• Charmer: A Ladies' Man and His Victims

  • By: Jack Olsen
  • Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
  • Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (729 ratings)

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Charmer: A Ladies' Man and His Victims  By  cover art

Charmer: A Ladies' Man and His Victims

By: Jack Olsen
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
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Publisher's summary

The author of Predator traces the story of George Russell, Jr., a bright, young, popular black man whose thirty-year psychological unraveling led to a shocking killing spree.

©2017 Jack Olsen (P)2017 Evan P Olsen

What listeners say about Charmer: A Ladies' Man and His Victims

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

If you loved SON ~ Get THIS!!


Written in a very similar style as SON (also by Olsen), this one follows the descent of psychopath/narcissist George Russell - from a smooth young petty thief - to a full blown sadistic serial murderer.

As the title implies, George was INDEED very charming... Charming enough to fool the pants off EVERYONE, including his friends, family, lovers, and the whole planet it seems. Even his long time police buddies. No one would, or could, EVER accuse George of anything. He was soooo nice, polite, friendly, and helpful...no way. It was all too easy for George to manipulate those around him, as the lies rolled off his tongue with little effort.

The book is sprinkled with humorous details that will have you chuckling quite often, despite the seriousness of the crimes. Personally, I enjoyed that. It makes it feel more a bit more real and genuine in the telling of day to day incidents, as related by ordinary people.

Kevin Pierce's narration is (as always) THEEE icing on the cake here! He truly makes this come alive as if you two were just neighbors hanging out on the porch, and he was telling you the WHOLE story of that awful thing that happened in town. His delivery of each characters thoughts and statements were spot on to their respective personalities, and exactly how I imagined they would be.

Loved it! This book is surely going to be ANOTHER big Olsen-Pierce hit within the true crime genre. I will listen to this one again. Yep.

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75 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Love those TRUE Crime Stories by Mr. Olsen!

Jack Olsen is the master of writing true crime books. Kevin Pierce is the master of reading them. These two talents tell true stories that are detailed and easy to follow. You will not be disappointed if you enjoy true crime.

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37 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Jack Olsen + Keven Pierce = Perfection

'Charmer' was the intricately told true story of George Russell, Jr., from childhood through to his incarceration as a serial killer. Russell endured rejection from everyone who was supposed to love him as a child, even his own mother. This rejection seemed to foster in him a hatred of all women that later manifested itself as a murderous rage that resulted in the deaths of many. A sociopathic charmer, Russell was capable of duping everyone in his life, including his family, friends and partners.

This story is expertly told by Jack Olsen, a master in the true crime genre. Additionally, narration by Keven Pierce is always truly fantastic - I would listen to absolutely anything narrated by him! I would recommend this book to anyone at all who enjoys true crime, it's a really good one.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

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26 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Psycopath!

This is a story about a person who has no disregard for anyone besides himself. A true psychopath. Kept me interested through to the end, as I was wondering how he would get caught.
The narrator, Kevin Pierce, was perfect yet again. Any true crime book narrated by Mr. Pierce is a good listen.

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21 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating Character Study

The most interesting thing about true crime is the abnormal psychology of the criminal (to me at least). What I like about Jack Olsen is that he puts the psychopath front and center. I've read three of his books now and they're all quite satisfying. The criminals are interesting.

This book develops a little differently than most true crime books. Most books start with the crime, and then flash back to develop the characters and work slowly back up to the crime. But this book is linear; it simply tells the story of a sociopath from his childhood through to his crime. It's almost like the crime isn't the focus of the book. It's more a study of a disturbed personality that just so happens to end with murder.

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19 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Jack Olsen always nails it

It’s not easy to get true crime writing right. It’s so easy to fall into ghoulish exploitation of the really horrible acts committed. Certain true crime writers leave me feeling ashamed of having read their books. Jack Olsen always manages to explain the truth of the events and participants with an eye towards the victim’s humanity, while carefully examining the mechanism behind whatever makes the monsters he describes tick. I feel better-educated afterwards, rather than feeling like a voyeur. Kevin Pierce does an excellent job as always.

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14 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Charmer Is An Understatement!

Very much enjoyed this story. George was a charmer for sure. I don't get how so many women fell for him so fast, and then when the "real him" came out, they still stayed with him. Boggled my mind! Jack Olsen has written another winner and Kevin Pierce's narration was impeccable as always. I would marry him, just to listen to him talk all day ;-)
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Well told with good detail and excellent narration

I enjoyed listening to this book. The detail and narration allowed me to follow along almost like I was watching it. Following the timeline for these crimes and how they progressed was a bit frustrating because I could see how George was able to continue to get away with crimes that gradually progressed throughout his life. There was little consequence. He was very smart and yes, he was charming. I could see how he was likeable and able to con people into trusting him. Knowing what was happening while I was listening to his relationships with every new acquaintance was almost maddening. Kevin Pierce is always a wonderful narrator. Very easy to listen to. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Jack Olsen / Kevin Pierce combo always delivers!!!

If you love true crime books it doesn't get better than Jack Olsen. He doesn't just focus on the crime or the criminal, he give insight into the victims, their friends and family. It is clear that each book has been thoroughly researched. Kevin Pierce is a fantastic auditor and conveys the right amount of emotion and diversity to perfectly suit the true crime genre. I'm hooked on this author / auditor combination!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not a Charmer

Sad true crime biography of a man who never grew up. Many people are abandoned by their parents, physically or mentally. Few grow up to be serial killers. Was his mother an ugly person only concerned with herself? Yes. Did she abandon George twice to uncaring, indifferent people? Yes. Did she choose to take her daughter the second time but not her son? Yes. Should George's mother take responsibility for being a poor mother to George? Yes. Did this mean she created George the serial killer? No. At some point, children must grow up and take responsibility for their actions. Which George still does not appear to do. He could have done many things with his life and his 180 IQ. Instead, he chose to use his intelligence to commit petty crimes and manipulate young girls. Then he pitted himself against the police he idolized...and lost.

This book is a faithful telling of the life of George Waterfield Russell Jr. from his birth to incarceration as a serial killer. It really gives voice to his victims, those still living as well as those murdered in cold blood. One thing it's missing is his mother's voice. What does she think of her son? What does she think made her son a serial killer? Does she acknowledge her choices about George? In the end, it doesn't matter, probably, as there are still three dead women and countless manipulated victims trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after encountering George Russell.

I mainly read this book because it was provided for free from the publisher, author or narrator and only because it is narrated by Kevin Pierce who could narrate every story I ever read and I would not get tired of hearing his voice. It is perfect for true crime material but he also does an excellent narration for fiction as well. This is another wonderful example of his voice talents.

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6 people found this helpful