Texas Crime Stories: Vol 1, Riding Herd on the Lawless

by Robert Riggs

This blood-chilling true-crime anthology peels back the curtain on some of Texas’s most disturbing and unforgettable criminal cases. From cold-blooded murder to unspeakable betrayal, each story dives deep into the hearts of both victims and perpetrators, unearthing the truths buried beneath public headlines and official accounts.

The book opens with “The Bible Thumping Dark Angel,” an unsettling account of Baptist minister Matt Baker, a man of God whose charm and community standing masked a sinister capacity for deception and murder. Through relentless investigation and damning testimony, Baker is revealed not as a grieving widower but a calculating killer who drugged and smothered his wife, perhaps even responsible for his own daughter’s death years earlier.

From there, the narrative descends into the grotesque with “The Malevolent Mommy,” the decades-spanning case of Annie Laurie Williams, a seemingly ordinary 1950s mother who committed one of Texas’ most grisly crimes—murdering and dismembering her two young sons. The story follows her through arrest, conviction, prison escape, and eventual capture, weaving in rare interviews and haunting community memories that linger long after her death.

Subsequent chapters continue to unearth the unexpected, such as “Dialing From Death Row,” where a serial killer uses a smuggled cell phone to threaten a powerful Texas senator, exposing shocking lapses in prison security. Each case is told with journalistic precision, blending firsthand accounts, investigative breakthroughs, and psychological insight to reveal not just what happened, but why.

Texas Crime Stories by Peabody Award-winning investigative reporter Robert Riggs is more than a compilation of murders and violence—it’s a deep dive into the complex intersection of human depravity, law enforcement tenacity, and the fragile line between good and evil. These stories remind us that in Texas, the truth is often stranger—and far darker—than fiction.

Genres: True Crime, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published February 19, 2025

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐
Genre ~ true crime
Series ~ Texas Crime Stories
Setting ~ Texas, obviously
Publication date ~ January 12, 2025
Est Page Count ~ 296
Audio length ~ 7 hours 43 minutes
Narrator ~ the author
POV ~ multiple
Featuring ~ suicide references, interviews

The author is the narrator and an investigative reporter. He seems like he's good at this job as he gives us a look into the crimes of multiple serial killers that took place in Texas going all the way back to the 1950's. Some are pretty gruesome.

There are interviews with the police and wardens, which made me feel like I was right there in the room listening in, so I liked that, but, overall, this was just alright for me. Maybe I prefer my true crime to be about famous killers that I've heard about. Or maybe it would have helped if I lived in Texas. 🤷‍♀️

Thankful for the hoopla bonus borrow, so I didn't have to use a credit.

Narration notes:
I have no complaints about the narration really....but, I'm not sure if it's because I was listening while trying to fall asleep, so my mind was drifting, but I think a chapter repeated, so that disoriented me for a minute.

[Catherine Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of true crime stories based out of Texas. So far, this is a very interesting book.

There were some interesting stories in this book. My only complaint is that the last half of the book was duplicated. Meaning - a chapter would play, and then the next chapter would be the exact one you just heard. Other than that...again...interesting.

[Deedee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Stories by different narrators (including sound effects) are slow and "laid back" which makes them more interesting. First part of book good, but felt book longer than necessary. Listened to Audio on Kindle.

[Heather Burdge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as an Audio book off Hoopla, but I think I preferred it that way because you heard the actual interviews with police, wardens, and even one of the killers.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads exactly like one of those countless true crime shows on tv. You get a various true crime told in a dateline type summery. It was a quick read, but not much depth.

[Cashie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the overall content—however, for some reason, the audiobook would repeat the stories.