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  • The Perfect Father

  • The True Story of Chris Watts, His All-American Family, and a Shocking Murder
  • By: John Glatt
  • Narrated by: Shaun Grindell
  • Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (105 ratings)
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The Perfect Father cover art

The Perfect Father

By: John Glatt
Narrated by: Shaun Grindell
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Summary

In the early morning hours of August 13, 2018, Shanann Watts was dropped off at her Frederick, Colorado, home by a colleague after returning from a business trip. It was the last time anyone would see her alive. By the next day, Shanann and her two young daughters, Bella and Celeste, had been reported missing, and her husband, Chris Watts, was appearing on the local news, pleading for his family's safe return.

But Chris Watts already knew that he would never see his family again. Less than 24 hours after his desperate plea, Watts made a shocking confession to police: He had strangled his pregnant wife to death and smothered their daughters, dumping their bodies at a nearby oil site. Heartbroken friends and neighbors watched in shock as the movie-star handsome, devoted family man they knew was arrested and charged with first degree murder.

The perfect mask Chris had presented to the world in his TV interviews and the family's Facebook accounts was slipping - and what lay beneath was a horrifying image of instability, infidelity, sexual ambivalence, and boiling rage.

In this first major account of the case, best-selling author and journalist John Glatt reveals the truth behind the tragedy and constructs a chilling portrait of one of the most shocking family annihilator cases of the 21st century.

©2020 John Glatt (P)2020 Tantor

What listeners say about The Perfect Father

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

Wow. victim blaming much?

I found this really insulting to the memories of the victims of HIS crime. This book leans fully into his corner and labels Shanann, in many ways, some what deserving of the crimes perpetrated towards her and her children.
Not a good book at all. Disturbingly one sided.

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7 people found this helpful

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

A Basic Account

A chronology of the case but in a basic style. There were some clear inaccuracies also but this is a good book for those who have very little familiarity with this terrible tragedy.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Well written

I’m an avid true crime reader and found this book a good source of facts. Heart breaking facts 😞.

Such a harrowing tale of a family devastated. I cried several times listening and felt guilty that my hobby of true crime reading is actually 2 families real life tragedy. Think I will stick to old crime tales.

Well narrated and written.

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4 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

victim blaming

According to this author it was all ShanAnns fault. This book is a character assassination of a murder victim

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2 people found this helpful

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

the most detail I ever had on this shocking event

the detail puts everything together. rip shannan..bella..cece and nico....Will chris ever tell the truth one day

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2 people found this helpful

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

Accurate Well Written Account

The narrator has a, good voice but his reading, at the beginning, is hesitant and jerky but he improves. The is a factual account of the Watts family murders and the author doesn't put forward any psychological theories or opinions.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Not nice hearing bad storyies about shanann


Seems to be one sided and listening to this shanann is not a good person while chris is the evil one good narratation and great book otherwise



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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best book on the case

Not certain why the author is accused of victim blaming. The author simply told it as it was, based on his research. Its not personal. Any reasonable person can see, that any blame lies solely with chris. Shannon worked on herself, and did everything she could to make things work. but shes not a mind reader. Instead of a simple divorce, chris decided to complicate things, and turned to the dark side. This book really draws you in, its detailed, insightful, and emotive. Too often, a narrator can ruin a perfectly good book, but not shaun grindell, hes a first rate narrator.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Weird Narrator

I'm interested in the book, and it may be well written for all I know but the narrator has a really peculiar way of speaking. Very strange. I'm not sure I can listen to it. I recommend listening to the sample to see if it suits you.

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1 person found this helpful

  • 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 sad but brilliant overview of everyone's lives concerned

I'm sure people listening to this people will take a look at their spouse a bit differently and wonder......also making people so very grateful of their world and precious people in them.

very well read and written. I felt I got to know all the characters involved. which gave me empathy for all, excepting Chris Watts of course.

it also made me feel that when we have negative, sorta grumpy people around us it is detrimental to our mentle health.

Allison x

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