Without Mercy Audiobook By Gary Provost cover art

Without Mercy

Obsession and Murder Under the Influence

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Without Mercy

By: Gary Provost
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
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$8.99/mo. after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offer ends July 5, 2026 at 11:59pm PT.

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On any Sunday morning in the Florida Redlands, Dee Casteel might have served you pancakes at the IHOP.

She was a hard-working, cheerful waitress, one of the nicest people you'd ever want to know. She was also a three-bottle-a-day alcoholic, hopelessly in love with the IHOP's manager, Allen Bryant. Bryant wanted his live-in lover, IHOP owner Art Venecia, dead. And Dee Casteel helped him to arrange it.

After Venecia's murder, Dee and Bryant moved into his house, forged checks, spent his money, and embezzled from the IHOP to buy gifts for Bryant's boyfriends. But there was an even more gruesome killing to come.

Without Mercy is an engrossing, bizarre true story that traces the twisted path to a loathsome crime. But it is also the story of middle-class citizens gone wrong, of an almost-perfect murder, the traumas of alcoholism, and a legal system that can be deadly in itself. Dee Casteel was an ordinary woman - who now stands convicted of one of the most cold-blooded crimes of this century.

©1989 Gail Stockwell (P)2017 David N. Wilson Biographies & Memoirs Murder True Crime
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Compelling True Crime • Well-written Narrative • In-depth Development • Thought-provoking Story • Captivating Plot

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What did you love best about Without Mercy?

This book is one that I have read a couple of times before. It always stayed with me. It is about the murders of Art Valencia and his mother Bessie. It follows Dee Casteel, a waitress at the IHOP in the Florida Redlands. She was in love with the gay manager, James Allen Bryant, who was the boyfriend of the owner, Art Valencia. Bryant wanted Valencia killed so he could be with his other boyfriend, and have Art's money, too. He got Dee to arrange the both murders by plying her with alcohol (she was an alcoholic). This book was well-written and well researched. The author really humanizes Dee, and gives the face of a woman who made some very bad decisions, but does stand up and takes responsibility for her actions. I really enjoyed the book and will probably read it yet again!

Great book about 2 murders in Florida

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Good read. No real suspense but interesting enough to keep me reading. Narration by Kevin Pierce perfect as always.

Interesting enough

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The narrator Kevin Pierce is by far the best story teller ever. I liked the way the story dwelled on the life of the woman at the center of the book. One can see a history of alcoholism throughout her life and how this behavior eventual led to her being charged with the murder of two people. It is a very sad story of a promising life ruined by her poor decisions. For true crime fans it is one of the best reads. The story flows well and is captivating to the listener.

Incredible insight into a part of Florida life and alcoholism affectingly life's judgment .

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I really like the narrator. I enjoy the writings of this author. It's good for any true crime fan.

A good addition to a true crime collection.

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I love the way the author gave the perspectives of the victims! Awesome read through!

Great narration of a chilling but well told story!

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