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"Doc": The Rape of the Town of Lovell
For twenty-five years, the trusted family doctor in a small Wyoming town had been raping and molesting the women and children who most relied on him.
Mostly Mormons, the naive victims sometimes realized on their wedding nights the truth about what had happened in Dr. Story's office.
In riveting detail, veteran crime writer Jack Olsen tells the searing story of a small group of courageous women who decided to bring a doctor to justice -- and unearthed a legacy of pain and anger that would divide their families, their neighbors, and an entire town.
Mostly Mormons, the naive victims sometimes realized on their wedding nights the truth about what had happened in Dr. Story's office.
In riveting detail, veteran crime writer Jack Olsen tells the searing story of a small group of courageous women who decided to bring a doctor to justice -- and unearthed a legacy of pain and anger that would divide their families, their neighbors, and an entire town.
544 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
May 28, 2022
5 Stars
March 23, 2010
Patient to husband after leaving this Dr's office, "Hey, I think Doc just screwed me." Husband, "On the bill? " Wife, "No, literally" Husband grabs shotgun from rack on pickup truck and marches into the doctors office bringing the whole mess crashing down and to light.
A superb look at life in a small town and how this pervert was able to sexually abuse these women, generations of them, for years unchecked. Lack of education and a sexually repressive faith tradition enabled him to do this.
A meticulously researched true crime novel. Well worth your time.
A superb look at life in a small town and how this pervert was able to sexually abuse these women, generations of them, for years unchecked. Lack of education and a sexually repressive faith tradition enabled him to do this.
A meticulously researched true crime novel. Well worth your time.
March 6, 2015
Wow, this book is horrifying. If you have ever questioned why rape victims are reluctant to come forward, you should read this book. This isn't just a story about a sociopathic doctor, it's a primer in how people victim blame rape survivors.
I normally reserve audiobooks for times when I can't hold a book, like when I'm sewing or working out, but this book was so gripping, I found myself listening at night when I normally read paper books, instead. Couldn't put this one down.
I normally reserve audiobooks for times when I can't hold a book, like when I'm sewing or working out, but this book was so gripping, I found myself listening at night when I normally read paper books, instead. Couldn't put this one down.
April 29, 2009
This book is about a local doctor in the 1980's who was found guilty for raping and sexually assaulting a number of his patients in Lovell, Wyoming. It makes your skin crawl, but is definitely a page turner. The near proximity to my hometown of Worland, WY and the facts that the trial took place in the town of Basin where a lot of my family history is made this hit unusually close to home. It made me realize even further the social dynamics of a small town. It also made me realize how much Religion breeds ideas of superiority and intolerance, making people think they have a monopoly on the truth. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand the extremes of religion, and small town dynamics. Very well written.
Apparently the doctor has been out of prison for a while now, and lives in his home in Lovell today. Part of me wants to be able to meet him, and see him face to face to get an idea of who this man is, part of me never wants to go anywhere near him. Again...skin crawling. The fact that he has the audacity to return to the scene of the crime is just plain creepy.
Apparently the doctor has been out of prison for a while now, and lives in his home in Lovell today. Part of me wants to be able to meet him, and see him face to face to get an idea of who this man is, part of me never wants to go anywhere near him. Again...skin crawling. The fact that he has the audacity to return to the scene of the crime is just plain creepy.
October 24, 2016
Absolutely horrified! I don't know whether I should pity these women or hold them in contempt. To be 65 years old and still call a penis his "thing" and feel ashamed to discuss sex, especially when one is being offended is tragic. This doctor is a predator of the first degree, seeking control and superiority over meek, humble religious ladies, children, and minorities.
August 24, 2014
An unbelievable story, well researched and well written. I found it hard to put down.
My first Jack Olsen book, but not my last.
February 25, 2015
I have mixed feelings about this book. I believe the women. I don't think the author understood Mormonism as well as he thought he did. At times, he's patronizing, other times, inaccurate.
March 20, 2022
As much as I like this book, just a warning, it will make you sad and angry. It's usually easy for me to separate myself when reading a true crime book, to view it almost clinically like a fellow researcher. But this one genuinely made me mad and disgusted. The writing is very dry, I will say that. But it is true crime, not a fictional drama, so that's not a huge problem. It is an incredibly long read, but it is going over twenty-five years of crime committed by this man, so that's fair.
July 29, 2016
I listened to the audiobook, and the story was okay, it just seemed to go into too much detail too many times.
The narrator is excellent. I really appreciated, especially for a non-fiction story like this, that the female voices did not come off as weak, or sound like a man trying to do a woman's voice. Instead the narrator just voiced their words. I give the narrator an A+.
The story is interesting. It's quite horrific that this small town doctor was able to abuse and rape so many of his Mormon patients, almost entirely because they were not sexually educated about their own bodies, taught that they were inferior and should not use their voices, and had so much shame and self-blame internalized. This doctor could not have gotten away with this in most other cities.
But it felt like the story was expanded to fit the size of the book. First we listened to every single victim explain what happened to them. Then we heard them tell their stories again. Then we heard their testimony, which were the same stories all over again. It felt like the first 2/3s of the book were the same stories over and over and over and over again - especially so because the women's stories were all so similar. So while it brought home how far reaching this man's crimes were, it also started to become just a buzzing in my ears and it became really distasteful listening to what he did. If I never hear about that doctor's penis again it will be too soon. I wish there were bigger sections of the doctor's life as a child, and in the years before his time in Lovell. I also wish I could have heard more about his wife's life after his conviction.
I don't have a lot to recommend this book. It's a true story, it's terrible that it's a true story, and it really highlights how the lack of education for these women is what allowed it to happen. But unfortunately it was also a bit boring.
The narrator is excellent. I really appreciated, especially for a non-fiction story like this, that the female voices did not come off as weak, or sound like a man trying to do a woman's voice. Instead the narrator just voiced their words. I give the narrator an A+.
The story is interesting. It's quite horrific that this small town doctor was able to abuse and rape so many of his Mormon patients, almost entirely because they were not sexually educated about their own bodies, taught that they were inferior and should not use their voices, and had so much shame and self-blame internalized. This doctor could not have gotten away with this in most other cities.
But it felt like the story was expanded to fit the size of the book. First we listened to every single victim explain what happened to them. Then we heard them tell their stories again. Then we heard their testimony, which were the same stories all over again. It felt like the first 2/3s of the book were the same stories over and over and over and over again - especially so because the women's stories were all so similar. So while it brought home how far reaching this man's crimes were, it also started to become just a buzzing in my ears and it became really distasteful listening to what he did. If I never hear about that doctor's penis again it will be too soon. I wish there were bigger sections of the doctor's life as a child, and in the years before his time in Lovell. I also wish I could have heard more about his wife's life after his conviction.
I don't have a lot to recommend this book. It's a true story, it's terrible that it's a true story, and it really highlights how the lack of education for these women is what allowed it to happen. But unfortunately it was also a bit boring.
June 4, 2022
This is extremely detailed. To the point of some immense repetition. Because it is over quite a period of time there is also multiple, multiple context variables re the town of Lovell itself. And especially of the religious congregations of the vast majority of citizens. LDS, Baptist, Lutheran almost exclusively.
It's also retro. 1989 "eyes" of the author, for sure. Which connotes that the social norms and judgmental values of the author's context itself? They are, IMHO, hugely different than they would be today. Or perhaps I have stated that wrongly. Rather, it would be expressed in different language / words than he expressed then. Perhaps even within his same religion crux (outsider looking in) opinions.
Dr. Story's work life, crimes, intercepts of justice etc. etc. They are all colored to a 3 to 4 star level. Maybe even more toward the 4 stars in clear detail. But at the same time SO many of the town's citizens, their moral relativity, their structures, their belief systems, their faith and authority measures- all of that? And they definitely are prime to this entire justice situation. Well, the author panders in a kind of half respectful, yet half arrogant type of base definitive conclusive "telling". He certainly does not know as much as he thinks he does about the LDS Church or belief system, either. Certainly within the victim shaming aspects of forgiving/retributions- those especially.
Regardless, I almost considered giving this a 2 stars. Lots of discriminate judging going on between all sides of this case. The man was guilty, but societal oppositions were far, far beyond just the doctor problem in this town. As were the mores. And I don't believe with all this length, that the base differences of mix was posited in the correct light of what religion, faith, core values, directive action of charity etc. MEAN to the vast number of people being parsed here.
So I gave it a 3 stars. You certainly got the feeling after reading this length that Dr. Story wouldn't have gotten away with such habits in a larger context or urban or more secular environment of patients place. Well, that's not a given at all. It happened within a huge university in the Midwest and for Olympics coaches/ docs. Doctors CAN pass no-go criteria fairly easily and do so more often than most patients would ever believe. Way too many side tangent issues and hear say in this book on top of it for my non-fiction scales.
It's also retro. 1989 "eyes" of the author, for sure. Which connotes that the social norms and judgmental values of the author's context itself? They are, IMHO, hugely different than they would be today. Or perhaps I have stated that wrongly. Rather, it would be expressed in different language / words than he expressed then. Perhaps even within his same religion crux (outsider looking in) opinions.
Dr. Story's work life, crimes, intercepts of justice etc. etc. They are all colored to a 3 to 4 star level. Maybe even more toward the 4 stars in clear detail. But at the same time SO many of the town's citizens, their moral relativity, their structures, their belief systems, their faith and authority measures- all of that? And they definitely are prime to this entire justice situation. Well, the author panders in a kind of half respectful, yet half arrogant type of base definitive conclusive "telling". He certainly does not know as much as he thinks he does about the LDS Church or belief system, either. Certainly within the victim shaming aspects of forgiving/retributions- those especially.
Regardless, I almost considered giving this a 2 stars. Lots of discriminate judging going on between all sides of this case. The man was guilty, but societal oppositions were far, far beyond just the doctor problem in this town. As were the mores. And I don't believe with all this length, that the base differences of mix was posited in the correct light of what religion, faith, core values, directive action of charity etc. MEAN to the vast number of people being parsed here.
So I gave it a 3 stars. You certainly got the feeling after reading this length that Dr. Story wouldn't have gotten away with such habits in a larger context or urban or more secular environment of patients place. Well, that's not a given at all. It happened within a huge university in the Midwest and for Olympics coaches/ docs. Doctors CAN pass no-go criteria fairly easily and do so more often than most patients would ever believe. Way too many side tangent issues and hear say in this book on top of it for my non-fiction scales.
November 7, 2011
This book details the crimes of a serial rapist, a physician who was found guilty of abusing his patients. The events chronicled in the book take place in the town of Lovell, Wyoming, not far from where I grew up, which was why I picked it up in the first place. I recommend it for anyone who has a strong stomach.
July 31, 2007
I love Jack Olsen, and this is the definitive Olsen. It's a striking look into rape, Mormonism, secrecy, honor and rural sociology. Fascinating.
March 31, 2016
Interesting and disturbing true story that is written in painstaking detail. Very well written.
November 18, 2015
This is the horrifying true story of a local doctor that raped his female patients throughout his over 20 year career in a small town. The book was a frustrating read for a number of reasons. Initially it seemed to be an issue of lack of sex education so the girls were just too young and inexperienced to know what going on. Then it seemed to be the fact that he was a doctor so it just seemed unbelievable that he could possibly do that. He sexually assaulted children as young as 10 and raped elderly women. The majority of women felt too ashamed to tell anyone. Those that did were not believed or advised to find a new doctor! The women that were attacked were mormons, it appears targeted and felt religious guilt over what happened to the extent that they thought it was adultery. When the women came forward, they were accused of lying. Their husbands either thought they were mistaken or were angry (but did nothing). In one case the doctor confronted by an angry husband talks him around to believe his wife was mistaken!
The amount of abuse, the attitudes of the religious leaders and the men that enabled this man to continue to hurt the women under his care are almost as bad as the rapist himself.
In terms of the writing the book was overly long, the details were repeative and there were some strange descriptions - such as she looked like a meatball, she was shaped like a turnip. Although this was a non-fiction book the author describes what people think and felt which jarred. I thought a more factual approach would have been better.
The amount of abuse, the attitudes of the religious leaders and the men that enabled this man to continue to hurt the women under his care are almost as bad as the rapist himself.
In terms of the writing the book was overly long, the details were repeative and there were some strange descriptions - such as she looked like a meatball, she was shaped like a turnip. Although this was a non-fiction book the author describes what people think and felt which jarred. I thought a more factual approach would have been better.
July 13, 2015
Jack Olsen is definitely one if the best true crime writers of our time, and this does not fall short. I was disappointed this recent edition of the 1985 classic had no updated where-are-they-now information, but I did glean from the Lovell Chronicle that Story got out in 2001 and lost suits to clear his name or charge the state with medical malpractive during his imprisonment for serial rape. I happened to be reading this book while news broken that in 2005, Bill Cosby admitted seeking drugs to give to women and that Dr. Farid Fata pleaded guilty to 16 counts of health care fraud, and that this Oakland County 'cancer doctor' was sentenced to 45 years in prison...
I came to this book thinking it would affirm my wide support for education, including sex education. Certainly I believe wider community sex education and education on how to handle inappropriate advances could have curtailed the number of victims of this slime, but when they did come forth in numbers and over years the community, church, and institutional rejection of their experiences made the crimes worse.
I came to this book thinking it would affirm my wide support for education, including sex education. Certainly I believe wider community sex education and education on how to handle inappropriate advances could have curtailed the number of victims of this slime, but when they did come forth in numbers and over years the community, church, and institutional rejection of their experiences made the crimes worse.
February 8, 2015
What a well written book! This is more than a crime story. It is a story about a town ,that suffers from the disease of denial, one which allows their women and children to be abused by a male doctor for over 20 years. Under the guise of Christianity, the towns' people flaunt the law and common decency as they advocate for the doctor who has abused women across the age spans. I found this nonfiction work an inspiration for the courage and strength some women have to continue onward in their march of justice, even though faced with threats and name calling. I don't give 5's often but I would be wrong not to give one this time.
July 17, 2017
True crime never ceases to amaze me. But this story, of trusting a doctor with all that is precious to you and being betrayed in such a manner, makes me absolutely sick. Despite dragging out the conviction and trial Story, this book makes you feel as if you are beside the victims through every step of the way from beginning to end. (Not to mention, narrated by my favorite Kevin Pierce. *SWOON*)
March 31, 2008
I wrote on April 08 2006.
Wow This was another great book by Jack Olsen.
I got so angry at those town people.
I was really shocked reading this,and yes stunned that LSD and mormons alike, are still so ignorant.
Wow This was another great book by Jack Olsen.
I got so angry at those town people.
I was really shocked reading this,and yes stunned that LSD and mormons alike, are still so ignorant.
February 23, 2015
Lots of typos- proofreading must have been skipped.
September 6, 2023
DNF. I pulled this one due to my True Crime group saying Jack Olsen is the best.... NOW he's still is well researched and he's got ALOT of information here but I completely agree with others this could of been half the size. There was too much history on the victims like dating back to when they were born that I just was not able to grab ahold of this. I'm currently in a slump so that doesn't help either but I've read true crime that I literally could not put down.... this one I couldn't stay interested but I did flip around to see if maybe it was worth the wait but nothing grabbed me. Again, well researched just not for me.
Triggers: Rape, Molestation, elderly abuse, child abuse
Triggers: Rape, Molestation, elderly abuse, child abuse
July 30, 2018
A riveting true-crime book. No one believes the poor women who have been raped by the favorite small town doc...sometimes not even the victims themselves. Almost unbelievable, but true.
October 24, 2017
This is a true story. Dr Storey was well respected Dr in the Mormon town of Lovell, Wyoming.
Over the years he treated the Mothers and Daughters of Lovell. However any women he thought were vulnerable, or lacking in confidence he would make them have a 40 minute pelvic exam. He would perform this even if they came to him with a sore throat or other non gynacological problem. Instead of using surgical instruments he would how shall I say use a part of his anatomy instead. Many women complained to their Mormon leaders and the police but were not believed. A number of patients ashamed of what Storrey had done never told a soul and just changed practices.
Storey was the McCarthy family Dr and treated the Mother, Father and 3 daughters. The eldest Daughter always felt uncomfortable during pelvic exams and thought Storey was not using a surgical instrument to exam her. She told her Mother but was told not to be she must be mistaken and not to be silly. When the McCarthy sisters began to discuss their pelvic exams they realised they had been raped.
Their Mother finally believed them and felt guilty she had trusted Storey. The girls went to the Police but were told they needed another 4 victims before they could go before the State board of medicine. The Mother went to Story's previous victims and urged them to make witness statements.
When the Women came forward it split the townsfolk in Lovell in 2, those who believed Storrey was guilty and those who who thought he was innocent.
This was an interesting book that described Dr Storey and his victims in detail. It described the medical tribunal and criminal prosecution.
Over the years he treated the Mothers and Daughters of Lovell. However any women he thought were vulnerable, or lacking in confidence he would make them have a 40 minute pelvic exam. He would perform this even if they came to him with a sore throat or other non gynacological problem. Instead of using surgical instruments he would how shall I say use a part of his anatomy instead. Many women complained to their Mormon leaders and the police but were not believed. A number of patients ashamed of what Storrey had done never told a soul and just changed practices.
Storey was the McCarthy family Dr and treated the Mother, Father and 3 daughters. The eldest Daughter always felt uncomfortable during pelvic exams and thought Storey was not using a surgical instrument to exam her. She told her Mother but was told not to be she must be mistaken and not to be silly. When the McCarthy sisters began to discuss their pelvic exams they realised they had been raped.
Their Mother finally believed them and felt guilty she had trusted Storey. The girls went to the Police but were told they needed another 4 victims before they could go before the State board of medicine. The Mother went to Story's previous victims and urged them to make witness statements.
When the Women came forward it split the townsfolk in Lovell in 2, those who believed Storrey was guilty and those who who thought he was innocent.
This was an interesting book that described Dr Storey and his victims in detail. It described the medical tribunal and criminal prosecution.
September 12, 2015
Of all the people you encounter in your life, it truly really sucks if the one who happens to be a psychopath also happens to be your family doctor. This incredibly detailed account of Doc's slow, persistent crawl to power over his patients becomes quite demanding to keep listening to because you just cannot believe this human waste kept getting away with everything for so many years.
Olsen explores and explains the background of Doc's victims and the small-town setting which enabled Doc to carry out his crimes for so inconceivably long. And it's not only Doc's perverse brazenness that gave me a pause, but also the record of the court trials in which the victims' humiliation continued. Something to consider is that the women were perfect victims for their rapist since their Mormon education taught them to listen and submit to male authority at all times, so that's yet another case of religion shaping people's attitudes in a manner which is destructive to them.
I did have a problem with the homosexual rose doctor who preceded Storey being lumped together with the rapist by Olsen. One also cannot help but marvel at the breathtaking naivety of the women who felt a penis-like object being inserted into them, even touched it with their hand and some even saw it and yet they staunchly refused to believe it was a penis because it just couldn't be happening. Of course that's what Doc took advantage of and that was why he could so easily demean them.
Olsen explores and explains the background of Doc's victims and the small-town setting which enabled Doc to carry out his crimes for so inconceivably long. And it's not only Doc's perverse brazenness that gave me a pause, but also the record of the court trials in which the victims' humiliation continued. Something to consider is that the women were perfect victims for their rapist since their Mormon education taught them to listen and submit to male authority at all times, so that's yet another case of religion shaping people's attitudes in a manner which is destructive to them.
I did have a problem with the homosexual rose doctor who preceded Storey being lumped together with the rapist by Olsen. One also cannot help but marvel at the breathtaking naivety of the women who felt a penis-like object being inserted into them, even touched it with their hand and some even saw it and yet they staunchly refused to believe it was a penis because it just couldn't be happening. Of course that's what Doc took advantage of and that was why he could so easily demean them.
January 6, 2015
The true tale of John Story and his crimes against women is a frightening revelation of what can happen in a small town when women are afraid to speak out. Jack Olsen takes you through the horrors of Story’s crimes, at first delicately as the women of Lovell, Wyoming reveal their experiences on his examining table. As each victim comes forth with her story it becomes almost unbelievable. The idea that a trusted and respected small town doctor could manage to rape young girls and women and get away with it for so long is horrifying. When his actions, denials, and rebuttals grow to unbelievable levels the entire town is split into factions; Story supporters and Story accusers. Already somewhat at odds due to religious differences, Mormons and Christians, the gap widens and the hatred reaches insane depths. Long time friends become enemies, violence erupts, and Story sits back letting it happen. As more and more victims surface from Story’s past it becomes obvious his depravity has grown over time. Only the determination of a group of brave women who stand strong bring justice to the town of Lovell. Well written and gripping, “Doc: The Rape of the Town of Lovell” is an example to abused women everywhere that evil can be rooted out and exposed no matter how successful the criminal. In fact this book was so good I easily overlooked the editing errors.
August 9, 2015
Gripping and disturbing. I just couldn't stop listening to the narrator's even voice or the stories of these poor women. I am disappointed to find there is no more information on the MacArthur clan. I googled it to see what happened to the fearless Arden MacArthur. Her story ends at the end of the book. I hope that all of the victims went on to a happily ever after. God knows they deserved it. And as for Doc? I don't care what happened to him. As far as I'm concerned his story stopped dead in the dust and remained there. He is a monster who will not receive any further commentary from me. Very well done true crime book.
September 1, 2015
I was fascinated with this incredible story. I found myself thinking of it often and trying to understand how something like this could have happened. I grew up in a predominately LDS farming community similar to Lovell WY during the same time as this story was unraveling. It took a perfect storm of cultural norms and a sick man who exploited women who trusted him with their lives. I don't believe this situation could happen again today (at least not to the extent of this story), but, growing up in a similar situation, I think I can understand the people of Lovell. It has been several weeks since I finished reading the book and I still find myself thinking about it.
March 13, 2012
True Crime:
I kept reading and reading and was never bored.
The story is told over and over, but through the point of view of the victims, the victims family,the accused, the accused family, the townspeople, the law "enforcers", the religious leaders, etc.
Very well written. Written without bias, so there is actually a point where you can almost believe this "Doctor" is not guilty. But of course, too much evidence to the contrary.
How naive adults can be when overshadowed by religion.
I kept reading and reading and was never bored.
The story is told over and over, but through the point of view of the victims, the victims family,the accused, the accused family, the townspeople, the law "enforcers", the religious leaders, etc.
Very well written. Written without bias, so there is actually a point where you can almost believe this "Doctor" is not guilty. But of course, too much evidence to the contrary.
How naive adults can be when overshadowed by religion.
August 16, 2018
I grew up a short distance from Lovell. There was always jokes that Lovell was the rape and inbreeding town, but as a child I didn't know the origin of these jokes. Now I definitely do! Having a Mormon husband, I am very aware of how their religion works- that breaking a secret is about the worst thing you can do. I applaud the strong women and their families who stood up against this monster abusing his power. A definite must-read, especially if you're from Wyoming!
March 31, 2023
Content warning there is a lot of sexual assault in this book. I could not put this down no matter how angry it made me. The victim blaming/shaming in this book is terrible. This doctor makes Larry Nassar look like a Boy Scout. He got away with It because the whole town could not believe he could do this to his patients.
I strongly recommend this to anyone who wants to know how far we have come now from the 80s on how women who were assaulted were treated.
I strongly recommend this to anyone who wants to know how far we have come now from the 80s on how women who were assaulted were treated.
May 8, 2008
Dr. Story takes advantage of naïve and passive Mormon women in his general practice in Lowell, Wyoming, and almost succeeds in getting away with his crimes.
Well-written, creepy, and emotionally difficult, but definitely a worthwhile read. Weaves together religion, women’s issues, and politics seamlessly. Recommended.
Well-written, creepy, and emotionally difficult, but definitely a worthwhile read. Weaves together religion, women’s issues, and politics seamlessly. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews