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The Teacher's Pet

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The Teacher's Pet

By: Hedley Thomas
Narrated by: Full Cast, Hedley Thomas
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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

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 Abductions, Kidnapping & Missing Persons Crime Murder True Crime Marriage Exciting Disappearance Student

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
All stars
Most relevant
Interesting, lots of details not in podcast and nice to listen to Hedley’s voice again. But some of the actors voicing the witnesses etc, My God. Awful. Talk about chewing the scenery….

Good companion to podcast

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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!

Riveting

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This book was amazing I only heard half the podcast but the nook was amazing and glad the family got justice and hopefully one day will find her body to put her to rest

Amazing true story

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I have no words, but so many words for this work.
Without this podcast, a murderer would still be walking free. It just goes to show the gross (and seemingly deliberate) failure of the so called justice system over many decades. This is the price we pay for turning people into heroes, celebrities and gods. They are untouchable, especially when they are imperceptibly entwined with powerful people on both sides of the law. Why do journalists have to keep doing the work of police and detectives? I guess they are smarter.

I am impressed by the unwavering determination and passion for rightness of Hedley Thomas and his colleagues.

On another note. I attended two NSW country state schools during the 1970s and the predatory behaviour of male teachers constantly hunting down underaged female students for sex was normalised. Everybody knew. As far as I know, none of these male teachers have been bought to justice and they have gone on to live happy, full lives as respected community members. The same cannot be said for the female students. Maybe one day, one of them will be in the spotlight.

WOW!

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You had me in tears in the end, so many incredible people have worked so very hard to get justice for this beautiful woman & mother.
🫶🏼

Incredible

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There were so many folk involved, I was lost sometimes with just who was who. Having an interest in this case due to my involvement with Coombabah High School, I was more than pleased when someone took on the almighty task of bringing Chris to trial and the judgement he deserved.

The professional presentation

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Loved the podcast but the context that sits underneath makes it 100x better … congratulations to Hadley and the team

Great insight into a brilliant podcast

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That Hedley narrated it made so authentic. The in depth research done. Excellent read! Highly recommend.

All the investigation at such a risk.

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If, like me, you followed intently the podcast, this is the perfect backstory. Exploring the highs, the lows and the challenges faced by Hedley to bring about Lyn’s story.

Complimentary to the podcast

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I am so glad justice was finally done Lyn Simms, I just wish Chris Dawson would tell her daughters and family and friends were she is so she can put put to rest .

absolutely brilliant listening

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