The Babysitter: My Summers with a Serial Killer

One need not be a Chamber -to be Haunted
-Emily Dickinson

In the 1960’s Liza Rodman grew up a lonely girl. Her mother worked at a local Motel and went dancing most nights in Provincetown. Her babysitter was the handyman (Tony) at the Motel where her mother worked. He would take Liza and her sister, Louisa, on adventures in his truck, treating them to popsicles and taking them on adventures in the woods. He made their summers fun. Liza and her sister thought he was a nice guy. It was not until later that Liza would learn that he was a serial killer. Some of his victims were buried in the same woods where he took Liza and her sister on adventures.

**Tony Costa made headlines in 1969 when he was suspected of killing seven women but was convicted of killing only two. Four years into his incarceration, he committed suicide.

It was not until she was older, that Liza put two and two together and realized that her fun babysitter was a killer of women. When she questioned her mother about him, her mother’s response was “Yeah, so what?”….” He didn’t kill you, did he?” Needless to say, Liza’s mother never won any mother of the year awards. As you can imagine, she was intrigued, haunted, and troubled by what she learned. She began researching the man who babysat her and killed numerous women. She wrote this book with the help of Jennifer Jordan.

I found this book to be well written, well researched and thought provoking. Some following my reviews know that I used to work with serial killer, murderers, rapists, etc. when I worked in forensics. Obviously, they were court ordered to treatment after they were caught. It has always fascinated me what they were like in their day to day lives prior to arrest and conviction. I thought the authors did a brilliant job of showing Tony throughout his life, his marriage, and his interactions with her and others. I applaud their attention to detail and the use of trial documents, police reports, interviews with those who knew him, Liza’s memories, and Tony’s diary.

Fans of True Crime will not be disappointed. You will learn about a serial killer who is not as well-known as say Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer. But his case is fascinating as is Liza’s childhood. She could even write another book about her mother if she wanted to do so. It is sad that no one intervened and removed the two girls from her care. Liza could also write a book about Tony’s mother, Cecelia, who also worked at the Motel and was loving and kind to Liza and turned a blind eye to Tony’s lifestyle and crimes.

Riveting, thought provoking and well researched.

A Must Read for True Crime fans.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.