Careless Whispers [Hardcover]

Carlton Stowers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1986

The true story of a determined lawman's attempt to track down the vicious murderer of three teenagers in Waco, Texas. 32 black-and-white photographs.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The 1982 rapes and grisly murders of three teenagerstwo girls and a boyin Waco, Tex., and the investigation carried on for the most part by Truman Simons, a dogged and compassionate patrol sergeant, are recalled through hundreds of interviews with witnesses, prison inmates, law enforcement and court officers, and members of the victims' families. In a suspenseful reconstruction, Stowers (The Rainbow Waits, etc.) skillfully disentangles the numerous skeins of an intricate web of circumstances to resolve the bizarre crimes, and sketches the characters involved in the murders and trials. Some of the evidence is supplied by a psychic and by the demented chief perpetrator's irresistible need to hint and even brag about his exploits. Both of the principal defendants, now on death row, await the outcome of appeals. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The seemingly senseless murders of three teenagers shocked the community of Waco, Texas in 1982. Eventually, four men were convicted in a case of murder-for-hire and mistaken identity. With no eyewitnesses or physical evidence, this is the type of crime which often remains unsolved. The dogged persistence of detective Truman Simons, who resigned from the police force in mid-investigation, paid off in a solution, despite the infighting in the Waco police department. Stowers, a friend of one of the local district attorneys, has written a complete and professional account of the case from the prosecution's point of view. Appropriate for most true crime collections. Gregor A. Preston, Univ. of California Lib., Davis
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 418 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Pub; 1St Edition edition (October 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878335307
• ISBN-13: 978-0878335305
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #468,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Award winning and you'll understand why, June 30, 2001

By 

Becky - See all my reviews

This review is from: Careless Whispers (Hardcover)

Kenneth Franks, Jill Montgomery, and Raylene Rice were three ordinary teenagers who had the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and who paid for this mistake with their young lives.

Texas based true crime author Carlton Stowers weaves a sordid tale of mistaken identity, abuse, and sociopathology in this excellent tome about the tragic Lake Waco triple homicide in 1982, its investigation, and the shattered lives of the families of the three slain teenagers. I have read two other books written by Carlton Stowers, and I am amazed at the empathy he feels towards the victims of violent crime and their families; while not outwardly doing so, his stories are a constant reminder that a homicide leaves many victims other than the dead person.

"Careless Whispers" also serves as a reminder that heroes can come in unlikely packages. The hero of this case, if a story as dreadful as this can have a hero, is Waco policeman Truman Simons.

After a mere eight weeks, the investigation into these murders was shelved and effectively deemed unsolveable. But they weren't unsolveable, and if not for the dedication and persistence of Truman Simons, this crime would, in all likelihood, STILL be unavenged. Thankfully however, that is not the case.

A gripping, frightening and suspenseful book, this is a must read, and the pages within literally shriek "The horror! The horror!" And when you finish it, you'll feel like shrieking this phrase too.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well worn copy, July 3, 2002

By 

Rhiannon Bishop (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Careless Whispers (St. Martin's True Crime Library) (Mass Market Paperback)

I first read this book at least 10 years ago, if not longer. I was so entranced I couldn't put it down. I've read the book at least a 1/2 dozen times since then. Each time I read it I find something new, a twist, or a turn that I missed the time before, which adds new dimension to the story.

Some reviewers see this book as being Biased. Biased at who? The murderers? The men that planned and partook in the slaughter of three innocent children? All of the men who were present at the time of the murders, as well as in the planning of the murders, have confessed during the years since the murders.

The officer who spent all his waking time tracking down the killers of these kids should be commended. The author should also be commended. The book does what a good true crime book is supposed to do: it points out all the aspects of the crime are, and who the guilty party(ies) are.

This is a must have for any true crime library!

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, disturbing, true - reads like a good mystery, June 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Careless Whispers (Hardcover)

First, let me say that I'm not generally a fan of mysteries, nor do I actively search out stories of violence or crime. I don't even like to read the newspaper. But "Careless Whispers" is haunting. It draws you in and doesn't let go, even after you're done with the book. It's a terrifying story of real people with real feelings and motivations. It's a heartbreaking tale of mistaken identity, and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It demonstrates just how vulnerable ordinary people really are.

Carlton Stowers has a gift for story-telling. He candidly writes about his subject with an entertaining flair. If you can find this book, read it.