Starkweather

The Untold Story of the Killing Spree That Changed America

By: Harry N. MacLean

Narrated by: William DeMeritt

The definitive story of Charles Starkweather, often considered to be the first mass killer in the modern age of America

On January 21, 1958, nineteen-year-old Charles Starkweather changed the course of crime in the United States when he murdered the parents and sister of his fourteen-year-old girlfriend (and possible accomplice), Caril Ann Fugate, in a house on the edge of Lincoln, Nebraska. They then drove to the nearby town of Bennet, where a farmer was robbed and killed. When Starkweather’s car broke down, the teenagers who stopped to help were murdered and jammed into a storm cellar. By the time the dust settled, ten innocent people were dead and the city of Lincoln was in a state of terror. Schools closed. Men with rifles perched on the roofs of their houses. The National Guard patrolled the street. If there is a cultural version of PTSD, the town suffered from it.

Starkweather and Fugate’s capture and arrest, and the resulting trials about the killing spree, received worldwide coverage. The event would serve as the inspiration for the movie Natural Born Killers and Springsteen’s iconic album Nebraska. Today, the story has dropped far from the national consciousness. With new material, new reporting, and new conclusions about the possible guilt or innocence of Fugate, the tale is ripe for an updated and definitive retelling. In Starkweather, bestselling author Harry N. MacLean tells the story of this shocking event and its lasting impact, a crime spree that struck deep into the heart of the heartland.

©2023 Harry N. MacLean (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“MacLean offers the most comprehensive work to date on the horrific murder spree launched in Nebraska by nineteen-year-old Charles Starkweather. As a community insider, MacLean presents a convincing case that the myth of teenage lovers on a murderous lark must be remedied. True-crime fans will be enthralled.”—Dr. Katherine Ramsland, professor of forensic psychology and award-winning author of Confession of a Serial Killer

Brilliant prose here

Harry is smart and
deep. So is his book. Author featured on Ep 187 of The Craig Silverman Show.

Amazing!

Great information and it gives the facts of without being bius to either side. Innocent or guilty, you decide.

Justice was served with this book.

I confess I was raised in Nebraska all my life and moved to Lincoln in the 90's but had never heard about this until our book club at work suggested it. With all the research done in order to retell the history of both Caril and Starkweather The authors dedication in writing this is very apparent.

The impact going back to the author’s past.

Presentation of all the facts was fair and balanced even though the author had formed his own opinion.

Initially entertaining.

Because I'm a Nebraskan very familiar with the area. Which becomes a negative quickly. Hwy 77 doesn't have anything to do with Bennett. It runs connects Lincoln to Beatrice. Hwy 2 connects Lincoln to Hwy 43 to Bennet. So Hwy 43 is correct. However alternating between correct and flat out wrong is annoying. So is the repetition hearing Carol's "version" followed by Charlie's "version". It is mentioned that many "insiders" fully believed - and continue to believe - that Carol was much more "involved" than she was tried and convicted for. Indeed many believed - and believe - she was the "mastermind". The repetition only reinforces her relative "innocence". Not only was she not executed she was parolled at a relatively "young" age.

I'm a "bedtime" listener and upon hearing "hers and his" versions of the Meyer - my last name as well although I don't know of any direct family relationship - murder before falling asleep during the The Crimes section and then yet another "retelling" during the The Trials section was a major turnoff. They serve no purpose since the basic truth - they were murderers and in her case still are - is unchanged.

Mention of "Charlie's crimes" are also sickening. They were - and are - Carol's crimes as well.

Overall this "narrative" smacks of an effort by the author to create his "In Cold Blood". It fails. Maybe not miserably but definitely.

Confusing story line

Idk if there’s more than one character with the same name but this book is extremely confusing he tells the store of the murders as if the girl is an accomplice and then telling it again as if she came home to her face killed idk which one is correct

Very detailed and fair account

For the true crime buff that loves diving into the law, the psychology, and the case- this book is for you. It was extremely well researched. And while the author does give his opinions, he is very fair in presenting both sides of the case so that the reader can have all the facts. Would highly recommend for the true crime fan who loves to dive into the details. If you are looking for just simply a thrilling book, this might not be the one for you, although the case itself as written is extremely thrilling as well as shocking and sad. The narrator did a wonderful job as well.

Very compelling true crime story!

Having been born and raised in Nebraska, this book brings much more depth and insight into the 60 year old tragedy. A very good read and listen.

calling1

I didn' know about the Starkweather killing. it was interesting read. Alos interesting information about the state of Nebraska

Well-written account

This was an interesting and well written, thorough account of the Nebraska murder that offers a thorough cultural understanding of the time and place. The author also contextualized the murders within current contexts. I appreciated his personal story of growing up in the same region which added depth to the narrative.