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Win 1 of 30 signed copies of The Teacher's Pet by Hedley Thomas

If you thought you knew the story of The Teacher's Pet, get ready to be shocked.


In his new book, The Teacher's Pet, Hedley Thomas takes you behind the scenes with a blow-by-blow account of one of the most intriguing and enduring murder mysteries of our time - the crime, the podcast investigation, the sexual exploitation of teenage students, the courtroom drama - and how justice was finally delivered.

 

Lynette Simms disappeared from Sydney's idyllic Northern Beaches in 1982 and was never seen again.

 

Lyn was a caring nurse, loving mother and devoted wife. Her husband Chris Dawson was a rugby league star, a popular teacher and exceptionally close to his identical twin brother, Paul.

 

But this facade of domestic bliss was shattered when Chris became infatuated with the family's babysitter - his 16-year-old student - a girl he moved into Lyn's home and bed just two days after her disappearance.

 

Thirty-six years later, investigative journalist Hedley Thomas revisited the story in a record-breaking podcast series that captured the unconditional support of Lyn's friends, colleagues, neighbours and family, and an international audience.


With fresh leads and old evidence resulting in a public groundswell for authorities to take action, Chris was arrested in late 2018 and after a dramatic trial was found guilty of murder in August 2022.

 

Members of The Australian Plus, enter now for your chance to win 1 of 30 signed copies of  The Teacher's Pet by Hedley Thomas. 

Hedley Thomas

National chief correspondent, The Australian

Hedley Thomas is The Australian's national chief correspondent, specialising in investigative reporting with an interest in legal issues, the judiciary, corruption and politics. He has won eight Walkley awards including two Gold Walkleys; the first in 2007 for his investigations into the fiasco surrounding the Australian Federal Police investigations of Dr Mohamed Haneef, and the second in 2018 for his podcast, The Teacher's Pet, investigating the 1982 murder of Sydney mother Lynette Dawson.

Hedley Thomas

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Terms and Conditions

Entries open 9.00am AEDT on 6 November 2023 and close 11.59pm AEDT on 7 January 2024. Must be residents of Australia, 18 years and over and be an eligible The Australian Plus member during the Promotion Period and at the date of prize draw. Limited to one entry per eligible entrant. Winner's drawn on 8 January 2024 at 4.00pm AEST at Nationwide News Pty Ltd, Cnr Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills QLD 4006. Winner’s name to be published within 7 days after the draw date on The Australian Plus website. There are 30 x signed copies of The Teacher's Pet by Hedley Thomas to be won. Total prize pool valued at $1,109.70. Winner drawn from entrants who are eligible The Australian Plus members. Full terms and conditions apply.

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