Careless Whispers cover art

Careless Whispers

The Award-Winning True Account of the Horrific Lake Waco Murders

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

$8.99/mo after trial ends. Cancel anytime
Try for $0.00
More purchase options

Careless Whispers

By: Carlton Stowers
Narrated by: Danny Campbell
Try for $0.00

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $32.45

Buy Now for $32.45

When the bodies of three teenagers were found on the shores of Lake Waco, Texas, in July 1982, even seasoned lawmen were taken aback by the savage mutilation and degradation to which they had been subjected. Yet only 52 days after the gruesome triple-murder was discovered, frustrated authorities suspended the case indefinitely.  

Patrol Sergeant Truman Simons, who had been called to the scene that night, saw the carnage firsthand - and vowed to find the ferocious killer or killers. He soon became a man with a mission, risking his career and his family's safety in search of evidence. Plunging himself into a netherworld of violence and evil, Simons finally got close enough to a murderous ringleader to hear his careless whispers - and ultimately put him and his three accomplices behind bars for the brutal slayings.  

Now, in his Edgar Award-winning account of the Lake Waco killings, acclaimed true-crime writer Carlton Stowers lays bare the facts behind the tragic crimes, the twisted predators, and the heroic man who broke the investigation - with important updated information based on new developments in the case.

©1986 Carlton Stowers (P)2018 Tantor Murder True Crime Crime
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
This is the most well researched book I've listened to. Top writing and great narration, highly recommend.

well researched and written

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
After hearing the story and then looking the case up on a basic internet search, I am almost convinced yet another human was killed for something they didn't do BUT where there's smoke, there's fire and he was a pretty bad egg either way!

Guilty OR Innocent?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Careless Whispers is an incredibly frustrating listen that prioritises a "heroic" police narrative over a balanced examination of the facts. The book covers the 1982 Lake Waco triple-murder and the subsequent investigation led by Sergeant Truman Simons, who spent years hunting a group of men he believed committed the savage crimes. While the setup is gripping, the execution is hampered by a blatant agenda and a staggering amount of filler.

The author’s "Expert Guide" tone often feels like a smokescreen for a one-sided argument. Stowers relies almost exclusively on the prosecution's perspective, failing to interview defence teams or experts who might challenge the official story. The narrative frequently meanders into irrelevant side-stories—like the hobbies of secondary characters—which only underscores the lack of actual evidence. It reads more like a dramatised TV script than a rigorous true crime account.

I struggled with the glorification of Truman Simons, whose "tunnel vision" and questionable interactions with witnesses are well-documented elsewhere but minimised here. When a conviction relies on jailhouse snitches and "confessions" made under the shadow of the death penalty, it’s hard to call it justice. This book raises more questions than it answers, and anyone picking it up should be aware that many of its claims remain highly disputed today.

A One-Sided Account Riddled with Tunnel Vision

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.