The Night Stalker Audiobook By Philip Carlo cover art

The Night Stalker

The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez

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The Night Stalker

By: Philip Carlo
Narrated by: Tom Zingarelli
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About this listen

Decades after Richard Ramirez left 13 dead and paralyzed the city of Los Angeles, his name is still synonymous with fear, torture, and sadistic murder. Philip Carlo's classic The Night Stalker, based on years of meticulous research and extensive interviews with Ramirez, revealed the killer and his horrifying crimes to be even more chilling than anyone could have imagined. From watching his cousin commit murder at age 11 to his 19 death sentences to the juror who fell in love with him, the story of Ramirez is a bizarre and spellbinding descent into the very heart of human evil.

Incredibly, after The Night Stalker was first published, thousands of women from all over the world contacted Carlo, begging to be put in touch with the killer. Carlo interviewed them and here presents their disturbing stories and the dark sexual desires that would drive them towards a brutal murderer. And in an exclusive death row interview, the killer himself gives his thoughts on the "Ramirez Groupies" - and what he thinks they really want.

©1996 Philip Carlo (P)2016 Tantor
Americas Murder Serial Killers True Crime United States Scary Serial Killers True Crime

Critic reviews

"This book will provide true crime readers a chilling inside perspective of a serial killer." (Library Journal)

What listeners say about The Night Stalker

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Loved it!

The court precedings were long but interesting. Nice background on the monsters family. I was annoyed by the groupies and his family.

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13 people found this helpful

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definitely worth it!

I was reluctant to buy this book after reading everyone else's reviews. But I'm happy I did.

Yes, the narrator has trouble pronouncing some words. Does it bug? Not enough for it to detract because it's sporadic.

Yes, the last half of the book is the trial of Richard Ramirez. The reviews led me to believe it was more transcript less prose. But it was a part of the story and I thought it was akin to Ann Rule 's Ted Bundy story.

I enjoyed every minute and am sad it wasn't updated past 2006. But you should definitely get this book- holistic approach to all involved in these crimes.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Comprehensive and Interesting

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would consider it on the list of books that are worth listening to. It's not great, but it covers the crimes well, though perhaps too well in that it is probably longer than it needs to be.

What did you like best about this story?

I think I like best who caught him. It's the only such case that I can think of.

What aspect of Tom Zingarelli’s performance would you have changed?

It's hard to diagnose because the material itself is such a large variable in the outcome.

If you could give The Night Stalker a new subtitle, what would it be?

It will make you want to work the night shift.

Any additional comments?

This is a very detailed book - so much so, that at times the book's narrative structure suffers a little. I don't regret having listened to it - it made me go look up a few more things about him. But it's simply not up to the standards of some of the other true crime authors.

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Phillip carlo is the best

I think phillip carlo did a great job at writing this book and the riserge story

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Another great narrative/ Bio

Phil did it again, the narrative in the biography of Richard Ramirez kept me captivated throughout the whole entire novel. I couldn’t put it down for anything and I’ve tried many occasions without success. Richard Ramirez could’ve been an efficient contract killer if he didn’t have provisions of killing women and raping them. But nonetheless; the man had me scared and I live in south-central Los Angeles where there was Killens on a daily and we were terrified. But the biography brought out a lot of things to like that made him into a human being that went on the wrong path. Good job Mr. Carlo I will be read in another novel by you and hopefully you make more.

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The Nightstalker

Very good listen. Narrator did a really good job. Some of the descriptions of the crimes are a bit disturbing.

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Listen!

There’s so much in this text that you never knew about Ramirez, and it brings up so many questions about whether or not someone was just “born” bad. And don’t skip the Epilogue. While the interview with Richard was interesting, the author’s commentary to some of the mail he received after the publishing of this book was a gem.

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Could not stop!

I LOVED how the author didn’t leave out any details even went into the background of his parents. Very well put together

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Excellent read

So many of these books just read trial transcripts. This one delves deeper. The author developed the killer from childhood. Also includes an interview with the killer.

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Good narration and detail

Great narration and detail about events and the people involved. This book is not ideal for the squeamish, of course, but if you're looking for an insight into the mind and deeds of a serial killer, look no further!

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