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19 of the Best Books of 2021

books about jeffrey dahmer

A bookworm is happiest when they’re surrounded by books — both old and new. Undoubtedly, 2021 was a great year for both fiction and nonfiction, with bestsellers like Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters and Second Place by Rachel Cusk. Whether you read memoirs or young-adult (YA) novels, 2021 was a fantastic year for book lovers. While we can’t squeeze in all of our favorites from 2021, we’ve rounded up a stellar sampling of must-reads. Here’s some of the year’s best books. 

“Crying in H Mart: A Memoir” by Michelle Zauner

books about jeffrey dahmer

In her profound memoir Crying in H Mart , Michelle Zauner shares an unflinching view of growing up as a Korean American person — all while reflecting on losing her mother to terminal cancer. Author Dani Shapiro notes that the Japanese Breakfast musician “has created a gripping, sensuous portrait of an indelible mother-daughter bond that hits all the notes: love, friction, loyalty, grief.”

“The Prophets” by Robert Jones, Jr.

books about jeffrey dahmer

In Robert Jones, Jr.’s lyrical debut novel, The Prophets , Isaiah and Samuel are two enslaved young men who find refuge in each other — and their love becomes both sustaining and heroic in the face of a vicious world. Entertainment Weekly writes that “While The Prophets’ dreamy realism recalls the work of Toni Morrison… Its penetrating focus on social dynamics stands out more singularly.” Now that’s a compliment.

“The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman

books about jeffrey dahmer

At President Joe Biden’s inauguration, Amanda Gorman read her electrifying poem, “ The Hill We Climb .” Since then, it has been praised for its call for unity and healing. Vogue captures the feeling of reading the poem well, calling it “deeply rousing and uplifting.” 

“Beautiful World, Where Are You” by Sally Rooney

books about jeffrey dahmer

New York Times bestselling author Sally Rooney has returned with a sharp, romantic drama, Beautiful World, Where Are You . Two separate relationships are in chaos, threatening to ruin friendships. Vogue  declares that the author has “invented a sensibility entirely of her own: Sunny and sharp.” 

“Somebody’s Daughter: A Memoir” by Ashley C. Ford

books about jeffrey dahmer

Ashley C. Ford’s coming-of-age memoir, Somebody’s Daughter , centers on her childhood. Ford, a Black girl who grew up poor in Indiana, recounts how her family was fragmented by her father’s incarceration. With rich, unflinching writing, Ford has penned a debut for the ages. The memoir’s publisher perhaps puts the core of the book best, noting that Ford “embarks on a powerful journey to find the threads between who she is and what she was born into, and the complicated familial love that often binds them.” 

“Last Night at the Telegraph Club” by Malinda Lo

books about jeffrey dahmer

Everyone remembers their first all-consuming love — and for Lily Hu, the teenage protagonist of Malinda Lo’s queer YA novel, that love is Kathleen Miller. Set in the 1950s in San Francisco,  Last Night at the Telegraph Club  is not just one of the year’s best, but one of Lo’s best. O: The Oprah Magazine notes that the novel is “proof of Lo’s skill at creating darkly romantic tales of love in the face of danger.”

“¡Hola Papi!” by John Paul Brammer

books about jeffrey dahmer

In his memoir, ¡H ola Papi!: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons , advice columnist John Paul Brammer delves into his experiences growing up as a queer, biracial person. The  Los Angeles Times  writes that “Brammer’s writing is incredibly funny, kind, and gracious to his readers, and deeply vulnerable in a way that makes it feel as if he’s talking to only you” — and we couldn’t agree more. 

“Honey Girl” by Morgan Rogers

books about jeffrey dahmer

In Morgan Rogers’ novel Honey Girl , Grace Porter is an overachiever — and certainly not the type of person to marry a stranger in Las Vegas. Or, at least, she didn’t think she was that type of person. As Grace navigates the messiness of adulthood, Rogers takes us on a journey that’s both heartfelt and unflinching, illustrating that love is all about risks — even when it comes to loving ourselves. 

“Aftershocks: A Memoir” by Nadia Owusu

books about jeffrey dahmer

Nadia Owusu’s memoir, Aftershocks , reflects on her experience of being abandoned by her parents at a young age. Entertainment Weekly notes that “Owusu dispatches all of this heartache with blistering honesty but does so with prose light enough that it never feels too much to bear.”

“Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro

books about jeffrey dahmer

What if an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant had feelings? In Kazuo Ishiguro’s latest novel,  Klara and the Sun , Klara is an Artificial Friend who wonders if friendship is possible. The Financial Times called the Never Let Me Go author’s latest “a deft dystopian fable about the innocence of a robot that asks big questions about existence.”

“100 Boyfriends” by Brontez Purnell

books about jeffrey dahmer

Brontez Purnell’s romantic, intoxicating book, 100 Boyfriends , is a look at the romantic lives of queer men who are striving to find out not just where they belong, but where they can shine. Author Bryan Washington praised the collection, writing that “Each story in 100 Boyfriends is a minor eclipse: stunning in scope, technically blinding, and entirely miraculous.”

“One Last Stop” by Casey McQuiston

books about jeffrey dahmer

In Casey McQuiston’s big-hearted romance novel, One Last Stop , August meets Jane on a New York City subway — but she doesn’t realize just how fateful their chance encounter is at first. New York Magazine called the novel “an earnest reminder that home — whether that means a time, a place, or a person — is worth fighting for,” and we wouldn’t expect anything less from the  Red, White & Royal Blue author. 

“Afterparties: Stories” by Anthony Veasna So

books about jeffrey dahmer

In Afterparties , Anthony Veasna So weaves together tenderhearted stories about the lives of several Cambodian American characters. Although the stories vary quite a bit in terms of content, author George Saunders writes that they are all “powered by So’s skill with the telling detail,” and are much like “…beams of wry, affectionate light, falling from different directions on a complicated, struggling, beloved American community.”

“Malibu Rising” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

books about jeffrey dahmer

In Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel Malibu Rising , readers meet four famous siblings as they throw their annual end-of-summer party in Malibu. However, over the course of 24 hours, family drama ensues. The Washington Post calls this read “a fast-paced, engaging novel that smoothly transports readers.”

“Let Me Tell You What I Mean” by Joan Didion

books about jeffrey dahmer

Between 1968 and 2000, award-winning journalist and essayist Joan Didion wrote 12 pieces about a variety of well-known figures, ranging from Ernest Hemingway and Nancy Reagan to Martha Stewart. Now, these works have been gathered in the essay collection Let Me Tell You What I Mean . Bret Easton Ellis writes that Didion’s “prose remains peerless,” so, if you’re a fan of the iconic writer, this is a must-read. 

“Intimacies” by Katie Kitamura

books about jeffrey dahmer

Intimacies is Katie Kitamura’s fourth novel, following 2017’s critically acclaimed A Separation . In it, an interpreter for the International Court at the Hague gets drawn into a political scandal after agreeing to translate for a former world leader and potential criminal. The novel is a fascinating investigation into the instability of language and how it influences identity. Dana Spiotta describes Intimacies as “a haunting, precise, and morally astute novel that reads like a psychological thriller.”

“Detransition, Baby” by Torrey Peters

books about jeffrey dahmer

In Detransition, Baby , Torrey Peters tells a witty and nuanced story about partnership, parenthood and identity. About the novel, Ginny Hogan from the New York Times states “[Detransition, Baby upends] our traditional, gendered notions of what parenthood can look like.”

“Second Place” by Rachel Cusk

books about jeffrey dahmer

In Rachel Cusk’s novel Second Place , a follow up to her brilliant Outline trilogy, a woman invites an artist she admires to live in her remote guesthouse for the summer. As the stay unfolds, a series of unexpected events spurs revelations about womanhood, marriage and security. About Second Place , Jenny Singer from Glamour writes “there is mayhem; surprising sweetness and brilliant observations tumble from every page.”

“Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore ” by Dan Ozzi

books about jeffrey dahmer

In Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore , rock critic Dan Ozzi traces the stories of eleven separate bands that transitioned from the indie scene to achieve mainstream success in the ‘90s. Including interviews and anecdotes from bands like Green Day, Jimmy Eat World and Blink-182, this is a must-read for any music lover.

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books about jeffrey dahmer

Jeffrey Dahmer: A Terrifying True Story of Rape, Murder & Cannibalism (The Serial Killer Books) Paperback – March 27, 2017

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Jack rosewood.

For the last 15 years, Jack Rosewood has pursued his dream job as a full-time author – and he’s loved every second of it. The son of a crime journalist, he grew up fascinated by the stories of criminals and serial killers his father would tell, inspiring him to pick up the pen create his very own tales of murder and madness.

Jack lives in Jupiter, Florida with his wife, two kids, and Golden Retriever, Vincent. If you’d like to know more, or sign up to receive a FREE E-book, visit his website at http://JackRosewood.com and check out his Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/jack.rosewood.author

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Beyond 'Monster': Five Bone-Chilling Jeffrey Dahmer Books, Podcasts & Documentaries To Enjoy This Spooky Season

Oct. 6 2022, Published 6:46 p.m. ET

The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer by Brian Masters

A father’s story by lionel dahmer, the "morbid" podcast’s three-part jeffrey dahmer series, my friend dahmer, monster: the true story of the jeffrey dahmer murders by anne e. schwartz.

All products featured on OK! Magazine are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, OK! Magazine may earn an affiliate commission.

It’s the real-life scary story that’s captured the nation yet again: The chilling case surrounding serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer .

Between the years of 1978 and 1991, Dahmer killed 17 people in a series of particularly brutal murders. He was ultimately caught and sentenced to 16 life sentences in prison before he was beaten to death by a fellow inmate in 1994.

EVAN PETERS SLATED TO PLAY SERIAL KILLER JEFFREY DAHMER IN UPCOMING RYAN MURPHY NETFLIX SERIES 'MONSTER'

Though Dahmer’s story has been recounted in several mediums in the decades since his 1991 arrest, this tale of serial killer terror has found itself in the spotlight yet again as Netflix’s Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story has smashed streaming records.

Viewed by at least 56 million households since its September 21 premiere, the series has gone on to earn the superlative of the streaming giant’s ninth-most-watched English-language series of all time, according to Variety , a testament to the true spectacle of this case.

If you still can’t get enough of this terrifying tale following your first, second, third, or even 12th rewatch, here are five more biographies, podcasts, movies and more to help you get your Dahmer fix.

Penned prior to Dahmer’s death in 1994, The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer offers a deep, in-depth look into the mind of one of the nation’s most notorious serial killers, questioning what, exactly, constitutes the psychology of a murderer . Dubbed “unputdownable” by the late, famed thriller writer Patricia Highsmith , this book is a must-read for any fan of Monster .

The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer retails for $19.53 at amazon.com .

Written by Jeffrey’s father, Lionel Dahmer , A Father’s Story is exactly as its title implies — the harrowing tale of a dad who endured a "thousand different reactions" upon realizing his son was a killer. Emotional and reflective, this book offers an incredibly unique — and heartbreakingly close — look into this terrifying case.

A Father’s Story retails for $17.99 at amazon.com .

In 2019, famed true crime/comedy podcast "Morbid" tackled the Dahmer story in an engaging three-part series that covers everything from the killer’s younger years to his “descent into murderous madness,” per the podcast’s description, and finally, the series of events that led to his capture. Hosted by an unlikely duo of an autopsy technician and a hair stylist, these fascinating guides offer unique new perspectives — and occasionally, a splash of humor — while recounting one of America’s most …. "Morbid" fascinations.

Morbid’s Jeffery Dahmer episodes — 100, 102, and 104 — are available to stream on Spotify .

Ever wonder what Dahmer was like in high school? Look no further than the 2017 biopic, My Friend Dahmer . Starring Ross Lynch as the titular murderer, this movie provides a very accurate view of the future killer’s teen years — including some of his early obsessions. Visceral and engaging, this film was even dubbed “a disturbingly effective portrait of a future killer” by Vanity Fair ’s Richard Lawson .

My Friend Dahmer is available to watch on Peacock with subscriptions starting at $4.99.

Monster: The True Story of the Jeffrey Dahmer Murders offers a unique, new perspective on Dahmer’s case, centering around how Milwaukee Journal reporter Anne E. Schwartz broke this gruesome story thanks to a series of fateful tips. Providing an unparalleled look into both the investigation surrounding his crimes and the lasting legacy of this story, this book expertly and meticulously details the aftermath of Dahmer’s crimes well into the present day.

Monster: The True Story of the Jeffrey Dahmer Murders retails for $15.49 at amazon.com .

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The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer

Brian masters.

297 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

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The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: An American Nightmare

The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: An American Nightmare

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He was only fourteen years old and running for his life, trying to get away from the tall man. For a time, he thought he had made it, that he had escaped, just as his brother had done. Two young women had come out of the darkness to help him, and when the big fire engine showed up, a woman fire fighter wrapped his naked body in a blanket. Now, three policemen, shining badges and all, stood only a fingertip away as he leaned against the fender of a blue-and-white squad car. The legs of the dark-haired, olive-skinned youngster were streaked with some of the blood that had oozed from his violated anus. Tears coated his cheeks with a dry sheen. He was cold, and his head felt stuffed with cotton because he had been drugged. Konerak Sinthasomphone was terrified, trapped in a nightmare on the hard streets of Milwaukee, still unable to do much more than shake his head and softly say, "No." But now the police were here. They would arrest the tall man, just as they had when his brother got into trouble with a man several years ago. Monday, May 27, was a gentle night in Milwaukee as an early spring pushed away the bitter winter. A few more months, come summer, and people would flock to the streets for festivals and food and the kind of backslapping comradeship that neighborhoods in big cities enjoy. Even at this time of night, people would be sitting in the parks or coming home from the movies or just walking around two blocks over on Twenty-seventh Street. There would be plenty of people around in about a month, when the weather really warmed up. But right now, Konerak felt as alone as he ever had felt in his young life. What he had just endured in that foul-smelling apartment with the tall man had left him confused and shattered and desperately in need of help. He knew that more bad things, things like those he had seen in the pictures scattered around the apartment, might happen if he did not get out of there. In a stroke of good fortune, while Konerak was still passed out in the apartment the man had gone out to buy beer. The boy, in pain, awoke, managed to yank open the wooden door, and ran away. But he could not actually run very fast because the sleeping potion had robbed him of the quickness he always showed when tearing down the sidelines on a soccer field, clipping the ball along with the side of his foot. He felt as if he were moving through heavy molasses. He told his legs to hurry, but they refused to obey his command. Instead, he sidled along in a kind of stagger; that was the best he could do. Stark terror fueled what little energy he could muster to escape, for he knew the tall man would be coming after him. Konerak could only hope someone might intervene. That was his only chance. One foot ahead of another, he wobbled along, out into the street. But the tall man was striding quickly toward him, catching up. Konerak, a handsome Laotian youngster, had been missing from his home since the previous day, when he had vanished on his way to the usual Sunday soccer practice in Mitchell Park. As an Asian boy, he instinctively took to soccer the way American boys seem to know how to throw a baseball from the time they are in the crib. Konerak kept up with the fortunes of the Milwaukee Brewers, but they were already falling behind the pack in the American League East and it was hard to bring much enthusiasm to bear for astring of losses. The Green Bay Packers were idle until fall, so football was not of interest for the time being. Soccer was where a small kid with lightning reflexes could shine. Size didn't really matter on the soccer field, and for a little guy, that was important. Konerak had dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, like his heroes Pelé, Beckenbauer, and Maradona. He religiously worked out lifting weights with his legs to make them stronger for the field and got into a game at every opportunity. The Sinthasomphone family was relatively new to the United States. After the long, bruising conflict in Indochina was won by the Communists, the family had decided that the brutal regimes that had taken over Saigon, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane were offering only additional years of pain and hardship, despite their declarations of helping the people. In 1980, the family fled Laos, abandoning the sparkling air and the emerald mountains and lush jungles for a place that was truly foreign to them, a city in the United States, the place the American GIs who fought in Indochina used to refer to as "the World," as if Laos and Vietnam and Cambodia were on some far-distant planet. Milwaukee, which since its beginning has been a melting pot for various cultures. In Milwaukee, it is assumed that a family has roots in some foreign land and that the first generation speaks English with an accent. Their children will speak the language better, and the grandchildren will grow up with thepromise and the problems of any American child. As they watch the third generation grow up, grandparents may wonder if they made the right decision in leaving the old country, as they see the kids listening to loud music and wearing their hair funny and not respecting their elders. Konerak was three years old, the youngest of eight children, when he came to Milwaukee. With the experiences he gained on the streets and in school, he was speeding up the timetable. He was Asian in heritage, but American to the core. The flight to freedom from Laos had been arduous enough, but something else seemed to lurk about the family, something dark and unknown in the land from which freedom had beckoned. Many in the Lao community believe refugee families are not really prepared for life in an American metropolis, where the jungle is made of concrete and the predators are likely to be the most ordinary-looking people. In Indochina, in the midst of war, it was rather easy to distinguish the life-threatening situations. But in America, for the Lao, it was different. Elders say the men and women who left Laos thought they were reaching safe haven in the United States, and realized only through bitter experience that the sidewalks of America are paved not with gold, but with danger. The Sinthasomphone family had figured that out before Konerak went missing. Three years earlier, in 1988, when Konerak's older brother was thirteen years of age, a tall blond man withstrangely empty eyes had enticed the boy into his apartment, toyed with him sexually for a while, and offered to pay him fifty dollars to let the tall man take pictures of him, pictures in which the boy would not wear any clothes. The boy, frightened, dashed away and got help. Police came and arrested the tall man, and the court, in 1989, sentenced him to eight years in jail. He served ten months in a minimum-security confinement that allowed him to leave for work at night, a leash that was so loose that he occasionally returned to jail in the morning smelling of whiskey, having skipped off his job for a round of drinking. After the semi-jail time, the man was given five years of probation. The Sinthasomphone family thought the nightmare was over. They were wrong. That incident was only the prologue. Just as his brother had made it to safety, just as in television shows he had seen where evil is always vanquished in the end, Konerak might have allowed himself in the early moments of that Monday morning to believe that he had been saved. He was away from that horrible apartment with its rancid smell, and people had reached out to help him. This was not Laos. This was America and he was an American kid. He may have thought things were turning in his favor. He was almost right. His plight had not gone unnoticed, for extraordinarily peculiar behavior stands out even in a neighborhood that is big-city blase about mostthings. Two girls from the neighborhood, Nicole Childress, eighteen, and her cousin, Sandra Smith, also eighteen, saw the disoriented boy on a darkened street, naked, with scarlet patches of blood on his behind and a dazed, uncomprehending look of fright on his young face. When they spoke to him, he could only mumble. The girls were not passive. A tall white man came up and tried to grab the boy, but Smith would not turn him loose, holding on to an arm while her cousin ran to one of the pair of pay telephones on the corner and dialed the emergency number, 911. In minutes, Fire Engine Number 32 rolled up and the two blue-and-white squad cars of the Milwaukee Police Department arrived. Three uniformed officers stepped out. Cops coming to such a disturbance have one thought in the front of their minds, to restore order as fast as possible. They found two males tussling, one of them naked, and two women helping the smaller one resist. The uniforms settled things down in a hurry around the Oxford Apartments at 924 North Twenty-fifth Street. The police officers waved away the Milwaukee Fire Department rescue team, which had wrapped the young man in a blanket to cover his nakedness. Later reports would indicate that the officers thought the only blood they saw had resulted from a scraped knee. With things under control, the police wanted to move the situation out of the public eye, away from the gathering crowd. They decided to headup to the apartment of the white man, who was trying to convince them that the naked young man was his lover. But the young women who had dialed the emergency number were not ready to give up so easily, and pestered the police to list them as witnesses. Sandra Smith said later they were told to go away, that they were no longer needed. They did, but when they returned home, upset and angry, they explained the episode to Glenda Cleveland, Sandra's mother, starting a domino effect that would take a bizarre turn. Glenda Cleveland followed up the excited discussion with a telephone call of her own to the police, a call that would eventually be broadcast around the world. But for the moment, the police moved the two principals in the unfolding drama inside of the blocky apartment building and upstairs to apartment 213, the one pointed out by the slender white man with the wispy mustache. He continued his apologetic explanation, seemingly ashamed for being involved in such a ruckus. Since he spoke so calmly, the police officers began to feel that more important crimes were out there in the night, waiting to be thwarted. There were thieves and muggers, dope dealers and murderers who needed to be caught, and valuable time was being wasted standing here trying to referee what obviously amounted to nothing more than a domestic spat. The tall man was glib and soft-spoken, not at all nervous, while the Asian guy seemed drunkand couldn't put together a coherent sentence. Whom to believe in this kind of situation? The tall guy admitted that he knew his Asian friend had been out on the street; that, he claimed, was why he had been trying to bring him back. It had happened before. They were homosexual lovers, he said, and they lived together in the apartment and tonight they had gotten to drinking a little too much and angry words were exchanged. He was really nineteen, much older than he looked. The man said he was sorry and that it wouldn't happen again. The police saw a few pictures of the younger man, apparently wearing only his underwear. Konerak was terrified but could not articulate his case, propped up silently on the sofa while the men talked. The police seemed to be believing the tall man! What about the pictures that littered the floor and were tacked on the walls, photos that showed other naked men. Konerak had been raped! What of the smell that the tall man would tell investigators permeated the apartment from a corpse in the next room which he said had been smelling like hell when the three cops questioned him about the Asian kid. But patrol work on the streets of a big city can put a coating of steel on normal human emotions. If a police officer takes every crime scene, every victim, every sob story too deeply and lets it get under his or her skin, then that is a cop who is likely to become another statistic in the suicidecolumns. Best to keep a distance. Settle things down, but don't let it get to you personally. They established that the two were homosexual lovers, and cops who don't like to get involved in arguments between a man and wife just hate to get between a couple of arguing homosexuals. When police go into the homes of such people, they claim sometimes that pornographic books and pictures are the norm rather than an exception. Quiet things down and move on. "What happened in Milwaukee, ... that was normal, and I'll tell you why," a talk show-caller who described himself as a former paramedic told a Cleveland radio station. "Out of all of the calls that I went to, when there were gay people involved, okay, 95 percent of them, when you walked into the apartment, there was a strange odor. There was an exotic perfume or incense, there was, a lot of times, there were animal odors. I've been in places there was pornography, in boxes, stacked up to the windowsill. There were rows that you had to walk through because of the pornography. Tapes, movies, books, you just ignore that, you don't even see it." The Milwaukee Police Association, the policemen's union, stated later that the officers on the scene found nothing to indicate anything was seriously wrong. As a matter of fact, things began to calm to such a point that the three officers did not feel it necessary to run a basic background check on either male they were questioning. Had they done so, they would have learned some very interesting facts. They would have learned that the thirty-one-year-old white man, Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer, was convicted in 1989 of second-degree sexual assault on a teenage boy. They would have learned that Dahmer had done time for the crime and was still on probation. And they would have discovered that the Asian lad before them, the one who seemed too drunk to be understood, was only fourteen years old, not nineteen as Dahmer had claimed. And they would have learned that the boy was the younger brother of the child Dahmer had been convicted of molesting two years earlier. Dahmer had told the court during that 1989 case that he was sorry for what he had done, much as he was telling the police talking to him now that he was sorry, and that he would make sure that such an impolite interruption would not happen again. The cops did not pick up their car radio microphones to call District Three headquarters and ask for the background checks, so they did not learn any of those things. Instead, they officially wrote it off as an argument between a couple of gays, got back into their cars, and drove away, off to patrol duties, back to serious crime. The shiny badges going out the door, heading away from him, were the last things that Konerak Sinthasomphone would ever see as the door closed and Dahmer turned toward him, with those empty eyes and a face that was suddenly churning with anger. When the cops got downstairs, they were somewhat amused by the interrogation they had just conducted, totally unaware of the horror that was going on in the very apartment where they had been standing moments before. One called in to the station to report. "Intoxicated Asian, naked male, was returned to his boyfriend." On a tape recording of the call, laughter was audible. "My partner is going to get deloused at the station," the reporting officer said. There was more laughter, and the two squad cars drove away. Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by Don Davis.

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Small Sacrifices: A True Story of Passion and Murder

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By: Jack Rosewood

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A Father's Story Audiobook By Lionel Dahmer cover art

A Father's Story

By: Lionel Dahmer

In July of 1991, the country was shocked by the unfathomable crimes of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. But no one was more shocked than his parents. In A Father's Story , the listener becomes witness to the incremental unraveling of a parent's image of their child, and the "thousand different reactions" that follow. In his attempt to understand the nature of his son's psychosis, Lionel Dahmer methodically scrutinizes every possible contributing factor to his son's madness. 

A gut wrenching, written internal dialogue

The Big Book of Serial Killers Audiobook By Jack Rosewood, Rebecca Lo cover art

The Big Book of Serial Killers

There is little more terrifying than those who hunt, stalk, and snatch their prey under the cloak of darkness. These hunters search not for animals, but for the touch, taste, and empowerment of human flesh. They are cannibals, vampires, and monsters, and they walk among us. These serial killers are not mythical beasts with horns and shaggy hair. They are people living among society, going about their day-to-day activities until nightfall. They are the Dennis Rader's, the fathers, husbands, church-going members of the community.

GREAT FOR TRUE CRIME DEVOTÉES, BUT....

By: Jack Rosewood , and others

Monster Audiobook By Anne E. Schwartz cover art

By: Anne E. Schwartz

One night in July 1991, two policemen saw a man running handcuffed from the apartment of Jeffrey Dahmer. Investigating, they made a gruesome discovery: three human skulls in Dahmer’s refrigerator and the body parts of at least 11 more people scattered throughout the apartment. Shortly after, Milwaukee Journal reporter Anne E. Schwartz received a tip that would change her life. 

A Little Too Willing to Ignore Obvious Bias

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Killer Clown

He was a model citizen. A hospital volunteer. And one of the most sadistic serial killers of all time. But few people could see the cruel monster beneath the colorful clown makeup that John Gacy wore to entertain children in his Chicago suburb. Few could imagine what lay buried beneath his house of horrors—until a teenage boy disappeared before Christmas in 1978, leading prosecutor Terry Sullivan on the greatest manhunt of his career.

SCARRIEST BOOK I HAVE EVER LISTENED TO!

By: Terry Sullivan , and others

Grilling Dahmer Audiobook By Patrick Kennedy, Robyn Maharaj cover art

Grilling Dahmer

In the late hours of July 22, 1991, Detective Patrick "Pat" Kennedy of the Milwaukee Police Department was asked to respond to a possible homicide. Little did he know that he would soon be delving into the dark mind of one of America's most notorious serial killers, the "Milwaukee Cannibal", Jeffrey Dahmer. Kennedy spent the next six weeks locked in an interrogation room with Dahmer. There, the killer described in lurid detail how he lured 17 young men to his apartment, where he strangled, sexually assaulted, dismembered, and in some cases, cannibalized his victims.

Chilling but not needlessly gory

By: Patrick Kennedy , and others

The Serial Killer Books Audiobook By Jack Rosewood cover art

The Serial Killer Books

There are reasons why some of the most famous serial killers in the world have names that stick in our memories, send shivers up our spines, make us double-check to make sure the doors are locked at night, and maybe peek under the bed to be sure nothing is lurking there before we turn off the lights.

More Terrifying Than a Horror Movie

Mindhunter Audiobook By John E. Douglas, Mark Olshaker cover art

Bonus material! Includes an excerpt from John Douglas and Mark Olshaker’s Obsession ! Discover the classic behind-the-scenes chronicle of John E. Douglas’ 25-year career in the FBI Investigative Support Unit, where he used psychological profiling to delve into the minds of the country’s most notorious serial killers and criminals - the basis for the upcoming Netflix original series.

I have purchased every book J.E.D. Has made available

By: John E. Douglas , and others

Ted Bundy Audiobook By Stephen G. Michaud, Hugh Aynesworth cover art

Presented for the first time in audio format, the chilling transcript of Stephen G Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth's interviews with notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, as seen on the hit Netflix documentary series Conversation with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes - based on their New York Times best-selling book.

Extraodinary insight into the mind of Ted Bundy

By: Stephen G. Michaud , and others

The Stranger Beside Me Audiobook By Ann Rule cover art

The Stranger Beside Me

By: Ann Rule

Ann Rule was working on the biggest story of her career, tracking the trail of victims left by a brutal serial killer. Little did this future best-selling author know that the savage slayer she was hunting was the young man she counted among her closest friends. Everyone's picture of a natural winner, Ted Bundy was a bright, charming, and handsome man with a promising future as an attorney. But on January 24, 1989 Bundy was executed for the murders of three young women - and had confessed to taking the lives of at least thirty-five more women from coast to coast.

Another Good One from Ann Rule

Serial Killers True Crime Box Set: 6 Notorious True Crime Murder Stories Audiobook By Jack Rosewood, Dwayne Walker, Rebecca L

Serial Killers True Crime Box Set: 6 Notorious True Crime Murder Stories

In the very depths of the human soul there is a darkness. It is an entity which most of us may never get to know; for others, however, this darkness grows for years until it takes hold of them and permeates every inch of their body. This darkness is evil incarnate, and it is in the hearts and minds of some of the most dangerous and despicable human beings to have walked this same earth we live in today. In the following volumes, you shall discover the stories of six murderers so tainted by darkness that their horrific accounts still bring fear to men and women of our present day.

Great bundle

Bind, Torture, Kill Audiobook By Roy Wenzl, Tim Potter, L. Kelly, Hurst Laviana cover art

Bind, Torture, Kill

For 31 years, a monster terrorized the residents of Wichita, Kansas. A bloodthirsty serial killer, self-named "BTK" - for "bind them, torture them, kill them" - he slaughtered men, women, and children alike, eluding the police for decades while bragging of his grisly exploits to the media. The nation was shocked when the fiend who was finally apprehended turned out to be Dennis Rader - a friendly neighbor...a devoted husband...a helpful Boy Scout dad...the respected president of his church. Written by four award-winning crime reporters who covered the story for more than 20 years, Bind, Torture, Kill is the most intimate and complete account of the BTK nightmare

Stomach churning

By: Roy Wenzl , and others

Serial Killers Rage and Horror Audiobook By Jack Rosewood, Rebecca Lo cover art

Serial Killers Rage and Horror

From rampage killers to hunters that seek out human prey in the shadows of the night, this serial killer anthology is a collection of horror stories. Collectively these men were responsible for hundreds of deaths, and they all belong in the realm of the worst serial killers to date. Delve into eight different cases and explore the heinous deeds committed, the background of each killer, and the apparent motives for their crimes.

True Crime some really shilling reading

The Search for the Green River Killer Audiobook By Carlton Smith, Tomas Guillen cover art

The Search for the Green River Killer

  The Search for the Green River Killer is the ultimate authoritative account of the Pacific Northwest killing spree that held a nation spellbound - and continues to horrify and fascinate, spawning dramatizations and documentaries of a demented killer who seemed unstoppable for decades. 

The Definitive Green River Killer Book

By: Carlton Smith , and others

Helter Skelter Audiobook By Vincent Bugliosi, Curt Gentry cover art

Helter Skelter

Prosecuting attorney in the Manson trial Vincent Bugliosi held a unique insider's position in one of the most baffling and horrifying cases of the 20th century: the cold-blooded Tate-LaBianca murders carried out by Charles Manson and four of his followers. What motivated Manson in his seemingly mindless selection of victims, and what was his hold over the young women who obeyed his orders? Now available for the first time in unabridged audio, the gripping story of this famous and haunting crime is brought to life by acclaimed narrator Scott Brick.

Everything I remembered about the case was wrong..

By: Vincent Bugliosi , and others

The Night Stalker Audiobook By Philip Carlo cover art

The Night Stalker

By: Philip Carlo

Decades after Richard Ramirez left 13 dead and paralyzed the city of Los Angeles, his name is still synonymous with fear, torture, and sadistic murder. Philip Carlo's classic The Night Stalker , based on years of meticulous research and extensive interviews with Ramirez, revealed the killer and his horrifying crimes to be even more chilling than anyone could have imagined. The story of Ramirez is a bizarre and spellbinding descent into the very heart of human evil.

Another True Crime classic...! (yay)

Inside the Mind of Jeffrey Dahmer Audiobook By Christopher Berry-Dee cover art

Inside the Mind of Jeffrey Dahmer

By: Christopher Berry-Dee

Christopher Berry-Dee is the man who talks to serial killers. A world-renowned investigative criminologist, he has gained the trust of murderers across the world, entered their high security prisons and discussed in detail their shocking crimes. Berry-Dee now delves into the mind of perhaps the most sadistic and psychopathic killer of all time. Using his long experience and psychological expertise, Berry-Dee seeks to understand the motivation, the amoral urges and the merciless horror behind Dahmer's inhuman behaviour: what could make a man do this?

The Scariest Serial Killers Audiobook By James Richmond cover art

The Scariest Serial Killers

By: James Richmond

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The Serial Killer Files Audiobook By Harold Schechter cover art

The Serial Killer Files

By: Harold Schechter

Hollywood's make-believe maniacs like Jason, Freddy, and Hannibal Lecter can't hold a candle to real-life monsters like John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and scores of others who have terrorized, tortured, and terminated their way across civilization throughout the ages. Now, from the much-acclaimed author of Deviant, Deranged, and Depraved , comes the ultimate resource on the serial killer phenomenon.

Made me feel sick, yet I didn't want it to end

Publisher's Summary

Few serial killers in history have garnered as much attention as Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer. Although Dahmer killed 17 young men and boys, it was not so much the number of people he killed that makes him stand out among famous serial killers, but more so the acts of depravity that he committed on the corpses of his victims.

In this true crime story, you will listen to how Dahmer transitioned from a loner to serial killer, committing numerous unnatural acts along the way such as necrophilia and cannibalism. Following in the macabre tradition of another infamous Wisconsin serial killer - Ed Gein - Jeffrey Dahmer terrorized Milwaukee for most of the 1980s until he was finally captured in 1991.

Perhaps one of the most frightening aspects of Jeffrey Dahmer's serial killer career was how easy he was able to lure his victims into his trap. Dahmer possessed above average intellect, was conventionally good looking, and usually had a calm demeanor that could disarm even the most paranoid of people. Because of these traits, Dahmer was able to evade justice numerous times, which allowed him to keep killing. Truly, Dahmer was able to fool his family, the police, his neighbors, and even the judicial system into believing that he was not a threat; but during the entire time his kill count increased and the body parts of his victims began to pile up around his apartment.

Purchase this audiobook to listen to a story that is among the most disturbing of all true crime serial killers. You will follow the course of Dahmer's life from an alcoholic outcast in high school to a vicious predator who stalked the streets of Milwaukee. Finally, you will hear about Dahmer's trial, his jail house murder, and the impact that his many crimes had on Milwaukee.

More from the same

What listeners say about Jeffrey Dahmer: A Terrifying True Story of Rape, Murder & Cannibalism

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com reviews, audible.co.uk reviews, audible.com.au reviews, amazon reviews.

Profile Image for Rhonda

Best Jeffrey Dahmer information I've seen or heard

Where does Jeffrey Dahmer: A Terrifying True Story of Rape, Murder & Cannibalism rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's in the top 10 of my favorite true crime books.

Which character – as performed by David L. White – was your favorite?

No favorite character but Mr. White was an excellent narrator for this book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes, but some parts were awfully gruesome..as expected

Any additional comments?

I've read and watched several things on Dahmer so I didn't expect much new information from this book. However, this book did surprise me. It is well written and thorough. It goes into detail from childhood until his death. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in Dahmer or serial killers in general. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

10 people found this helpful

Profile Image for Ms.Bliss

Somebody below said it was like listening to a really long high school essay, well he was right. Considering the topic is so interesting I am not sure how it came out so dry, it doesn't go into any detail, or add anything insightful beyond a Wikipedia page. If you a True Crime fan and already know about Dahmer and the murders he committed, I suggest you skip this one. The narration was much like the book itself...

9 people found this helpful

Profile Image for Mandymay💄👠👛

Oblivious to the killers among us 💀

This book covers the information the media gave plus interviews with Jeffrey where he explains why he did it. To a sane person the reasons why will never be clear. The most horrifying thing is most serial killers appear so normal they could be anyone including your neighbor or friend. The speculation on whether the prison guards allowed Jeffery's own death is still a mystery. I'm interested to hear who's up next in this very detailed series about serial killers. The narrator did a good job. His voice is a perfect fit for this book. I was given this book in exchange for my honest review. Is it worth a credit?? I think so.

8 people found this helpful

Profile Image for in1ear (John Row)

A Biography of a Monster

If you could sum up Jeffrey Dahmer: A Terrifying True Story of Rape, Murder & Cannibalism in three words, what would they be?

Grotesque, Madness, Evil

What other book might you compare Jeffrey Dahmer: A Terrifying True Story of Rape, Murder & Cannibalism to and why?

Representative of Jack Rosewood's Serial Killer work. Short but thorough. Attention grabbing, well written

This is a biographical work, there isn't character interpretation. It is well written, and David L. White does a superb job getting the book across as written.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Empathy for the victims, disgust with Dahmer.

Another Jack Rosewood serial killer biography. Well done, as usual. Narrated well. Thanks for the opportunity to listen and offer my opinions on this work! A review copy was gifted to me at no charge. In return, I am happy to provide an honest review. Also at no charge.

4 people found this helpful

Profile Image for AliKay

Not a disappointment

This was the better of 2 books about JeffreyI have read so far. This book just felt more authentic, based on truth and I enjoyed the analytical pie we at the end. The conspiracies about his death have me very intrigued. Well done.

2 people found this helpful

Profile Image for Zombie

this was a very good book well told the story of him and his killings and even his life outside of the killings

Profile Image for lisa lopez

Informative and great reading voice

I didn’t know the extent of his horrific acts, scary. Lost my appetite at times listening to the details.

Profile Image for Katelyn Neel

Twisted - very informative

Very informative, great narrative on Dahmer’s life and details about his twisted mind. Would recommend if anyone is interested in his life story.

Profile Image for Bikram Agarwal

Sounded like a documentary

I received a free copy of this book from the author / narrator / publisher and I'm leaving an unbiased review. When I read any true-crime book, I want to read a little dramatized version of it. Something where I can get drawn into the story and feel it happening right in front of me. But this book doesn't do that. This one felt more like a documentary. The incidents are described matter-of-fact ly . The victims aren't humanized and the connection is missing. It felt like it is just listing out names and facts. So, as a documentation of the gruesome incidents, this book does fine. And narration too is fine from that perspective. But not what I was looking for in a book from Audible.

Profile Image for Deanna Hebert

Darkness of a human mind

Interesting if not a story of darkness. Dahmer is a story of the deep recesses of a man's mind.

1 person found this helpful

Profile Image for L Phillips

Scary what can happen

Was gripped from start to finish. Couldn't believe someone could be so evil. Must listen to believe!

Profile Image for Mrs. Y. Ebanks

lacking extra insight

The book provides no more insight than a documentary on YouTube. If you've just decided to find out information on Dahmer, this is a good place to start. This was purchased as an audio book, David White is very easy listening. No put on ascent which is a refreshing change.

Profile Image for Amazon Customer

Absolutely worth a listen!!

This is a really well told story of the terrible crimes committed by Dahmer and his life before and after. The narrator reads well and is engaging. The facts line up with the more readily available information on the serial killer. I found it especially useful as a fiction writer trying to gain insight into the mind of such awful criminal's. The book questions some of the psychology behind the murderer and not just the details of his crimes.

Profile Image for Sara

Simplified and slightly rushed

In my opinion there are much more in-depth books, like those of Brian Masters or Lionel Dahmer. This is a short book who sums upp the overall story of Jeffreys life and crimes, but doesn't go very deep. I'm not a big fan of the sound effects/ music added, and a victims name was pronounced wrong at one point. This book somewhat simplifies the story, and is more of an "introduction".

Profile Image for Martin Bagnall

I normally struggle to sit through a full book, but this had me gripped. A really good insight into a very disturbing case. Definitely recommend to anyone who’s interested in serial killer stories.

Profile Image for Anonymous User

Loves it this author is just brilliant was captivating and the fact Geoffrey dharma gave interviews for this book as true account's of his rampage was great

Profile Image for Pee Popper Diddy Pop

Sick Man, Interesting And Fascinating

A brilliant book by Jack Rosewood, very interesting, a fascinating story, I always wish books as good as this could be longer

Profile Image for Kindle Customer

Sounds like Mr Mackey from South park

excellent story, but the narrator sounds exactly like Mr Mackey from TVs South park. also, at 3 hours, way to short and overpriced. need at least several hours on this killer.

Profile Image for Daniel

Absolutely perfect. This is exactly what true crime fans are looking for; I loved it.

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books about jeffrey dahmer

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This Book Gives an Inside Look at Jeffrey Dahmer's Interrogation and Deranged Confessions

This serial killer's mind is a frightening place...

Grilling Dahmer Excerpt

Few serial killers fascinate and repulse as much as Jeffrey Dahmer. A serial murderer , the grotesque extent of his horrific crimes include rape, necrophilia, cannibalism, and the obsessive collecting and preserving of body parts from his victims. When Dahmer was finally apprehended by the authorities, he said, "For what I did, I deserve death."

The new Netflix series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story was released on September 21, 2022. It stars Evan Peters as Dahmer and includes a star-studded cast of Richard Jenkins, Niecy Nash, and Molly Ringwald, just to name a few. The show provides a fascinating glimpse into Dahmer's life and crimes and is already receiving widespread public and critical acclaim.

But what really happened? 

If you've watched the show and you want more, or if you're just becoming curious about Dahmer for the first time, Grilling Dahmer: The Interrogation of "The Milwaukee Cannibal" is an in-depth look inside the mind of this insidious serial killer. 

Written by Detective Patrick "Pat" Kennedy (along with Robyn Maharaj), Grilling Dahmer provides inside information into his case that's not available anywhere else. Kennedy was the investigator on Dahmer's case, and after Dahmer's apprehension, spent sixteen hours a day for six weeks locked with him in an interrogation room. During this time, Dahmer—who was thirty-one at the time—described his lurid crimes to Kennedy in detail.

This book is an inside look at that interrogation. And today we are bringing you an exclusive excerpt. Go ahead and read it—but we guarantee you won't be able to look away.

10 Little-Known Facts About Jeffrey Dahmer

Read on for an excerpt of Grilling Dahmer , and then purchase the book.

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Grilling Dahmer

By Patrick Kennedy and Robyn Maharaj

Grilling Dahmer

Monday, July 22, 1991

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mall exterior

Tracy Edwards knew he was in trouble. A young man who could usually talk his way out of a lot of jams, he was running out of ideas about how to keep the blond man he had befriended several hours earlier from attacking him with a knife.

In the twinkling, summery sunshine of a lazy, late afternoon, Edwards had been out with friends hanging around the Grand Avenue Mall when a good-looking man approached them. He was soft-spoken but direct, and although he appeared to be addressing the small group of Edwards’s friends, he kept staring specifically at Edwards. Edwards was appreciative of the attention and interested in what the man said. The blond man complimented Edwards’s appearance, his toned physique, and the lean angles of his jaw and neck, stating that Edwards was the kind of male subject he sought out for photos he liked to take. He motioned for Edwards to step aside, mentioning that he would be willing to pay up to a hundred dollars if Edwards was willing to pose for photos. Edwards recognized what was going on, and perhaps was a little intrigued and enticed—there was the lure of money, alcohol—maybe some level of mutual seduction would develop. Edwards’s friends balked when he told them he was taking off with his new friend, encouraging him to stay and hang out with them, but he decided to leave.

Before the Murders: A Chilling Glimpse into Jeffrey Dahmer’s Childhood 

The man, who introduced himself as Jeff, led the way out of the mall and into the sunshine. Edwards could eye the man who now walked purposefully beside him as they traveled to an apartment not too far away. They stopped at a beer store where Jeff bought a six-pack, and Edwards was able to size him up more closely. He was over six feet tall and looked to be in pretty good shape. He was blond and fair and decently dressed. As they walked and talked, Edwards began to sense that Jeff was shy and lonely and maybe didn’t have a lot of friends. He talked a little about movies and even suggested that they could watch one once they got back to his place.

apartment building

The building was fairly mundane—a three-story walk-up box—and the apartment much what one would expect from a one-bedroom efficiency apartment in this part of the city. The apartment was hot and smelled terrible. Edwards complained, and Jeff nodded that his landlord kept promising to fix the problem. Edwards sat down, taking in the surroundings, while Jeff fixed him a drink. Not offering him a beer or asking what he might like, Jeff simply handed Edwards a glass full of a dark liquid that smelled and tasted odd. Edwards sipped at it, disliking the taste; he noticed that Jeff took a beer for himself right from the can. Jeff put in a movie and Edwards realized that he hadn’t said much to him since locking them inside the apartment. Jeff had a serious look on his face as the start of The Exorcist III flickered on the screen of his television. Edwards started to ask him about what work he did, but Jeff brushed off the conversation. He noticed an element of darkness in Jeff’s face, and the smell of the place was making him nauseated. He didn’t like the drink and didn’t think he’d be able to sit through an entire movie in this horribly smelling place. He had changed his mind about all of it—the photos, the drinks, and the man beside him, who was starting to act stranger by the moment.

Dahmer on Dahmer: A Serial Killer Speaks Goes Inside the Mind of the Cannibal Killer

Jeff got up abruptly and left the room. Edwards thought about just taking off, but Jeff was back seconds later. He had his camera and a pair of handcuffs, and he asked Edwards to remove his shirt. Jeff was smiling now, but there was an edge to his voice that made Edwards feel as though he should comply. He hesitated but decided to play along. Jeff asked if he could attach a handcuff, but before Edwards could respond or resist, Jeff snapped the cuff on his wrist. He had him sit down, and encouraged him to loosen up and drink more of the strong liquid. They sat together and watched the movie, Edwards strategizing his next move while Jeff moaned under his breath and rocked back and forth. Edwards sensed that Jeff was a ticking bomb and wanted to keep him as calm as possible so he could leave without upsetting him.

The movie continued to play. When it finished, Jeff picked up the remote, rewound the movie, and started it again. Jeff switched his focus from rocking back and forth and watching the movie to looking at Edwards, who desperately tried to look calm and comfortable to keep Jeff at bay as the hours ticked by. They moved to the bedroom. Jeff pulled out a knife and pushed Edwards to the bed.

“I’m going to cut out your heart and eat it,” Jeff said to him in a low, deep voice. He held the knife to Edwards’s chest.

My Friend Dahmer Trailer Shows the Birth of a Killer

Edwards heard him but pretended he didn’t. He tried to lighten the conversation by suggesting Jeff remove his shirt and perhaps they could fool around. Edwards desperately wanted him to put the knife down, but Jeff resisted every suggestion. Edwards asked if they could move back to the living room where the window air conditioner helped alleviate the heat and smell, but Jeff didn’t respond. Jeff wasn’t focused on the knife, but he also wasn’t putting it down—all the while moaning, rocking back and forth, and slurring incoherently from several hours of near constant beer drinking.

Edwards leapt suddenly and punched Jeff full in the face. Not expecting it, Jeff fell to the ground and Edwards ran to the bedroom door and then the locked apartment door. He grabbed at the locks, feeling that Jeff was right behind him. He knew that if he didn’t escape at that moment, he would likely never leave that place alive.

Edwards managed to get the door open and ran down the hallway, not looking back. He raced down the stairs and out the door into the night.

police car at night

It must have been a strange sight if you happened to be on the darkened street that blistering hot night. A few city residents may have been out taking whatever relief possible from the night air and seen a young man with glazed eyes running down a Milwaukee street, a pair of handcuffs dangling from one wrist.

After what Edwards had experienced in the several hours before his escape, he was just thankful to be out and on the street, though frightened his attacker might have followed and would catch up to him.

Edwards flagged down the first police cruiser that he saw. The two officers recognized immediately that their keys would not remove his cuffs, as the handcuffs were not Milwaukee Police Department-issued, and it was someone other than a fellow officer who had attached them. Edwards desperately wanted the cuffs removed and for this reason alone he finally agreed, after much persuasion on the part of the police, to accompany the officers back to Oxford Apartments #213, a couple short blocks away.

The apartment threshold, unbeknownst to Officers Robert Rauth and Rolf Mueller, and Tracy Edwards, was a doorway that when crossed, usually proved fatal to most of the people who had visited in the time its sole resident lived there. That imminent moment eventually became the beginning of the Jeffrey Dahmer story—once the world learned his name.

jeffrey dahmer

Jeffrey Dahmer mugshot

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Book details

The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

An American Nightmare

Author: Donald A. Davis

The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

The Jeffrey Dahmer Story CHAPTER ONE Little Boy Lost Monday, May 27, 1991 He was only fourteen years old and running for his life, trying to get away from the tall man. For a time, he thought he had made it, that he had escaped, just as his brother had done. Two young women had come out of the darkness to help him, and when the big fire engine showed up, a woman fire fighter wrapped his naked body in a blanket. Now, three policemen, shining badges and all, stood only a fingertip away as he leaned against the fender of a blue-and-white squad car. The legs of the dark-haired, olive-skinned youngster were streaked with some of the blood that had oozed from his violated anus. Tears coated his cheeks with a dry sheen. He was cold, and his head felt stuffed with cotton because he had been drugged. Konerak Sinthasomphone was terrified, trapped in a nightmare on the hard streets of Milwaukee, still unable to do much more than shake his head and softly say, "No." But now the police were here. They would arrest the tall man, just as they had when his brother got into trouble with a man several years ago. Monday, May 27, was a gentle night in Milwaukee as an early spring pushed away the bitter winter. A few more months, come summer, and people would flock to the streets for festivals and food and the kind of backslapping comradeship that neighborhoods in big cities enjoy. Even at this time of night, people would be sitting in the parks or coming home from the movies or just walking around two blocks over on Twenty-seventh Street. There would be plenty of people around in about a month, when the weather really warmed up. But right now, Konerak felt as alone as he ever had felt in his young life. What he had just endured in that foul-smelling apartment with the tall man had left him confused and shattered and desperately in need of help. He knew that more bad things, things like those he had seen in the pictures scattered around the apartment, might happen if he did not get out of there. In a stroke of good fortune, while Konerak was still passed out in the apartment the man had gone out to buy beer. The boy, in pain, awoke, managed to yank open the wooden door, and ran away. But he could not actually run very fast because the sleeping potion had robbed him of the quickness he always showed when tearing down the sidelines on a soccer field, clipping the ball along with the side of his foot. He felt as if he were moving through heavy molasses. He told his legs to hurry, but they refused to obey his command. Instead, he sidled along in a kind of stagger; that was the best he could do. Stark terror fueled what little energy he could muster to escape, for he knew the tall man would be coming after him. Konerak could only hope someone might intervene. That was his only chance. One foot ahead of another, he wobbled along, out into the street. But the tall man was striding quickly toward him, catching up. Konerak, a handsome Laotian youngster, had been missing from his home since the previous day, when he had vanished on his way to the usual Sunday soccer practice in Mitchell Park. As an Asian boy, he instinctively took to soccer the way American boys seem to know how to throw a baseball from the time they are in the crib. Konerak kept up with the fortunes of the Milwaukee Brewers, but they were already falling behind the pack in the American League East and it was hard to bring much enthusiasm to bear for astring of losses. The Green Bay Packers were idle until fall, so football was not of interest for the time being. Soccer was where a small kid with lightning reflexes could shine. Size didn't really matter on the soccer field, and for a little guy, that was important. Konerak had dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, like his heroes Pelé, Beckenbauer, and Maradona. He religiously worked out lifting weights with his legs to make them stronger for the field and got into a game at every opportunity. The Sinthasomphone family was relatively new to the United States. After the long, bruising conflict in Indochina was won by the Communists, the family had decided that the brutal regimes that had taken over Saigon, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane were offering only additional years of pain and hardship, despite their declarations of helping the people. In 1980, the family fled Laos, abandoning the sparkling air and the emerald mountains and lush jungles for a place that was truly foreign to them, a city in the United States, the place the American GIs who fought in Indochina used to refer to as "the World," as if Laos and Vietnam and Cambodia were on some far-distant planet. Milwaukee, which since its beginning has been a melting pot for various cultures. In Milwaukee, it is assumed that a family has roots in some foreign land and that the first generation speaks English with an accent. Their children will speak the language better, and the grandchildren will grow up with thepromise and the problems of any American child. As they watch the third generation grow up, grandparents may wonder if they made the right decision in leaving the old country, as they see the kids listening to loud music and wearing their hair funny and not respecting their elders. Konerak was three years old, the youngest of eight children, when he came to Milwaukee. With the experiences he gained on the streets and in school, he was speeding up the timetable. He was Asian in heritage, but American to the core. The flight to freedom from Laos had been arduous enough, but something else seemed to lurk about the family, something dark and unknown in the land from which freedom had beckoned. Many in the Lao community believe refugee families are not really prepared for life in an American metropolis, where the jungle is made of concrete and the predators are likely to be the most ordinary-looking people. In Indochina, in the midst of war, it was rather easy to distinguish the life-threatening situations. But in America, for the Lao, it was different. Elders say the men and women who left Laos thought they were reaching safe haven in the United States, and realized only through bitter experience that the sidewalks of America are paved not with gold, but with danger. The Sinthasomphone family had figured that out before Konerak went missing. Three years earlier, in 1988, when Konerak's older brother was thirteen years of age, a tall blond man withstrangely empty eyes had enticed the boy into his apartment, toyed with him sexually for a while, and offered to pay him fifty dollars to let the tall man take pictures of him, pictures in which the boy would not wear any clothes. The boy, frightened, dashed away and got help. Police came and arrested the tall man, and the court, in 1989, sentenced him to eight years in jail. He served ten months in a minimum-security confinement that allowed him to leave for work at night, a leash that was so loose that he occasionally returned to jail in the morning smelling of whiskey, having skipped off his job for a round of drinking. After the semi-jail time, the man was given five years of probation. The Sinthasomphone family thought the nightmare was over. They were wrong. That incident was only the prologue. Just as his brother had made it to safety, just as in television shows he had seen where evil is always vanquished in the end, Konerak might have allowed himself in the early moments of that Monday morning to believe that he had been saved. He was away from that horrible apartment with its rancid smell, and people had reached out to help him. This was not Laos. This was America and he was an American kid. He may have thought things were turning in his favor. He was almost right. His plight had not gone unnoticed, for extraordinarily peculiar behavior stands out even in a neighborhood that is big-city blase about mostthings. Two girls from the neighborhood, Nicole Childress, eighteen, and her cousin, Sandra Smith, also eighteen, saw the disoriented boy on a darkened street, naked, with scarlet patches of blood on his behind and a dazed, uncomprehending look of fright on his young face. When they spoke to him, he could only mumble. The girls were not passive. A tall white man came up and tried to grab the boy, but Smith would not turn him loose, holding on to an arm while her cousin ran to one of the pair of pay telephones on the corner and dialed the emergency number, 911. In minutes, Fire Engine Number 32 rolled up and the two blue-and-white squad cars of the Milwaukee Police Department arrived. Three uniformed officers stepped out. Cops coming to such a disturbance have one thought in the front of their minds, to restore order as fast as possible. They found two males tussling, one of them naked, and two women helping the smaller one resist. The uniforms settled things down in a hurry around the Oxford Apartments at 924 North Twenty-fifth Street. The police officers waved away the Milwaukee Fire Department rescue team, which had wrapped the young man in a blanket to cover his nakedness. Later reports would indicate that the officers thought the only blood they saw had resulted from a scraped knee. With things under control, the police wanted to move the situation out of the public eye, away from the gathering crowd. They decided to headup to the apartment of the white man, who was trying to convince them that the naked young man was his lover. But the young women who had dialed the emergency number were not ready to give up so easily, and pestered the police to list them as witnesses. Sandra Smith said later they were told to go away, that they were no longer needed. They did, but when they returned home, upset and angry, they explained the episode to Glenda Cleveland, Sandra's mother, starting a domino effect that would take a bizarre turn. Glenda Cleveland followed up the excited discussion with a telephone call of her own to the police, a call that would eventually be broadcast around the world. But for the moment, the police moved the two principals in the unfolding drama inside of the blocky apartment building and upstairs to apartment 213, the one pointed out by the slender white man with the wispy mustache. He continued his apologetic explanation, seemingly ashamed for being involved in such a ruckus. Since he spoke so calmly, the police officers began to feel that more important crimes were out there in the night, waiting to be thwarted. There were thieves and muggers, dope dealers and murderers who needed to be caught, and valuable time was being wasted standing here trying to referee what obviously amounted to nothing more than a domestic spat. The tall man was glib and soft-spoken, not at all nervous, while the Asian guy seemed drunkand couldn't put together a coherent sentence. Whom to believe in this kind of situation? The tall guy admitted that he knew his Asian friend had been out on the street; that, he claimed, was why he had been trying to bring him back. It had happened before. They were homosexual lovers, he said, and they lived together in the apartment and tonight they had gotten to drinking a little too much and angry words were exchanged. He was really nineteen, much older than he looked. The man said he was sorry and that it wouldn't happen again. The police saw a few pictures of the younger man, apparently wearing only his underwear. Konerak was terrified but could not articulate his case, propped up silently on the sofa while the men talked. The police seemed to be believing the tall man! What about the pictures that littered the floor and were tacked on the walls, photos that showed other naked men. Konerak had been raped! What of the smell that the tall man would tell investigators permeated the apartment from a corpse in the next room which he said had been smelling like hell when the three cops questioned him about the Asian kid. But patrol work on the streets of a big city can put a coating of steel on normal human emotions. If a police officer takes every crime scene, every victim, every sob story too deeply and lets it get under his or her skin, then that is a cop who is likely to become another statistic in the suicidecolumns. Best to keep a distance. Settle things down, but don't let it get to you personally. They established that the two were homosexual lovers, and cops who don't like to get involved in arguments between a man and wife just hate to get between a couple of arguing homosexuals. When police go into the homes of such people, they claim sometimes that pornographic books and pictures are the norm rather than an exception. Quiet things down and move on. "What happened in Milwaukee, ... that was normal, and I'll tell you why," a talk show-caller who described himself as a former paramedic told a Cleveland radio station. "Out of all of the calls that I went to, when there were gay people involved, okay, 95 percent of them, when you walked into the apartment, there was a strange odor. There was an exotic perfume or incense, there was, a lot of times, there were animal odors. I've been in places there was pornography, in boxes, stacked up to the windowsill. There were rows that you had to walk through because of the pornography. Tapes, movies, books, you just ignore that, you don't even see it." The Milwaukee Police Association, the policemen's union, stated later that the officers on the scene found nothing to indicate anything was seriously wrong. As a matter of fact, things began to calm to such a point that the three officers did not feel it necessary to run a basic background check on either male they were questioning. Had they done so, they would have learned some very interesting facts. They would have learned that the thirty-one-year-old white man, Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer, was convicted in 1989 of second-degree sexual assault on a teenage boy. They would have learned that Dahmer had done time for the crime and was still on probation. And they would have discovered that the Asian lad before them, the one who seemed too drunk to be understood, was only fourteen years old, not nineteen as Dahmer had claimed. And they would have learned that the boy was the younger brother of the child Dahmer had been convicted of molesting two years earlier. Dahmer had told the court during that 1989 case that he was sorry for what he had done, much as he was telling the police talking to him now that he was sorry, and that he would make sure that such an impolite interruption would not happen again. The cops did not pick up their car radio microphones to call District Three headquarters and ask for the background checks, so they did not learn any of those things. Instead, they officially wrote it off as an argument between a couple of gays, got back into their cars, and drove away, off to patrol duties, back to serious crime. The shiny badges going out the door, heading away from him, were the last things that Konerak Sinthasomphone would ever see as the door closed and Dahmer turned toward him, with those empty eyes and a face that was suddenly churning with anger. When the cops got downstairs, they were somewhat amused by the interrogation they had just conducted, totally unaware of the horror that was going on in the very apartment where they had been standing moments before. One called in to the station to report. "Intoxicated Asian, naked male, was returned to his boyfriend." On a tape recording of the call, laughter was audible. "My partner is going to get deloused at the station," the reporting officer said. There was more laughter, and the two squad cars drove away. Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by Don Davis.

The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

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They smelled the foul odors. They heard the power saw buzzing in the dead of night but neighbors never imagined the horrors happening right next door. The hot sultry night of July 22,...

Book Details

They smelled the foul odors. They heard the power saw buzzing in the dead of night but neighbors never imagined the horrors happening right next door. The hot sultry night of July 22, 1991 was one the tenants of the Oxford Apartments would never forget. A panic stricken young man--a pair of handcuffs still dangling from his wrists--ran out of Apartment 213 and told police an incredible tale of terror. Shaking with fear, he led officers back to his captor's lair, where they made the gruesome discovery. Inside were the body parts of at least fifteen men--including torsos stuffed into a barrel, severed heads in a refrigerator, and skulls boiled clean and stashed in a filing cabinet. Tacked to the freezer were Poloroid photographs of mutilated corpses. When investigators arrested 31-year-old Jeffrey Dahmer, they realized they had stumbled onto a "real-life Hannibal Lecter"--a sadistic murderer who told them he had saved a human heart "to eat later". What could turn a handsome, former tennis player, the son of middle-class parents, into a perverse serial killer whose unthinkable acts shocked the nation? The Jeffrey Dahmer Story takes you into Jeffrey Dahmer's twisted world of bizarre sexual encounters, mutilation and cannibalism--in one of history's most appalling true crime cases. With 8 pages of chilling photographs.

Imprint Publisher

St. Martin's Paperbacks

9781429997751

About the Creators

books about jeffrey dahmer

10 Must-Read Nonfiction Serial Killer and True Crime Books

Sam holland fills out a bookshelf for those who want to take their reading to a dark place..

“Write what you know,” they say. Which, on the face of it, is good advice. But what if you write about murder? What if, like me, your book is about the most depraved killers the world has ever known? Then, just maybe, you write what you can research.

My new novel, The Echo Man , centres around a serial killer who takes his inspiration from infamous murderers of the past, the ultimate copycat killer. But imitation isn’t enough: he is ready to complete his own masterpiece. And it will be more horrifying than anything that has come before.

At this precise moment, there are over 100,000 true crime books listed on Amazon. The choice is mind-blowing. I cannot claim to have read even a fraction of these, but I know from experience that some are incredible. When I was writing The Echo Man I made my way through over two dozen serial killer biographies, and many more on the subject of criminology and psychopathy. I demolished true crime podcasts and countless documentaries; I must be one of few who sit through these with a notebook.

So, here are my favourites.

Let’s start with the serial killers. As my fictional murderer, The Echo Man, copies real-life killers, it was important to me to get the facts right. And not just the little details but also the psychology of why he killed and how.

There was no way I was going to write about real-life serial killers without including Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer. Probably the most infamous, and for me, the most fascinating. These were men who, on the face of it, had everything going for them, but could not suppress their deepest, most depraved desires.

There are hundreds of books, thousands even, on Ted Bundy. But my favourite has to be Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer by Stephen Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth. The authors were journalists, given unprecedented access to Bundy in the years running up to his execution. Their interviews, transcribed word for word in this book, give a unique insight into the workings of Bundy’s consciousness. (The book, The Only Living Witness , was also based on these interviews.)

While the above provides a snippet in time to Bundy’s state of mind, Brian Masters’ The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer , is a comprehensive account of the serial killer’s childhood, upbringing and adult life. Detailed and meticulously researched, Masters explores the psyche of the man who, when he was arrested in 1991, had a severed head in his refrigerator, and two more in the freezer.

One serial killer who remains unknown to this day is the Zodiac Killer. Operating in California in the late 1960s, he sent ciphers to newspapers – a detail I couldn’t resist replicating in The Echo Man. The definitive book on the Zodiac Killer is written by Robert Graysmith ( Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of America’s Most Elusive Serial Killer ) – a political cartoonist for the Chronicle who became obsessed with the case.

I would be remiss, when talking about true crime books, not to include I’ll Be Gone in the Dark . Now made into a documentary for HBO, Michelle McNamara’s account of her search for the Golden State Killer makes for gripping reading. Tragically she died before Joseph DeAngelo was caught and convicted, but it is widely acknowledged that her tireless work was integral to the investigation and to his arrest in 2018.

Now onto the psychology of serial killers – beginning with the fathers of modern profiling: John Douglas and Robert Ressler. Both Ressler and Douglas worked for the FBI and were instrumental in setting up the Behavioural Science Unit, as well as the Vi-CAP centralised computer database of information on homicides. Their revolutionary approach of interviewing known serial killers in order to find trends in their thinking and methods, led to interviews with Charles Manson, Ed Kemper and the Son of Sam, David Berkowitz, among others.

Both have written many eye-opening books, but Mindhunter and Whoever Fights Monsters are a great place to start.

Colin Wilson’s The Serial Killers: A Study in the Psychology of Violence is another thorough review of murderers and their psychology: from Jack the Ripper to modern day.

Across the Atlantic, Paul Britton’s books provide similar understanding. A forensic psychologist, he has consulted on over a hundred cases with the police, including the Jamie Bulger abduction, the Rachel Nickell murder, and Fred and Rose West. The Jigsaw Man provides fascinating insight into the minds of offenders from the other side of the pond.

Dr David Wilson is a Professor of Criminology and has spent most of his professional life working with violent men, most of them in prison. His observations in My Life with Murderers , especially his examination of the sociological causes of serial killing provide an interesting juxtaposition to the view from law enforcement teams and psychologists.

And finally, if you want to understand the mind of a psychopath, read a book written by one. James Fallon is a neuroscientist and was reviewing brain scans of psychopathic murderers when he discovered his own – taken as a control subject for a study on Alzheimer’s patients – shared many of the same abnormalities. What followed was a fascinating dive into his own psychopathy. His personal journey and realisations are captured in The Psychopath Inside.

There are many more books out there, but these have been my favourites over the last few years as I researched The Echo Man – an indulgence of my interest into the most violent men in history.

books about jeffrey dahmer

Full References:

Britton, Paul. (1997). The Jigsaw Man. London: Corgi Books.

Douglas, J. and Olshaker, M. (1995). Mindhunter: Inside the FBI Elite Serial Crime Unit. London: Arrow Books.

Fallon, James. (2014). The Psychopath Inside: A Neuroscientist’s Personal Journey into the Dark Side of the Brain. New York: Penguin.

Graysmith, Robert. (2007). Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of America’s Most Elusive Serial Killer. London: Titan Books.

Masters, Brian. (1993). The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer. London: Hodder and Stoughton.

McNamara, M. (2018). I’ll Be Gone in the Dark. London: Faber and Faber.

Michaud, Steven G. and Aynesworth, Hugh. (2019). Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer. London: Mirror Books.

Ressler, R, and Shachtman, T. (1992). Whoever Fights Monsters. New York: St Martin’s Press

Wilson, Colin and Seaman, Donald. (2007). The Serial Killers: A Study in the Psychology of Violence. London: Virgin Books.

Wilson, David. (2019). My Life With Murderers. London: Sphere.

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  1. Amazon.com: Jeffrey Dahmer: A Terrifying True Story of Rape, Murder & Cannibalism (The Serial

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  2. Jeffrey Dahmer: The Gruesome True Story of a Hungry Cannibalistic Rapist and Necrophiliac Serial

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  3. The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

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  5. My Friend Dahmer (2002) comic books

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VIDEO

  1. Creepy Facts About Jeffrey Dahmer 😱

  2. Jeffrey Dahmer SPEAKS!! Talking to the spirit of Jeffrey Dahmer!!

  3. MEU AMIGO DAHMER, de Derf Backderf (Jeffrey Dahmer: o canibal de Milwaukee)

  4. Summarizing JEFFREY DAHMER The Monster's Story

  5. SCARY HIPHOP ORGAN BEAT

  6. You are watching the Jeffrey Dahmer story with an insufferable true crime fan #cringe #dahmer

COMMENTS

  1. How Was Jeffrey Dahmer Caught?

    Serial killer and sex offender Jeffrey Dahmer was apprehended by police when one of his intended victims escaped from Dahmer’s home on July 22, 1991. The victim caught the attention of police officers, from whom he requested assistance remo...

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