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BADNESS
FROM THE HOST OF THE HIT PODCAST I CATCH KILLERS
THE BESTSELLING TRUE CRIME BOOK OF 2022
As a cop, I used to sit on one side of the interview room table facing murderers, child abductors and rapists. Now I'm sitting on the other disgraced, forced out of the police and judged to be a criminal. I want to show you what the world looks like from here.
Talking to crooks, cops, forensic psychologists, scientists and victims, I've gone back to some of Australia's worst acts of badness, including unsolved murders that never made the front pages as well as infamous killings carried out by Ivan Milat and the Granny Killer, the murder of Anita Cobby, the Hoddle Street massacre, Port Arthur, horrific abuse at the Parramatta girls' home and the disappearance of preschooler William Tyrrell.
What I've found has made me question everything, including where evil comes from, what drives us to commit crimes and how we can prevent them. I used to think I was on the side of the angels. Now I am not so sure.
Gary Jubelin was one of Australia's most celebrated Homicide detectives, leading investigations into the William Tyrrell case, the serial killing of three Aboriginal children in Bowraville and the brutal gangland murder of Terry Falconer. In 2020, he was found guilty of illicitly recording conversations with a witness. Since leaving the NSW Police Force, he has built a career in the media, working in newspapers, television and podcasts. Gary still works hard to help the victims of crime.
THE BESTSELLING TRUE CRIME BOOK OF 2022
As a cop, I used to sit on one side of the interview room table facing murderers, child abductors and rapists. Now I'm sitting on the other disgraced, forced out of the police and judged to be a criminal. I want to show you what the world looks like from here.
Talking to crooks, cops, forensic psychologists, scientists and victims, I've gone back to some of Australia's worst acts of badness, including unsolved murders that never made the front pages as well as infamous killings carried out by Ivan Milat and the Granny Killer, the murder of Anita Cobby, the Hoddle Street massacre, Port Arthur, horrific abuse at the Parramatta girls' home and the disappearance of preschooler William Tyrrell.
What I've found has made me question everything, including where evil comes from, what drives us to commit crimes and how we can prevent them. I used to think I was on the side of the angels. Now I am not so sure.
Gary Jubelin was one of Australia's most celebrated Homicide detectives, leading investigations into the William Tyrrell case, the serial killing of three Aboriginal children in Bowraville and the brutal gangland murder of Terry Falconer. In 2020, he was found guilty of illicitly recording conversations with a witness. Since leaving the NSW Police Force, he has built a career in the media, working in newspapers, television and podcasts. Gary still works hard to help the victims of crime.
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First published January 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
November 10, 2022
This guy’s en pointe! I love reading about his original way.
I am seeing the stage show at Bathurst this month, and I'm telling anyone who will listen, he 'wrote badass' this is while I'm explaining what he was like as a detective, pretty hardcore etc etc, I realise after all my gushing.. 'I think it's Badness'. Those who know me understand my enthusiastic bookish way.
I enjoyed this book, and I find Gary Jubelin to be such a fascinating man. He holds no punches, he makes no excuses for going in hard at every stage of his career, and pushing hard and fast at everything that he does, in work and in play. He is fit, he boxes with old school trainers and mixes in these groups with those so very different to himself, but this does not matter to him, Gary is humble and empathetic and his former profession doesn't get in the way. These traits in turn earn a mutual respect amongst all that he deals with, and if others don't like him or agree with his ways, I get the feeling that Gary doesn't give a toss.
This is a different take to the first book I Catch Killers: The Life and Many Deaths of a Homicide Detective, this time he takes us into the world of speaking to the other side where those can describe their world of 'badness' where they have partaken in it, or tried to stop it from happening, or experienced it first hand. There is a lot of badness out there, and we hear of this from some families that crusade for justice, and at times, show much forgiveness.
If someone committed a crime under my watch, I did everything under my power to catch them. I was ruthless in the way I went after criminals and make no apologies for doing so. I like to think I made a difference. This is honesty, and if you read this book, you will see this trait is of utmost importance to this author.
I can see Gary meeting old crims, he describes their meetings and initial wariness, but this quickly chages to a type of kinship. He talks about high profile cases that I have always been aware of, mostly because of my close vicinity to the crimes, Anita Cobby and Michelle Pogmore a 13 year old girl. My father worked for the old Commmonwealth Employment Service and had dealings with a couple of these killers, deplorable men who happend to live in the suburb I grew up in if I am not mistaken, and I now live close to where Michelle was murdered. The identity of the killer still unknown. Would Gary be there if it ever went to trial, asks her mother as Gary pays her a visit years later? Of course, is the answer. Who cares this much? He does. She'd be 30 if she were alive today.
What I will take away from this book is the empathy Gary shows for Michelle's mother, a battler from Mt Druitt, who couldn't afford to got into Mt Duitt police to pick her up, who probably didn't have the means to look after her daughter properly. Gary calls her up asking how she is doing. No one else would do this. She would turn up to the police station with a gift hamper for the staff on the anniversary of her daugher's death, as a thank you and a reminder of her beloved girl. There were never any answers. In the end she was seen as a trouble maker as no one, years down the track, even knew who this lady was. It breaks your heart.
My son recently had a tour of this same police station as he is interested in the line of work, and my daguhter has just completed her Bachelors degreee of criminology and is working as a youth worker. I have recommeneded Gary's stories, to be a little more prepared on the trauma many famiies are facing, or have faced.
This story also shows me that the police force may not always be as shiny as we would like them to be. As I always look into the lives of those I read about, and I work in an academic library, I borrowed a book about disgraced former Judge, Marcus Enfield, about his corruption and other high ranking police, those who do things like hard core drug corruption when they are meant to be working in the high ranks of groups who are meant to oppose such behaviour.
Gary works as a journalist as well as a podcaster, he is a speaker and now an author. It will be great to see what he turns his hand to next. His stories are intersesting and I'm looking forward to seeing him in conversation soon. I enjoyed this book, but did enjoy the previous a little more. He is quite simply a very complex and fascinating man, with the ability to tell his story with honesty and candour.
I am seeing the stage show at Bathurst this month, and I'm telling anyone who will listen, he 'wrote badass' this is while I'm explaining what he was like as a detective, pretty hardcore etc etc, I realise after all my gushing.. 'I think it's Badness'. Those who know me understand my enthusiastic bookish way.
I enjoyed this book, and I find Gary Jubelin to be such a fascinating man. He holds no punches, he makes no excuses for going in hard at every stage of his career, and pushing hard and fast at everything that he does, in work and in play. He is fit, he boxes with old school trainers and mixes in these groups with those so very different to himself, but this does not matter to him, Gary is humble and empathetic and his former profession doesn't get in the way. These traits in turn earn a mutual respect amongst all that he deals with, and if others don't like him or agree with his ways, I get the feeling that Gary doesn't give a toss.
This is a different take to the first book I Catch Killers: The Life and Many Deaths of a Homicide Detective, this time he takes us into the world of speaking to the other side where those can describe their world of 'badness' where they have partaken in it, or tried to stop it from happening, or experienced it first hand. There is a lot of badness out there, and we hear of this from some families that crusade for justice, and at times, show much forgiveness.
If someone committed a crime under my watch, I did everything under my power to catch them. I was ruthless in the way I went after criminals and make no apologies for doing so. I like to think I made a difference. This is honesty, and if you read this book, you will see this trait is of utmost importance to this author.
I can see Gary meeting old crims, he describes their meetings and initial wariness, but this quickly chages to a type of kinship. He talks about high profile cases that I have always been aware of, mostly because of my close vicinity to the crimes, Anita Cobby and Michelle Pogmore a 13 year old girl. My father worked for the old Commmonwealth Employment Service and had dealings with a couple of these killers, deplorable men who happend to live in the suburb I grew up in if I am not mistaken, and I now live close to where Michelle was murdered. The identity of the killer still unknown. Would Gary be there if it ever went to trial, asks her mother as Gary pays her a visit years later? Of course, is the answer. Who cares this much? He does. She'd be 30 if she were alive today.
What I will take away from this book is the empathy Gary shows for Michelle's mother, a battler from Mt Druitt, who couldn't afford to got into Mt Duitt police to pick her up, who probably didn't have the means to look after her daughter properly. Gary calls her up asking how she is doing. No one else would do this. She would turn up to the police station with a gift hamper for the staff on the anniversary of her daugher's death, as a thank you and a reminder of her beloved girl. There were never any answers. In the end she was seen as a trouble maker as no one, years down the track, even knew who this lady was. It breaks your heart.
My son recently had a tour of this same police station as he is interested in the line of work, and my daguhter has just completed her Bachelors degreee of criminology and is working as a youth worker. I have recommeneded Gary's stories, to be a little more prepared on the trauma many famiies are facing, or have faced.
This story also shows me that the police force may not always be as shiny as we would like them to be. As I always look into the lives of those I read about, and I work in an academic library, I borrowed a book about disgraced former Judge, Marcus Enfield, about his corruption and other high ranking police, those who do things like hard core drug corruption when they are meant to be working in the high ranks of groups who are meant to oppose such behaviour.
Gary works as a journalist as well as a podcaster, he is a speaker and now an author. It will be great to see what he turns his hand to next. His stories are intersesting and I'm looking forward to seeing him in conversation soon. I enjoyed this book, but did enjoy the previous a little more. He is quite simply a very complex and fascinating man, with the ability to tell his story with honesty and candour.
January 4, 2023
4.5 stars
Badness is the sequel to I Catch Killers.
Absolutely brilliant!
Thank you Gary for your honesty and humanity.
Listened to the audio version. Narrator: Rob Carlton - superb narration.
Badness is the sequel to I Catch Killers.
Absolutely brilliant!
Thank you Gary for your honesty and humanity.
Listened to the audio version. Narrator: Rob Carlton - superb narration.
October 5, 2022
Not a bad story but also not an excellent book. I think the idea of the story was to try and define Badness by interviewing various people for podcasts such as criminals and investigators. Eventually if you dig deep enough you will find good in most bad people and bad in some good people.
The story flows easily and I must admit I have a lot of admiration for Gary Jubelin simply because of his input into the William Tyrell abduction. I’m sure the case would be solved if he was still on the case. It is interesting seeing how his beliefs do change over the course o the storyline.
The story flows easily and I must admit I have a lot of admiration for Gary Jubelin simply because of his input into the William Tyrell abduction. I’m sure the case would be solved if he was still on the case. It is interesting seeing how his beliefs do change over the course o the storyline.
September 30, 2022
Fantastic book !
May 30, 2024
This book is really thought-provoking and though it felt slow to start, it really ramps up. The author left the police force in disgrace for covertly recording a suspect - and since becoming a “criminal” has thought a lot about what constitutes “badness” and how some people are drawn to commit heinous acts while others (most) aren’t. He weaves his personal experiences throughout the book nicely, and makes the reader question how “bad” his own actions really were, while showcasing the great(er) impact that some people outside of the police force are having on trying to deter crime. 👌🏽
March 18, 2024
DNF at 70% just couldn’t get through it
December 7, 2022
It’s a good book, although if you are a regular listener to his podcast you will have heard most if it on there. For that reason I’m giving it 3 ⭐️
May 21, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
September 26, 2022
Really enjoyable..I've read both books by Paul and most of Dan Box's.. This one had great back ground to some cases and I LOVE the old fashioned crims and their stories...
November 9, 2022
This second book by Gary Jubelin is even better than his first. A raw, honest look at what makes some people bad, and whether there is badness in all of us. Highly recommend this book to those interested in Gary’s new career as a journalist and podcaster.
October 18, 2022
I think more could have been with this book. It seemed like Gary was using the story to repeatedly vent his frustrations about leaving the NSW police force. I found this with his first book too.
May 11, 2023
Gary Jubelin, ex-cop and now reporter, has now written two books. He's always so genuine, and in this volume instead of talking more about his cop days like the first one he's diving into the world of 'badness'. What makes someone do bad things? What is evil, really? And that's a topic that I've always been curious about. As a kid growing up I wanted to be a forensic psychologist, to understand what makes the minds of people who do bad things do those things.
To say that I was hooked on this book is an understatement, I read it in one sitting late at night and hung on every word. There's something in the way the Jubelin expresses his thoughts in these books that I can relate with, the way he writes about his anger, his passion and drive both in and out of cops and the way he talks about dealing with the aftermath of his own conviction and being tossed to the side.
But, this book is not about disrespecting his former job, or colleagues. It details his battle with his own self image, and worth, after being tossed out and it's just inspiring to me how now that he's out he can see the world from a different place. But mostly it's about Badness. What it is, why the people who act out terrible crimes do it, and whether there really is some genetic reason people are predisposed to a life of crime - some of the answers come straight from the ex-crooks mouths and in my humble opinion that's something incredible he's done there.
I find that I like Gary, though I've never met him. I like that he has his reasons for doing what he did and I like that he went hard on crooks when he was in the cops - and that he has no qualms for talking about why he did so. He got the work done, and he found the bad guys and I respect him for that. On paper, he's a man I shouldn't like. He was a cop, and now he's a journo. When have either of those done right by me? But it's his honesty, that by reading this book and it's predecessor you know is important to him, and it's the way he talks about victims of these terrible crimes and how he treats the families afterward. No other cop would call up the mother of a thirteen year old murdered girl to ask how she's going, no other cop would talk to an ex-crook and ask what happened to them that turned them into who they are. Australia, and the rest of the world, needs more cops like Gary and I'm afraid that breed has died out.
For those of you who don't want to read a massive paragraph, I leave you with this:
This book is for those who are curious about crime, but not your typical true crime lovers, the ones that want to understand what makes crims tick. What makes them do what they do? If you ask that question, this book doesn't hold all the answers but it's a bloody good place to start.
To say that I was hooked on this book is an understatement, I read it in one sitting late at night and hung on every word. There's something in the way the Jubelin expresses his thoughts in these books that I can relate with, the way he writes about his anger, his passion and drive both in and out of cops and the way he talks about dealing with the aftermath of his own conviction and being tossed to the side.
But, this book is not about disrespecting his former job, or colleagues. It details his battle with his own self image, and worth, after being tossed out and it's just inspiring to me how now that he's out he can see the world from a different place. But mostly it's about Badness. What it is, why the people who act out terrible crimes do it, and whether there really is some genetic reason people are predisposed to a life of crime - some of the answers come straight from the ex-crooks mouths and in my humble opinion that's something incredible he's done there.
I find that I like Gary, though I've never met him. I like that he has his reasons for doing what he did and I like that he went hard on crooks when he was in the cops - and that he has no qualms for talking about why he did so. He got the work done, and he found the bad guys and I respect him for that. On paper, he's a man I shouldn't like. He was a cop, and now he's a journo. When have either of those done right by me? But it's his honesty, that by reading this book and it's predecessor you know is important to him, and it's the way he talks about victims of these terrible crimes and how he treats the families afterward. No other cop would call up the mother of a thirteen year old murdered girl to ask how she's going, no other cop would talk to an ex-crook and ask what happened to them that turned them into who they are. Australia, and the rest of the world, needs more cops like Gary and I'm afraid that breed has died out.
For those of you who don't want to read a massive paragraph, I leave you with this:
This book is for those who are curious about crime, but not your typical true crime lovers, the ones that want to understand what makes crims tick. What makes them do what they do? If you ask that question, this book doesn't hold all the answers but it's a bloody good place to start.
November 3, 2022
Another great read from this author. I enjoyed reading all of Gary's stories and getting his perspective on cases and perpetators. I liked how he interviewed a range of people for his podcasts from other officers of the law to some criminals also. I also liked hearing Gary's experiences with former criminals who he now considers to be friends/aquaintances and how he can see that there is usually some good in most people and that we shouldn't judge them just on their crimes.
Gary shows us how the mind of an investigator works and I am an admirer of his tenacity in investigating and solving crimes. Gary also updates us on his thoughts on the William Tyrell investigation, a case which almost everyone in Australia has followed at some stage. I also enjoyed reading about the relationships he builds with the families/loved ones of victims of crimes and how he has found a new passion (podcasting and crime reporting) since he left the police force.
#garyjubelin #badness #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #thestorygraph #litsy #amazonaustralia #truecrime #bookqueen #bookstagram
Gary shows us how the mind of an investigator works and I am an admirer of his tenacity in investigating and solving crimes. Gary also updates us on his thoughts on the William Tyrell investigation, a case which almost everyone in Australia has followed at some stage. I also enjoyed reading about the relationships he builds with the families/loved ones of victims of crimes and how he has found a new passion (podcasting and crime reporting) since he left the police force.
#garyjubelin #badness #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #thestorygraph #litsy #amazonaustralia #truecrime #bookqueen #bookstagram
January 22, 2023
Wow, this book was so fascinating and multifaceted. I’ve never heard of Jubelin or his podcast… I downloaded this book because I enjoy true crime and it was on special. I was so impressed by this deep dive, that looked at badness from so many angles. I was particularly interested in Wilma’s story and will be chasing it up. My dad experienced profound trauma in his childhood and adolescence. I only discovered very recently, that he was part of the Forgotten Australians, a whole cohort of institutionalised Australians who were ravaged by abuse. Jubelin’s whole look at criminals and the multiple factors that create them was so thought provoking. I also loved that he exposed a lot of the hypocrisy of institutions who claim to be on the side of good and then commit horrible violence. Fabulous book, I will listen to his podcast and am about to download his other book as an audiobook. Highly recommend this.
February 15, 2023
I spent majority of this book feeling irritated. I feel like the biggest point he was trying to make was that he has been “accepted” into the criminal world and that he is friends with criminals. Also kinda irritated me how he keeps going on about how angry he is that he isn’t a cop anymore and blames all these people YET he admits to doing it. It just so hypercritical and irritating. THE ONLY THING that made me keep reading was the little bit he puts in to some of the cases he worked on but I feel that wasn’t enough, the majority of the book was basically him bragging about being “accepted” by criminals.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2023
Badness
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The sequel to ‘I Catch Killers’ which was my fave book of 2023 so far and ‘Badness’ is a close second.
A great book that works towards telling the untold stories that you wouldn’t think to look into. I chose to read this one before I got too far into the podcast on purpose because I wanted to read Jubelin’s first hand account of these interviews before hearing them.
Awesome background to some well known and less well know Australian cases. A fascinating read that again, I couldn’t get enough of!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The sequel to ‘I Catch Killers’ which was my fave book of 2023 so far and ‘Badness’ is a close second.
A great book that works towards telling the untold stories that you wouldn’t think to look into. I chose to read this one before I got too far into the podcast on purpose because I wanted to read Jubelin’s first hand account of these interviews before hearing them.
Awesome background to some well known and less well know Australian cases. A fascinating read that again, I couldn’t get enough of!
March 9, 2023
You will probably grab this book if like me you listen to Jubelin’s podcast ‘I Catch Killers.’ One of the best interviewers around, he became a journalist only after a 30+ year career as a NSW policeman, detective and homicide investigator.
Particularly eye-opening are ‘revelations’ surrounding his final case, especially the machinations of his superiors and the media.
A propos of nothing, the writer (who must be in his fifties) is one of those few lucky men whose shaved head very much adds to their distinctive look!
3.5 adjusted up to 4
Particularly eye-opening are ‘revelations’ surrounding his final case, especially the machinations of his superiors and the media.
A propos of nothing, the writer (who must be in his fifties) is one of those few lucky men whose shaved head very much adds to their distinctive look!
3.5 adjusted up to 4
November 12, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Three stars.
Again this was a vaguely interesting read, much the same as the first by the author. I listened to the audiobook and although the narration was fine, I often found my mind wandering and realised I wasn’t paying attention. This doesn’t happen to me very often when listening to a book. I normally stay very engaged and focused on what I am listening to. I do have to again note that I have to applaud the author’s honesty in talking about himself, his life and his career. He doesn’t pull any punches.
Three stars.
Again this was a vaguely interesting read, much the same as the first by the author. I listened to the audiobook and although the narration was fine, I often found my mind wandering and realised I wasn’t paying attention. This doesn’t happen to me very often when listening to a book. I normally stay very engaged and focused on what I am listening to. I do have to again note that I have to applaud the author’s honesty in talking about himself, his life and his career. He doesn’t pull any punches.
February 3, 2025
“Sometimes doing nothing is the same as doing evil”
First time reading a True Crime book and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Gary’s brutal honesty is easy to connect with and I have great appreciation for his ability to bring people who have been let down and forgotten by a system that is supposed to protect them into the spotlight.
“The suspects get defended, while victims are victimised and re-victimised”.
And he did not shy away from these hard truths, especially given he played an important role in those systems for a long time.
First time reading a True Crime book and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Gary’s brutal honesty is easy to connect with and I have great appreciation for his ability to bring people who have been let down and forgotten by a system that is supposed to protect them into the spotlight.
“The suspects get defended, while victims are victimised and re-victimised”.
And he did not shy away from these hard truths, especially given he played an important role in those systems for a long time.
January 8, 2023
I don't particularly like cops and I especially don't like journalists, but somehow I thoroughly enjoyed both Badness and its predecessor. As a previous resident of Bowraville, a left-leaning justice pursuant and someone who has struggled to come to terms with her own "badness" and what to do with it, this book was refreshing and I felt a renewed faithfulness that I am not alone in my way of thinking.
March 26, 2024
I don't know if I necessarily believe that "badness" is a thing but nevertheless there are some people that society should be kept safe from, not because they are bad but because they are harmful and cannot or will not comply with the social contract. The book was a good read. It's refreshing to see a former policeman discover that there is no binary good vs evil categorisation clearly dividing law enforcement on one side from criminality on the other. The world is grey, not black and white.
January 4, 2023
This was such an interesting read! I enjoyed the criminology aspect and the opening of the ‘crooks mentality now their lives have progressed. I enjoyed the first book a little more due to their being a bit more action. Although non fiction is still something i’m getting used to, and it took me a little to get through it , it was still an enjoyable read!
October 18, 2022
Big fan of everything this bloke puts out there ! This did feel at times like a big rant about the police (which is probably fair enough) but took away from some of the brilliant stories the book was telling. 3.5.
January 27, 2023
EPIC read! Worth every minute you spend reading it. I am so enthralled by the work Gary did and now does. The concept of badness is explored tastefully... And I'm now even more addicted to his writing! But for now I'm off to binge on his podcast!
July 27, 2024
I mostly read this for insights into Australian crime and then anything more I can learn about the William Tyrell case.
It wasn’t the most amazing book of all time but I did enjoy some of the stories here.
It wasn’t the most amazing book of all time but I did enjoy some of the stories here.
October 31, 2022
Some really interesting insights into the life of a detective in the NSW police force.
November 20, 2022
4.0 stars
December 13, 2022
I really enjoyed this audio book but it would have been even better if Gary had narrated it.
December 28, 2022
Extremely interesting.
January 10, 2023
Absolutely amazing book and life of Gary. His insight and honesty is not only passionate but refreshing. Thank you for sharing your inner thoughts and experiences.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews