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Unanswered Cries: A True Story of Friends, Neighbors, and Murder in a Small Town
The fatal night
On a warm Florida evening, Karen Gregory saw a familiar face at her door. What the beautiful young woman could not know was that she was staring into the eyes of her killer--a savage monster who would rape her, stab her to death, and leave her battered body on the floor outside the bedroom.
The desperate search
Detectives frantically sifting through the evidence were tormented by one disturbing question after another: What did the strangely worded note from a friend mean? Why was the house so orderly, when it had been the scene of a frenzied struggle? Why were the bloody footprints on the carpet barefoot? What happened to the white lace teddy missing from Karen's drawer?
The shattering discovery
Police detective Larry Tosi stayed up nights watching the video of the grisly crime scene, looking for the one telltale clue that would lead him to Karen's killer--until slowly, and with growing horror, he realized that the maniac he was hunting was someone he knew...someone he called a friend.
On a warm Florida evening, Karen Gregory saw a familiar face at her door. What the beautiful young woman could not know was that she was staring into the eyes of her killer--a savage monster who would rape her, stab her to death, and leave her battered body on the floor outside the bedroom.
The desperate search
Detectives frantically sifting through the evidence were tormented by one disturbing question after another: What did the strangely worded note from a friend mean? Why was the house so orderly, when it had been the scene of a frenzied struggle? Why were the bloody footprints on the carpet barefoot? What happened to the white lace teddy missing from Karen's drawer?
The shattering discovery
Police detective Larry Tosi stayed up nights watching the video of the grisly crime scene, looking for the one telltale clue that would lead him to Karen's killer--until slowly, and with growing horror, he realized that the maniac he was hunting was someone he knew...someone he called a friend.
402 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1992
78 people are currently reading
899 people want to read
About the author
Thomas French
6 books33 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Thomas French, a Pulitzer prize-winning reporter, has spent the past quarter century redefining the possibilities of journalistic storytelling, both in his writing and in his teaching around the world.
French grew up in Indiana and attended journalism school at Indiana University’s Bloomington campus, where he was a Poynter scholar and editor-in-chief at the Indiana Daily Student, and where he won a Hearst award for a profile of a giant hog at the Indiana State Fair. An editor at the St. Petersburg Times read the hog story and hired French, just as he was graduating from IU, as a night cops reporter.
French spent the next 27 years at the Times, covering hurricanes and criminal trials and the secret lives of high school students. He experimented with narrative techniques both on deadline and nondeadline work and specialized in serial narratives, book-length stories published one chapter at a time.
In 1998, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing and a Sigma Delta Chi award for Angels & Demons, a series that chronicled the murder of an Ohio woman and her two teenage daughters as they vacationed in Tampa. Two of his other serials, A Cry in the Night and South of Heaven, were later published as books. His most recent project, Zoo Story, explored the inner world of Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo and is scheduled to be published in book form by Hyperion in July 2010.
French is a Writing Fellow at the Poynter Institute and has taught there for more than 20 years. He also teaches in a nonfiction masters program at Goucher College, outside Baltimore, and has led narrative workshops across the U.S. and around the world, from the Nieman conference at Harvard to newsrooms in Dubai, Singapore and Johannesburg. He is married to Kelley Benham, a national award-winning reporter and editor at the St. Petersburg Times, and has two sons.
He is proud to have returned to his alma mater and is currently teaching narrative journalism and story mechanics.
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Thomas French, a Pulitzer prize-winning reporter, has spent the past quarter century redefining the possibilities of journalistic storytelling, both in his writing and in his teaching around the world.
French grew up in Indiana and attended journalism school at Indiana University’s Bloomington campus, where he was a Poynter scholar and editor-in-chief at the Indiana Daily Student, and where he won a Hearst award for a profile of a giant hog at the Indiana State Fair. An editor at the St. Petersburg Times read the hog story and hired French, just as he was graduating from IU, as a night cops reporter.
French spent the next 27 years at the Times, covering hurricanes and criminal trials and the secret lives of high school students. He experimented with narrative techniques both on deadline and nondeadline work and specialized in serial narratives, book-length stories published one chapter at a time.
In 1998, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing and a Sigma Delta Chi award for Angels & Demons, a series that chronicled the murder of an Ohio woman and her two teenage daughters as they vacationed in Tampa. Two of his other serials, A Cry in the Night and South of Heaven, were later published as books. His most recent project, Zoo Story, explored the inner world of Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo and is scheduled to be published in book form by Hyperion in July 2010.
French is a Writing Fellow at the Poynter Institute and has taught there for more than 20 years. He also teaches in a nonfiction masters program at Goucher College, outside Baltimore, and has led narrative workshops across the U.S. and around the world, from the Nieman conference at Harvard to newsrooms in Dubai, Singapore and Johannesburg. He is married to Kelley Benham, a national award-winning reporter and editor at the St. Petersburg Times, and has two sons.
He is proud to have returned to his alma mater and is currently teaching narrative journalism and story mechanics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
December 30, 2013
When Karen Gregory was attacked in her Florida home, she screamed. Her scream was heard by more than a dozen neighbors and if was audible for several blocks. Yet no one called the police. Her body was discovered thirty-one hours later and the trail was cold. There were things about this case that puzzled detectives. There was a note left on a car in the driveway, detectives wondered why the police were not called since there was blood and broken glass outside the front door. Also the evidence pointed to a violent struggle, but the house was neat and clean. There were bloody footprints and a white lace teddy was missing.
Some of these questions are answered and for others the detectives had to draw their own conclusions. Mr. French brings all these to our attention. He also chronicles the effect the murder had on Karen’s friends and relatives, showing how a murder affects more than just the person killed and therefore how cruel an act it is.
A very compelling book from start to finish.
Some of these questions are answered and for others the detectives had to draw their own conclusions. Mr. French brings all these to our attention. He also chronicles the effect the murder had on Karen’s friends and relatives, showing how a murder affects more than just the person killed and therefore how cruel an act it is.
A very compelling book from start to finish.
December 28, 2023
This was the perfect mix of information about the victim and her family, the suspect and his background, the crime scene and the courtcase. I would have liked to see photos in the book, but that didnt take away how much I enjoyed reading it. At times I was second guessing whether he actually did it or not.
September 2, 2010
On Wednesday, February 25, 2004 I wrote about this book on bookcrossing:
Actuallly this was a great book. I did read this in 1 and a half day, so thats pretty quick, considering English is not my native language.;) (It is my mothers, she is English, but we always spoke Dutch)
This Book was very well written.The most shocking of this book is that even if you live in a small and friendly neighborhood you are not safe.everybody living there heard Karen scream but nobody helped, or checked what was going on.
Actuallly this was a great book. I did read this in 1 and a half day, so thats pretty quick, considering English is not my native language.;) (It is my mothers, she is English, but we always spoke Dutch)
This Book was very well written.The most shocking of this book is that even if you live in a small and friendly neighborhood you are not safe.everybody living there heard Karen scream but nobody helped, or checked what was going on.
January 20, 2013
Unanswered Cries is the lengthy and true crime story of the murder of Karen Gregory a Graphic Artist living in Florida. The book not only focuses on the murder itself but emphasized what the friends and family of the victim had gone through as the case progressed. What I liked about this book compared to other true crime stories is the author did not immediately fill you in on who the accused was so it kept you guessing a bit. Most of the time they paint a picture of a murder and identify the killer on the first few chapters. I also liked it for the depictions of court as a slow meandering process with the ability to confuse and traumatize its jurors. The one thing I want to mention though is the book takes you through every possible detail of the case from the actual murder to how many different judges presided over the case in court, to what they ate in prison, etc. So it can get dull at some points but overall I thought it was a good book and would probably read more by Thomas French.
September 28, 2019
Thomas French is something the true crime genre needs more of: a truly great writer. While there was still a bit too much courtroom stuff for my taste, French did his best to make it interesting, and for the most part, he succeeded.
What a sad, bizarre case. Karen Gregory was beginning a new life, with a new job and a new home--moving in with her boyfriend. She had dinner with a friend, only to be brutally raped and murdered that same evening by someone who was supposedly the neighbourhood's helping hero.
There were times this book moved me to tears, which rarely happens with true crime and proves that French did a fantastic job humanizing Karen and her friends. I would have liked to know a bit more about Karen, but this book was already sad enough--especially since all her neighbours heard her scream for her life and did nothing.
What a sad, bizarre case. Karen Gregory was beginning a new life, with a new job and a new home--moving in with her boyfriend. She had dinner with a friend, only to be brutally raped and murdered that same evening by someone who was supposedly the neighbourhood's helping hero.
There were times this book moved me to tears, which rarely happens with true crime and proves that French did a fantastic job humanizing Karen and her friends. I would have liked to know a bit more about Karen, but this book was already sad enough--especially since all her neighbours heard her scream for her life and did nothing.
June 30, 2022
This audiobook about the murder of Karen Gregory is grizzly, confusing, and leaves unanswered questions.
This is the true story of the cries of Karen that went unanswered in the night. Several neighbors heard the scream, but only one neighbor responded. Her friend, fireman, George Lewis.
And he became the prime suspect in the murder. He continues through the book to change his original story. This, of course, made him look guilty. None of his thought that he was capable of the horrendous murder of Karen. Besides, she was friends with him and his wife.
When the trial finally started, there were several people who thought his conviction was fraught with problems that the jurors found confusing.
But, in the end..........
The case is far from over even today.
Very interesting, and like Alfred Hitchcock, the end is far from over.
This is the true story of the cries of Karen that went unanswered in the night. Several neighbors heard the scream, but only one neighbor responded. Her friend, fireman, George Lewis.
And he became the prime suspect in the murder. He continues through the book to change his original story. This, of course, made him look guilty. None of his thought that he was capable of the horrendous murder of Karen. Besides, she was friends with him and his wife.
When the trial finally started, there were several people who thought his conviction was fraught with problems that the jurors found confusing.
But, in the end..........
The case is far from over even today.
Very interesting, and like Alfred Hitchcock, the end is far from over.
January 26, 2016
Thomas French gives so much of himself to his fans and this book was no exception.
His attention to detail is astonishing and that is for both the prosecution and defence sides. He top-notch. I highly recommend this particular book and I give it
5 Stars ⑉
His attention to detail is astonishing and that is for both the prosecution and defence sides. He top-notch. I highly recommend this particular book and I give it
5 Stars ⑉
March 8, 2009
Grabbed this book at a flea market when I was living in Tampa and was glad I did. This story will make you NEVER ignore the sounds that go bump in the night (or when you hear someone scream but assume that person is 'goofing around.') A true story that will frustrate you about how the legal system works (and sometimes doesn't) and the complacency of others.
January 9, 2021
A good true crime story about a firefighter that rapes and murders a woman.
It’s well told but could have done with a lot less legal stuff
It’s well told but could have done with a lot less legal stuff
May 20, 2024
Lots of twists and turns in this book!
June 20, 2013
As with all true crime, I hate to say I "enjoyed" the book. The response, or lack thereof, of this woman's neighbours did make me take a look at myself though. I like to think that if I heard this woman scream in the night as they did, that unlike them, I'd have called the police. But who knows. How often do we hear something and think, "oh it was probably just kids playing" or "someone just got startled by a mouse". I know now though, I'll never write off a scream. I'd rather be wrong and have made a wasted call than never call at all when it mattered.
The book was a bit slow towards the last half, but otherwise had suspense and left you wondering "who really did it" through the majority.
The book was a bit slow towards the last half, but otherwise had suspense and left you wondering "who really did it" through the majority.
June 30, 2017
After reading a book about a murder and the subsequent charge and conviction of the accused, I tend to formulate my own opinion. This true crime story disturbed me. The man accused of this murder still maintains his innocence, more than 25 years later. You would think after more than a quarter century of incarceration, Mr Lewis would take responsibility for the murder if he was truly guilty. But perhaps I'm being naive.
The author of this book did a good job of writing about this crime and the aftermath. A lot of true crime books are slanted by the personal opinion of the author, but Mr French wrote the story without bias. There's always 2 sides to every story; it's commendable that the author presented the reader with the facts of the case with neutrality.
The author of this book did a good job of writing about this crime and the aftermath. A lot of true crime books are slanted by the personal opinion of the author, but Mr French wrote the story without bias. There's always 2 sides to every story; it's commendable that the author presented the reader with the facts of the case with neutrality.
July 22, 2009
A true story about a terrible crime and its impact to the people involved. Written by a local newspaperman, it does an admirable job of covering the who what why where when of the crime, the investigation and trial.
If you like true crime stories, this will satisfy.
If you like true crime stories, this will satisfy.
Read
July 1, 2025The trial in Unanswered Cries was absolutely infuriating to read. I’ll never understand how defence attorneys sleep at night when their entire strategy is to twist the narrative, cast doubt on the victim, and make an already devastating situation even harder for the family and friends left behind, especially when the victim is no longer here to defend themselves.
Unfortunately, the evidence pointing to George Lewis felt circumstantial at best. While I personally believe he committed the crime, the truth is we’ll never fully know — he died in prison still maintaining his innocence. That unresolved ending leaves a bitter taste, especially after everything the victim’s loved ones had to endure.
What also stuck with me, and honestly made my blood boil, was that her neighbours heard her scream and no one called the police. Maybe it wouldn’t have saved her, but it could have changed everything. At the very least, it might have helped catch whoever did it more quickly. The book really highlights how common this still is, with cases where victims are raped or murdered while people nearby hear something and choose to ignore it. It’s a heartbreaking example of the bystander effect, where people assume someone else will step in. That silence and inaction is just as haunting as the crime itself.
Unanswered Cries is a heartbreaking and frustrating read, but an important one. It doesn’t just tell the story of a senseless crime — it shines a light on the justice system, the failures of those around the victim, and the lingering questions that still haunt the case. The writing is well-crafted and compelling, which is why I don’t usually feel the need to rate true crime books unless the style is poor. This one left me angry, gutted, and thinking about how easily things could have been different. It’s a tough read but definitely worth it for anyone interested in the complexities of justice and the harsh realities victims face.
Unfortunately, the evidence pointing to George Lewis felt circumstantial at best. While I personally believe he committed the crime, the truth is we’ll never fully know — he died in prison still maintaining his innocence. That unresolved ending leaves a bitter taste, especially after everything the victim’s loved ones had to endure.
What also stuck with me, and honestly made my blood boil, was that her neighbours heard her scream and no one called the police. Maybe it wouldn’t have saved her, but it could have changed everything. At the very least, it might have helped catch whoever did it more quickly. The book really highlights how common this still is, with cases where victims are raped or murdered while people nearby hear something and choose to ignore it. It’s a heartbreaking example of the bystander effect, where people assume someone else will step in. That silence and inaction is just as haunting as the crime itself.
Unanswered Cries is a heartbreaking and frustrating read, but an important one. It doesn’t just tell the story of a senseless crime — it shines a light on the justice system, the failures of those around the victim, and the lingering questions that still haunt the case. The writing is well-crafted and compelling, which is why I don’t usually feel the need to rate true crime books unless the style is poor. This one left me angry, gutted, and thinking about how easily things could have been different. It’s a tough read but definitely worth it for anyone interested in the complexities of justice and the harsh realities victims face.
August 12, 2020
This book definitively answers the question whether it is possible to research a crime too thoroughly to write a good book about it. The answer is yes. Thomas French has a gem of a book in here; unfortunately, his editor did him wrong by including every piece of information uncovered. While the book provides a wonderful sense of place and a strong profile of Karen Gregory, the murder victim, that's where the excess research should have stopped and storytelling moved to center stage. Instead, the reader is suffused with worthless knowledge that does nothing to advance us toward learning who brutally raped and murdered Karen. French makes several critical points throughout the book: so many neighbors heard Karen cry out, and yet no one helped her; the police took a long time identifying a prime suspect due to familiar relationships (being vague here because I don't want to spoil anything); and, forensics are often not all they are cracked up to be - especially pre-DNA. These are great points. They are utterly lost in the sea of detail through which the reader is forced to wade on seemingly every page. I actually listened to the audio book while traveling, and kept having to fast-forward in order to avoid the ridiculous detail. I would probably recommend reading the actual book so that you can flip pages quickly to get to the meat of the story. Karen Gregory did not deserve to die, and she did not have to die. If you hear an unearthly, chilling scream in the night, please call 911. I would hope you wouldn't have to read this book to know that. But if you do read it...be prepared to push through unhelpful minutia.
April 24, 2021
Something I love about true crime novels vs documentaries on true crime is that with novels you get to know the background stories too. You get to know what the family and friends think, feel, become afraid of, and how hard they can fight to get answers and justice for their loved one. You learn how difficult and often frustrating it can be for law enforcement to sift through evidence, witness statements, and photographs praying to find the clues that will lead them to not only a suspect, but the actual perpetrator.
Another thing I like about novels over documentaries is that you often get first hand knowledge from court transcripts and a glimpse into the inner workings of the justice system in all its flawed glory. Thomas French did an excellent job describing the details of Karen’s case and I felt that I got to know her even though her death happened when I was four years old living hundreds of miles away. I could sympathize with her friends and family. I could imagine the utter stock, devastation, the sheer unreality her boyfriend must have felt when he called his home and had an officer tell him Karen was dead.
Death and the feelings that are associated with it are ever relatable no matter how much time has passed since that death happened. While I may never understand losing someone to a brutal murder, I have lost people to suicide, car accidents, and illness. No death is easy and no one wants their loved ones forgotten. I feel that Thomas did a wonderful job telling Karen’s story so that others could know not only about her tragic death, but about the wonderful life she lived and the impact she had on the people around her.
Another thing I like about novels over documentaries is that you often get first hand knowledge from court transcripts and a glimpse into the inner workings of the justice system in all its flawed glory. Thomas French did an excellent job describing the details of Karen’s case and I felt that I got to know her even though her death happened when I was four years old living hundreds of miles away. I could sympathize with her friends and family. I could imagine the utter stock, devastation, the sheer unreality her boyfriend must have felt when he called his home and had an officer tell him Karen was dead.
Death and the feelings that are associated with it are ever relatable no matter how much time has passed since that death happened. While I may never understand losing someone to a brutal murder, I have lost people to suicide, car accidents, and illness. No death is easy and no one wants their loved ones forgotten. I feel that Thomas did a wonderful job telling Karen’s story so that others could know not only about her tragic death, but about the wonderful life she lived and the impact she had on the people around her.
November 22, 2020
This was an interesting story about a murder trial, but I must say that I have a real problem with its tone. The narration acts like presumption of innocence and the burden of proof are personal insults to the victim. I am not saying that everything done by the defense in this particular case was great, but there were so many moments that I felt like the writer was raging against the fact that the burden of proof was on the prosecutors. The accused ended up getting convicted to a very long prison sentence, and still the book acts like the family got no justice, because, what, the judge had to make sure there was a fair trial? The accused was presumed innocent?
This kind of narrative of criminal justice is actively damaging.
This kind of narrative of criminal justice is actively damaging.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2021
I'm a sucker for true crime stories that have been solved. I knew the murderer from about chapter two and it was so frustrating to listen to all his lies and subterfuge to try to get suspicion off himself. What was even more disappointing was the blatant trampling of the spirit of a fair trial in the interest of giving the accused a literal "fair" trial. In the end, I was glad for the outcome, just disappointed with the dishonesty and dishonor of those on the defense team. From his wife to his lawyers, no one seemed interested in telling the truth - just twisting what little they knew to try to get him acquitted.
October 31, 2022
Interesting murder case where one of the earliest witnesses to the murder turns out to be the murderer. The biggest problem with this book is the author, who has a tendency to bang on about a lot of details that are of little value. When it came to the most important points, the author tended to not explain what he meant, leaving the reader to wonder what the point was and to wander through the myriad facts. A stronger editor would have cut this book in half and told the author to summarize much of the minutiae and hit harder on the main points.
July 8, 2021
This book was hard to rate because it was a true story. Absolutely heartbreaking what happened to this woman. You still don’t have 100% evidence despite the conviction because back in the 80s they didn’t have the technology that we have now. It was also frustrating because the detail was so drawn out I found myself wanting to scream I GET THE PICTURE. This was one of those books that I was so far in, I had to finish and find out. Meh.
November 16, 2022
Wow just wow. This book was captivating. I've read many true crime books and this author did an amazing job of telling everything from beginning to end. I especially enjoyed that the author went into detail with the evidence and went through the whole trial process. The book was very long and it took a while to read the information about the trial but the trial was long so it kind of makes sense. If i have one criticism it would be to shorten it by taking out the unnecessary details. The epilogue makes you want to hug your friends and family and tell them how much you love them. I highly recommend this book.
January 9, 2026
This book kept me very busy. It's a sad story, of course, but a very interesting one. I really liked the way Thomas French wrote it, especially his wording and descriptions. The story is told in such a way that it leaves you thinking, reflecting on the choices made, and imagining what might happen next. You often find yourself putting yourself in the characters’ shoes and considering their decisions.
I had wanted to read this book for 13 years, and finally doing so was a rewarding experience.
I had wanted to read this book for 13 years, and finally doing so was a rewarding experience.
January 21, 2019
I enjoy a good crime book or documentary. This book was no exception. Karen is brutally raped and murdered in her home in Florida. The book outlines the investigation, trial and sentencing. It also delves into the thoughts and accounts of the investigators, jury and family members. The book also highlight the antics and flaws of our judicial system.
July 19, 2021
Karen Gregory's cries are heard by many the night she is murdered but not one of the neighbors calls police. Her body is discovered many hours later and the search for the killer begins. Neighborhood watch and firefighter and neighbor George Lewis and friend of lead investigator helps as he is able. BUT is he really helping. Not the ending I expected at all. Definitely a good read.
February 7, 2024
Difficult story to read about and hard to rate since it’s based on a true story. Author did a great job at describing the investigation process, the court proceedings - as well as the different people who were involved in this case. Only con was at times it felt like certain information was repeated or included when it wasn’t needed.
June 12, 2018
Provides interesting insights and perspectives. Sadly, this probably provides an accurate depiction of the reality of suburban life. We probably have to accept that armed response and the Security Companies are our friends. Keep the panic button close....
March 6, 2019
Not to diminish the tragedy of the murder, but I'm not sure this needed to be made into a book. I think the reporter just got wrapped up in the case and thought others would too. Chekhov's guns littering the book for no reason.
December 13, 2019
This is a very interesting case. It took me a while to get into it, but it was such a devastating crime, and justice seemed far away--I wanted to see justice done. However, the writing was a big dull. I would have cut a hundred pages out of this.
May 15, 2021
This was a great book with a great twist to justice. Best friend turns on suspicious in a murder case..will leave you stunned and kinda sadden by who the murder is. If you like true stories you will definitely enjoy this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews