Predator

By: Jack Olsen

Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

An account of the life and crimes of psychopath Mac Smith that describes how Seattle police, eager to make an arrest in the murders of the city's women, arrested the wrong man for Smith's crimes.

©2014 Jack Olsen (P)2015 Evan Olsen, Su Olsen

Weird true crime topic but compelling *1.25x speed

This isn't my favorite Jack Olsen book. It's about a serial rapist and a man convicted wrongfully of the rapist's crimes. It focuses more on the rapist. Olsen really delves into the rapist's childhood and it drags way too long. Every family drama to ever incur was dredged up and expounded upon.
Olsen details the ups and downs of the falsely convicted man & his fiance, how they fight the case, her sticking by her man,etc; the time and detail spent on the interpersonal drama is also excruciating. The couple were only together for two years but the detail makes it seem like 20 years had passed.
Every event thereafter in both of the sagas go on like that.

To make matters more worse. Pierce's narration is extra slow in this book. I played the book at 1.25x the speed & that helped.

Another aspect that bothered me, was Olsen wrote in the 1st person voice of what character's were thinking to themselves at very specific times and places. Maybe there's some literary-device word for what I'm trying to describe?
The reader reads (or Audible listener hears) the thoughts of Mack Smith in *his* first person...of what he's thinking in his head at a particular time.
Something like, "Mack Smith, thought, 'I can't believe I'm doing this. What have I done? I'm gonna be sick!'"
This was for practically for every person in the book. How can there be so much inner dialog for a non-fiction book? And hearing the inner dialog of a psychopathic serial rapist in first person was just disturbing.

I don't think Olsen was or would try to depict a violent criminal as sympathetic but this was iffy in much of the book. I think because there was so much detail for every year in the rapist's life practically, it was confusing as to what Olsen's objective was in telling this tale.

I think Olsen wanted to show the far-reaching impact one horrible criminal can have but it's way too messy with excessive details on things that are mundane. It could've been a long-form article.

Great True Cime

Would you consider the audio edition of Predator to be better than the print version?

I enjoy audio better than written and Kevin Pierce does a great job narrating.

What did you like best about this story?

That it is a true example of the mistakes that can happen in our justice system, I think everyone who sits on a jury should have to read this book. I felt sickened, saddened and downright angry reading this. Thank you Mr Olsen for writing this book !!

Have you listened to any of Kevin Pierce’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to Murder of a Mafia Daughter. He did a great with both. His voice is perfect for true crime.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Everything that Steve had to endure. It is scary how flawed and unjust our system can be. How do you give back all that was taken from someone unfairly?

Any additional comments?

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

good book

A good interesting book and Kevin Pierce is always great. it's amazing how long some criminals get away with their crimes.

I cried when Steve Titus died..

Loved this book, excellent narration. Heart pounding throughout the chapters. It was better than watching a movie

Very sad story. Kept in my head for weeks after.

Best true crime I've read. Really well researched. Each character comes to life. If you like character studies, you will like this book.

Another great Jack Olsen true crime!

Any additional comments?

I've read a number of Jack Olsen's true crime stories and once again was blown away by his attention to detail and his ability to capture the depth and complexity of his characters. Predator is another true crime that is hard to imagine that it happened and for so long. I, like other reviewers felt compassion for Mac early on due to his upbringing (despite the first chapter), but was quickly yanked into the reality of the real Mac. The story of Steve and his incomprehensible injustice and ultimate tragedy was unimaginable. As the reader (listener) we knew what Steve didn't know which made it much more painful. Kevin Pierce is stellar! I've listened to many of his narrations and he nails it every time. Especially in the true crime genre. Good listen for my daily commute.

Great book!

Absolutely loved it! Perfectly read as usual by Kevin. I feel so bad for ALL the victims touched by this monster.

Great read, sad story

If you could sum up Predator in three words, what would they be?

This is a disturbing tale of a sick sick man. This man happens to be my second cousin and this is how I had to read about it because no one in our family talks about it.

Gripping!

I just couldn't wait to hear "what's next". I would call it 'grippingly disturbing'.

Boring read - moved very slow

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Narrator needed to adjust his voice more when characters changed.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Finally ended.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

NO! who would want to see rape over 50 times?