Preview
  • The Killing Season

  • By: Alex French
  • Narrated by: David Drummond
  • Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (646 ratings)

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The Killing Season

By: Alex French
Narrated by: David Drummond
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Publisher's summary

For fans of True Detective and Making A Murderer, The Killing Season is a true crime saga, the story of a double murder that went unsolved for more than 35 years, and a chilling portrait of a small town upended by unimaginable violence.

In the summer of 1975, the sprawling valley town of Grand Junction, Colorado, is stunned by the grisly double murders of 24-year-old Linda Benson and her baby daughter Kelley. For Jim Fromm and Doug Rushing, the two young detectives assigned to the case, the investigation is a chance to earn their stripes and prove their mettle. At first, Fromm and Rushing peg the woman's mercurial husband, a pipe-fitter who works outside of town, as the primary suspect. But as their case against Steve Benson unravels, the detectives find themselves short on leads - and running out of time. With the city on edge and anxious for answers, a notorious serial killer goes on the lam, and yet another young woman and her children turn up dead.

In The Killing Season, acclaimed journalist Alex French traces the story of the Benson murders from the night Linda and Kelley's bodies are found strewn across their second floor apartment, to an improbable discovery, made more than 30 years later, that enabled a new breed of detectives to crack the case and bring closure to those who'd watched justice slip away. Writing in taut, atmospheric prose, French has crafted a heart-pounding tale of tragedy, resilience, and redemption - set against the burning-red vistas of the American Southwest.

Alex French is a freelance journalist. His reportage and oral histories have appeared in the New York Times Magazine, BuzzReads, GQ, New York Magazine, Grantland, This American Life, and a variety of other venues. He lives in Monmouth County, New Jersey, with his wife and two children.

©2016 Alex French (P)2016 Audible, Inc.
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What listeners say about The Killing Season

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    270
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Almost a 5 Star Sweep

A good performance by the reader, and overall a good story that moved along quickly, at times too quickly, with jumps in the timeline. There could have been more character building, but then some would say the story dragged a bit. It is difficult to thread that thin line. I will most definitely see what else the author has written., and the reader has performed.
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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good Story

This is a Kindle single so it is a shorter book. Approximately 5 hours long.

I found the story good. A bit confusing at times, because it skipped around just a bit. These were some gruesome murders. I feel that they were overlooked or got lost because Ted Bundy was also active during this time frame. Plus I agree with other reviewers that there could have been some more details. Overall, a good story.

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

crime

good book with lots of details. gory crime novel with lots of descriptive facts. i love crime novels. lots of sadness with justice served..

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2 people found this helpful

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

The killing season

It was good, but jumped around a lot.
I did find it interesting that Ted Bundy was arrested that same year and wow for true story. It was pretty intense.

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

The killing season

I listened to the audio book version. I have to say...this was a long drawn out story, I thought it would never end. but it did end and it was interesting.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Excellent story

Very interesting. This true story kept my interest from beginning to end. Author was able to carry the story over 35yrs keep it together, never confusing the reader. The little humor at the very end whether intentional or not was as a breath of fresh air...after a frustrating, search for the killer... This story and the Narrator deserve better reviews that what it has been receiving, and i highly recommended this listen to all true crime lovers.

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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
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    5 out of 5 stars

Book of my dreams and my nightmares

I truly enjoyed this book. The narrator was perfect and the story is so scary. I listened to it multiple times.

Perfect for a fan of true crime!

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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
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    5 out of 5 stars

good listen

very easy to listen to , I would recommend to anyone interested in true crime.

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

Excellent crime story.

Excellent crime story with excellent narration. suited for this role of book. Unsuitabe narration can ruin an otherwise good story.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Was a good story but to much filler

I thought this could have been a 5 star listen but there is to many added other stories inside that really takes away. To much jumping around and at times I was a little confused. I just wanted to hear about this man and not going over Ted and others like his crimes. I thought it was wonderful how police go back and take a look at old case files and some time solve them. I really enjoyed learning how this ones was solved.

I thought the narrator did a good job pulling the listener in, there was one place where a repeat was done but beside that it was a clear audio, no background noise, no volume changes. I thought he did a nice job letting you feel and see inside the killer and victims.

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