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My Mother, a Serial Killer

By: Hazel Baron, Janet Fife-Yeomans
Narrated by: Kate Hosking
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Publisher's Summary

A gripping and shocking story of a serial killer mother, and the brave daughter who brought her to justice.

Dulcie Bodsworth was the unlikeliest serial killer. She was loved everywhere she went, and the townsfolk of Wilcannia, which she called home in the late 1950s, thought of her as kind and caring. The officers at the local police station found Dulcie witty and charming, and looked forward to the scones and cakes she generously baked and delivered for their morning tea.

That was one side of her. Only her daughter Hazel saw the real Dulcie. And what she saw terrified her.

Dulcie was in fact a cold, calculating killer who, by 1958, had put three men in their graves—one of them the father of her four children, Ted Baron—in one of the most infamous periods of the state's history. She would have got away with it all had it not been for Hazel.

Written by award-winning journalist Janet Fife-Yeomans together with Hazel Baron, My Mother, A Serial Killer is both an evocative insight into the harshness of life on the fringes of Australian society in the 1950s, and a chilling story of a murderous mother and the courageous daughter who testified against her and put her in jail.

©2018 HarperCollins Publishers Australia pty Ltd (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers Australia pty Ltd

What listeners say about My Mother, a Serial Killer

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What an awesome book!

I really thoroughly enjoyed this, incredible Australian stories like this aren’t things you come across every day. The prose felt a little stiff but the stranger than fiction events more than made up for it.

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1 person found this helpful

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True crime at its best

For die-hard fans of True Crime writing, how good to have a true story directly from a family member, and so well written and presented by a wonderful team. I'm left feeling sorry for all the poor, unfortunate people that crossed this wicked woman's path, and feeling that Hazel really is a strong and good person.

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Interesting

I enjoyed this look back at a bit of Australian history. It’s interesting to listen to how country life was back in the fifties and sad at how all those children were brought up. The mother was truly an evil monster who ended up having a better life than she deserved. Kate Hosking did a great job with the narration.

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2 people found this helpful

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An extraordinary story

It is hard to believe that someone could survive such a brutal childhood and end up as a sane adult. The power of the mother over the children is terrifying.

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Entertaining

Sometimes it’s a little hard keeping up with names and where they fit in. But overall a riveting and entertaining read. I quite enjoyed it

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  • Jo
  • 28-06-2019

A great listen

Hazel was more forgiving than I would have been. She is a good example of the meaning of forgiveness. The story was good although I struggled a bit with the parts where it jumped forwards and backwards in time.

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Great story

Brilliant from beginning to end, couldn’t put it down. Fascinating look into history & crime in Australia

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  • Jo
  • 02-07-2023

Horrific and heart warming

Hazel and all of her siblings should be utterly proud of who they were, and who they have become.

Dulcie was not a mother. She was barely human.

Great storytelling and very easy to listen to.

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Great Story

Very interesting twist at the end. Couldn't stop listening very well read great characters and true

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4 people found this helpful

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  • Jen
  • 02-10-2018

One of the best books I've downloaded on Audible

This is a book that made me want to call in sick to work so I could stay home and finish listening to it.

The writers really do recreate the opression and fear of the family members felt living with this cold, manipulative woman.

Initially I found the reader a bit too "Strayan", but then I realised I probably sound just like her. It stopped being an issue after about five minutes when I got used to the reading style.

I can't recommend this book highly enough.

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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.