Monster: Leonard Lawson: Rapist, Murderer, Comic Book Artist

by Daniel Best

In the early 1950s Leonard Lawson was the writer/artist of one of Australia's most popular comic books - The Lone Avenger. In May 1954 he rocked Sydney when he sexually assaulted five young women, ranging in age from 15 to 22, in French's Forest, an act that he was sentenced to death for, which was commuted. Upon his release in 1961 he then raped and murdered another girl before taking an entire school hostage, where he killed another young girl. For his crimes, Lawson was sentenced to Never Be Released.

This is the story of Leonard 'Lennie' Lawson. It lifts the lid on Lawson's life, and that of his ancestor, Mark Brooker, who was also sentenced to death but was transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1825. This book lifts the lid on what drove Lawson to be the Monster that he admitted that he was, and also reveals, for the first time, the full extent of Lawson's crimes.

Using court trial transcripts, contemporary accounts and unpublished material, including correspondence from Lawson himself, Monster will both captivate and horrify the reader as Lawson's depravity and his true nature is revealed.

Monster is the real story of Leonard Lawson. Rapist, murderer and comic book artist.

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2021

Reviews

[Andrew Fielding · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting history of one of Australia's most dangerous people. The writer has done a great deal of research and paints a very disturbing picture of Leonard Lawson and his crimes. The book was easy to read but could have done with some editing to avoid repetition and typos.