The Phantom Killer cover art

The Phantom Killer

Unlocking the Mystery of the Texarkana Serial Murders: The Story of a Town in Terror

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Try for £0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Phantom Killer

By: James Presley
Narrated by: Michael Kramer
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £20.99

Buy Now for £20.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

The salacious and scandalous murders of a series of couples on Texarkana's "lovers' lanes" created a media maelstrom and cast a pall of fear over an entire region. What is even more surprising is that the case has remained cold for decades.

Combining archival research and investigative journalism, Pulitzer Prize-nominated historian James Presley reveals evidence that provides crucial keys to unlocking this decades-old puzzle. Although the case lives on today through television, the Internet, a revived fictional movie, and even an off-Broadway play, with so much of the investigation shrouded in mystery since 1946, rumors and fractured facts have distorted reality.

Now, for the first time, a careful examination of the archival record, personal interviews, and stubborn fact checking come together to produce new insights and revelations on the old slayings.

©2014 James Presley (P)2015 Tantor
Murder State & Local United States
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

United States of True Crime: Vol. 1 cover art
Suburban True Crime cover art
Sworn to Silence cover art
Little Shoes cover art
Ten Vintage True Crime Stories Rescued from Obscurity cover art
The Last Lynching cover art
Unsolved Child Murders cover art
Little Girls Lost cover art
My Brother's Keeper cover art
Tantamount cover art
Blonde Rattlesnake cover art
Forensic Files Now cover art
Hidden Demons cover art
The Best New True Crime Stories cover art
Betrayal in Blood cover art
Cold Cases: Solved Volume 1 cover art

Critic reviews

"Diligently researched, this gripping, page-turning account would be a standout true-crime narrative even without the material Presley gathers to buttress his identification of the serial killer." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Phantom Killer

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

in-depth analysis of the Texacana slayings

The narrators voice was adequate but rather grating at times. The story was long & perhaps more drawn out than it needed to be.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Very enjoyable

Superb narration by Michael Kramer. While we may never know who the Phantom Killer really was, James Presley certainly gives his comprehensive reasons for it being Youell Swinney. The crimes are detailed and missed opportunities discussed. I feel a lot more familiar with the case having listened to this audio book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

First of the modern serial killers ???

I found this an interesting story although somewhat over long and heavy in unnecessary details. The last two or three hours really dragged.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Excellent

Gripping, detailed and fascinating book about a series of 1946 attacks and killings. Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

think Zodiac but not Zodiac

story 5 🌟
detail 5 🌟
narration 5 🌟
recommended.
i just four more words!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Pretty good true crime numptys

Very well read numptys good story off crime in the early years biggest man hunt for the invisible killer

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

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

Too much peripheral waffle and padding

Far too long and too much extraneous information that has little to do with this true crime investigation. For a crime that was never resolved and no one ever prosecuted this could have been related in half the time. Extremely disappointing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!