The Phantom Killer

August 11, 2014
Pulitzer Prize–nominee Presley (A Saga of Wealth) effectively conveys the fear that gripped Texarkana in 1946 in the wake of a series of murders—and goes on to offer a persuasive solution to the unsolved crimes. The killer first struck on February 22, assaulting a young couple who managed to survive the brutal assault but were unable to give much of a description beyond noting that the perpetrator wore a white mask. About a month later, another man and woman were attacked, this time fatally. The murderer ended up taking five lives and seriously injuring three other people before his rampage stopped. The search for the so-called “phantom killer” was hampered by some police missteps in preserving evidence and the lack of certain forensic tests available today. Diligently researched, this gripping, page-turning account would be a standout true-crime narrative even without the material Presley gathers to buttress his identification of the serial killer. Agent: Mickey Novak, Writers House.

November 15, 2014

In 1976, the film The Town That Dreaded Sundown was released; it was loosely based on the mayhem in Texarkana, TX, in 1946. Now comes the authoritative book by Pulitzer Prize-nominated author Presley (A Saga of Wealth), who provides the details of the crime that held the city in fear. Eight people were brutally assaulted by a criminal the media dubbed the Phantom Killer, with five dying of their injuries. Since Texarkana was a city in two states (Texas and Arkansas), both state police forces and the FBI joined in the investigation. Law enforcement suspected Youell Lee Swinney but did not have enough evidence to get a conviction. Instead, Swinney was arrested for stealing a car and tried as a habitual offender in Texas, which would give him a life sentence and get him off the street. However, in 1972, Swinney convinced the appeals court to overturn his conviction, claiming that he was indigent and not advised of his rights. He was later convicted of counterfeiting money. When paroled for the last time, he was 72 and later died from lung cancer. Because Swinney was never found guilty of the Texarkana crimes, as a group they remain Texas's no. 1 unsolved case. VERDICT Well researched and solidly written, Presley's book brings a forgotten crime to the forefront. Readers will be spellbound and want to consume it in one sitting. This book belongs in all true crime collections and will attract a general audience, not just fans of true crime. With a remake of the 1976 movie due for 2014 release, expect demand.--Michael Sawyer, Pine Bluff, AR

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