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A Killer s Touch
A PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN . . .
Denise Amber Lee was a 21-year-old happily married mother of two little boys. She had her whole life ahead of her. . .until an intruder broke into her Florida home. Within a few short hours she was savagely terrorized, murdered, and buried naked in a shallow grave near a desolate swamp.
A DEPRAVED KILLER . . .
Michael King, a 38-year-old out-of-work plumber, was a ticking time bomb. For years, neighbors called the police on King, complaining that, among other things, he'd thrown battery acid in their pool and slashed their tires. Denise's fate was far worse. In a horrifying act of cruelty, King bound her with duct tape, raped her repeatedly, then shot her dead.
A TRAGIC FAILURE. . .
Incredibly, Denise managed to call 911 twice during her abduction. Eyewitnesses and her distraught husband also called, but a slow, inefficient system tragically failed her. As a result, Florida passed the Denise Lee Law, setting voluntary standards for 911 systems. King was sentenced to death. But for Denise and her loving family, it was too late.
Includes 16 Pages of Shocking Photos
Denise Amber Lee was a 21-year-old happily married mother of two little boys. She had her whole life ahead of her. . .until an intruder broke into her Florida home. Within a few short hours she was savagely terrorized, murdered, and buried naked in a shallow grave near a desolate swamp.
A DEPRAVED KILLER . . .
Michael King, a 38-year-old out-of-work plumber, was a ticking time bomb. For years, neighbors called the police on King, complaining that, among other things, he'd thrown battery acid in their pool and slashed their tires. Denise's fate was far worse. In a horrifying act of cruelty, King bound her with duct tape, raped her repeatedly, then shot her dead.
A TRAGIC FAILURE. . .
Incredibly, Denise managed to call 911 twice during her abduction. Eyewitnesses and her distraught husband also called, but a slow, inefficient system tragically failed her. As a result, Florida passed the Denise Lee Law, setting voluntary standards for 911 systems. King was sentenced to death. But for Denise and her loving family, it was too late.
Includes 16 Pages of Shocking Photos
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
44 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 24, 2014
A particularly sad story when you realise that if not for the monumental stuff-ups of the 911 Emergency staff, Denise might still be alive. So hard for her family.
The last half of the book deals at length with the trial, which I found particularly interesting. Except for Dr Wu and his PET scans, which the author covered in a previous book that I read. Dr Wu seems to have a similar script for both cases. And no doubt many others?!
Well researched and well written. I "enjoyed" it.
The last half of the book deals at length with the trial, which I found particularly interesting. Except for Dr Wu and his PET scans, which the author covered in a previous book that I read. Dr Wu seems to have a similar script for both cases. And no doubt many others?!
Well researched and well written. I "enjoyed" it.
February 14, 2012
This book was very factual -- very upsetting to anyone. Being a 6-month resident of North Port, FL, Denise Amber Lee's brutal kidnapping, rape and murder were so very "personal" to me. I didn't know Denise personally -- but I found parts of the book very emotionally painful, both as a woman, and a resident of North Port.
That something as this could happen in this town is so very scary -- Denise's calls for help and her doing everything humanly possible to save herself was so very sad -- please people -- this young woman obviously put her two small sons in the crib before she left (and I'm sure she begged Michael King for the small favor of doing this) not knowing her fate at the time -- but expecting the worst.
It is just incomprehensible to me that she could do all the things that she did to save herself and her sons -- and also had the help of people along the way -- and still.....end up the way she did.
I really needed to learn the "uglier aspects of the case" which I had not been privy to, just to put Denise to rest.
Her husband, Nathan, may write a book in the future, revealing more of the more "unsavory" aspects of this case -- but this book gave me enough for right now. I don't know what drove Michael King to do this to Denise -- someone who had never done him any wrong and had every reason to live -- but I DO feel that he deserves the death penalty and I, for one, will be happy when he's gone. He, undoubtedly, will suffer a more humane death than Denise did, not only physically, but emotionally. He should not be given the right to live on this earth any longer than necessary!
That something as this could happen in this town is so very scary -- Denise's calls for help and her doing everything humanly possible to save herself was so very sad -- please people -- this young woman obviously put her two small sons in the crib before she left (and I'm sure she begged Michael King for the small favor of doing this) not knowing her fate at the time -- but expecting the worst.
It is just incomprehensible to me that she could do all the things that she did to save herself and her sons -- and also had the help of people along the way -- and still.....end up the way she did.
I really needed to learn the "uglier aspects of the case" which I had not been privy to, just to put Denise to rest.
Her husband, Nathan, may write a book in the future, revealing more of the more "unsavory" aspects of this case -- but this book gave me enough for right now. I don't know what drove Michael King to do this to Denise -- someone who had never done him any wrong and had every reason to live -- but I DO feel that he deserves the death penalty and I, for one, will be happy when he's gone. He, undoubtedly, will suffer a more humane death than Denise did, not only physically, but emotionally. He should not be given the right to live on this earth any longer than necessary!
December 16, 2015
Wow.......the utter futility of Denise's death will stay with me...so horribly sad. It made harrowing reading to learn all she did to ensure this shithead was caught yet because she was let down by the system she still ended up dead. I'm amazed she kept her composure enough to leave the clues she did and to make THAT phonecall and to remain lucid enough to share clues with the 911 operator. I salute Jan too, who clearly did her very best to ensure the person she encountered was given assistance. She'll forever live with the fact that the people she was asking for help weren't on the ball enough to get help there in time.
Then the DMV and their practices also managed to work against her in that they didn't update records for 90 days !! A fat lot of good that was.
You may think we're referring to a murder in the 80s but this was in the 21ST CENTURY with CCTV and immediate communications/cross-referencing available and still the system fell down. The author wrote it in such a way you still hoped there might be a different ending, which was clever. It was upsetting, too.
It was hard wondering what on earth made him pick Denise or where he encountered her, too. He clearly knew who she was and where she lived but he didn't talk. A pity they can't torture it out of him. What is worrying is that people don't usually do this once and they tend to progress in their criminality yet King didn't appear to have a record, unless something crops up in the future. I wondered during the trial about the tree that was mentioned but the question was struck from the record, too. There's still a gun out there somewhere.
I was sobbing in places...especially thinking of how she felt leaving her sons in the house. Then when her dad said "I cried when she was born, I cried the day I dropped her off at school and I cry every day now". It was sad to see the photos when I've finished reading too and "meet" Denise. Pretty girl and so young.
It was staggering too just how long the whole judicial process took considering it was a total open-and-shut case. And no doubt King will be dicking about with appeals now for the next 2 decades. It's all wrong.
The defence witnesses in the penalty phase I found staggering. Pretty much all of them lied their heads off quite blatantly and it was quite astounding to read, especially doctor Wu's testimony. How he had the gall to ethically testify to the shit he did was jaw-dropping !!
Kudos to the author for knowing how to use apostrophes and no horrible mistakes all the way through. All I spotted was a needless space in one word and ties used in place of tires plus he used tact twice when I'd have used tack. One chapter should've been September 3rd 2009, too.
I am sure her family will never, ever get over Denise's needless death. It just should never have ended the way it did.
Then the DMV and their practices also managed to work against her in that they didn't update records for 90 days !! A fat lot of good that was.
You may think we're referring to a murder in the 80s but this was in the 21ST CENTURY with CCTV and immediate communications/cross-referencing available and still the system fell down. The author wrote it in such a way you still hoped there might be a different ending, which was clever. It was upsetting, too.
It was hard wondering what on earth made him pick Denise or where he encountered her, too. He clearly knew who she was and where she lived but he didn't talk. A pity they can't torture it out of him. What is worrying is that people don't usually do this once and they tend to progress in their criminality yet King didn't appear to have a record, unless something crops up in the future. I wondered during the trial about the tree that was mentioned but the question was struck from the record, too. There's still a gun out there somewhere.
I was sobbing in places...especially thinking of how she felt leaving her sons in the house. Then when her dad said "I cried when she was born, I cried the day I dropped her off at school and I cry every day now". It was sad to see the photos when I've finished reading too and "meet" Denise. Pretty girl and so young.
It was staggering too just how long the whole judicial process took considering it was a total open-and-shut case. And no doubt King will be dicking about with appeals now for the next 2 decades. It's all wrong.
The defence witnesses in the penalty phase I found staggering. Pretty much all of them lied their heads off quite blatantly and it was quite astounding to read, especially doctor Wu's testimony. How he had the gall to ethically testify to the shit he did was jaw-dropping !!
Kudos to the author for knowing how to use apostrophes and no horrible mistakes all the way through. All I spotted was a needless space in one word and ties used in place of tires plus he used tact twice when I'd have used tack. One chapter should've been September 3rd 2009, too.
I am sure her family will never, ever get over Denise's needless death. It just should never have ended the way it did.
December 15, 2014
This was a very moving true crime book, although I would have preferred a little more focus on the players' stories, rather than so much focus on a re-telling of the murder trial. (To be fair to the author, though, the answer to the biggest question: 'Why did the killer choose this victim?' will likely never be known).
Any reader will be moved by the story of the victim. Although she showed unfathomable courage under unthinkable adversity, she was the most innocent of victims and should be alive today.
I was also particularly drawn to the story of Jane Kowalski, a 911 caller who was heroic in her own right. I would have liked to have heard more from her.
The story will forever reverberate with me: I will forever connect the story of Denise Amber Lee when the subject of the 911 system.
Any reader will be moved by the story of the victim. Although she showed unfathomable courage under unthinkable adversity, she was the most innocent of victims and should be alive today.
I was also particularly drawn to the story of Jane Kowalski, a 911 caller who was heroic in her own right. I would have liked to have heard more from her.
The story will forever reverberate with me: I will forever connect the story of Denise Amber Lee when the subject of the 911 system.
April 4, 2014
I really liked this book. Having spoken to the author about it as well, I will certainly be purchasing more of his books.
October 2, 2023
I read Michael Benson's A Knife in the Heart in the compilation of three of his true crime books, Michael Benson's True Crime Bundle: Watch Mommy Die, A Killer's Touch & A Knife In The Heart (apparently available in electronic form only). A Killer's Touch is about a truly tragic murder. Nothing the victim did could have insured her safety. Hers was the rarest type of murder - by a complete stranger who never articulated his reason for choosing her. What makes her case so heartrending is the repeated incompetence/disinterest her cries for help were met with, and Benson fully addresses this aspect of the crime. The account shows how desperate and determined she was to escape … and how little good it did her.
In this case the identity of the killer was not obvious, but the book omits any references to intense grilling of relatives, servicemen, former boyfriends or neighbors. It is not really about the police investigation of the crime but is focused on how the guilty man was singled out, captured and convicted. Sadly, this is a case where there is legitimate doubt about the sanity of the perpetrator, although no doubt about society’s need to have him incarcerated.
Benson’s style is virtually conversational and thus very readable. He does not focus on the killer to the exclusion of the killed and while not at all exploitative, his pitch is commensurate with the magnitude of the situation he addresses. Recommended for true crime fans.
A shout out to ❤️Marlene❤️; her My Book list is like a treasure map!
In this case the identity of the killer was not obvious, but the book omits any references to intense grilling of relatives, servicemen, former boyfriends or neighbors. It is not really about the police investigation of the crime but is focused on how the guilty man was singled out, captured and convicted. Sadly, this is a case where there is legitimate doubt about the sanity of the perpetrator, although no doubt about society’s need to have him incarcerated.
Benson’s style is virtually conversational and thus very readable. He does not focus on the killer to the exclusion of the killed and while not at all exploitative, his pitch is commensurate with the magnitude of the situation he addresses. Recommended for true crime fans.
A shout out to ❤️Marlene❤️; her My Book list is like a treasure map!
February 6, 2019
True Crime Story
A good interesting true crime book. It is about the kidnapping rape, and murder of a young mother. The author makes no effort to explain why, he just gives all the details of the crime and the trial.
A good interesting true crime book. It is about the kidnapping rape, and murder of a young mother. The author makes no effort to explain why, he just gives all the details of the crime and the trial.
November 16, 2018
Women Be More Aware of people you know.
Very sad and a very good book. Once you pick the book up, you won't be able to lay it down. It captures at the begging.
Very sad and a very good book. Once you pick the book up, you won't be able to lay it down. It captures at the begging.
November 11, 2011
This book is about the Case of Denise Lee. It happened in 2008 and is by far one of the most involved books I've ever read on this topic. Michael King, kidnapped, raped and murdered Denise within hours. He drove right into her driveway and forced her to his car, leaving her two toddlers alone in their crib. This case started in Florida but involved Michigan as well. Michael King's family is in Michigan. He would come back here (yes I'm in Michigan) to visit family. After forcing Denise to leave her home in broad daylight, he took her back to his home where he had a "rape dungeon". He kept her there for a few hours then put her back in his car and drove to a wooded, swampy area and killed her. This brutal crime was so blatant and heinous it shocked everyone. Neighbors and others spotted King's car and him. They positively identified him and his vehicle. Denise tried to saved herself and leave clues. She was able to successfully call 911 with King's cell phone. She screamed "Help Me" any time they were near other cars.
I do enjoy reading true crime. I always have. However this book is extremely intense and graphic. I wasn't prepared for that. It had a negative affect on me. I remember this case. I remember reading about it and hearing about it in the news. The book gives you play by play as if you were sitting in the court room. At times I felt it gave to much detail. I think the technical side of it could have been explained better. I know those who enjoy True Crime will love this book and be glad they read it. I recommend it, but only if you are a hardcore True Crime reader.
November 21, 2011
A Killer’s touch is a true crime story following the January 2008 abduction and murder of a young Florida mother of two, Denise Amber Lee. Twenty-one year old Denise Amber Lee was the daughter of the head of Charlotte County Sherriff’s Office Marshall Fugitive Task Force in southeast Florida. Denise’s husband Nate Lee, upon arriving home from work finds both his boys ages one and two together in the baby’s crib, windows closed. Frantically noticing Denise’s purse containing her cell phone, contents strewn across the couch with Denise nowhere in sight. With terror in his heart, Nate makes a call to his father in law saying Denise is missing. I am on my way, he answers. The story carries you heartbreakingly through the events leading up to Denise’s removal from her home, the frantic 911 phone call Denise herself makes while held captive which points law enforcement in her direction. Although multi-jurisdictional teams of law enforcement personnel are racing the clock following close on her trail, crucial miscommunication in relaying information leads to the tragedy that befalls the young mother. However, Denise proves the most instrumental witness of all in leading them to her killer. The story follows throughout the apprehension of Michael King the only suspect in this grisly crime and the subsequent court case that follows. The prosecution and defense bring out their best arguments, evidence and experts, but will the jury find Michael King guilty?
August 11, 2015
This book was part of a trilogy of 3 of Michael benson's true crime books.
Book 1: Watch Mommy Die
Book 2: A Killer's Touch
Book 3: A Knife in The Heart
Michael Benson is a good writer but so far I have never rated his books more than 3 stars but I think this book deserves 4. Yah.
What a sad story this was. It is so sad because the victim acted so smart and kept on fighting and she should have been saved if all the support systems had worked. Her husband did the right thing, her dad, the cops and the woman who called 911. Alas the 911 operators made big mistakes. CCSO.
Later the victim's family sued them but they came back with a statement saying they had not promised to protect the victim.
How nasty and weird.
Anyway If you want to try a book by this author I suggest this one. Yes there is much trial but I did enjoy that part as well.
Book 1: Watch Mommy Die
Book 2: A Killer's Touch
Book 3: A Knife in The Heart
Michael Benson is a good writer but so far I have never rated his books more than 3 stars but I think this book deserves 4. Yah.
What a sad story this was. It is so sad because the victim acted so smart and kept on fighting and she should have been saved if all the support systems had worked. Her husband did the right thing, her dad, the cops and the woman who called 911. Alas the 911 operators made big mistakes. CCSO.
Later the victim's family sued them but they came back with a statement saying they had not promised to protect the victim.
How nasty and weird.
Anyway If you want to try a book by this author I suggest this one. Yes there is much trial but I did enjoy that part as well.
October 29, 2011
As true crime goes, this story was one of the better ones. The opening chapters that describes the crinme was very well written, it moved fast and since I was not familiar with the crime it had suspense for me, certainly one more familiar with the crime would have known what was coming. The court proceeding portion of the book did not read exactly like the court transcript, which in my opinion is a good choise, too much technical and legal mumbo-jumbo always turns me off, then a quick epilogue to let you know what has been going on and with who ties the story up nicely. I felt this was a well written true crime novel and if you have an interest in reading that type of book you should read this one.
June 29, 2012
Not normally a book I would pick out, but was desperate for something to read on vacation. And since charging my phone is hard with no electricity, I just grabbed a book at the library. It was just a recount of a young mother's murder. Sad story. The author wrote more descriptively (like a detective) than a murder/mystery. Not really my cup of tea, although my heart goes out to the victims family.
February 10, 2014
True crime about a 21 year old Florida woman who was abducted and killed. The first part of this book was very good, but it went downhill after that. Too much of a focus on the trial and the chapters on the penalty phase just drug by. I almost did not finish the book.
April 22, 2014
This was such a sad story. A senseless taking of life of a young mother who had so much to live for. Well told, easy fast read. Captivated me from the beginning. Every now and then I like to read a true crime story and this one did not disappoint. Good but sad...
November 16, 2012
Heartbreaking, true story. So many mistakes that could have saved her. Hard to read, because you can't do anything to change the outcome.
February 5, 2013
True interesting read of a tragic murder. Lots of court talk.
Read
December 2, 2017I do not think I can rate this book. Is a true story and a very sad one. I had never heard of this case before I read this and I was shocked by so much of the story.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews