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The Fatalist
The largely untold story of Australian multiple murderer Lindsey Rose - by someone who had no idea his mate was a killer.
'I first met Lindsey Rose playing pool at The Burwood Hotel in 1988. I was two years out of high school. He'd already committed three murders. None of us knew.
'We knew he was a brothel owner, we knew not to get on his wrong side, but we knew nothing of his lives past: fitter and turner, ambulance officer, private investigator, car thief, hijacker, arsonist, mercenary, drug dealer. Murderer.
'I drank at The Burwood on and off for six years. The last time I saw Lindsey as a free man was in early 1994 when he came to a poker game at my home. By then he'd committed two more murders - on Valentine's Day 1994 - and that made five.'
What factors are at play in the creation of a cold-blooded killer? How can a relaxed, sociable, loving man with a strong work ethic keep the truth of his inner life, his dark side, hidden from friends, family and even the woman he marries?
Informed by the science of criminal psychology, court documents and transcripts, correspondence and many interviews with Rose in the notorious Goulburn Supermax prison, Campbell McConachie's account is a unique and fascinating journey into the life and mind of a multiple murderer.
'I first met Lindsey Rose playing pool at The Burwood Hotel in 1988. I was two years out of high school. He'd already committed three murders. None of us knew.
'We knew he was a brothel owner, we knew not to get on his wrong side, but we knew nothing of his lives past: fitter and turner, ambulance officer, private investigator, car thief, hijacker, arsonist, mercenary, drug dealer. Murderer.
'I drank at The Burwood on and off for six years. The last time I saw Lindsey as a free man was in early 1994 when he came to a poker game at my home. By then he'd committed two more murders - on Valentine's Day 1994 - and that made five.'
What factors are at play in the creation of a cold-blooded killer? How can a relaxed, sociable, loving man with a strong work ethic keep the truth of his inner life, his dark side, hidden from friends, family and even the woman he marries?
Informed by the science of criminal psychology, court documents and transcripts, correspondence and many interviews with Rose in the notorious Goulburn Supermax prison, Campbell McConachie's account is a unique and fascinating journey into the life and mind of a multiple murderer.
- GenresTrue Crime
376 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
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71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 27, 2017
Author Campbell McConachie had a large task on his hands. You can tell he has tried to give a factual account of the horrendous crimes and to shed light on Lindsay's life and maybe a clue as to what turned him into a killer. I get the feeling that this book is something McConachie needed to do for himself, to reconcile the friendly guy he socialised with down the local pub with a guy who seemed to have no qualms in slaying multiple people. More than a gunshot to the head, but brutal slayings and attacks with knives and screwdrivers. How could this be the same person?
I found The Fatalist interesting, yet at times I felt Rose had a touch of the Chopper Read's about him. Some stories seem embellished, timelines conflicted, and characters seemed lifted from Underbelly. Was this McConachie's intention? I don't think so. The author explains the 'tangled spaghetti' of homes and timelines Rose was alleged to live in, and when questioned, it seems that the author is still missing some key pieces of Rose's life. Those pieces are not shared to protect Rose's own family and that of the author, which lend to the confusion within the chapters. Yet Rose tells these stories well and stands by the fact he only took the lives of those who deserved it, or that were living with, or off of those who were bad. I'm not sure the victim's families feel quite the same way.
At times I found Lindsay Rose a smart, funny guy and I too felt conflicted reading the life of a man who went to the school of hard knocks and made some decisions which took him away from a positive life (ambulance officer), to that of a career criminal who escalated into murder. With all criminals, there seems to be a justification of sorts for the crimes or at least a reason, but the deeds themselves left me cold.
An interesting, yet sometimes uncomfortable true crime read. An insight into one of Australias most infamous murderers by someone who knew Rose, before knowing he was a killer.
3 out of 5
Copy of The Fatalist given to me by Hachette in exchange for an honest review.
I found The Fatalist interesting, yet at times I felt Rose had a touch of the Chopper Read's about him. Some stories seem embellished, timelines conflicted, and characters seemed lifted from Underbelly. Was this McConachie's intention? I don't think so. The author explains the 'tangled spaghetti' of homes and timelines Rose was alleged to live in, and when questioned, it seems that the author is still missing some key pieces of Rose's life. Those pieces are not shared to protect Rose's own family and that of the author, which lend to the confusion within the chapters. Yet Rose tells these stories well and stands by the fact he only took the lives of those who deserved it, or that were living with, or off of those who were bad. I'm not sure the victim's families feel quite the same way.
At times I found Lindsay Rose a smart, funny guy and I too felt conflicted reading the life of a man who went to the school of hard knocks and made some decisions which took him away from a positive life (ambulance officer), to that of a career criminal who escalated into murder. With all criminals, there seems to be a justification of sorts for the crimes or at least a reason, but the deeds themselves left me cold.
An interesting, yet sometimes uncomfortable true crime read. An insight into one of Australias most infamous murderers by someone who knew Rose, before knowing he was a killer.
3 out of 5
Copy of The Fatalist given to me by Hachette in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2017
Despite knowing how it ends, you can’t put this true life thriller down. The voice is pure McConachie, the characters achingly real. Just how the author keeps you hanging on the edge of your seat until the very end is the real genius of The Fatalist.
Rose is a truly bad man, and McConachie makes no excuses as he meticulously examines the motivations, the fell intent, the brutal, calculated deeds of this murderer.
But McConachie won’t let you disengage from Rose the man. You might not like him. You certainly don’t condone his actions, but you just can’t help wishing you’d had a beer with him at the Burwood. Just once.
My son Lachlan said he just didn’t want this book to end.
Rose is a truly bad man, and McConachie makes no excuses as he meticulously examines the motivations, the fell intent, the brutal, calculated deeds of this murderer.
But McConachie won’t let you disengage from Rose the man. You might not like him. You certainly don’t condone his actions, but you just can’t help wishing you’d had a beer with him at the Burwood. Just once.
My son Lachlan said he just didn’t want this book to end.
October 5, 2017
Such an interesting journey as page by page we discover the complexities of man's inhumanity to man and yet one finds oneself hoping for a happy ending ....this troubled man has so very many talents and redeeming features too but as we learn with each enthralling chapter, he needs to be stopped !!
So many familiar details,notorious names and places add a richness to this story which made it all seem so true and personal.
I really appreciated the depth of detail that was revealed and also realise that so much had to be held back in order to protect so many other lives.
Highly recommended !!
So many familiar details,notorious names and places add a richness to this story which made it all seem so true and personal.
I really appreciated the depth of detail that was revealed and also realise that so much had to be held back in order to protect so many other lives.
Highly recommended !!
September 11, 2017
If there's such a thing as a thoughtful and yet terrifying page turner this non fiction (truth is stranger than fiction) account is it. The author shuffles us back and forth seamlessly between Lindsay Rose' fascinating / disturbing / sad at times / shocking life story, and the stages the author went through in uncovering further horrifying facts about his friend.
Loved every minute of it. Bloke friendly reading yet not blokey per se - fascinating for all.
Loved every minute of it. Bloke friendly reading yet not blokey per se - fascinating for all.
September 26, 2017
If only Rose had planned his crimes more meticulously the results might not have been so tragic. In his efforts to seek revenge on the villains who have mistreated others, he becomes a villain himself. In killing the two people who 'deserved' it, he murders two innocent bystanders and inadvertently kills another during an attempted burglary. You want to feel sorry for Rose due to the way he was unfairly treated in his childhood and adult life, but then you think about the great pain and suffering his actions have inflicted on the families and friends of those he killed.
An excellent read. Highly recommended.
An excellent read. Highly recommended.
September 30, 2023
The Fatalist Campbell McConachie
A well written tale that provides an understanding of murder, a record of the reality for white Australians growing up in the suburbs, and the experience of the systemic NSW police corruption during the 70's and 80's.
A well written tale that provides an understanding of murder, a record of the reality for white Australians growing up in the suburbs, and the experience of the systemic NSW police corruption during the 70's and 80's.
October 11, 2017
An extremely interesting story from beginning to end, made all the more interesting because it is true. Injected with facts of time and place that made it all very real to me. Brilliant!!!
November 1, 2017
Great book
September 21, 2017
what a story! I feel sorry for Lindsay Rose. He got rid of those that deserved it....shame he couldn't just leave the witnesses alive ..... there are far worse monsters on the loose. very well written and quite objective. very scary the amount of corruption in the police force at the time too, but if anyone is familiar with Underbelly they would already know that corruption was horrid.
November 20, 2017
This was a well written page turner , loved it .
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October 11, 2018Campbell went above and beyond to interview Lindsay Rose and collate information from all manner of sources. The result...a story to unreal to be anything by true.
I suspect Lindsay Rose live a life so full of casual, regular crime that he probably forgot parts of it.
You are never quite at ease, but the author brings you into Lindseys life and thoughts, and at times, you find yourself 'on his side'.
A great, super researched, read.
I suspect Lindsay Rose live a life so full of casual, regular crime that he probably forgot parts of it.
You are never quite at ease, but the author brings you into Lindseys life and thoughts, and at times, you find yourself 'on his side'.
A great, super researched, read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews