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  • The Forest City Killer

  • A Serial Murderer, a Cold-Case Sleuth, and a Search for Justice
  • Written by: Vanessa Brown
  • Narrated by: Vivienne Leheny
  • Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (70 ratings)

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The Forest City Killer cover art

The Forest City Killer

Written by: Vanessa Brown
Narrated by: Vivienne Leheny
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Publisher's Summary

Dig deep into the unsolved murder of Jackie English and join the hunt for a serial killer

Fifty years ago, a serial killer prowled the quiet city of London, Ontario, marking it as his hunting grounds. As young women and boys were abducted, raped, and murdered, residents of the area held their loved ones closer and closer, terrified of the monster - or monsters - stalking the streets. Homicide detective Dennis Alsop began hunting the killer in the 1960s, and he didn’t stop searching until his death 40 years later. For decades, detectives, actual and armchair, and the victims’ families and friends continued to ask questions: Who was the Forest City Killer? Was there more than one person, or did a depraved individual commit all of these crimes on his own? 

Combing through the files Detective Alsop left behind, researcher Vanessa Brown reopens the cases, revealing previously unpublished witness statements, details of evidence, and astonishing revelations. And through her investigation, Vanessa posits the unthinkable: is it possible that the Forest City Killer is still alive and, like the notorious Golden State Killer, a simple DNA test could bring him to justice?

©2019 Vanessa Brown (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

What listeners say about The Forest City Killer

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Pronunciation by the Narrator

I am born, raised and still live in Central and Southern Ontario, Canada. I have to say the “abooot” and “hooooouse” pronunciation made me so irritated, I almost could t finish the book. It was so extreme, it seems like it has to be purposeful? I don’t know anyone that actually speaks like that.

Also, as there is a copy and fact checking process for the written book, there should be one again for the pronunciations of geographical names. Huron and Penetanguishene in particular were so butchered, I didn’t even recognize them until context clues. If I recognized those, than I’m sure locals familiar with London, Ontario and the surrounding areas mentioned in the cars heard even more.

Internet sleuths from another country can get away from this as civilians - a la "etta-bih-coke," in a recent Netflix series. But these are glaring mispronunciations in a professional work and it makes it all seem very sloppy. It seems like it should be basic due diligence.

All to say, this really took away from the compelling, and heartbreaking subject matter and that is really the worst part.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book about my hometowns murders.

Vanessa Brown poured herself into this book. I could imagine all of the locations and felt how much she cares to find a solution. Although I knew most of the cases, some details and opinions were new, and the story was intriguing. Jumping from case/date/location felt awkward at first, but it all wrapped up as best as cold unsolved cases can. I did not appreciate the performance. It felt fake and her accent and place names were not local/colloquial or correct. I wish the author had read it herself.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Riveting and disturbing

It is strange to hear an author describing detail areas to which you grew up, not having any clue that gruesome murders and deviant predators walked the same streets just a few years before.
The descriptions of London Ontario small town attitude, stuck in a bubble and just shy of willful ignorance to the goings on in their town are frighteningly accurate. So too are the bumblings of the London (and area) Police department. On more than one occasion I thought to myself while listening, "oh yeah that sounds like London police."
The only drawback to the performance was the fact that Vivianne Leheny is clearly not from the area, with mispronunciations of streets, regions and locations. Similar to that if they had somebody from Texas describing a Boston area. It didn't hold back the story, but I did find myself having to skip back a few seconds as my mind was preoccupied why she was saying the wrong place, before realizing she pronounced it the way a Londoner would not. It's a shame that producer didn't get some voice actor from the area, or do a bit of research for city streets and locations.
I had a friend recommend this book, and I have already recommended it to others.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

so many mispronouciations

I am so interested in the content of this book. It is well written. Sadly, the narrator can't be from anywhere near here because the way many words are pronounced is troubling. The worst part is I believe that one of the victim's names has been mispronounced! What a disrespect to the family!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pronunciation drove me nuts

Loved the books but the narrator's pronunciation drove me nuts. The narrator is obviously not from SW Ontario. I have never heard anyone call a house a "whoooose". My daughter and I had no idea what she was talking about at first. Penetanguishene, Huron, Dundas and other local names were also equally butchered. No one in the London area says "abooot". It would have been nice to have a local narrator read this.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellently researched

Fascinating look into a disturbing time in London’s past. Somewhat overshadowed by narrator’s sometime robotic voice and mispronunciation of names and name places.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very interesting and informative

I’m not sure what the few reviews mentioning the narration being bad, I thought it was good. She does pronounce some “ou”s differently like ‘about’ but it’s barely noticeable and it’s not an act. I’m sure it’s not easy narrating a book and giving voices to a dozen or more people of both genders, different ages, etc. she did so in a way that wasn’t distracting.
The story is very thorough, and in some aspects I found it too thorough tbh. I would have covered the entire time span somewhat condensed like, then dove into each case in depth. This would help with the contextual aspects of cases more effectively imo. When it’s all spread out I found I didn’t compare the last cases as completely as I would have liked to.
The whole sections dedicated to distracting characters should have been barely mentioned in comparison. I think that wore me out to the story. I started turning out as once that part began, I was only waiting for it to get back on track. It’s clear the few people were dealing with issues like Munchausen’s syndrome.
Yet overall I really liked the book, and the writers style and skill. The bonus was how close the story was to their own life.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Content is fine, Narration is torture

Where is this narrator from?! (I'm guessing NOT Canada)
The deliberate attempt at a stereotypical Canadian accent (with marked pauses before pronouncing "Oot and hoose", for example) made me embarrassed for her. No one would dare read Memoirs of a Geisha whilst dropping all the L's and substituting them for R's! So why is this okay here? ...not to mention the robotic affect.
-- Hoping the author has a rethink at a new narrator
(At the time of this review, I am still on chapter one- debating returning it purely based on narration)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

really good

loved the writer , and the reader. lots of information , very well done and organized. highly recommend

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So interesting, couldn’t stop listening.

Growing up in London I never was aware of any of these crimes. It was very interesting to learn. I hope this book can help bring some new info to the cases.

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