written.

I did not care for his closing argument, though. It convinced me in the direction that the actual jury voted, against JWG. I also didn’t care for the author’s callous comments about a transgender woman. I know the time period (70s and 80s) was cruel to this community, but this book was written in 2011.

terrifying

I was 8 when he was arrested and lived a mile away. I currently live on Summerdale ironically enough. My parents used him as a tactic to keep us safe. Be home on time or don't talk to strangers or a boogie man like Gacy will get you. It worked.

Why and Why We Produce Such Monsters?

The book is an excellent presentation of John Gacy and a lawyers attempt to show insanity gone beyond all limits. I listened to this to find out the defense strategy. The book keeps your attention, and that made me ask myself "Why."
I think it is my inability to understand such madness, and even after the book, I cannot. Madness cannot be understood by even the doctors that write books on it. I think everything points to genetics and a mutated gene gone rogue.
I have moved away from Capitol Punishment, as there is something to learn from these monsters, but the book is a good one, and for true crime fans, a true winner. I do wonder why America produces their fair share, and wonder about that.

excellent!

I'm fascinated with true crime and serial killers. it was eye opening (and terrifying) to hear this story told by his defence lawyer.