I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this because I don't love a retelling of a murder, but this was such a unique story and perspective from a serial killer's actual apprentice. This was fascinating to dive into the mind of a serial killer and the man that he manipulated to help him with his killings. Parts of this were very graphic and disturbing but I think they were needed to really stress the horrible things that he was convincing the boys to do. This was horrifying, eye-opening and beyond fascinating. I've never read a book like this and I don't think many of them will come around like this. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Serial Killer's Apprentice by Katherine Ramsland and Tracy Ullman is perfectr for fans of true crime. I appreciated getting to know the history behind this one.

In this book, Ramsland and Ulman present a very well-researched picture of the 17 year old accomplice that shot serial killer Dean Coral, turned himself in, and revealed both Coral's crimes and his involvement. A major aspect that is delved into is the exploitation of children by adult killers. Much attention is given to the targeting and brainwashing of Coral's two teenage accomplices, leaving us to ask ourselves "how responsible are these children for what they were ensnared in?" This book did a good job of presenting things in an even handed way and demonstrating the nuance of a situation like this. For those who like their true crime with less detail, this was a graphic and descriptive read. I did find it to be a little on the long side as well.

⛧The Serial Killer's Apprentice by Katherine Ramsland & Tracy Ullman - I'm never sure how to review true crime books like these. It was written very well and I enjoyed receiving the information given to me. I learned about a serial killer I had not previously known existed. I learned about the killings, the victims, and the accomplices. I enjoyed the narration, I didn't feel like I was reading a boring textbook or information pamphlet like I do with some true crime books.

This audiobook is narrated by Christina Delaine

•Thank you to @highbridgeaudio

The Serial Killer’s Apprentice: The True Story of How Houston’s Deadliest Murderer Turned a Kid Into A Killing Machine was a great true crime read by Katherine Ramsland and Tracy Ullman. Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. was only fourteen when he met serial rapist and murderer Dean Corll in 1971. David Brooks already started helping Dean for money, he would help lure boys to Dean’s house. When Dean met Elmer, he realized he would be a better accomplice than a victim. He then convinced him that he must help kill and dispose of the bodies. On August 8, 1973, Henley shot Corll and then turned himself in. He then showed police where they buried the victims. I enjoyed reading this book as it is a great true crime book.

Great if you enjoy true crime, but at times was very drawn out and too long. This book follows the Candyman Murders, which happened in TX and I actually didn’t know much about this case so it was interesting to learn more.

This was a fascinating and well structured account of the Candyman murders in Texas during the early 1970's. It focuses on Wayne Henley, the young teenager who was groomed by Dean Corl and participated in several of the murders and their subsequent clean up. I thought the narrative flowed well and that the authors remained objective while obviously sympathizing with Henley's predicament. I particularly appreciated the interludes within the book that looked at other sexual predators, examined the various media coverage of the case, considered the psychological implications of Corl's influence and investigated the possibility of a syndicate of paedophiles operating in the area that Corl had contact with. Overall I found this to be a compelling read and would definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Great book and narrator. The book is very descriptive at times, which might be hard for some readers. I find it to just be very informative. I definitely recommend. Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

A psychological examination of the blurred line between victim and accomplice—and how a killer can be created
Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr. was only fourteen when he first became entangled with serial rapist and murderer Dean Corll in 1971. Fellow Houston, Texas, teenager David Brooks had already been ensnared by the charming older man, bribed with cash to help lure boys to Corll’s home. When Henley unwittingly entered the trap, Corll evidently sensed he’d be of more use as a second accomplice than another victim. He baited Henley with the same deal he’d given Brooks: $200 for each boy they could bring him.

Henley didn’t understand the full extent of what he had signed up for at first. But once he started, Corll convinced him that he had crossed the line of no return and had to not only procure boys but help kill them and dispose of the bodies, as well. When Henley first took a life, he lost his moral base. He felt doomed. By the time he was seventeen, he’d helped with multiple murders and believed he’d be killed, too. But on August 8, 1973, he picked up a gun and shot Corll. When he turned himself in, Henley showed police where he and Brooks had buried Corll’s victims in mass graves. Twenty-eight bodies were recovered—most of them boys from Henley’s neighborhood—making this the worst case of serial murder in America at the time. The case reveals gross failures in the way cops handled parents’ pleas to look for their missing sons and how law enforcement possibly protected a larger conspiracy.

The Serial Killer’s Apprentice tells the story of Corll and his accomplices in its fullest form to date. It also explores the concept of “mur-dar” (the predator’s instinct for exploitable kids), current neuroscience about adolescent brain vulnerabilities, the role of compartmentalization, the dynamic of a murder apprenticeship, and how tales like Henley’s can aid with early intervention. Despite his youth and cooperation, Henley went to trial and received six life sentences. He’s now sixty-five and has a sense of perspective about how adult predators can turn formerly good kids into criminals. Unexpectedly, he’s willing to talk. This book is his warning and the story of the unspeakable evil and sorrow that befell Houston in the early 1970s.


Just okay for me.

Appreciate the opportunity to read this, just not my style.

This is read clearly and smoothly for a subject so difficult to consider. A good chapter at the end for guidelines.

A very in depth look into the CandyMan case out of Texas. It felt a little long and drawn out to me but over all was a very interesting true crime experience.

Thoroughly enjoyed this story and the narrator who read it. Hard to read at times, but I very much appreciated the way the author focuses less on the gory details of the crime and more on the psychology of the criminals themselves.

Wow! True crime can be disturbing! This is an interesting look into Dean Corll and his apprentice Elmer Henley heinous crimes from the 1970's.
These crimes which claimed the lives of at least 18 people were referred to as the Houston Mass Murders.
I was not familiar with these serial killers until I read this book.
This story is unique in that Corll groomed 2 boys into helping him.
The second part of the book is great in diving into the psychology of serial killers.
Although this was a tough read due to the content, it was well written and expertly executed.

It feels weird to give this type of book 5 stars because the material is pretty disturbing - regardless, this is a well written and interesting book. If you are into true crime this is a great one to pick up. I especially liked that the first part of the book details the 'what' and the second part covers the 'why.' The recounted information is well researched because the authors point out discrepancies in various timelines and interviews. I do think that the second half was even more interesting because that is the information I really crave when consuming true crime - how and why did this happen. It details many tricks abusers use to gain trust and goes into the psychology of how young victims might have been lured in. I also liked the excellent resources for adults that detailed behavior to watch out for and important conversations to have. Again, the content is very hard to stomach so definitely check warnings if you need support, especially with how tragically the LGBTQ+ community was treated in the 80s. Christina Delaine was a good narrator. I do think that her accents were done in earnest and not in jest but sometimes it feels weird to imitate someone's inflections - this is probably just a personal opinion. Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️ This was a very detailed true crime book. Some parts were hard to listen to, and made me pause a few times to processes what I was reading. The second part of the book goes even more into the mindset of serial killers, the psychological side, the trial, and other truce crimes possible linked.

These type of books it’s hard to rate. I do believe if you enjoy true crime or looking into the mindset of killers you will enjoy this book. Thank you for the Arc NetGalley.

I read this for our "True Crime/Mystery" themed month for book club. I enjoyed it. I had never heard about this serial killer so it was very eye opening since I only live three hours from the city it took place in.

Don't listen to this before bed! I loved the Serial Killer's Apprentice. It was thorough without being boring. very interesting and great narrator.

If you like true crime this is an absolute MUST read! This is my second favorite true crime I’ve ever read and everyone needs to read it. Please check trigger warnings because this book does not beat around the bush and describes horrendous things in detail. I love that the second half of the book went more into the psychology behind the killer and how to recognize warning signs. Overall a very solid and enthralling true crime novel!

Wow! People are terrifying! This was an interesting look into the minds of serial killers and how one can possibly be roped into becoming an accomplice to one. This was my 1st book by Katherine Ramsland but I am definitely going to add her books to my TBR!

#TheSerialKillersApprentice
#NetGalley

This was a great true-crime read, but it is definitely not for the faint of heart. The book really examines all aspects of Dean Corll and his 1970s killings in Houston, from the beginning and recruiting his apprentices to the psychological aftermath these apprentices face 50 years later incarcerated.