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Beyond Obsession
A chronicle of violent obsession, physical abuse, and murder retraces the events that led a troubled, abused teenager to plot the murder of her own mother, duping her obsessed boyfriend into helping her carry out the grisly deed. Reprint.
392 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 31, 2016
Abusive, manipulative, horrible mother raises an abusive, manipulative, horrible daughter who eventually forces her pathetic, needy, brainwashed boyfriend into killing said mother. Reading this book, it was hard to find sympathy for anyone at all, least of all, the murder victim, which is bizarre in itself. Early in the book I actually found myself rooting for the daughter and anxiously awaiting the murder of her mother to happen! That's how horrible the mother was in this story, truly evil and, in my opinion, most likely mentally ill, among other problems. The psychological and physical abuse she inflicted upon her daughter was simply astonishing.
Karin Aparo was apparently abused by her mother from birth, and when she was sixteen years old she finally did something about it. The problem is, by that time, she seemed to have become much like her mother, ironically. So the one somewhat sympathetic figure in this story would be the boyfriend and the actual one who committed the murder--Dennis Coleman. Karin managed to get off scot-free, while Dennis was sentenced to 34 years (I believe he is free now). There's not much online about the fates of those involved, but it does appear that Karin Aparo is married and doing well somewhere, doing the same job that her mother once did, another great irony. This book was apparently first published in the early 90's (there was even a TV movie) and there was no update or afterword included. This book relied heavily on interviews with Dennis Coleman and the diaries and letters between he and Karin. A must-read for true-crime fans, truly a gripping and fascinating story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Open Road Integrated Media for an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Karin Aparo was apparently abused by her mother from birth, and when she was sixteen years old she finally did something about it. The problem is, by that time, she seemed to have become much like her mother, ironically. So the one somewhat sympathetic figure in this story would be the boyfriend and the actual one who committed the murder--Dennis Coleman. Karin managed to get off scot-free, while Dennis was sentenced to 34 years (I believe he is free now). There's not much online about the fates of those involved, but it does appear that Karin Aparo is married and doing well somewhere, doing the same job that her mother once did, another great irony. This book was apparently first published in the early 90's (there was even a TV movie) and there was no update or afterword included. This book relied heavily on interviews with Dennis Coleman and the diaries and letters between he and Karin. A must-read for true-crime fans, truly a gripping and fascinating story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Open Road Integrated Media for an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2016
I found myself engrossed in this book, which really painted a vivid picture of teenage love and obsession. But be forewarned, NONE of the people profiled are sympathetic and you'll encounter plenty of sentences like this: 'What’s more, Jill Smith, the woman who had taken care of Karin when she was small and with whom Karin lived for a time during the winter after Joyce’s death, says that one night that winter, on a ride home from Hartford to her house, she talked to Karin about the pills, talked about the quantity that Karin had put in the sandwich, perhaps as much as the whole bottle.'
August 12, 2016
Joyce Aparo seemed to be the perfect mom to 16-year-old Karin. She encouraged her daughter to be everything she could. At least that was the public perception. According to Karin, her mother beat her, kept her isolated from other people her age and criticized and demeaned her on a regular basis.
But then Karin met Dennis Coleman and fell in love. But Joyce didn't approve.
On August 5, 1987, Joyce’s body was found under a bridge near the Connecticut–Massachusetts border. She had been strangled, and was covered in bruises, with paper stuffed in her mouth and pantyhose knotted around her throat.
Dennis was a primary suspect from the very first. And when Karin reported to the police that he had confessed to her, the police were ecstatic ... until they started pulling at Karin's story.
This is a very well written account of what can go wrong in just a heartbeat. And what kids can do when their hormones are running rampant. When a person can go from being a victim to being to cold blooded killer. And what a young man can do when masterfully controlled by the girl he loves.
I don't read true life crime often .... reading Beyond Obsession makes me ask myself ..Why Not?
Many thanks to the author / Open Road Integrated Media / NetGalley who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
But then Karin met Dennis Coleman and fell in love. But Joyce didn't approve.
On August 5, 1987, Joyce’s body was found under a bridge near the Connecticut–Massachusetts border. She had been strangled, and was covered in bruises, with paper stuffed in her mouth and pantyhose knotted around her throat.
Dennis was a primary suspect from the very first. And when Karin reported to the police that he had confessed to her, the police were ecstatic ... until they started pulling at Karin's story.
This is a very well written account of what can go wrong in just a heartbeat. And what kids can do when their hormones are running rampant. When a person can go from being a victim to being to cold blooded killer. And what a young man can do when masterfully controlled by the girl he loves.
I don't read true life crime often .... reading Beyond Obsession makes me ask myself ..Why Not?
Many thanks to the author / Open Road Integrated Media / NetGalley who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
January 16, 2016
This was not that great. An interesting case spoiled by clumsy writing and too many of the half-crazed letters that passed between the killers. The author clearly is not conversant with psychiatric diagnosis and did not know what he was talking about when he described that critical area of the case -- it made for irritating reading.
December 17, 2012
Possibly one of the worst books ever written. I was interested in reading it because it is about an insane murder that took place in my hometown with one of my classmates and his girlfriend, who was my younger sister's classmate. It was so bad that I couldn't finish it, even with my interest in understanding what happened. SO BAD.
September 6, 2015
A student recommend this to me during the first week of school. Normally, I make note of a book a student likes, and then I try to get to it later. But the little sweetheart brought it to me, so I decided to read it right away. She raved about how much she liked it, after all, and I like true crime stuff quite a lot, even if I usually just watch Dateline and call it a day.
In any case, I'm glad I did. This was good and well worth the read. In fact, I would go so far as to call it compelling. The story itself is a slight variation on the jealous lover trope. Dennis Coleman, wrapped up in a desperate obsession with Karin Aparo, kills her mother, Joyce Aparo, at Karin's insistence. But that isn't what made it compelling. It's the manipulation that drove the story. Joyce was cruel to Karin; that much is obvious. Karin was ruled by her mother, and most likely because of her mother's abuse, Karin developed her own psychoses. But it was Karin's at first subtle and then later obvious manipulation of Dennis that really kept me reading.
I didn't feel a lot of sympathy for Joyce, although she didn't deserve to be murdered. I pitied Karin for a time, but then I began to doubt her because as I read, I could see more and more what she was doing to Dennis. I both pitied and despised Dennis. I pitied him because he was young and cared about Karin, and she was making it very difficult for him. She was using him. But I despised his inability to say no to her. This inability is just entirely foreign to me. In the end, I suppose I thought he was more sympathetic than Karin, but I still think he was despicable.
I couldn't decide if I should give this three or four stars. As I said, the story was compelling, and I wanted to know how the trials would turn out. However, it wasn't always well-written. The editing was sloppy. For example, a woman named Beverly was later called Beverage. There were other, similar mistakes. At other times the prose was convoluted, and that made it difficult to decipher. Still, because it was so interesting, I'll stick with four stars.
So...if you are into the true crime genre...I recommend this.
In any case, I'm glad I did. This was good and well worth the read. In fact, I would go so far as to call it compelling. The story itself is a slight variation on the jealous lover trope. Dennis Coleman, wrapped up in a desperate obsession with Karin Aparo, kills her mother, Joyce Aparo, at Karin's insistence. But that isn't what made it compelling. It's the manipulation that drove the story. Joyce was cruel to Karin; that much is obvious. Karin was ruled by her mother, and most likely because of her mother's abuse, Karin developed her own psychoses. But it was Karin's at first subtle and then later obvious manipulation of Dennis that really kept me reading.
I didn't feel a lot of sympathy for Joyce, although she didn't deserve to be murdered. I pitied Karin for a time, but then I began to doubt her because as I read, I could see more and more what she was doing to Dennis. I both pitied and despised Dennis. I pitied him because he was young and cared about Karin, and she was making it very difficult for him. She was using him. But I despised his inability to say no to her. This inability is just entirely foreign to me. In the end, I suppose I thought he was more sympathetic than Karin, but I still think he was despicable.
I couldn't decide if I should give this three or four stars. As I said, the story was compelling, and I wanted to know how the trials would turn out. However, it wasn't always well-written. The editing was sloppy. For example, a woman named Beverly was later called Beverage. There were other, similar mistakes. At other times the prose was convoluted, and that made it difficult to decipher. Still, because it was so interesting, I'll stick with four stars.
So...if you are into the true crime genre...I recommend this.
August 17, 2020
My big problem with this book is the extent to which is sexualises Karin Aparo and uncritically presents other people sexualising this CHILD. Which is what she was during the time period of this book. At various points adult authority figures discuss whether or not she was attractive and describe her as 'seductive'. She was 16 when her mother was murdered. Her boyfriend - who left her obsessive love letters and researched making himself her guardian before murdering her mother to 'free' her to marry him - was 19 at that point. He was an adult with a job and a car who was in a sexual relationship with a child. Yet he is written as an immature victim being controlled by the more mature and 'manipulative' Karin.
Karin was physically and verbally abused by her mother, sexually abused by an older 'boyfriend' and then objectified and blamed by the adults who were supposed to protect her when one of her abusers killed the other - in what seems to be a bid for control of Karin. Dennis's possessive obsession with Karin is depicted as being led by Karin - despite it also being clear that her mother had repeatedly tried to set her up in romantic relationships with much older men. Some of the men Joyce Aparo claimed were 'waiting for Karin to grow up' so they could 'marry her' were 10 years older than her.
This wasn't a 'teenage love affair' or a boyfriend murdering a mother out of love and manipulated by an evil girlfriend - this was an adult who was obsessed with a vulnerable child and murdered someone he saw as standing in his way. The writer of this book doesn't seem to understand this and doesn't seem to think Karin's point of view is at all important. Dennis's rambling letters and diary entries are included but there's very little of Karin's voice in the book. Karin is talked about but she doesn't talk herself - we only see her through other people's eyes despite her being the central character in this story.
Karin was physically and verbally abused by her mother, sexually abused by an older 'boyfriend' and then objectified and blamed by the adults who were supposed to protect her when one of her abusers killed the other - in what seems to be a bid for control of Karin. Dennis's possessive obsession with Karin is depicted as being led by Karin - despite it also being clear that her mother had repeatedly tried to set her up in romantic relationships with much older men. Some of the men Joyce Aparo claimed were 'waiting for Karin to grow up' so they could 'marry her' were 10 years older than her.
This wasn't a 'teenage love affair' or a boyfriend murdering a mother out of love and manipulated by an evil girlfriend - this was an adult who was obsessed with a vulnerable child and murdered someone he saw as standing in his way. The writer of this book doesn't seem to understand this and doesn't seem to think Karin's point of view is at all important. Dennis's rambling letters and diary entries are included but there's very little of Karin's voice in the book. Karin is talked about but she doesn't talk herself - we only see her through other people's eyes despite her being the central character in this story.
July 22, 2019
It was one of those books... I “try” to complete any book I start. And I completed this one. It was too long... too drawn out and repetitive. I would not recommend it to anyone.
August 23, 2019
A Must Read For Any True Crime Fan
So this was my first book by this author and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so that part way through I actually looked on Amazon to see how many more he had as I wanted to carry on reading his books, it’s a pity the back catalogue is on the small side & like this book where the case it’s about is from the late 1980s, they are all about older cases and seeing as he is now in his 90’s I’d be doubtful for any new releases, which is a shame as he has a lovely fluid writing style that makes you want to keep turning the pages.
As for the actual case this book is centered on, there is no doubt at all that Joyce Aparo was a Monster of a Mother, it doesn’t take much abuse or neglect at all for a child to grow up with a pile of various mental health issues, and in this case both the neglect and the abuse was beyond measure. The fact that no other adult really gave more than the smallest of attempts to help Karin is mind boggling, in particular her Father and other family members who were aware abuse was occurring.
The poor ‘Murderer’ himself, Dennis, obviously was of a personality type that was a little more open to being manipulated, which is an awful shame, I think most of us can look back into our teens and the power that just normal love could hold over us was immense, it always seemed like it would be the end of the world if who we Loved, didn’t return that feeling, combine that normal phase of growing up with the subtle yet strong manipulation that the boy was under by Karin and it’s not really surprising that it ended in murder at all. He is now out of prison and I hope that he has managed to make a life for himself and that he is happy both emotionally and psychologically.
If I had to sum this all up ? I wholly believe that the Mother by doing all of what she did, the abuse, the lies, the manipulation and the terror with no real love ever handed out to her daughter, unwittingly molded Karin into a self effigy, along with all of the various psychoses, and when Karin, the second self looked into a mirror and saw what she had become, was it any surprise that just like Frankenstein’s monster she had to destroy her maker ?
So this was my first book by this author and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so that part way through I actually looked on Amazon to see how many more he had as I wanted to carry on reading his books, it’s a pity the back catalogue is on the small side & like this book where the case it’s about is from the late 1980s, they are all about older cases and seeing as he is now in his 90’s I’d be doubtful for any new releases, which is a shame as he has a lovely fluid writing style that makes you want to keep turning the pages.
As for the actual case this book is centered on, there is no doubt at all that Joyce Aparo was a Monster of a Mother, it doesn’t take much abuse or neglect at all for a child to grow up with a pile of various mental health issues, and in this case both the neglect and the abuse was beyond measure. The fact that no other adult really gave more than the smallest of attempts to help Karin is mind boggling, in particular her Father and other family members who were aware abuse was occurring.
The poor ‘Murderer’ himself, Dennis, obviously was of a personality type that was a little more open to being manipulated, which is an awful shame, I think most of us can look back into our teens and the power that just normal love could hold over us was immense, it always seemed like it would be the end of the world if who we Loved, didn’t return that feeling, combine that normal phase of growing up with the subtle yet strong manipulation that the boy was under by Karin and it’s not really surprising that it ended in murder at all. He is now out of prison and I hope that he has managed to make a life for himself and that he is happy both emotionally and psychologically.
If I had to sum this all up ? I wholly believe that the Mother by doing all of what she did, the abuse, the lies, the manipulation and the terror with no real love ever handed out to her daughter, unwittingly molded Karin into a self effigy, along with all of the various psychoses, and when Karin, the second self looked into a mirror and saw what she had become, was it any surprise that just like Frankenstein’s monster she had to destroy her maker ?
March 26, 2017
The first third is really good, but the middle and last parts get a bit bogged down with too much detail with letters from the killer to his girlfriend and too much psycho-babble for my taste. The story is a good one involving a high school girl in Connecticut who after years of mental and physical abuse by her domineering mother convinces her boyfriend to get rid of mom. In the end, I had little sympathy for the girl or her mother, both manipulative monsters. As for true crime; it is just an average read.
August 21, 2016
What really happened
I enjoyed this book immensely. I am from Glastonbury where the murder took place and I remember all the news stories about it the book is well written by mr hammer and gives a good recounting of what happened
I enjoyed this book immensely. I am from Glastonbury where the murder took place and I remember all the news stories about it the book is well written by mr hammer and gives a good recounting of what happened
April 3, 2018
Interesting book
This book was not your typical murder but one filled with details of a planned murder but the mental hold that can be created. It gives insight into people who were manipulated by extreme circumstances. I felt it was a good read.
This book was not your typical murder but one filled with details of a planned murder but the mental hold that can be created. It gives insight into people who were manipulated by extreme circumstances. I felt it was a good read.
November 23, 2018
The second most stupid jury of our time, eclipsed only by the O.J jury. I guess it shows that you can get away with murder.
Very interesting book, and easy to read. True Crime buffs should read this.
Very interesting book, and easy to read. True Crime buffs should read this.
August 29, 2013
Not a good read at all. Very slow. Read the news stories about this murder and trial and save yourself some time.
December 19, 2017
Don't Bother
This was a horribly dull and boring story. Reading pages of diaries and love letters that didn't have any impact on the story. Don't waste your time!
This was a horribly dull and boring story. Reading pages of diaries and love letters that didn't have any impact on the story. Don't waste your time!
April 1, 2019
Left me wondering
Very well written and interesting. However there is no answer what the outcome for Karin trial. Have to go on the internet to find out
Very well written and interesting. However there is no answer what the outcome for Karin trial. Have to go on the internet to find out
December 9, 2019
This book was hard for me to finish, it was very repetitive and I really hated the ending.
November 20, 2022
I wouldn't say I liked how the author described the case, I do recognize it has been well-researched—overall 2/5 stars (it's ok).
October 25, 2022
I’ve already read about the murder of Joyce Aparo, so Richard Hammer’s Beyond Obsession did not reveal much that was new to me. Nevertheless, the book was well-written and its unusual and interesting presentation of the facts made it worth reading. Hammer’s focus was obviously on the inequitable legal outcome, but if a larger point can be made from this “category” of crime I think it’s that youth trumps brains, every time. In recent years neuroscience has proved what many of us already deduced from observation, namely that KIDS ARE STUPID. Smart kids are stupid and dumb kids are stupid simply because they’re kids. That most of us grew to adulthood without our stupidity having gotten us pregnant, incarcerated, addicted and/or deep in debt in largely a matter of luck.
As for Beyond Obsession, as others have pointed out, it would have benefited greatly from some kind of epilogue. Like others I tried in vain to track down information about Karin Aparo using Google. Reading the book convinced me that she’s a stone sociopath who has probably lived the rest of her life making people sorry they met her, but if so she’s done it under a different name ...
The book should definitely interest true-crime fans to whom the case in unfamiliar; readers in general might appreciate the clever organization of the material, as I did. Recommended.
As for Beyond Obsession, as others have pointed out, it would have benefited greatly from some kind of epilogue. Like others I tried in vain to track down information about Karin Aparo using Google. Reading the book convinced me that she’s a stone sociopath who has probably lived the rest of her life making people sorry they met her, but if so she’s done it under a different name ...
The book should definitely interest true-crime fans to whom the case in unfamiliar; readers in general might appreciate the clever organization of the material, as I did. Recommended.
January 7, 2023
The parts about Karin and her mother Joyce's relationship were interesting, but the excessive publishing of the Dennis letters was overkill. Dennis repeated himself a lot, but the author said in the afterward on fair use that he thought it was important to print them all. I disagree. It would have been just as impactful to instead include stats of the Dennis letters. How many he wrote between such and such date, topics/phrases mentioned how many times, etc. This book could have been 100 pages shorter.
This book is also outdated. It was over 100 pages in before NPD was even brought up. And autism (for Dennis) wasn't even mentioned as a possibility. Give me a break.
The most annoying part about this book for me was the afterward, because the author expressed that the book would have been *better* with Joyce's letters included as well (fair use laws prohibited it without her consent). No. These teenagers were *not* that fascinating.
I'm irritated that this book was recommended to me via algorithm. It needs more psychological & sociological analysis and less teenage love letters. There are better true crime books out there. This case might fare well with an updated book written by a fresh set of eyes in hindsight who understands where the real story is. It seems to me, as far as the media goes, she was the Casey Anthony before Casey Anthony.
This book is also outdated. It was over 100 pages in before NPD was even brought up. And autism (for Dennis) wasn't even mentioned as a possibility. Give me a break.
The most annoying part about this book for me was the afterward, because the author expressed that the book would have been *better* with Joyce's letters included as well (fair use laws prohibited it without her consent). No. These teenagers were *not* that fascinating.
I'm irritated that this book was recommended to me via algorithm. It needs more psychological & sociological analysis and less teenage love letters. There are better true crime books out there. This case might fare well with an updated book written by a fresh set of eyes in hindsight who understands where the real story is. It seems to me, as far as the media goes, she was the Casey Anthony before Casey Anthony.
May 29, 2022
Really hard book to put down and not the outcome I was expecting at all.
Interesting real life consequences of the effect of the cluster B personality disorders including Narcissistic, Borderline and Histrionic Personality Disorders laid bare and the interaction between them.
Fascinating also to watch the effect of parenting style on children over three generations and the mental health outcomes of those subjected to unfortunate circumstances and upbringing.
I would have preferred more information about the violin playing and how, despite it being agreed that Karin didn’t have enough talent to make it in the profession, she continued to travel long distances for twice weekly violin lessons. I don’t think she was ever a prodigy despite having prestigious teachers.
The writing style is journalistic rather than literary but it’s the story that pulls this book along at pace. This is one of those books where the truth is stranger than fiction.
Interesting real life consequences of the effect of the cluster B personality disorders including Narcissistic, Borderline and Histrionic Personality Disorders laid bare and the interaction between them.
Fascinating also to watch the effect of parenting style on children over three generations and the mental health outcomes of those subjected to unfortunate circumstances and upbringing.
I would have preferred more information about the violin playing and how, despite it being agreed that Karin didn’t have enough talent to make it in the profession, she continued to travel long distances for twice weekly violin lessons. I don’t think she was ever a prodigy despite having prestigious teachers.
The writing style is journalistic rather than literary but it’s the story that pulls this book along at pace. This is one of those books where the truth is stranger than fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2025
The book was okay. Kind of an interesting story about a mother and daughter, both of whom need some serious help. It might have been more interesting if the author focused on the mother/daughter relationship rather than the daughter and her boyfriend. Too much time was spent on the boyfriends's letters and not enough time on other aspects of the people involved.
July 1, 2021
I will never say that anyone deserves to have their life taken. I will say that some people should not be surprised if that is their fate. Joyce Aparo was just such a person. Now, having typed that I will also say that it's a sin and a shame that her daughter got away with it.
October 25, 2021
True crime
It was an interesting read. I believe that Karin is guilty and helped plan her mother’s murder. Yes, Karin was treated badly if this story is to be believed, but it does not excuse murder?
It was an interesting read. I believe that Karin is guilty and helped plan her mother’s murder. Yes, Karin was treated badly if this story is to be believed, but it does not excuse murder?
July 2, 2022
The central person of this book is my roommate from college. This book was incredibly upsetting to her. Once published I came to discover that the updated cover photo of Karin shows her wearing clothes she and I went shopping for. That is very unsettling for me.
May 6, 2024
I enjoyed the story, but not the writing. Something about how this author draws out the story and structures his paragraphs frequently drove me up the wall. It was an interesting case which is why I finished the book but I don't plan to pick up anything else by this author.
January 12, 2018
It was a very story i think she needs to go to jail she plotted to kill her mother shes a liar knew that right from when she met dennis took advantage of him.very interesting read although.
July 15, 2019
True Crime Story
This is a good true crime book. It tel. Ils he complete story but sometimes goes on top long.I am sure that is the aut
This is a good true crime book. It tel. Ils he complete story but sometimes goes on top long.I am sure that is the aut
August 6, 2019
OMG!!!!- Craziness everywhere you read in the book about a daughter's quest to have her mother murdered. It's hard to decide what you think of the outcome.
May 1, 2024
Absolutely loved this book. I knew nothing of this story and it was do interesting.
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