The Serial Killer Whisperer

How One Man's Tragedy Helped Unlock the Deadliest Secrets of the World's Most Terrifying Killers

By: Pete Earley

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

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.

©2012 Pete Earley (P)2012 Tantor

Couldnt hold my attention

I love stories about serial killers, true crime is my thing but for some reason this book just didn't hold my interest. I kept going back to it but it just never held my attention.

I couldn't stop listening

What did you love best about The Serial Killer Whisperer?

I've always been interested in serial killers so this one stood out to me. The book was very detailed and graphic almost to the point some of it was really sickening. I wouldnt recommend this book for someone who isn't ready for details about killing and rape but if you are open minded as I am you should be fine. The book, and true story, talks about a boy that had a traumatic brain injury. He was somewhat isolated due to outbursts and begins writing to serial killers with his families supervision. The book goes into details about what was written to give you a peek into how the killers think.

What about Alan Sklar’s performance did you like?

This guy was awesome at reading

Any additional comments?

I wish the book was longer

Amazing story and repulsive as well

This story is a fascinating tale of a psychopath who found succor by drawing out the stories of other psychopathic serial killers. The letters from the prison inmates are read in unedited detail and should be offensive to all, but the fact that Tony got these men to speak where so many others failed is incredible and I hope that it provides value in efforts to capture and/or prevent tragedies perpetrated by others.

Wow ...... Very gory and raw ..... I've read a lot of these books and this one is scary , gruesome and not for the squeamish

Lots of stories, letters and info in many notorious killers . Even as much as i thought i knew , i sat in shock at the content of what I was listening to. Narration was awesome and made the letters from the "monsters " really come to life . Tony and his wonderful family are a true representation of what a close loving family should aspire to be like ......kudos to the author and the content that he included . Totally worth the listen ..... Pure evil is hard to stomach and it is doled out with no mercy in this story

Extremely interesting!

Would you listen to The Serial Killer Whisperer again? Why?

This is a complex, disturbing, and ultimately vindicating story of a young man who, as the result of a head injury, developed a consuming interest in serial killers and their minds. The author himself attributes his success at probing the minds of these killers in part as a loss of the normal judgement that humans make about these monsters. A look into the mind of the homicidally obsessed is always valuable, and this young man has a lot to teach us.

Not at all what I expected and couldn't put it down!

As a true crime fan, this book introduced me to cases and murderers I've never heard of before.
The family at the heart of this book balances out the horrific details of multiple crimes with it's unyielding bond and the faith each member has in the others.

Very original material for sure

A very unique and interesting story. The ending was anticlimactic. But other than that, I loved it. I will definitely read/listen to more by this author.

Tragic to triump.

What made the experience of listening to The Serial Killer Whisperer the most enjoyable?

The love and struggle of a very strong family. How their support molded the positive outcome in a tragic situation.

What other book might you compare The Serial Killer Whisperer to and why?

None

Which character – as performed by Alan Sklar – was your favorite?

The father in the family was such a great mentor to his son. I think that if this young man had not have such a great supporting family his life could have taken a devastating outcome.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book really got into the insecurities of the serial killers. That seemed to be the common thread between all of them.

Any additional comments?

Not for someone with a week stomach. This book vividly goes into the dark side of these monsters.

Poor Ending

I really wish the ending had a little bit more to it. It was lackluster.

Way too graphic

I understand that serial kills are sick predators, and a bit of detail would have been good, but the story of Tony is what this book should have been for me and how getting involved with these folks made him who he is. But this book was more about details of murders and what these folks did. I will probably finish the book, but I am fast forwarding through much of the murderers confessions TMI in my opinion.