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  • Published: 1 September 2009
  • ISBN: 9781741666519
  • Imprint: William Heinemann Australia
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 416
  • RRP: $34.99

Lambs To The Slaughter




Inside the depraved mind of child killer, Derek Ernest Percy.

Young. White. High IQ. Middle-class family. Naval rating.
A portrait of a yuppie success story?
No. A portrait of child killer, Derek Ernest Percy.

In this definitive, graphically chilling account of Percy's life, a man dubbed by a prison officer as 'Australia's answer to Hannibal Lecter', award-winning true-crime author Debi Marshall applies her investigative journalism skills to a forensic examination of the crimes, the man and his modus operandi. Informed by exclusive material never before seen - poignant and insightful interviews with Percy's mother, victims’ families, psychiatrists, police officers and former colleagues - Marshall also takes us on her personal journey as she seeks to unravel the truth about the monster whose lonely, idiosyncratic character has deceived the best psychiatric minds for 40 years.

Is Derek Percy responsible for Australia's worst unsolved child abductions and murders? Is he mad - or just bad?

  • Published: 1 September 2009
  • ISBN: 9781741666519
  • Imprint: William Heinemann Australia
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 416
  • RRP: $34.99

About the author

Debi Marshall

Debi Marshall is a journalist, producer for television and author who lives in Hobart. As a reporter and writer, Debi Marshall specialises in true crime. She has written eight books. Each combines her excellent storytelling skills with her forensic approach to accurate research.
Her book, Justice in Jeopardy, helped overturn Australia’s double jeopardy laws. At all times, despite frequent personal danger and threats, she has been motivated to seek truth and justice and has worked with the highest ethical considerations to tell dark and challenging stories.
Her book on the notorious Snowtown serial murders, Killing for Pleasure, won the 2007 Ned Kelly award for Best True Crime.
Debi Marshall always sets out to establish a bond of trust with victims and their families, and with witnesses who came forward to tell her their stories.
Working as a producer with Channel 7’s Sunday Night program she investigated the Family Court Murders of 1980 – 1985. Then conducted further research to write The Family Court Murders. Leonard Warwick was subsequently arrested over these matters.
Debi has also been a tutor in journalism at the University of Technology, Sydney and as a teacher of media at college. Her other books include The House of Hancock and The Devil's Garden. Her books have twice been long-listed for a Walkley Award.
Debi Marshall won a Walkley Leadership Award in 2015.

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