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  • An Evil Love

  • The Life and Crimes of Fred West
  • By: Geoffrey Wansell
  • Narrated by: Colin Mace
  • Length: 17 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (137 ratings)
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An Evil Love cover art

An Evil Love

By: Geoffrey Wansell
Narrated by: Colin Mace
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Summary

The reverberations from Fred West's crimes continue to this day. The story never dies.

West was perhaps one of Britain's most evil, feared serial killers. His horrifying compulsion to kidnap, rape and torture his victims before murdering them showed a savagery and cruelty that can barely be believed. His 'House of Horrors' at 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester, became a burial ground for the women who fell into his hands.

This new publication of Geoffrey Wansell's iconic, best-selling true-crime masterpiece comes 30 years after West was arrested, in 1992. Dead by suicide by 1994, he never truly faced justice for the 12 murders he was charged with.

Wansell, chosen as West's official biographer, gained exclusive access to all West's police interviews, prison diaries, papers, solicitor interviews—and his private collection of video tapes, as well as all the interviews given by his wife, Rose West.

Once and for all, he reveals the full story of Fred and Rose West's lives and crimes, in a chilling book that sets the standard for exploring the minds of our most feared serial killers—up close and personal.

©2022 Geoffrey Wansell (P)2022 Bonnier Books UK

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What listeners say about An Evil Love

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

Comprehensive though slightly victim blaming and gratuitous

This is an extremely harrowing listen.

Yes, it is to be expected but there is a lot of graphic description of acts perpetrated against the victims. I couldn’t help but feel at times that it was slightly worded to titillate which seemed very distasteful.

The victims were vulnerable women but at times the tone appeared to chastise them for their choices.

This in my opinion isn’t right as we don’t know their personal circumstances and how their opinions on boundaries were shaped by traumatic upbringings or from a carefree trust in people being good.

At times I asked myself - what is the purpose of my listening to this?- I was worried at times that I was a macabre bystander.

Though I reminded myself that I chose this book to try and see if there was anything I could see that caused such a sick and duplicitous individual to perpetrate such acts of inhumanity.

Turns out that he flourished due to a society that existed at the time, I’m glad to say that I feel we would all know better than to stay silent now and would treat people who reported things with more dignity no matter what their upbringing.

The vivid descriptions serve to sicken you to your stomach and make your heart shatter for the victims.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Too graphic

The author seems to take pleasure in dwelling on the sexual perversions of this pair, constantly repeating the same things over and over again. I stopped listening to at least one chapter because of this. As others have said this appears to be purely sensationalist padding. On the plus side the narration was excellent. Shame about the writer

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2 people found this helpful

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

Evil Writing

Unfortunately this book relies on a large amount of conjecture and speculation. The amount of times the reader hears something along the lines of ‘we must suppose’ or ‘it must be assumed that’ detracts from the authenticity of the book which tries too hard to sound authoritative. Why must we suppose? What evidence do you have for this assumption?
Also, I’ve never read a book where so many things have been described as ‘elderly’. A van, a garage, a caravan, a car. Surely there are better descriptions available and what is wrong with just saying ‘old’?
Having got those gripes off my chest (this isn’t a well-written book) I will say the narration was very good, particularly the impersonation of Frederick West himself. I don’t live far from Gloucester and the accent is spot on.
Overall I wouldn’t waste your time with this one - there’s not much we didn’t already know and it’s very long-winded.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Betty

The author’s personal views, misogyny and archaic opinions on the motivation of and character of the women he is writing about make this book even more challenging to hear, especially considering the subject matter.

There is little understanding, almost no empathy and they seem to have the view that any woman even having sex outside of marriage is a degenerate likely to traffic young girls and concede willingly to the wants and abuse of any man who offers her a cigarette.

Do they know that women are capable of independent thought?

I have found myself disgusted by the authors choice of adjectives, assumptions and lack of insight into any part of the issues at hand.

Do not recommend.

If they use the word ‘obsequious’ one more time it will lose all meaning.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Insightful

This book is very insightful as to how a chain of dysfunction, toxic atmosphere, the lack of training in schools, social services and other authority bodies at the time can create a deadly combination that leads to the loss of so many lives. Even the lives of those who did not die at the hands of Fred and Rosemary West lost so much and their lives had been touched by evil. I don't often cry when listening to a book but hearing the suffering of their victims, especially the children was difficult to hear. I hope with all my heart their victims rest in peace now.
Not everyone is how they appear to be. The Wests had the skill of pulling people into their web of evil by putting up a front that was socially acceptable and even admired. The loving family helping others out. It's terrifying to think of how many vulnerable people fell into this trap and the majority because of a lack of love in their own lives.
Love and peace wished for all affected by this sad and evil time.


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2 people found this helpful

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

Good, but some frustrations.

The story of Fred West is a gripping but harrowing one, however you tell it. I have read a number of books on the subject and often have to pause for a break to process exactly how depraved the couple were.
This is an easy listen/read and tells the story with some extra details that I had not known about, but at the same time, there are things that are not mentioned, that should have been, and some contradictory points. To say that the testament of Janet Leach is what convicted Rose is not only untrue but an insult to Anne Marie West and Caroline Raine, both of whom summoned up great courage to relay their stories which were what placed Rose as present and involved in the abuse.
Furthermore, Geoffery Wansell's style leans on the style of sensational, which you will already know if you've seen any of the shows he presents.
But these are smaller gripes. The main thing that drove me nuts throughout was the amount of times he used; 'he/she, was to/would, recall/remember/explain, 25/7/2/10 years later,. This was so constant as to be a real distraction. I challenge anyone to read or listen and not notice this.
Unfortunately, this shows the flaws in his narrative style.
That said, it was a fairly reasonable account of Fred and Rose and looks at them from a different angle. Not the best book on the subject - Rose West by Jane Carter Woodrow, was far better.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Overly graphic and repetitive

I thought this was going to be interesting and I was disappointed,the book is so graphic in places it makes me sick,they may or may not of done what is said but it feels that its all written like that to bulk the book out,words are repeated to describe people as if the author couldn't think of a different description,I'm sure there are more interesting books out there and I'd advise readers to purchase them instead

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1 person found this helpful

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

Nearly didn't finish this book.

Struggled to finish. Very repetitive, full of maybe and perhaps. Sensationalism at it's height.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Brilliant

I've not left feedback many times but this book is brilliant. If you think you know this case I'm sure there is something in this book that you didn't know there was for me.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Good.

Well researched and presented. A good insight into the life of a monster. A good listen.

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