When a Killer Calls
A Haunting Story of Murder, Criminal Profiling, and Justice in a Small Town
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When a Killer Calls
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Narrated by:
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Keith Sellon-Wright
About this listen
From John Douglas—the legendary FBI criminal profiler, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and inspiration for the Netflix show Mindhunter—comes a chilling journey inside the mind and crimes of Larry Gene Bell, one of the most dangerous serial killers Douglas confronted, and the desperate effort to identify and catch him.
On May 31, 1985, two days before her high school graduation, Shari Smith was abducted from the driveway of her family home in South Carolina. Based on the crime scene and the abductor’s repeated and taunting calls to the family, law enforcement quickly realized they were dealing with a sophisticated and highly dangerous criminal. A letter arrived the next day entitled “Last Will & Testament,” in which Shari, knowing she was to be murdered, wrote bravely and achingly of her love for her parents, siblings, and boyfriend, saying that while they would miss her, she knew they would persevere through their faith. The abduction rocked her quiet town, triggering a massive manhunt and bringing in the FBI, which enlisted profiler John Douglas. A few days later, a phone call told the family where they could find Shari’s body.
Then nine-year-old Debra May Helmick was kidnapped from her yard, confirming the harsh realization that Smith’s murder was no random act. A serial killer was evolving, and the only way to stop him would be to use the study of criminal behavior to anticipate his next move before he could kill again. Douglas devised a risky and emotionally fraught strategy to use Shari’s lookalike older sister Dawn as bait to draw out the unknown subject. Dawn and her parents courageously agreed.
One of the most haunting investigations of Douglas’s storied career, this case details how the eerily accurate profile he created—alongside his carefully crafted and stage-managed manipulation of the killer’s psychology—combined with dedicated police work and cutting-edge forensic science to end a reign of criminal terror. As Shari’s family took incredible personal risks to lure her killer from the shadows, Douglas and the FBI pushed criminal profiling to its limits, culminating in one of his most dramatic and effective confrontations with a sadistic and remorseless killer.
©2021 John E. Douglas, Mark Olshaker (P)2022 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about When a Killer Calls
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- crochetdiva
- 03-02-22
Very disturbing
it's always sad when a young person dies, but when it's at a deranged killers hand it is sickening. This is something that needs telling, but you need a strong stomach to hear the details.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Rosieposey
- 20-08-22
brilliant all round
it was gripping from the beginning & after listening to a podcast about the case I had to listen. was not disapoappointing!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stevie Mc
- 09-03-22
loved it.
fantastic book, horrific story but extremely interesting. would recommend if you're a fan of true crime.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- gayna
- 30-08-22
Great narration and story telling.
Really enjoyed this true crime book. The narrator was really strong and the story flowed well. Horrible crime but very well written book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 20-06-23
Another excellent book by Douglas and Olshaker
A truly gripping tale, expertly researched, written and narrated. Sensitive to the families, whilst keeping the listener hooked. Very good.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 25-10-22
EXCELLENT
This story had me glued from start to finish. It draws you in.
A sad story , in Which two families lives were changed forever, by one evil man.
Expertly written and narrated.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 09-02-22
Mediocre
I have listened to all the available John e Douglas books on here, and I do not think this one lives up to his usual standard. I feel like Douglas is best when he is dissecting the minds of criminals rather than a retelling of a complete case, which he has done here.
I feel if you are a fan of true crime, then you will likely enjoy this book, however there are better Douglas books so I would leave this one till last and only go for it if you've listened to the others first.
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2 people found this helpful