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The Teacher's Pet

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About this listen

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.

This audiobook comes with supplementary material, you can download this material at the following link: https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/The-Teachers-Pet_9781761269370_Supplementary_Material.pdf

FINALIST FOR THE WALKLEY BOOK AWARD 2024
WINNER OF THE ABIA AUDIOBOOK OF THE YEAR 2024
SHORTLISTED FOR THE DANGER AWARDS NON FICTION 2024


Praise for The Teacher's Pet

'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

 Abductions, Kidnapping & Missing Persons Crime Murder True Crime Marriage Exciting Disappearance Student
All stars
Most relevant
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

Great Finish!

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I have long been a follower of The Teachers Pet and this book did not disappoint. Thank you for your tireless dedication in championing on behalf of those women whose voices were taken from them

Amazing

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

Thoroughly enjoyed it

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I had the privilege of listening to the original Teacher’s pet. Oddly the recommendation came from another true crime podcast. The host professed it ‘charming to listen to a lovely Australian accent and a fascinating story’.
This book was just as charming to listen to with insight into the behind the scenes of the podcast and the ripple effect that ensued.
The twists and turns that this gobsmacking story have taken is nothing short of a Hollywood blockbuster. Thoroughly enjoyable and a fitting end to an extraordinary piece of investigative journalism.

A fitting ending to an epic story

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This podcast and book restored my faith in humanity. Well done to everyone involved in bringing the truth to light and justice for Lyn.

Hedley Thomas is a hero!

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