The Teacher's Pet

Lynette Simms disappeared from Sydney's idyllic northern beaches in 1982 and was never seen again.Lyn was a caring nurse, a 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.This facade of domestic bliss shattered as Dawson 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 friends, colleagues, neighbours, family and an international audience. With fresh leads and old evidence resulting in a public groundswell for authorities to take action, Dawson was arrested in late 2018 and, after a dramatic trial, was found guilty of murder in August 2022.

Winner of Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) Audiobook of the Year 2024 Short-listed for Danger Awards Non-Fiction 2024 Short-listed for Ned Kelly Award Best True Crime 2024 Long-listed for Walkley Book Award 2024

'A monumental work... No Australian, alive nor dead, has given more to journalism than Hedley Thomas. True crime storytelling as we now know it begins with The Teacher's Pet.' -- Trent Dalton, bestselling author of Boy Swallows Universe

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 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.

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