The Snowtown Murders: The Real Story Behind the Bodies-in-the-Barrels Killings

by Andrew McGarry

The authoritative book on the murders that stunned the nation by the only journalist who has covered the trials continuously for the last five years. It is a horrifying and gripping account of ritualistic domination, brutal torture and murder that reveals how a group of damaged people preyed on their own lovers, friends and family with unstoppable rage. THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR SALE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA In early June 1999, four men from Adelaide's bleak northern suburbs - John Bunting, Mark Haydon, Robert Wagner and James Vlassakis - were arrested for the killings that were to become known as the 'bodies-in-the-barrels' murders. As the macabre details of yet another bizarre South Australian crime spree were reported by the press, it became apparent that the most prolific serial killings in Australia's history had been committed by self-styled vigilantes, who justified their actions by claiming their victims were paedophiles. their leader was John Justin Bunting, and for most of the 1990s, he and his proteges were part of a group of damaged people that preyed upon itself. Lovers, friends, relatives and enemies were caught up in a web of Bunting's unappeasable rage as the disadvantaged of Adelaide's northern suburbs fell victim to vicious murder, and their meagre possessions and identities were stolen to gain tens of thousands of dollars in welfare benefits.

Genres: True Crime

370 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Xanthi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had read this book before watching the film 'Snowtown', as then I might not have found that to be as confusing as I did. There are a lot of 'players' in this true crime story, and their relationships with each other interwoven to the point of being baffling. Add to that most have changed their names numerous times, and you have a recipe for befuddlement. There was a chart at the start of the books, outlining the key people, their aliases and how they were connected to each other, which proved to be very useful. Infact, I had to keep referring to it throughout the start of first half of the book.
If you are not familiar with the story of these murders, you are in for a gruesome shock. There is a lot of brutal detail included, covering torture, murder, mutilation and cannibalism.
The second half of the book is mainly about the long court proceedings once the murderers were discovered and arrested.
It must have been a nightmare of complexity to write this book, given the years it spans, the amount of people involved, and the long trial and mountains of evidence and interviews. The author did well to piece it together so it made some sense to the reader.
This book is certainly not for the squeamish.

[Tanny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrific, interesting. Quite detailed but some components vague. Was surprised by number of spelling/grammar errors.

[Matthew Furman · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favorite book on the insanity that was Snowtown. Debi Marshall's "Killing for Pleasure" is all you need.