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The Phantom Killer

Unlocking the Mystery of the Texarkana Serial Murders: The Story of a Town in Terror

By: James Presley

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Paperback | 4 January 2016 | Edition Number 1

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The salacious and scandalous murders of a series of couples on Texarkana's "lovers lanes" in seemingly idyllic post-WWII America created a media maelstrom and cast a pall of fear over an entire region. What is even more surprising is that the case has remained cold for decades. Combining archival research and investigative journalism, Pulitzer Prize nominated historian James Presley reveals evidence that provides crucial keys to unlocking this decades-old puzzle.

Dubbed "the Phantom murders" by the press, these grisly crimes took place in an America before dial telephones, DNA science, and criminal profiling. Even pre-television, print and radio media stirred emotions to a fever pitch. The Phantom Killer, exhaustively researched, is the only definitive nonfiction book on the case, and includes details from an unpublished account by a survivor, and rare, never-before-published photographs.

Although the case lives on today on television, the Internet, a revived fictional movie and even an off-Broadway play, with so much of the investigation shrouded in mystery since 1946, rumors and fractured facts have distorted the reality. Now, for the first time, a careful examination of the archival record, personal interviews, and stubborn fact checking come together to produce new insights and revelations on the old slayings.

Industry Reviews

"Presley is thorough, incredibly thorough, as he plunges back in time almost 70 years to attempt to bring closure to one of the most puzzling serial murder cases in the country. Fascinating, dexterous work." -- Austin American Statesman "The best available account of a crime that, though a cold case, still has people talking." -- Kirkus Reviews "Well researched and solidly written, Presley's book brings a forgotten crime to the forefront. Readers will be spellbound and want to consume it in one sitting. This book belongs in all true crime collections and will attract a general audience, not just fans of true crime. With a remake of the 1976 movie due for 2014 release, expect demand." -- Library Journal "The Pulitzer Prize-nominated author focuses his new book on a terrifying cold case that rocked his town in 1946. A series of fatal attacks-couples on "lovers lanes"-was never solved, but Presley uses extensive research, including interviews with a survivor, and rare photographs to offer his solution to an unsolved crime from nearly 70 years ago." -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram "Pulitzer Prize nominee Presley effectively conveys the fear that gripped Texarkana in 1946 in the wake of a series of murders-and goes on to offer a persuasive solution to the unsolved crimes. Diligently researched, this gripping, page-turning account is a standout true-crime narrative." -- Publishers Weekly

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