What do you think?
Rate this book
The Frankston Murders: 25 Years On
Twenty-five years ago, serial killer Paul Denyer terrorised the bayside suburb of Frankston.
Twenty-five years later, the trauma of his seven-week killing spree still haunts the community.
The spate of murders in 1993 touched many more lives than just the three victims.
All of Melbourne was gripped with fear, as Frankston and surrounding suburbs were flooded with police hunting the serial killer of three young women.
It began on June 11 when Elizabeth Stevens was murdered on her way home from the library. On July 8, Debbie Fream who'd left her 12-day-old baby with a friend while she dashed out for milk, was abducted and killed. Three weeks later, Year 12 student, Natalie Russell, was brutally murdered on her way home from school.
When Paul Denyer, an odd young man, was arrested the day after Natalie's body was found, the police and public were shocked by his lack of emotion. Denyer, who was only 21-years-old, spoke of the three young women with contempt as he described their final moments. Their deaths had simply fuelled his bloodlust.
Eleven years later, just as the public's memory of the Frankston murders began to fade, convicted serial killer, Paul Denyer, made front-page news with his quest to become a woman.
The Frankston Murders: 25 years on details the shocking crimes and explores the lingering effects of what Denyer did. Now 25-years-old, Debbie Fream's son Jake speaks for the first time about the loss of his mother. And Carmel and Brian Russell share their dream for Denyer's ongoing incarceration, as the killer of their child will be eligible to apply for parole for the first time in 2023.
Twenty-five years later, the trauma of his seven-week killing spree still haunts the community.
The spate of murders in 1993 touched many more lives than just the three victims.
All of Melbourne was gripped with fear, as Frankston and surrounding suburbs were flooded with police hunting the serial killer of three young women.
It began on June 11 when Elizabeth Stevens was murdered on her way home from the library. On July 8, Debbie Fream who'd left her 12-day-old baby with a friend while she dashed out for milk, was abducted and killed. Three weeks later, Year 12 student, Natalie Russell, was brutally murdered on her way home from school.
When Paul Denyer, an odd young man, was arrested the day after Natalie's body was found, the police and public were shocked by his lack of emotion. Denyer, who was only 21-years-old, spoke of the three young women with contempt as he described their final moments. Their deaths had simply fuelled his bloodlust.
Eleven years later, just as the public's memory of the Frankston murders began to fade, convicted serial killer, Paul Denyer, made front-page news with his quest to become a woman.
The Frankston Murders: 25 years on details the shocking crimes and explores the lingering effects of what Denyer did. Now 25-years-old, Debbie Fream's son Jake speaks for the first time about the loss of his mother. And Carmel and Brian Russell share their dream for Denyer's ongoing incarceration, as the killer of their child will be eligible to apply for parole for the first time in 2023.
381 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2018
100 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 24, 2023
The Frankston Murders: 25 Years On is a sensitive account of a chilling series of murders in Melbourne’s southern bayside suburbs during mid-1993. Vikki Petraitis provides extensive factual details of the four crimes for which Denyer was convicted, several previous incidents attributable to him and the police investigation that caught him. She also focuses on the lives of the three young women he killed (a fourth managed to escape the same fate and several others were left traumatised after encounters with him) and the continuing pain felt by those left behind.
Denyer has recently become eligible to apply for parole, having served the thirty year minimum term imposed by the Victorian Court of Appeal. Petraitis, in the company of several surviving family member of the victims, is spearheading the campaign to ensure that he is never released.
Denyer has recently become eligible to apply for parole, having served the thirty year minimum term imposed by the Victorian Court of Appeal. Petraitis, in the company of several surviving family member of the victims, is spearheading the campaign to ensure that he is never released.
July 2, 2019
An absorbing and horrifying look at the Frankston serial killer Paul Denyer and his crimes. Three young women with their whole lives ahead; with families who loved them, and one with a tiny baby that would grow up never knowing his mother. It doesn’t bear thinking about, really. Extremely sad.
October 29, 2023
Fascinating book!!!
February 26, 2022
Fuelled By His Bloodlust.
This book is extremely well researched and written and the book captured me from the beginning and is about Paul Denyer who killed 3 women in Frankston and surrounding suburbs in Melbourne in 1993. Paul started his murder spree in June of that year. Elizabeth Stevens was murdered on her way home from the library as she got off the bus to walk the short distance to her aunt and uncle’s home. Then on July 8, Debbie Fream who'd left her 12-day-old baby with a friend while she dashed out for milk, was abducted, and killed. Three weeks later a Year 12 student, Natalie Russell, was brutally murdered on her way home from school. Paul Denyer who was 21 was arrested the day after Natalie's body was found and showed no emotion when police charged him with all three murders. It is a very harrowing and sad book to read as each of these young women’s life was cut short because of the actions of this demented individual. Debbie Fream's son Jake is now 25 and he speaks to Vicki in the book on how Denyer not only Stoll his mum from him at two weeks old but the very sad loss and irreversible damage he did to both Jake and his father’s mental ability to the senseless killing of the young mum. A real page turner about a pathological killer who ended up back in the news when he wanted to become a woman. He is eligible to apply for parole for the first-time next year in 2023. My heart goes out to the three families and I for one hope he is never released to hurt anybody else.
This is the first book I have read by Vikki Petraitis. Vikki is a very good true crime writer and Defiantly look forward to reading more books by her. Thanks to Clan Destine Press I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is extremely well researched and written and the book captured me from the beginning and is about Paul Denyer who killed 3 women in Frankston and surrounding suburbs in Melbourne in 1993. Paul started his murder spree in June of that year. Elizabeth Stevens was murdered on her way home from the library as she got off the bus to walk the short distance to her aunt and uncle’s home. Then on July 8, Debbie Fream who'd left her 12-day-old baby with a friend while she dashed out for milk, was abducted, and killed. Three weeks later a Year 12 student, Natalie Russell, was brutally murdered on her way home from school. Paul Denyer who was 21 was arrested the day after Natalie's body was found and showed no emotion when police charged him with all three murders. It is a very harrowing and sad book to read as each of these young women’s life was cut short because of the actions of this demented individual. Debbie Fream's son Jake is now 25 and he speaks to Vicki in the book on how Denyer not only Stoll his mum from him at two weeks old but the very sad loss and irreversible damage he did to both Jake and his father’s mental ability to the senseless killing of the young mum. A real page turner about a pathological killer who ended up back in the news when he wanted to become a woman. He is eligible to apply for parole for the first-time next year in 2023. My heart goes out to the three families and I for one hope he is never released to hurt anybody else.
This is the first book I have read by Vikki Petraitis. Vikki is a very good true crime writer and Defiantly look forward to reading more books by her. Thanks to Clan Destine Press I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 2, 2021
What a well written book. I love how this horrible incident was set out in the book which made me want to keep reading A terrible situation but the book gave feeling to the victims and their families and how they were affected by this monster. I would definitely recommend reading this book
December 5, 2020
I heard about this book from a podcast that I listened to that recommend the book. Very well written book on a horrific murder spree
May 30, 2020
This was another good read.
Had never heard about this cowardly creep. Well that was what I thought but in the end I heard about a prisoner demanding sex change and things like that and yes I had read about that in the papers.
What an attention seeker.
Yes I can sometimes even feel some kind of empathy for the killer but definitely not with this case. No empathy for him at all. This is a cruel narcissistic killer who does not care for any one but himself.
Still shocking how so much care is being given to the criminals compared to their victims.
Had never heard about this cowardly creep. Well that was what I thought but in the end I heard about a prisoner demanding sex change and things like that and yes I had read about that in the papers.
What an attention seeker.
Yes I can sometimes even feel some kind of empathy for the killer but definitely not with this case. No empathy for him at all. This is a cruel narcissistic killer who does not care for any one but himself.
Still shocking how so much care is being given to the criminals compared to their victims.
August 13, 2019
The crimes
we're intolerable, horrific and unsettling. The outcome of the crimes continue to be felt by the victims families. The very thought that justice might be denied by a flimsy law, which could eventually allow a serial murderer to be released early is unfathomable.
I feel sorry for the parents, siblings and all family members of the victims, but mostly for Jake. I hope he finds peace.
Different writing style, but definitely readable.
we're intolerable, horrific and unsettling. The outcome of the crimes continue to be felt by the victims families. The very thought that justice might be denied by a flimsy law, which could eventually allow a serial murderer to be released early is unfathomable.
I feel sorry for the parents, siblings and all family members of the victims, but mostly for Jake. I hope he finds peace.
Different writing style, but definitely readable.
February 4, 2024
Best Crime Writer
Vikki stands out amongst crime writers because of the depth and breadth of her research. She examines every angle through close access to detectives, family members, and others close to the murders. Most importantly, she also looks at the impact many years later on the families of the victims, ( who continue to be victims ) and who are so often forgotten.
Vikki stands out amongst crime writers because of the depth and breadth of her research. She examines every angle through close access to detectives, family members, and others close to the murders. Most importantly, she also looks at the impact many years later on the families of the victims, ( who continue to be victims ) and who are so often forgotten.
November 1, 2025
Absolutely enthralling and captivating account of Paul Denyer and the Frankston murders.
Vikki manages to document thoroughly and extensively, yet still remains respectful and compassionate for the victims and the their families. You can really tell that she cares and feels deeply for the victims and those left behind in the aftermath of these devastating crimes.
An absolute must-read!
Vikki manages to document thoroughly and extensively, yet still remains respectful and compassionate for the victims and the their families. You can really tell that she cares and feels deeply for the victims and those left behind in the aftermath of these devastating crimes.
An absolute must-read!
May 11, 2019
Chilling coverage of the Frankston murders of 3 young women and the brutal young man who took their lives. Moves to 25 years later to the victims' and killer's family and how the crimes affect them all still.
March 5, 2024
This book was very well written, easy to understand and it went into great detail.
I had heard of the Frankston Murders but didn't know a lot about it, I feel the book has answered most of my questions.
I had heard of the Frankston Murders but didn't know a lot about it, I feel the book has answered most of my questions.
July 31, 2023
Book was a really good read and also the podcast is awesome recommend
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews