Hidden Demons

Evil Visits a Small New England Town

By: Margery B. Metzger

Narrated by: Tom Lennon

On January 7, 1994, residents of the Berkshire Hills woke up to a typical snowy winter day in the majestic woods of Western Massachusetts. The quaint New England towns, the idyllic scenery and the people who lived there could have stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

Rocked as imaginable evil converged on them, a pall would be cast over the region and its inhabitants for years to follow.

That day, a trial was beginning for a college student who celebrated his 18th birthday by purchasing an assault rifle, then opening fire on campus killing two and wounding four others. Elsewhere, two young girls were accosted in the changing room at the local pool. Another young girl narrowly escaped being abducted at gunpoint on her way to school. Her quick thinking resulted later in profound repercussions regarding the case of a young boy who vanished from a strip mall, baffling law enforcement, his body discovered three years earlier by deer hunters in a remote wooded area 200 miles away.

All these events appeared unrelated, but it seemed to police agencies and local residents that the world had suddenly gone mad. After all, they told each other, “These things don’t happen here!”

In chilling, dramatic narrative Hidden Demons: Evil Visits a Small New England Town, by Margery Metzger, details these events and reveals a savage serial killer who lurked in the shadows. But the bravery of a father and daughter, and the remarkable work of law enforcement officers, would turn the table.

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Lewis Lent

I found this book very interesting. I couldn’t put it down. I was a Police Officer during this time. I knew most of the people in the story. It was about the horrible incidents that changed life in Pittsfield and the Berkshires forever

Bad people

I worked at the Berkshire house of corrections I had both Lewis’s lent and Wayne Loe in my section it brought back a lot of memories. It was very interesting.

The full story of child serial killer Lewis Lent

Metzger's research provides the complete story of the extremely deranged Lewis Lent, a man responsible for sexually abusing and murdering young children in New York and Massachusetts. Lent attempted to abduct twelve year old Rebecca Savarese on the morning of January 7, 1994 in Pittsfield, but the brave young lady faked an Asthma attack, startling her abductor, allowing her to flee and find safety. Sara Anne Wood and Jimmy Bernardo weren't as fortunate, with both cases being featured on America's Most Wanted. The author provides details how Lent flew under the police's radar for so long, and how he was ultimately arrested and prosecuted.

Serial Killer wreaks havoc on small town

Lewis Lent seemed like your typical quiet neighbor, helpful and friendly but also a little odd. Sara Wood and Paul Bernardo were in the wrong place at the wrong time, trusting the wrong person. A serial killer wreaks havoc on small towns in New York and Massachusetts. His exploits are detailed in this book and his victims are given a voice.

Margery B. Metzger, the author, delivers a finely detailed accounting of Lewis Lent before, during, and after his serial killing spree. She is graphic in her descriptions yet not overboard. I found the history of Lewis Lent and his psychological behavior interesting. Some of the interesting yet irrelevant bits were a bit distracting i.e. serial killer Ted Bundy for one interrupted my thoughts and her story flow slightly. Although I have been interested in serial killers, this is not one I was aware of, and appreciated the historical accuracy of her book.

The narrator, Tom Lennon once again excels at voicing the story. His steady and clear voice provides and enhances this story with the emotional and powerful impact of the horrendous crimes committed. His subtle vocal inflections project the tiredness, sadness, horrifying loss, and passion of the police and families.

This is a book that deals with some horrendous and emotionally draining subject matter, however, it is well written. You will be hard-pressed to push the stop button until the end!

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

Uncovering a Hidden Serial Killer

Serial killers are elusive, as many have a wide area in which they are hunting. When crossing state lines, it can become harder for different districts to connect the dots immediately. As young children were reported missing, no one suspected a serial killer, and it was not until one young lady managed to get away, that the entire case began coming together.

What a story! It was an interesting read, and some twists and turns that I was not expecting. A perfect weekend read!