The Teacher's Pet

By Hedley Thomas

Published by Pan Macmillan

ISBN 9781760784782

In late 1982 a much loved caring, kind nurse, wife and adoring mother to two little girls disappeared overnight from her home in the beautiful beachside suburb of Bayview on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The Northern Beaches are well known as the insular peninsular as often referred to in this book.

How can a young woman disappear without a trace? None of her clothes were taken, nor was there any trace of her using her bankcard or any other identifying items. She could not drive and yet her husband claimed she left him and their two daughters she adored. Strange indeed.

He claimed that his wife had phoned him from further up the coast to say she needed some time.away to think about their troubled marriage. He also claimed that Lyn would phone and speak to her parents as he said everyone was asking where she was. This never happened. Overtime he made up a litany of lies.

Lyn or Lynette Dawson or as how her remaining family now refer to her as Lynette Simms, using her maiden name, was never seen or heard of again, apart from unverified and wishful thinkers

These and more many other unanswered questions for over 36 years. are masterfully told by the determined investigative journalist Hedley Thomas who conducted his own investigation after the judicial and police systems failed after each investigation to find out where Lyn Dawson could be.

This detailed account of every aspect of this long awaited investigation has many jaw-dropping moments as it reveals the lack of action and co-operation that led to Lyn's husband Chris Dawson getting away with murder for 36 years. They had been together for many years, as high school sweethearts.

It was easy to read Hedley Thomas' free flowing story telling as he included other aspects and interactions in his life with the people who were keen to get to the bottom of this mysterious disappearance. This investigation took hold and became an all consuming project. Although sadly it did take a toll at times on his own family and put them in danger, possibly from underworld crime as.a warning.

It reveals frightening aspects of the blonde former first grade Newtown Jets footballers, Chris and his twin brother Paul Dawson with their bizarre relationship, Paul's wife and his elder lawyer brother. The strange relationship between the twins expounded their unworthy roles as trusted teachers in NSW Department of Education secondary schools on the Northern Beaches as they groomed young vulnerable girls in these schools, for their own pleasures.

Reading about how abusive he was to Lyn, both physically and mental abuse is heartbreaking. The bruises that friends saw on her body when she changed for playing tennis and at other times, raised questions that sadly questions went unasked. Clearly she suffered for quite a long time, yet still adored her abusive husband before she disappeared.

One girl was Jenny Coulson. Her surname is a pseudonym, although no doubt from the well known insular familiarity aspects of this region at the time, many people would know her real name. She regularly baby sat for Lyn and Chris.

As a sixteen year old, Jenny had her own problems at home and Chris claims that he took pity on her and offered her the spare room in the family home. Chris was infatuated with Jenny and it wasn't long before they began a full blown relationship at the family home. His adoring wife Lyn, mother of their two very young daughters was in the way.

A body was not found, although several people believe Lyn was buried on the property. perhaps under the swimming pool or nearby. Excavations failed to reveal a body although a cardigan with slash marks was found. One of the photos in the book shows an an aerial photo of the excavation.

With the support of Lyn's family and friends, this story became a hugely successful podcast in the early days of podcasting in co-operation with the enormous undertaking with Slate Gibson as producer. It has been downloaded 50 million times with listeners worldwide So how could this man get away with this crime for so long?

Still a teenager Jenny stepped into the role as a mother of Lyn's daughters in Lyn and Chris' home days after she suddenly disappeared. She had a child with Dawson, but it wasn't long before she realised she too was in danger and came to her own conclusions of what happened to Lyn.

The in-depth story revealing hidden documentation, the co-operation from several people including Detective Sergeant Damian Loose, Chris' daughter Shanelle Dawson forced another reopening of this case finally bringing Chris Dawson to justice with a lengthy prison term where he will likely stay for the rest of is life. Finally justice for Lyn Dawson (Simms).

It is an intriguing and gripping true crime story with several warning signs that parents and guardians should read. One that will stay with me for a long time and well worth the time invested in reading 500 pages. I have not heard the podcasts, now I am intrigued to do so.

This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review, Buy me a coffee

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