Long Haul

Hunting the Highway Serial Killers

By: Frank Figliuzzi

Narrated by: Frank Figliuzzi

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

"A true-crime masterpiece."—Don Winslow

From the FBI’s former assistant director, a shocking journey to the dark side of America’s highways, revealing the FBI Highway Serial Killings Initiative’s hunt for the long-haul truckers behind an astonishing 850 murders–and counting.

In 2004, the FBI was tipped off to a gruesome pattern of unsolved murders along American roadways. Today at least 850 homicides have been linked to a solitary breed of predators: long-haul truck drivers. They have been given names like the “Truck Stop Killer,” who rigged a traveling torture chamber in the rear of his truck and is suspected to have killed fifty women, and “The Interstate Strangler,” who once answered a phone call from his mother while killing one of his dozen victims. The crisis was such that the FBI opened a special unit, the Highway Serial Killings Initiative. In many cases, the victims—often at-risk women—are picked up at truck stops in one jurisdiction, sexually assaulted and murdered in another, and dumped along a highway in a third place. The transient nature of the offenders and multiple jurisdictions involved make these cases incredibly difficult to solve.

Based on his own on-the-ground research and drawing on his twenty-five-year career as an FBI special agent, Frank Figliuzzi investigates the most terrifying cases. He also rides in a big-rig with a long-haul trucker for thousands of miles, gaining an intimate understanding of the life and habits of drivers and their roadside culture. And he interviews the courageous trafficked victims of these crimes, and their inspiring efforts to now help others avoid similar fates.

Long Haul is a gripping exploration of a violent, disordered world hiding in plain sight, and the heroes racing to end the horror. It will forever unsettle how you travel on the road.

©2024 Frank Figliuzzi (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Not What I Expected Not what I expected

I am one of those people who is addicted to stories about the pursuit of serial killers. I expected this book to be about that with all the attendant forensics, etc. that is usual in that genre. This book is more about life on the road with an uplifting story about redemption for truckstop prostitutes who are more likely than not to have been victims of abuse and deserve help not punishment. Frank is a stalwart in the pursuit of truth and justice, and this book was a little disappointing. I did learn quite a bit about life on the road as a trucker, but that was not what I was looking for when I bought this book.

Pretty decent

I wish it was more on the long haul murders. but I did learn alot about truck driving as a profession

Good, current information.

Would like to see a follow up in a few years to see how we have done in real numbers, with combatting trafficking in our country!

Excellent story

This book is very informative, very well written and well read. Highly recommend this book.

Too good to stop and pee

Thank you for a needed book. Compelling and heartfelt, the author does a great job with a tough subject.

Eye-opening!

Even though it was a dark subject I’m glad that I listened. There were so many things I learned about trucking and trafficking that I didn’t know. I’m glad there is rays of light out there like Starfish Place and it was uplifting to hear about those places and the many strong women who fought to find a better life for theirselves and others.

I learned alot!

The author reads the book and is great. I have a new respect for truckers, their job is physical, mental and they have a lot of responsibilities. Mike is a hero! The statistics about trafficked women and children is heartbreaking. There is help to get out of trafficking but of course the options are few and underfunded.

That agencies need to work together. that LE needs to focus more on WHO is paying for sex, not so much on who is selling it!

I really enjoyed this book. I found it interesting learning about how truckers operate.

Title should be “Truckers and Traffickers”

The book is excellent. I now and am completely educated on the trucking industry and the sex trafficking industry. I’m glad to have this knowledge. Not much on serial killers which is what drew me in in the first place. But, oh well, I truly appreciate and have gained respect for truckers (not the ones who kill). My heart breaks for the poor women and girls who are forced or drawn into the disgusting world of sex work. Thank God for the good people who are there to help them. We need more!

The humor and candor stuck out the most.

I enjoyed how the author was able to offer solutions to the problems discussed in the book.