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  • The Toolbox Killers

  • A Deadly Rape, Torture & Murder Duo: The Serial Killer Books, Book 3
  • By: Jack Rosewood, Rebecca Lo
  • Narrated by: Kevin Kollins
  • Length: 5 hrs
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars (82 ratings)

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The Toolbox Killers

By: Jack Rosewood, Rebecca Lo
Narrated by: Kevin Kollins
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Publisher's summary

Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris, the Toolbox Killers, brought a level of terror that changed the way people carried out their daily lives. It was a time of innocence in California, where young girls could walk the streets or hitchhike along the freeways without a care or concern for their own safety, day or night. But that innocence and trust were to be shattered as five girls made the fatal mistake of accepting a ride from Bittaker and Norris.

What started as a chance meeting in prison of these terrible men resulted in a murder spree that was planned right down to the finest details. They knew the type of victims they wanted, how they were going to abduct them, and what they were going to do to them. And they did everything they could to make their depraved fantasies come true.

This true crime book includes chapters that explore the psychological make-up of these killers, and factors that may have influenced their twisted minds. How could these men inflict such horrific pain and suffering on their victims, and get away with it until five victims are left dead and scattered in a desolate canyon? What would have happened if Bittaker and Norris had never met?

These famous serial killers were organized and sexually sadistic, and were responsible for some of the most horrendous true murders involving unimaginable torture in history. This is one of those true crime stories that will make you question humanity, and look twice at those who live among us.

©2017 LAK Publishing (P)2017 LAK Publishing
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What listeners say about The Toolbox Killers

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Grim details from two sadistic killers

Readers, please be aware that the details of the crimes are shocking, upsetting, and disturbing. The author includes a transcript of a taped interaction between the killers and one of their victims.

The Toolbox Killers, AKA Lawrence Sigmund Bittaker (b. 1940) and Roy Lewis Norris (b. 1948) are American serial killers and rapists who kidnapped, tortured, raped and murdered 5 teenage girls in 1979. Bittaker and Norris met in prison and together decided that they would murder teen girls in a sick and sadistic plot. Once they were released, they took to the streets (at a time when hitchhiking was considered safe) in a silver van, offering drugs and rides to young women, and perfecting their methods.

The real crime portion about the killers is brief considering the length of the book. In the second part of the book, the author provides relevant details/commentary about the lives of the two men, life in California at the time, and details about the victims' lives. This rounds out the killers' story with cultural, social, and political context.

As of this writing, the two men are serving long prison sentences. These two are the real life boogie men that your parents and teachers warned you about! I recommend this book for readers who follow true crime and serial killer lore.

Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via audiobook boom.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story with great facts

I thought this book was well researched and well written. I mainly listen to true crime and this book was a great listen. I felt the narrator left a little to be desired but wasn’t the worst I’ve heard. If you really enjoy true crime then this is a great book. As far as what I said about the narrator. He lacked some of the emotion in his voice that other narrators have, but other than that he was clear and easy to understand.

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  • Overall
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👍🏻

Excellent true crime book. Well written and interesting, I flew through it. A great addition to my true crime collection. I enjoyed the narrator. Very well done.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.

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Filled with solid interesting information.

I enjoyed this book and thought it had a lot of good extra information not just about this case but relevant cases as well. It was kind of short for my liking for audiobooks but it was still a good listen end enjoyed it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Covered From Several Angles

Story - 4/5
Narration - 4/5

"The Toolbox Killers: A Deadly Rape, Torture & Murder Duo" by Jack Rosewood and Rebecca Lo is a pretty decent account of these two and their crimes.

Their case is covered from several different angles including bio, psychology, court cases, and prison time. Complete with an audio reenactment of a tape played at their trial. *quite startling at 3am!*

Recommended

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Impressive!#

I blew through this story. I couldn’t put it down. I ended up staying up late one night and then getting up early to finish it. I think it took me 2 days to listen to this beginning to end. I couldn’t wait to get out of work to listen to more of it. Jack rosewood is up there as one of my favorite True Crime authors.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Worth a listen

I did not know anything about these serial killers until I listened to the book. I expected it to be gruesome and it was. I think the author did a good job telling the story. I felt like the narrator was being too forceful. It felt like I was being talked at instead of talked to. Overall if you are interested in this type of book, it is well worth listening to. I received this as a free review copy and this is my honest and unbiased review.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Toolbox Killers

The Toolbox Killers
A Deadly Rape, Torture & Murder Duo: The Serial Killer Books, Book 3
By: Rebecca Lo, Jack Rosewood


Another fine accounting of Serial or Spree Killers. This is a dark tale of the deaths of young girls at the hands of monsters. We also get bonous material. I had heard of this duo, Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris. It was chilling to hear more.


The narration was well done by Kevin Kollins, who is a master of this genre.



I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

The story is interesting but the book is not

I find this case to be extremely interesting but unfortunately because most of the book focuses on after the crimes and how the crimes affect media, you don’t really learn a lot about the cases themselves. There’s a quick overview for the first part of the book but then it really seems to diverge off into what serial killers are and how different serial killers have been impacted because of this case. If you’re into that sort of thing than this is your kind of book, but if you’re looking to learn more about the toolbox killers other than everything you’ve already known from your other true crime work, then this is probably not your cup of tea.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Toolbox - Two For One . . .

Eeeeeyaaaa! The crimes of this deadly duo (Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris), surely have to be considered one of THE most cruel sadistic killings. Ever. I will be the first to admit, that although I do NOT condone these deeds, when reading it as a story and disconnected to the realness of their actions - I DO want ALL the details. Lots. And boy oh boy did this one deliver the goods in that department. My jaw dropped, and I did MUCH cringing and wincing.

I never knew the particulars of this murderous pair, and as I listened, I would often back it up so that a particular part could be repeated to confirm what I thought I just heard - WAIT a minute, WHAAAT???!!!!! As the book title implies - they certainly DID make use of items from the toolbox to inflict horror and pain on their victims. Wow. Unnh.

The latter part of this book - and perhaps a better chunk of it, is heavy on psychology, factoids, stats and comparisons regarding MANY serial killers. This section could have easily been its own stand alone book, and not necessarily combined into this one. Personally, I do not have much interest in those aspects. But for crime junkies ....its probably perfect.

I have recieved this audiobook in exchange for my honest review, and I will tell you that I WILL re-listen to this just to be horrified all over again. Might save the rest though for another time.

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7 people found this helpful