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John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster
- Narrated by: Robin Bloodworth
- Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins
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Editor reviews
Judge Sam L. Amirante and Danny Broderick’s John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster is an unforgettable work, a rare chilling glance behind the scenes of a universally well-known story, that of notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
Amirante and Broderick, Gacy’s public defender, have constructed a gripping work that not only reveals for the first time new facts about one of America’s most infamous killers, but grapples with great questions of humanity, including the question of what it means to deserve defense - even if your crimes are as great as Gacy’s. Actor Robin Bloodworth’s performance is emotionally powerful and well-paced, and he excels especially at emphasizing those new elements of Gacy’s story which make this audiobook a must-listen.
Summary
For the first time Gacy’s lawyer and confidant tells his chilling tale of how he defended an American serial killer.
“Sam, could you do me a favor?”
Thus begins a story that has now become part of America's true-crime hall of fame. It is a gory, grotesque tale befitting a Stephen King novel. It is also a David and Goliath saga - the story of a young lawyer fresh from the public defender's office whose first client in private practice turns out to be the worst serial killer in our nation's history. This is a gripping true crime narrative that reenacts the gruesome killings and the famous trial that shocked a nation.
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What listeners say about John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster
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- Kelvin
- 18-07-13
Horrible writing
If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?
I thought this book was for me. I wanted to get some insight into what would cause a man to kill 33 teenagers. Instead I had to listen to the authors long winded essay for an English 101 course (make that English 98 course).
What was most disappointing about Sam L. Amirante and Danny Broderick ’s story?
They moved away from the story. There were more accounts about bar room brawls, the flowing black gown of the judge and his glistening glasses. I had to stop listening because I'm sure a sex scene by the author would emerge.
What character would you cut from John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster?
The author who interjects himself into horrible story and poorly tries to make himself the author of the century, rather than writing about one of Americas worst serial killer. I could care less that you were the one that drank only 1 beer on a night out, and that the reporter was asleep during the brawl. What in the heck does that have to do with John Wayne Gacy!
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15 people found this helpful
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- Havana Honey
- 05-09-17
Bizarre
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Yes. No. Yes. It's absurd.
What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?
That the author is more insane than John Wayne Gacy. So self congratulatory it's unreal, similar anecdotes over and over, never stopping to remind you of their (attorneys') popularity and fame, their preparedness for the case, how they were always getting one over on other people. It reads like Alan Partidge had written it. I genuinely began to feel sorry for John Wayne Gacy.
Very little about the victims themselves and who they were. It's mostly about John Wayne Gacy, then pretty much the attorneys.
Did the narration match the pace of the story?
A bit drawn out.
Do you think John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
The author's should never be allowed to write again.
Any additional comments?
I really don't recommend it as a piece of work but it's so odd that it's worth listening to.
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14 people found this helpful
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- eddycurrent
- 28-07-13
First part - great. Second part - dull
Definitely a book of two halves. The first describing Gacy's lifestyle, crimes and capture is fascinating though clearly somewhat embellished in places (ie, he tells us what some of the victims were thinking!). The second half of the book concerns Gacy's trial and rather than focus on the detail of the case, there is far too much spiel about the various lawyers' personalities and the legal technicalities of the trial. It really falls down when the author repeatedly harps on about how the American Justice System is the best in the world, and even claims at one point it was only because it was so good Gacy was convicted. This, despite earlier detailing how Gacy at one point confessed his crimes to almost anyone who happened to be passing his cell!
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7 people found this helpful
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- Shane canning
- 13-05-22
to much lawyer talk
lawyer talking as if he was innocent omg how cringe is that most lawyers think even the guilty by 1000 percent are innocent because they are a lawyer cringe
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3 people found this helpful
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- Ms. Deborah Klayman
- 10-04-21
Author's tone grated throughout
I was hoping for a lot more from this book. The author's tone grated on me throughout, particularly his gleeful recounting of horrendous behaviour towards one witnesses and fairly callous comments about others. Didn't really feel I got much insight.
The narrator is fine, but I didn't understand why his "narrating accent" and that of the same character speaking to others were different.
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2 people found this helpful
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- snowman
- 13-04-22
Author is irritatingly glib and self obsessed
Lost all respect for author when he takes pride in how he harassed and humiliated an innocent trans woman who was a friend of one of the killer' victims. Bizarrely narcissistic throughout. Disappointing.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Mument
- 06-08-21
Only made it through the first 40 minutes
As others have already reviewed, it's a bit of a bizarre book with detailed 'insights' into what the victims were thinking in the moments up to their deaths. After listening to the excellent Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi, I was hoping for a similar factual and sober account, but was disappointed with this semi-fictional dramatised nonsense.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Roger
- 17-06-21
Amazing insight
I actually found myself feeling sorry for a mass Muderer, the crimes were henious, but I ask myself, in 2021 would he have recieved the death penalty, and i find myself saying no, we have a greater understanding of all types on mental illnesses, though In my opinion it does not excuse the crime, but perhaps explains it.
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1 person found this helpful
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- KirstyL
- 07-05-21
Interesting insight
Like most I have heard the name John Wayne Gacy but I never knew the story behind the name.
This was a very interesting insight to the mind of Gacy, the downfall and the trial.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall
- Lee
- 12-03-13
Fascinating
A grim but fascinating story with real insight into the crimes, the US legal system and Gacy himself.
The book lost some momentum towards the end but on the whole it was a great listen and very well narrated. Recommended to anyone interested in True Crime.
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1 person found this helpful