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My Mother's Eyes
Imagine living with the knowledge that your father had murdered your mother and lied to you your whole life, telling you she left because she didn't love you anymore.
How could a father do this to his children? How could a husband do this to a woman he at one time loved?
When she was four years old, Shanelle Dawson's mother, Lynette, disappeared. On 8 January 1982, the woman who had been a loving, constant presence vanished without a trace. Four year old's might not be able to articulate questions or understand a lot, but the ache of absence is very real. Year after year that ache persisted.
Shanelle's father, Chris Dawson, claimed that his wife just needed to get away. This is what he told Lyn's parents and siblings. This is what he told his daughters. But Lyn never returned home. Her side of the bed was immediately filled by Shanelle's teenage babysitter, a former student of her father's.
After thirty-six years of her father's lies, a podcast called The Teacher's Pet investigated her mother's case. Sordid details about the father she loved became public. Whispers that he had murdered Lynette grew louder. The police refocused on the cold case. Then, Chris Dawson faced court. Forty years after she went missing, he was sentenced to twenty-four years in prison for the murder of Lynette.
Now, in this brave, emotionally powerful memoir, Shanelle reclaims her mother's story and finds a channel for her own voice. It is an unforgettable insight into the ripples of trauma and loss that family violence brings and shows how Shanelle found the strength to confront her father and can now create a new life after unimaginable deception.
This is Shanelle's story.
How could a father do this to his children? How could a husband do this to a woman he at one time loved?
When she was four years old, Shanelle Dawson's mother, Lynette, disappeared. On 8 January 1982, the woman who had been a loving, constant presence vanished without a trace. Four year old's might not be able to articulate questions or understand a lot, but the ache of absence is very real. Year after year that ache persisted.
Shanelle's father, Chris Dawson, claimed that his wife just needed to get away. This is what he told Lyn's parents and siblings. This is what he told his daughters. But Lyn never returned home. Her side of the bed was immediately filled by Shanelle's teenage babysitter, a former student of her father's.
After thirty-six years of her father's lies, a podcast called The Teacher's Pet investigated her mother's case. Sordid details about the father she loved became public. Whispers that he had murdered Lynette grew louder. The police refocused on the cold case. Then, Chris Dawson faced court. Forty years after she went missing, he was sentenced to twenty-four years in prison for the murder of Lynette.
Now, in this brave, emotionally powerful memoir, Shanelle reclaims her mother's story and finds a channel for her own voice. It is an unforgettable insight into the ripples of trauma and loss that family violence brings and shows how Shanelle found the strength to confront her father and can now create a new life after unimaginable deception.
This is Shanelle's story.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2023
19 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 16, 2023
An important story of injustice, violence and intergenerational trauma.
July 26, 2024
A friend gave me her copy of this book and since I’ve read the book written with the help of JC by JC’s ex-colleague and therefore heard this story from the babysitters perspective, I thought I should read the book written by the daughter to hear her perspective too.
It’s pretty heartbreaking- not just the content of the book but also the fact that it becomes clear to the reader that Shanelle is quite a broken person who clutches at portents and psychic readings and dreams. A tonne of this book is just descriptions of actual dreams Shanelle has had and poems she’s written - which unfortunately is not terribly interesting to read.
I’ve always thought that people who put too much emphasis on dreams, signs and coincidences are people with very fragile sanity who are teetering on the brink of madness and this book makes me feel in spades.
The book outlines how Shanelle had a pretty rotten childhood and has spent her adult life roaming around with no permanent address whilst feeling torn between love and duty to her fathers family and wanting to find out what happened to her mum. By the end of the book she’s a single mum who’s been cut out of the lives of all of her fathers family and who has had to not mention much about her maternal grandfathers groping of her as a child to maintain ties to her mums family. She doesn’t have a job, spends a lot of time in counselling and has no help raising her daughter. It’s pretty heartbreaking to see how losing her mother and then because of that, the rest of her family, has left this woman so fragile and broken. I hope the rest of her life is better. Poor thing.
It’s pretty heartbreaking- not just the content of the book but also the fact that it becomes clear to the reader that Shanelle is quite a broken person who clutches at portents and psychic readings and dreams. A tonne of this book is just descriptions of actual dreams Shanelle has had and poems she’s written - which unfortunately is not terribly interesting to read.
I’ve always thought that people who put too much emphasis on dreams, signs and coincidences are people with very fragile sanity who are teetering on the brink of madness and this book makes me feel in spades.
The book outlines how Shanelle had a pretty rotten childhood and has spent her adult life roaming around with no permanent address whilst feeling torn between love and duty to her fathers family and wanting to find out what happened to her mum. By the end of the book she’s a single mum who’s been cut out of the lives of all of her fathers family and who has had to not mention much about her maternal grandfathers groping of her as a child to maintain ties to her mums family. She doesn’t have a job, spends a lot of time in counselling and has no help raising her daughter. It’s pretty heartbreaking to see how losing her mother and then because of that, the rest of her family, has left this woman so fragile and broken. I hope the rest of her life is better. Poor thing.
June 19, 2024
You will wait until page 200 before getting to details around the trial. The rest is a long winding road of self indulgent, blameless palaver.
April 30, 2025
A memoir of Shanelle Dawson, her grappling story of loss of her mother, who was tragically murdered by her father. This emotional memoir powerfully explores themes of domestic violence, the partriacy, grief, and the impact of trauma, forgiveness and love in the journey of healing and spirituality... throughout her lifes journey.
My Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
My Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
November 22, 2024
Meaningless, boring mumbo jumbo. Nothing about the evidence and very little about the trial, this book is mainly about Shanelle's relationships and her spiritual beliefs.
November 30, 2023
The sheer amount of bravery, courage, grace and resilience it must have taken to write this book is just testament to Shanelle's unbreakable spirit and proof that a mother's love is forever with her child. To hear the extraordinary and overbearing loss of Lyn from the daughter that missed out on having a life with her is equally heartbreaking and empowering.
This is such a heartfelt retelling of a life irrevocably changed by her father. It delves into the childhood trauma and how being told lies by her father for decades and emotionally abusive upbringing after her mother's "disappearance" and is written proof that when a crime is comment, the splash zone is wide and far and forever. Shanelle retells her story of a nomadic life and inability to feel like she belongs as a result of her traumatic childhood and how her journey of healing was long, hard road that she is still traipsing. I cannot fathom that brain power and self-awareness needed to comprehend that your father killed your mother and proceeded to lie to your 4 year old self and your 2 year old sister let alone to watch him be a serial predictor, groomer and paedophile. How a life of injustice for your mother because a famous and charismatic league player told a story that everyone believed at face value. The grace it took to accept all of that and still choose to live a life of love and peace is amazing.
This story about the life-long fallout as a result of domestic violence is such an important story to tell. To all the Angels no longer with as as a result of domestic violence know that their stories are being told. May Lyn now just how much she is missed by her loved one and strangers who are touched by her story.
This is such a heartfelt retelling of a life irrevocably changed by her father. It delves into the childhood trauma and how being told lies by her father for decades and emotionally abusive upbringing after her mother's "disappearance" and is written proof that when a crime is comment, the splash zone is wide and far and forever. Shanelle retells her story of a nomadic life and inability to feel like she belongs as a result of her traumatic childhood and how her journey of healing was long, hard road that she is still traipsing. I cannot fathom that brain power and self-awareness needed to comprehend that your father killed your mother and proceeded to lie to your 4 year old self and your 2 year old sister let alone to watch him be a serial predictor, groomer and paedophile. How a life of injustice for your mother because a famous and charismatic league player told a story that everyone believed at face value. The grace it took to accept all of that and still choose to live a life of love and peace is amazing.
This story about the life-long fallout as a result of domestic violence is such an important story to tell. To all the Angels no longer with as as a result of domestic violence know that their stories are being told. May Lyn now just how much she is missed by her loved one and strangers who are touched by her story.
September 6, 2025
Shanelle Dawson suffered the ultimate betrayal when, as a 4 year old, her mother was murdered by her father. It took 40 years before the truth came out and justice was served. In her heartbreaking story, Shanelle shares her struggles of living her life without her mother. A free spirit, she has clearly searched for connection throughout her life and has felt the loss of nurturing and support her mother would have provided, especially during pivotal moments in her life.
Shanelle is honest about her struggles along her journey - having to face the truth that her mother's life was stolen from her, while reconciling feelings that she was betraying her father by accepting the truth about what happened to her mother. While she touches on her mother's story, Hedley Thomas's podcast that re-invigorated the case and the police investigation that ultimately led to her father's arrest and conviction, this book is Shanelle's story. A story about a little girl who grew up without a mum, and how her father's lies and betrayal shaped her life. A sad but worthy read. Like most Australians, I listened to The Teacher's Pet podcast and closely followed the case brought against Chris Dawson.
It can be very difficult to review a non-fiction book which deals with such a difficult subject. My Mother's Eyes is a terrible reminder of the far reaching impacts of some crimes. My heart goes out to the Lynette Simms whose life was cut short and the family left behind. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shanelle is honest about her struggles along her journey - having to face the truth that her mother's life was stolen from her, while reconciling feelings that she was betraying her father by accepting the truth about what happened to her mother. While she touches on her mother's story, Hedley Thomas's podcast that re-invigorated the case and the police investigation that ultimately led to her father's arrest and conviction, this book is Shanelle's story. A story about a little girl who grew up without a mum, and how her father's lies and betrayal shaped her life. A sad but worthy read. Like most Australians, I listened to The Teacher's Pet podcast and closely followed the case brought against Chris Dawson.
It can be very difficult to review a non-fiction book which deals with such a difficult subject. My Mother's Eyes is a terrible reminder of the far reaching impacts of some crimes. My heart goes out to the Lynette Simms whose life was cut short and the family left behind. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 25, 2024
Not as engrossing as I hoped it would be. It’s awkward being critical about a book written by and about someone’s lived pain, but here we are.
Whilst I feel for the author and what she had endured, and her immense strength and courage to say what she had to say in court to her father, I didn’t feel this book was as good as it could have been.
I read The Teacher’s Pet and had listened to the podcasts, so was familiar with the details of the case. I recommend other readers to do the same. Read that book first because although Shanelle covers some of it, she doesn’t go into as much detail on it. Instead, she recounts her life with her father and J, as a child and then teen. Then it’s all about her world travels, her strained relationships with family members, her suspicions, and finally her devastating realisations about her father.
Shanelle is obviously an intelligent woman but I must admit her new age slant on things really started to grate after a while. Also, the inclusion of her poems and descriptions of her dreams got in the way of the narrative. Some of the diary entries were poignant whilst others could have been omitted.
I understand that despite being ghost written, this book needed to be written in her voice. But I feel some aspects of it needed to be reigned in ( the woo), whilst others needed to be expanded on.
Whilst I feel for the author and what she had endured, and her immense strength and courage to say what she had to say in court to her father, I didn’t feel this book was as good as it could have been.
I read The Teacher’s Pet and had listened to the podcasts, so was familiar with the details of the case. I recommend other readers to do the same. Read that book first because although Shanelle covers some of it, she doesn’t go into as much detail on it. Instead, she recounts her life with her father and J, as a child and then teen. Then it’s all about her world travels, her strained relationships with family members, her suspicions, and finally her devastating realisations about her father.
Shanelle is obviously an intelligent woman but I must admit her new age slant on things really started to grate after a while. Also, the inclusion of her poems and descriptions of her dreams got in the way of the narrative. Some of the diary entries were poignant whilst others could have been omitted.
I understand that despite being ghost written, this book needed to be written in her voice. But I feel some aspects of it needed to be reigned in ( the woo), whilst others needed to be expanded on.
October 31, 2023
Shanelle speaks with tremendous grace as she tells us about her life experience and how she came to terms with her mother’s murder. Time after time while listening to the audiobook I was struck by her ability to show compassion and care and understanding, even to the people who abused, lied to, and rejected her. Shanelle is a lesson to us all about what it means to be a good, truly kind human being.
I’m one of the many hundreds of thousands of people who was (and remains) caught up in the story of the Teacher’s Pet. As Shanelle describes, the case has it all. But, underneath the sex, lies and intrigue there are real human beings living every single day with the trauma of what happened on that fateful day Lynette went ‘missing’ over 40 years ago. Shanelle’s book is a stark reminder of this.
I hope that writing this book was healing for her, and I’m glad she is able to finally reclaim her voice, her truth, and the reality of her mother’s story. The value of this perspective can’t be measured in words.
I wish her and her daughter well.
I’m one of the many hundreds of thousands of people who was (and remains) caught up in the story of the Teacher’s Pet. As Shanelle describes, the case has it all. But, underneath the sex, lies and intrigue there are real human beings living every single day with the trauma of what happened on that fateful day Lynette went ‘missing’ over 40 years ago. Shanelle’s book is a stark reminder of this.
I hope that writing this book was healing for her, and I’m glad she is able to finally reclaim her voice, her truth, and the reality of her mother’s story. The value of this perspective can’t be measured in words.
I wish her and her daughter well.
October 28, 2023
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Lynette Dawson is a case I have followed for some time, even prior to the more recent Teacher's Pet podcast which raised the profile decidedly. This is a memoir by Lynette's daughter, highlighting her own experiences in life and how her mother's disappearance, and her father's involvement in it, affected her life. Writing this must have been a cathartic experience for Shanelle Dawson, however, as with many unsolved cases, one gets the feeling that her life challenges will be ongoing despite the court finding her father guilty of murdering Lynette. Shanelle has been very brave in telling the story from her perspective. A difficult life, without a loving mother, but also an interesting life and of learning to cope without that guidance.
March 15, 2024
4.5 stars.
A raw and authentic telling of a very personal story, way more than I expected. Brave, beautiful and vulnerable, Shanelle has had so much to process throughout her life, but how do you do that when you're trying to determine fact from fiction? Love from lies? Shanelle turns to mother earth when her mother is missing and family is more complicated than most. An important point of view of the Lynnette Simms case. She is a very spiritually intuitive being, may she find her peace and healing.
A raw and authentic telling of a very personal story, way more than I expected. Brave, beautiful and vulnerable, Shanelle has had so much to process throughout her life, but how do you do that when you're trying to determine fact from fiction? Love from lies? Shanelle turns to mother earth when her mother is missing and family is more complicated than most. An important point of view of the Lynnette Simms case. She is a very spiritually intuitive being, may she find her peace and healing.
June 26, 2024
I listened to the Teachers Pet podcast and followed the court case and conviction that followed, so was interested to read the daughter’s book. She writes very honestly and clearly about the trauma and conflicted emotions caused by her eventual understanding of her mother’s murder and coverup by her father.
November 19, 2024
I can only imagine that writing this book would have been an incredibly emotional but cathartic process.
This was an incredibly raw and honest telling of a story that has become so widely publicised and dramatised in Australia. It was incredibly interesting to hear this story from a daughter who was so deeply affected.
This was an incredibly raw and honest telling of a story that has become so widely publicised and dramatised in Australia. It was incredibly interesting to hear this story from a daughter who was so deeply affected.
February 3, 2025
I have read The Teachers Pet and also listened to the podcast. When I purchased this book I was expecting it to rehash a lot of what I already knew. However I was impressed and intrigued about hearing Shanelle’s side of the story - what she did and didn’t know growing up. Definitely worth the read!
March 4, 2025
After listening to Hedley Thomas’ podcast The Teacher’s Pet and learning about Lynette Dawson’s case, I was eager to hear her daughter Shanelle’s perspective.
Shanelle is a beautiful writer and an eloquent speaker, but this book focuses less on the crime itself and more on her personal reflections, blending elements of a diary, dream journal, and spiritual exploration.
Shanelle is a beautiful writer and an eloquent speaker, but this book focuses less on the crime itself and more on her personal reflections, blending elements of a diary, dream journal, and spiritual exploration.
October 18, 2023
Oh Shanelle! I share your feelings. I'm sure your mother was loving and kind. Unfortunately J's was not and it's very hard to give what you've never received yourself. I'm sure you understand this a bit now. Wishing you and your daughter peace.
November 11, 2023
What a tale of trial and tribulations. A person who has lived through nearly everything life can throw at you and still can forgive and see the good in most people
January 9, 2024
Really good to hear Shanelles version of events and about her life.
January 20, 2024
A sad story, but one that needed to be told. Information for support services are also included at the end of the memoir for those that may find themselves needing help.
January 24, 2024
Heartfelt and honest account of her story. Non judgemental and full of love. Brilliant!
March 1, 2024
This book must have been really hard to write and must have brought back a lot of memories. I just hope that Lyn is found one day so she can be put to rest by her loving family.
March 11, 2024
Such a revealing and insightful book. You talky get to know Shanelle through the pages of the book and tell her pain and confusion
April 6, 2024
”My dad didn’t cook, he always had someone to do it for him until we found ourselves alone for the first time. Not long after J left my father, when I was about 13, my well-meaning home economics teacher in high school kindly donated to me some recipe books while saying to me;
‘Now that you’re the woman of the house, you need to learn to cook for your dad.’
She was coming from a different mindset, but in my opinion, she should’ve handed my father the fucking cookbooks and told him to learn how to cook. I didn’t take over the cooking, instead, we ate a load of frozen dinners and takeaways until he got a new girlfriend. It was not my job as a 13 year old girl to take care of my father.”
✨5 stars✨
First 5 star read of 2024✅
⚠️TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK/REVIEW: death of a parent, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, grooming, death of a partner⚠️
In the beginning, I was introduced to The Teachers Pet podcast by my aunty, who had just finished it and loved it, knew I loved true crime and thought I would enjoy it. I listened to one episode and it didn’t hook me in.
At the time, as the podcast was talking about an unsolved missing person/potential murder case, I decided not to continue listening as I would possibly spend many days thinking about this case, with the possibility that nothing could come of it (which I wouldn’t have come to terms with).
A couple of trials, and a conviction later, I decided to have a look into this case again. I’m still yet to properly listen to the podcast but after watching countless 60 Minutes Australia interviews and other news clips, I felt like I knew the ins and outs of the case and the people involved… oh how wrong I was!
Using my Spotify audiobook hours, I decided to listen to the audiobook without a physical copy. Although after finishing up, I will be purchasing a physical copy at a later date!
Hearing Shanelle’s story, it was good to get a first hand account of what life was like with Chris Dawson.
After listening to the book, it’s really cemented the idea in my mind that Chris is an absolute weird, disgusting pig and a disgrace to society!
Throughout the book, you also get her journal entries/poems/letters that she’s written but never sent out. I thought that these were an interesting touch to have and enjoyed listening to them.
One thing I especially loved was toward the end of the book. She asked her daughter, Kialah, if she had anything she’d like to say about her Nana Lyn, Kialah narrated;
”My special grandma in heaven, I always see you as a butterfly and when I do, I send my love. You would be so proud of me, Grandma, and you’re probably right here with me now. Love you.”
Having her daughter narrate that little bit almost made me a crying mess while I was grocery shopping, but I thought that was a beautiful thing to add into the book 🥺.
Overall, I wish that this book didn’t have to be made and the circumstances were different.
But I appreciate Shanelle for coming out and sharing her story, she did mention that she would probably need to write another book on her travels. I look forward to hearing them, and wish her and her daughter nothing but the best! ❤️
‘Now that you’re the woman of the house, you need to learn to cook for your dad.’
She was coming from a different mindset, but in my opinion, she should’ve handed my father the fucking cookbooks and told him to learn how to cook. I didn’t take over the cooking, instead, we ate a load of frozen dinners and takeaways until he got a new girlfriend. It was not my job as a 13 year old girl to take care of my father.”
✨5 stars✨
First 5 star read of 2024✅
⚠️TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK/REVIEW: death of a parent, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, grooming, death of a partner⚠️
In the beginning, I was introduced to The Teachers Pet podcast by my aunty, who had just finished it and loved it, knew I loved true crime and thought I would enjoy it. I listened to one episode and it didn’t hook me in.
At the time, as the podcast was talking about an unsolved missing person/potential murder case, I decided not to continue listening as I would possibly spend many days thinking about this case, with the possibility that nothing could come of it (which I wouldn’t have come to terms with).
A couple of trials, and a conviction later, I decided to have a look into this case again. I’m still yet to properly listen to the podcast but after watching countless 60 Minutes Australia interviews and other news clips, I felt like I knew the ins and outs of the case and the people involved… oh how wrong I was!
Using my Spotify audiobook hours, I decided to listen to the audiobook without a physical copy. Although after finishing up, I will be purchasing a physical copy at a later date!
Hearing Shanelle’s story, it was good to get a first hand account of what life was like with Chris Dawson.
After listening to the book, it’s really cemented the idea in my mind that Chris is an absolute weird, disgusting pig and a disgrace to society!
Throughout the book, you also get her journal entries/poems/letters that she’s written but never sent out. I thought that these were an interesting touch to have and enjoyed listening to them.
One thing I especially loved was toward the end of the book. She asked her daughter, Kialah, if she had anything she’d like to say about her Nana Lyn, Kialah narrated;
”My special grandma in heaven, I always see you as a butterfly and when I do, I send my love. You would be so proud of me, Grandma, and you’re probably right here with me now. Love you.”
Having her daughter narrate that little bit almost made me a crying mess while I was grocery shopping, but I thought that was a beautiful thing to add into the book 🥺.
Overall, I wish that this book didn’t have to be made and the circumstances were different.
But I appreciate Shanelle for coming out and sharing her story, she did mention that she would probably need to write another book on her travels. I look forward to hearing them, and wish her and her daughter nothing but the best! ❤️
January 8, 2025
When she was four years old, Shanelle Dawson's mother, Lynette, disappeared. On 8 January 1982, the woman who had been a loving, constant presence vanished without a trace.
Growing up Shanelle was told her mother left because she didn't love you anymore. The truth later revealing her father had murdered her mother.
The is a raw and authentic telling of a very personal story. The story did go off on a weird tangent, but Shanelle’s life is more than this story.
Not a bad read but not what I was hoping for.
Growing up Shanelle was told her mother left because she didn't love you anymore. The truth later revealing her father had murdered her mother.
The is a raw and authentic telling of a very personal story. The story did go off on a weird tangent, but Shanelle’s life is more than this story.
Not a bad read but not what I was hoping for.
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