Cries in the Desert

by John Glatt

In the fall of 1999, a twenty-two-year-old woman was discovered naked and bleeding on the streets of a small New Mexico town south of Albuquerque. She was chained to a padlocked metal collar. The tale she told authorities--of being beaten, raped, and tortured with electric shock--was unthinkable. Until she led them to 59-year-old David Parker Ray, his 39-year-old fiancee Cindy Hendy--and the lakeside trailer they called their "toy box". What the FBI uncovered was unprecedented in the annals of serial crime: restraining devices, elaborate implements of torture, books on human anatomy, medical equipment, scalpels, and a gynecologist's examination table. But these horrors were only part of the shocking story that would unfold in a stunning trial...

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Audiobook, Horror, Adult, Psychology

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

English-born John Glatt is the author of Golden Boy Lost and Found, Secrets in the Cellar, Playing with Fire, and many other bestselling books of true crime. He has more than 30 years of experience as an investigative journalist in England and America. Glatt left school at 16 and worked a variety of jobs—including tea boy and messenger—before joining a small weekly newspaper. He freelanced at several English newspapers, then in 1981 moved to New York, where he joined the staff for News Limited and freelanced for publications including Newsweek and the New York Post. His first book, a biography of Bill Graham, was published in 1981, and he published For I Have Sinned, his first book of true crime, in 1998. He has appeared on television and radio programs all over the world, including ABC- 20/20Dateline NBC, Fox News, Current Affair, BBC World, and A&E Biography. He and his wife Gail divide their time between New York City, the Catskill Mountains and London.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/johnglatt

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This poorly written true crime book concerning suspected serial killer David Parker Ray isn't scary because of his crimes. Yes, those crimes are horrific. I have no words for how horrific, but Glatt tries his best (insert sarcasm) to give you every, single, horrifying detail. Ray was eventually, at age 63 in 2001, convicted of the rape, kidnapping, and torture of 2 women who lived. Although suspected of killing as many as 60 women - there was videotape and other evidence leading authorities to this conclusion - he was never tried or convicted for murder and no bodies were ever found. He died in 2002 less than a year after his second conviction as those crimes were investigated. Also tried and sentenced to various terms were his daughter, girlfriend, and a younger local boy who confessed to participating in at least 1 murder.

I believe evil exists, so evil people doing evil things doesn't scare me more than evil in general. What I find truly terrifying about this case, however, is how many times local authorities or the FBI had to stop him but did nothing. His daughter (same one later convicted for helping him - its complicated), went to the FBI at age 18 and swore out a statement against her father for kidnapping, rape, and his participation in human trafficking/slavery. Assuming she was just a disgruntled kid and with some bias because she was a lesbian, they didn't even investigate. A prostitute who was held for a week went to local police after she was released telling them what happened. They not only didn't believe her, assuming she was angry because a John didn't pay her, but threatened her with charges for prostitution. His girlfriend told everyone at the local bar - on multiple occasions - what they were doing, bragging about it, but not a single person ever said anything to the police. And these are only 3 of multiple other times even a minimum of concern or investigation would have ended Ray. Add to that his first trial ended in a hung jury despite overwhelming physical evidence and videotapes (Ray videoed all torture sessions of his victims) because as one female juror said, "some girls like it rough." And that is truly terrifying....

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I liked the audio (it feels like it's always the same narrator for John Glatt books?), but I think I would've had an easier time understanding who was who if I was also reading the book myself at the same time as listening to it.

Because there were so many people, and several times I was like "wait, who's he talking about now?", but didn't go back to check because then it would be a pain to figure out where in the audio I stopped and yeah.

But I will say that it was an interesting, albeit too detailed book. I don't remember hearing about this case, or if I had I probably put it out of my mind. It's very surprising to me that this case, and this serial killer isn't more well known based on the types of crimes he (and his accomplices) committed.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The town this takes place in is a good days drive from my home. It tells us how our young troubled street woman are easy prey for the sadists among us. As long as public perception of the young woman who vanish from the streets remains the same they will not even be missed until their bodies are found. This is a story about torture for pleasure. An unusual team of a male and female. The female would lure her "Friends" then give them to her male counterpart to rape, torture and maim. While she certainly took part I doubt that she would have done this alone. It took two evil minds to come together as one to make a single person. On the other hand I also am sure he has many bodies behind him that will never be found. Buried in the deserts of NM. As she serves her time, in actuality, he got away with it through death.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a horrible story! Really, really hard to put down. The worst part was knowing that much more went on in that trailer than anyone will ever know, except for the smirking perpetrators and their victims, who may or may not be still living. The glimpse I got from this book was more than enough, thank you.

[Ms BooksAholic · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure how I feel about this book. A lot of people are mentioned and talked about in this book, easily getting side tracked & nonsense of information. I seemed to struggle through the book honestly! I love true crime too but this one I didn't enjoy very much. I liked the ending part better than the beginning of the story. The ending part of the book is so much more interesting, it actually gets into what happened and how sick this sadistic torturer named David Parker Ray really is. A lot of the information in the beginning I think could have been left out, and also I didn't care for the pictures too much, I think the book needed better intriguing photos. I had high hopes for this book but I wasn't too impressed.

[Miro Doporto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe I am partial because at the time I read it, my landlord/friend happened to be a the daugher of the defendant and I actually came into possession of some of the defendant's belongings... the whole scenario made the book real, it is well written and could not put it down once I started reading. I recommend it to anyone into serial killer books.

[Chrissie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read many true crime books over the years, but this has been the hardest - I even passed over some passages, as they were just so graphic.

I am very glad this monster is behind bars for his whole life.

[DancingMarshmallow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall: 3 stars. An extremely detailed retelling of the David Parker Ray case that often verges into the sensationalized with mediocre writing. Still, I’m calling it a worthwhile read for true crime diehards, since it’s the only one I’m aware of for this case, and for the sheer depth of detailed coverage, especially of the trials.

The latter third of this book is fantastic, in my opinion: a very deep dive into the forensic investigation of the case and the - very frustrating, very preposterous - series of trials and all the missteps there. The first 2/3 though I enjoyed much less. The book goes in extreme detail here as well: a bit much, to be honest. I’m not one to be squirmy or queasy at most gruesome murder (comes from reading so much true crime, I guess), but the never-ending details on exactly how Ray tortured his victims, step-by-step got a little nauseating. I get it: the book is really selling you on how fucked up this guy is, but I think we get the point after Torture Number 1.

The book is also kind of...kink-shamey? I don’t really want to call anyone out for, ya know, kink-shaming a serial killer, but the author is obsessed with pointing out a zillion times that Ray was into BONDAGE AND DOMINATION AND KINKY SEX. If I took a shot for every time I heard the phrase “kinky sex” used to point out how horrible Ray was, I’d be dead. It’s not his preference for bondage that’s the problem: it’s, ya know, the rape and murdering, but the author definitely is not okay with the kinky sex either and wants you to know it. The problem with this approach is that Ray is truly horrifying not because of his taste in kink but because he was a rapist and a murderer who gaslighted women, their families, and the cops into believing he was innocent because these are “bad” girls who should have known better. So many victim blaming implications wrapped up in the kink-shaming.

Narration: I’m meh on the narrator. He was...fine. He had an English accent, which I feel is not a great choice for a nonfiction book taking place in New Mexico: there was just a disconnect between his accent and the place names, etc, that didn’t work for me.

CW: so many. Rape and murder times infinity. This is super, super, SUPER graphic so do not venture in here unless you have a very strong stomach.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cries in the Desert by John Glatt is a bizarre true crime story involving kidnapping, torture, rape, and murder that went on for a number of years. In the fall of 1999, a twenty-two-year-old woman was discovered naked and bleeding on the streets of a small New Mexico town south of Albuquerque. She was chained to a padlocked metal collar. The tale she told authorities--of being beaten, raped, and tortured with electric shock--was unthinkable. Until she led them to 59-year-old David Parker Ray, his 39-year-old fiancee Cindy Hendy--and the lakeside trailer they called their "toy box". As the investigation progressed it surfaced that many additional women were found to also have been victims. What the FBI uncovered was unprecedented in the annals of serial crime: restraining devices, elaborate implements of torture, books on human anatomy, medical equipment, scalpels, and a gynecologist's examination table. But these horrors were only part of the shocking story that would unfold in a stunning trial. The author presents this case in fairly graphic detail that may not be for some readers.

[Beth Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing!!! I’ve always been a “reader” but I have, in my entire life, never finished an entire booked in one sitting....I finished this one in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down!!! The twists and turns, my heart raced faster and faster with every page turn. The story line was horrific and the victims have my ultimate sympathy and respect, but the book gave them respect and that was commendable.

[Cathy Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very through book

This was written very well. I like that it didn't go into to much discussing scenery but l let’s
you into the mind of this sadist.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, and I can’t even imagine what the victims went through. But I was looking for a deep dive and this wasn’t it.

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring and repetitive

There was a lot of repetition. I found it boring. I would not recommend to anyone who is looking for a good book.

[Jennifer Monroe · Rating 1 out of 5]

So poorly written, you're better off reading old newspaper articles

This is a dull, weirdly written book. It reads like a third grade story, except of course for the content. There's no style at all, so you may as well go back and read articles about the crimes. Many of them are written more skilfully anyway.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a shocking story of a man named David Parker Ray who kept a "toy box" of women to torture. Unbelievable that people like this actually exist.

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a truelly terrifying true story.
This mans favorite hobby, torturing women to death. I had nightmares and actually had to stop reading true crime for a while after reading this.

[Dorann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too creepy-true story-don’t bother.

[Carla Saavedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a twisted individual. Very good read

[Bram Macgregor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as “Slow Death” that’s the definitive book on this case.

Anyways, this case just continues to fascinate me because This guy got away with EVERYTHING!

No body’s have been found,all of his known accomplices are free, almost every possible witness or victim was sold off to Mexican sex slavery operations (THEY ARENT TALKING). Oh and I forgot to say there’s hundreds of tapes of Ray killing women, rapping them, etc,etc although no one has been identified from the tapes. He killed at least three men and got away with it.

As I established, he killed at least 40 people in his lifetime, raped countless women, RECORDED IT!, and was only charged for the rape and kidnapping of the only known survivors. It’s fucking Insane that this happened. I encourage the police in New Mexico to go through those tapes again, with all the new technology that’s developed since the dawn of this case you’d at least be able to Identify one or two more women. And if Cindy is in the video, CHARGE HER!! She is in one of the famous murder videos laughing with David. She should not be free. End of story.

3/5

[Bill reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my ninth book by John Glatt and not one of his better ones. Perfect Father, Golden Boy and Deadly American Beauty are his best ones.
David Parker Ray and his fiance lured numerous women to his trailer where the master inventor had built a torture chamber featuring chains, pulleys and a gynecological table for the man's amusement. Video and audio tapes of the sessions were played in court and Dave was eventually convicted and given a life sentence. Unfortunately, his partner was given a lesser sentence, as was his daughter Jesse, who deserved to rot in jail like her dear old dad.
The majority of the people in the book are severely damaged individuals, many with drug dependence and other issues. Crank, meth and alcohol seem to be a common denominator.
Although Ray bragged of killing many women to friends prior to his arrest, no evidence has been found to substantiate this claim.

[Pennay Gillmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly disturbing. Although the case was horrifying, Glatt does a good job putting the info into a coherent timeline and doesn’t inject his own feelings. I’ve seen some reviewers criticize his writing but he does a really good job laying out the pieces. These cases are fully chaotic, as evil is, and therefore the story is convoluted and has many parts, especially over so many years. I appreciate, probably
more than some, hearing how the trial played out too because we get to witness how much work it takes to bring the monsters down.

I read this book as quickly as I could so I could get it out of my house and back to library. I washed my hands thoroughly each time I put it down because it’s such a disgusting piece of history.

[Adrienne Cleminson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me forever to get in to this book. So long that I actually put it down for 4 years even after getting almost halfway through it. This book had a lot of people and a lot of information all piled together. Many parts (especially in the first 100 pages) were convoluted.
The facts of these crimes are very disturbing. I had never heard of David Parker Ray before coming across this book. This book leaves me wondering how extensive his criminal acts reached. I am curious if they have ever found any other cases/victims of his.

[Alice Teets · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Glatt digs deep in every true crime book he writes, like a modern Ann Rule. This is a detailed look at the case of David Parker Ray, who tortured and possibly killed women in his Toy-Box. I had not heard of this criminal before the book, but the details and work put into writing this makes him as well known as others.

I listened to the audio book, but could not find a matching ISBN for that edition.

[Dasha Hernandez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some of the worst writing I've come across in my entire life. Confusing amount of unnecessary details and unrelated characters. Repetitive scene descriptions. Story is jumping all over the place. I got bored and quit. Tried another true crime book by the author and it's just as bad. Additionally, if you get this on audio the narrator is British with an accent and the whole thing just sounds rediculous. Would not recommend lol

[Kathy Hennessy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ooooof some of this was hard on the head, just in sheer incredulity of how inhuman some humans are. It's not the best written, but I'll give it some leeway there because it's not exactly a "story" and has some extremely difficult facts to write and aspects to navigate. I do wish that the book had given me a bit of insight into HOW Ray evolved into the monster he was, but I guess some things are just never known and that might be for the best.

[Jess Rodgers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the detail Glatt dove into while researching the content for Cries in the Desert. I’m impressed with his thoroughness in all the people he interviewed. I felt like he did a great job finding out as much as he could about this horrifying ordeal. I especially appreciated that he treated the victims with respect. Many times victims are not given the respect they deserve because of their different lifestyles, and these survivors deserved that and much more. Thank you, Glatt, for writing such a thoroughly researched novel.

[Karin Mersereau · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author is a terrible writer. Threw down so many names per chapter yet never reintroduced them. I had to constantly flip back in the previous chapters to figure out who was who. Eventually I just gave up and tried to get through the book.
The story could have been told a lot better for the sake of the poor tortured women in the case.

[Victoria Little · Rating 2 out of 5]

With all due respect, this was probably one of the worst True Crime books I have read. I just felt like a lot of it could have been left out & half the time I felt like I wasn’t even reading a book on David. I don’t know. Maybe that’s just how I felt. I am glad that the woman who were tormented by him got some kind of justice, though. Felt like his daughter should’ve remained in prison, however.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another crazy and appalling true crime case told expertly by John Glatt. His true crime books are perfect for people who want the story, facts about the lives of all those involved and the case in its entirety. All that without rambling on to add pages, like some true crime authors.