The Naked Streets

The Shocking True Story of the Phoenix Sniper Murders and Baseline Killer

By: Ronald Watkins

Narrated by: Don Kline

From May, 2005 until August, 2006, Phoenix, Arizona, the fifth largest city in America, was gripped in terror. A series of random sniper attacks, sexual assaults, and murders continued at a relentless pace with no end in sight. The victims were both men and women, young and old, of all races and ethnicities. Most disturbingly, they had done nothing to place themselves in harm's way. They'd not visited the "bad" parts of town, frequented a gambling den, solicited prostitutes, or sought out drug dealers. They were assaulted and murdered as they went about the routine activities of their lives, the kinds of things we all do without a second thought. There was no reason for extraordinary diligence as they did so. They were gunned down walking along a street, kidnapped, raped, and murdered from the neighborhood carwash while talking on a cell phone. Throughout two long, hot summers the public had no assurance the criminal would ever be caught. Despite leads, despite increased vigilance, the crimes continued unabated. And when they at last mercifully ended, when the story of what had actually taken place become common knowledge, the public was shocked by the magnitude of the truth.

©2014 Ronald J. Watkins (P)2014 Ronald J. Watkins

average true crime nonfiction

The narrator does a good job and infuses personality and character into the various people. This book is mostly a list of facts with very little insight into the reasons the villains carried out their senseless crimes.
One feature which stands out is the reader is able to hear what the criminals said when they discussed the murders in private. The police were bugging their house. This feature gives us a clear impression of how evil these men were.

The length of the book was about right, not too long.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

As someone who lived in the valley between during the time period of these serial killers this book struck a chord with me. Add to that the fact that I worked in mental health and substance abuse at the time and lived in the general area of 7th street and Osborn. If you know Phoenix you know that fairly close to where several of the drive by killings occurred. At that time my girlfriend had two large dogs that I walked frequently. While listening to this audiobook I tried to remember if any the names of the victims were familiar; if any of them had been treated at any of the facilities I worked at in 12 years I worked in the valley. I also wondered if that light blue Camry had ever passed by me slowly while I walked the dogs.
Now for those who don't have any connection or history with these events I suppose that it depends on what you want to get from this selection. The audio lasts for only about five hours; the writing is spare and bare bones it has the feel and pacing of a crime reporter; not a novelist.Without my own personal connection with the events I don't know how much I would have enjoyed this book. Unless there is a personal connection you may need to be a fan of true crime to fully appreciate this one.

Narrator makes it impossible to listen to book

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I am going to read the book. The narrator is so bad it ruins the book.

Would you recommend The Naked Streets to your friends? Why or why not?

No

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Don Kline?

Anyone

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Well researched.

Any additional comments?

Narrator couldn't pronounce names of cities correctly. Sounded as though he had never read through this book before reading it for publication. Even when he obviously stumbled over words it wasn't corrected.