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The Teacher's Pet

By: Hedley Thomas
Narrated by: Hedley Thomas
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Publisher's Summary

If you thought you knew the story of The Teacher's Pet, get ready to be shocked. 

Hedley Thomas takes you behind the scenes with a blow-by-blow account of one of the most intriguing and enduring murder mysteries of our time - the crime, the podcast investigation, the sexual exploitation of teenage students, the courtroom drama - and how justice was finally delivered.

Lynette Simms disappeared from Sydney's idyllic Northern Beaches in 1982 and was never seen again.

Lyn was a caring nurse, loving mother and devoted wife. Her husband Chris Dawson was a rugby league star, a popular teacher and exceptionally close to his identical twin brother, Paul.

But this facade of domestic bliss was shattered when Chris became infatuated with the family's babysitter - his 16-year-old student - a girl he moved into Lyn's home and bed just two days after her disappearance.

Thirty-six years later, investigative journalist Hedley Thomas revisited the story in a record-breaking podcast series that captured the unconditional support of Lyn's friends, colleagues, neighbours and family, and an international audience. 

With fresh leads and old evidence resulting in a public groundswell for authorities to take action, Chris was arrested in late 2018 and after a dramatic trial was found guilty of murder in August 2022.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Hedley Thomas (P)2023 Macmillan Australia Audio

Critic Reviews

'A monumental work. A burrowing, twisting, spine-tingling, genre-defining tribute to the power - and the cost - of asking questions. If you think you know this story, think again. No Australian, alive nor dead, has given more to journalism than Hedley Thomas. True crime storytelling as we now know it begins with The Teacher's Pet.' Trent Dalton 

'A masterclass in investigative journalism.' Leigh Sales

What listeners say about The Teacher's Pet

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What a journey!

I listened to “The teachers Pet” podcast since the beginning and found it fascinating.
After the court case found Chris guilty, I hoped Hedley Thomas would write this book.
I loved it for many reasons
1 Hedley himself narrated so it was read in a way that we could relate to
2 To understand what went on behind the scenes of the podcast the trail etc, was a real eye opener. Hedley had to fight so many battles that we didn’t know about
3 many thanks to his employers, the major sponsor and everyone who took part in the podcast and are included in the book

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Great Finish!

I have basically listened to everything I could about this story & well done to you Hedley Thomas for wrapping it up in this book! I’ve loved listening to it all and I hope it gives a lot of people some closure. Such a shame her body hasn’t been found.

Suez

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Highly highly highly recommend!!!

I have followed this case right from the beginning.
I thought I knew it all!!
I was mistaken!!
Thank you Hedley
What a standout narration and book.
I love your journalism, your intelligence and dogged determination.
And we won!!!!
Huge congratulations on the podcast , the criminal case, the verdict and now your book.
A true gifted professional.
You have to give a thought to all those missing people out there and just wonder what the true story is/was!!!!

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Amazing

What a story teller. No one could tell Lynette’s story
Better than Hadley Thomas.
She is immortal now . Hedley brought her back to tell her story.
Hedley’s dedication is compare to none.
Thank you

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Riveting

It’s been such a tragic story with so many lives devastated. I have empathy for the family members who believe this man did no wrong, but my sense of justice for Lynette and the efforts of Hedley to help bring an arrest, far outweighs other thoughts. The audiobook was well planned out with the various narrations. Thank you Hedley - and thank you Ruth for hanging in there!

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Exceeded expectations!!

Amazing how many more little ‘tid bits’ to this story we never would have know about had Hedley not been kind enough to spend the time and share them with us!! Forever grateful someone cared enough about Lynette Sims to make sure that waste of air Dawson never sees freedom again x

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Fantastic

I have followed the story of Lynette Joy Sims for years. Thank you Hedley for once again doing justice for Lyn.

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Thoroughly enjoyed it

Followed the podcast over the years and think this compliments everything nicely. I will probably relisten to this soon

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Great addition to the podcast

Enjoyed listening to all the background to the podcast. Good have done without the extra voices. A good listen.

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Disappointing

I was looking forward to reading this title after having listened to the podcast and followed the subsequent trial and conviction of CD. I was very disappointed. Overburdened with superfluous detail about so many topics unrelated to the case. It felt more like a personal indulgence - a blow by blow account of writing the book, rather than documenting the story of The Teacher's Pet. I'm five hours in and not sure I can continue. It is quite frankly boring. The use of voice actors for previously recorded interviews is also annoying, especially as they are numerous. Hedley is an excellent newspaper journalist, and I have enjoyed his podcasts to date, but he has a long way to go in mastering the very different tools needed to be a good book author. Sorry Hedley.

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  • Karen Trevino
  • 08-12-2023

So incredibly boring

The narrator put me to sleep instantly, so much that I had difficulty following the story. And the story was unnecessarily drawn out. I couldn’t finish it.

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  • jlove
  • 01-12-2023

Addicted!

Loved the narration almost as much as the story. So well told! I thought I knew the story from the podcasts but this added depth.

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  • Jennifer
  • 28-11-2023

Revealing, fascinating and so sad

Mr. Thomas, thank you for generously offering such a compelling and layered peek behind the curtain of journalism. I will be thinking a long time about the heart, drive, courage and timing it takes to step into the void. I’m moved by your dogged, bold and rich pursuit for truth telling. I’m also heartbroken by your examination of the impact and destruction that one man’s selfish choices can leave in its wake.

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  • KMG
  • 26-11-2023

Great accompanying to that incredible podcast

The author’s dogged pursuit for this woman and her family. Even if only the only daughter accepts what her dad did, not the younger daughter- the overwhelming support from so many show this woman didn’t just leave her children and family and friends and life. The man she loved made her disappear.
Listen podcast first. Then read this.

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  • Zebra3
  • 24-11-2023

Fantastic

If you listened to The Teacher’s Pet podcast then you know most of what happens as far as the case goes. But there is just so much more. This book is an in depth behind the scenes look at the making of the podcast itself. You’ll hear all of the ins and outs, good and bad, of what it took to make it all happen.

There is also quite a bit that didn’t make it into the podcast. Mostly that has to do with Chris’s brother Paul and other inappropriate things while they were both teachers.

Fantastic listen!

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  • BenRias
  • 22-11-2023

Great behind the scenes...

It's a bit odd to hear Hedley's voice without the distinctive Teacher's Pet music but enthralling all the same. For narration, i feel like many authors sound less like themselves and more monotone and no inflection--likely a director's direction. It's not off putting but feels a little slower than the podcast. That said, i still absolutely loved it!

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  • Colleen T. Mizeres
  • 22-11-2023

An addendum to my first review

Want to clarify, I bought the book written by Shawnell Dawson who is the daughter of her murdered mum, Lyn Dawson. It’s written and narrated by the most important victim in this crime.

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  • Sara
  • 13-11-2023

Fascinating from beginning to end

This podcast is the vehicle that introduced me to Hedley Thomas as a reporter. I find him thoughtful, thorough and fascinating. Very interesting to hear the behind the scenes decisions and details that were happening as he was following and researching this matter.

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  • COJoebro
  • 12-11-2023

A Story of Profound Betrayal, Predatory Entitlement, Justice Delayed, and a Dogged, Hard-Earned Triumph

Lynn Joy Dawson matters. Her love, loyalty, and legacy come alive here. The story of her betrayal, abuse, murder and lonely plight were nearly lost to history despite laudable efforts by her family of origin to get justice for her. This also a complex cautionary tale about the ripple effects of a greedy, cold, malignant narcissist with insatiable sexual appetites. He openly groomed, seduced, and employed cohesive control a student. Thomas invites the reader into his relentless commitment to investigative reporting and to securing justice for Lynn.

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  • Kayla Briel
  • 15-11-2023

The crime story of a lifetime

Hedley Thomas is peerless. May we all remember Lynette Joy Sims, where justice remains hollow until we find her.

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  • Barbara Roberts
  • 03-12-2023

Lynn Mattered

This book is a worthy adjacent to the podcast’The Teacher’s Pet’. It is informative and puts Lynnette Sims family at the heart of this horrible tale of DV & one man’s wicked self absorption and the devastation that he has sowed still affecting so many today, the saddest part being the estrangement of his daughters. I got a real feeling-of the pressure Hadley & all the others who helped to bring justice for Lynn were under. Sadly I walked away feeling how many other Lynn’s are there out there & anger at the Educational Institutions and the Police, along with the DPP. Apart from the tenacity of one officer the old boy network is alive and kicking, so well done to everyone for bringing attention to Lynn, she mattered & I’m so glad that so many people cared, listened and demanded justice, for without the Podcast Chris Dawson would be free to continue his wicked ways. A leopard doesn’t change his spots and age is no barrier to evil.

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  • heatherm
  • 01-12-2023

So much more than tbe podcast

I listened to this solidly over 2 days. Gripping and heart breaking in equal measure.

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  • Maya
  • 28-11-2023

Fantastic

Well researched, well read and just a brilliant listen. I've been so invested in the case ever since the podcast came out. Thank you hedlely for all your hard work getting justice for lynn

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  • MR K Anderson
  • 27-11-2023

Fantastic. A seminal work of investigative journalism.

In trying to reverse a forty year miscarriage of justice. Thomas used the contemporary medium of a true crime podcast to reignite this cold case on a global scale. In doing this he not only brought justice to a silent victim, but put himself at the zenith of investigative journalism. Considering the passage of time that he had to work with, along with the medium in which he delivered his findings, what Thomas achieved was unprecedented in the world of journalism. He stands tall with the Bernstein and Woodwards of the world. An excellent book.

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  • ELDB
  • 21-11-2023

Gripping

I loved the podcast and this was a great addition to a story I’ve been following since 2019. Even if you never heard the podcast you should definitely listen to this. Justice finally for Lynette Simms

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  • Rachael
  • 12-11-2023

Fascinating and intriguing

Brilliant book with Lyn at its heart. Lots of new insights so not just the podcast repeated. Hedley Thomas is a wonderful narrator. Some of the additional voices didn’t fit well which was a shame eg wrong age range and one with a woeful accent but his own narration and some of the other voices were wonderful.
Well worth a listen.

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  • joy
  • 11-11-2023

Brilliant

Fascinating for any fans of the podcast and a great introduction if you haven’t listened !

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  • Jane
  • 11-11-2023

Congratulations Hedley

This is some of the most thorough and thoughtful ‘true crime’ reporting.
I was in two minds whether to buy this audiobook, as I had listened & loved both The Teacher’s Pet and The Teacher’s Trial podcasts and I thought I knew all about the despicable murder of Lynette Simms by her husband Chris Dawson, but this book provides so much more information about the ordeal of her loving family and the many amazing people who refused to allow what happened to her be forgotten. Congratulations to everyone involved in finally getting justice for Lyn.

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  • Nogbad the bad
  • 11-11-2023

Beyond awful

Awful presentation, poor performance, badly written just poor quality don’t waste your time on this

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