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Dirty John and Other True Stories of Outlaws and Outsiders
A collection of newspaper stories by award-winning Los Angeles Times reporter Christopher Goffard--including “Dirty John,” the basis for the hit podcast and the upcoming Bravo scripted series starring Connie Britton and Eric Bana.
Since its release in fall 2017, the “Dirty John” podcast--about a conman who terrorizes a Southern California family--has been downloaded more than 20 million times, and will soon premiere as a scripted drama on Bravo starring Connie Britton and Eric Bana. The story, which also ran as a print series in the Los Angeles Times, wasn’t unfamiliar terrain to its writer, Christopher Goffard. Over two decades at newspapers from Florida to California, Goffard has reported probingly on the shadowy, unseen corners of society. This book gathers together for the first time “Dirty John” and the rest of his very best work.
“The $40 Lawyer” provides an inside account of a young public defender’s rookie year in the legal trenches. “Framed” offers an unblinking chronicle of suburban mayhem (and is currently being developed by Netflix as a film starring Julia Roberts). A man wrongly imprisoned for rape, train-riding runaways in love, a Syrian mother forced to leave her children in order to save them, a boy who grows up to become a cop as a way of honoring his murdered sister, another boy who struggles with the knowledge that his father is on death row: these stories reveal the complexities of human nature, showing people at both their most courageous and their most flawed.
Goffard shared in the Los Angeles Times’ Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2011 and has twice been a Pulitzer finalist for feature writing. This collection—a must-read for fans of both true-crime and first-rate narrative nonfiction—underscores his reputation as one of today’s most original journalistic voices.
Since its release in fall 2017, the “Dirty John” podcast--about a conman who terrorizes a Southern California family--has been downloaded more than 20 million times, and will soon premiere as a scripted drama on Bravo starring Connie Britton and Eric Bana. The story, which also ran as a print series in the Los Angeles Times, wasn’t unfamiliar terrain to its writer, Christopher Goffard. Over two decades at newspapers from Florida to California, Goffard has reported probingly on the shadowy, unseen corners of society. This book gathers together for the first time “Dirty John” and the rest of his very best work.
“The $40 Lawyer” provides an inside account of a young public defender’s rookie year in the legal trenches. “Framed” offers an unblinking chronicle of suburban mayhem (and is currently being developed by Netflix as a film starring Julia Roberts). A man wrongly imprisoned for rape, train-riding runaways in love, a Syrian mother forced to leave her children in order to save them, a boy who grows up to become a cop as a way of honoring his murdered sister, another boy who struggles with the knowledge that his father is on death row: these stories reveal the complexities of human nature, showing people at both their most courageous and their most flawed.
Goffard shared in the Los Angeles Times’ Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2011 and has twice been a Pulitzer finalist for feature writing. This collection—a must-read for fans of both true-crime and first-rate narrative nonfiction—underscores his reputation as one of today’s most original journalistic voices.
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 2018
149 people are currently reading
964 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Goffard
5 books35 followersChristopher Goffard is one of America's most acclaimed literary journalists. He has written for the St. Petersburg Times and the Los Angeles Times. He is the author of You Will See Fire: A Search for Justice in Kenya, based on his Los Angeles Times series; the novel Snitch Jacket, which was a finalist for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel; and Dirty John and Other True Stories of Outlaws and Outsiders. His work appears regularly in the Best American Newspaper Narratives series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
February 19, 2020
"A story is a different life-form. A story is an experience . Like a movie or a song or a poem, the good ones allow you to live inside other people's skulls for a little while and to touch the quick of their terror and grief and longing".
Dirty John and Other True Stories of Outlaws and Outsiders by Christopher Goffard
This writer and reporter is amazingly gifted. I read this after seeing the "Dirty John " mini series. This book is not only about that story. It also covers other stories.
Stories about people who have been forgotten. The whole thing is riveting and though I very rarely rate True crime novels five stars in this case it was not even a question.
One thing that makes me mad..so many people who viewed "Dirty John" carried on about the woman who got involved with him being "stupid". That stuck in my craw. The fact is good decent people can get involved with morons, sociopaths, criminals and just all around crummy people. It happens so often. I never viewed ANY of the women who were unfortunate enough to come across Dirty John in that context and I wish others would not be so quick to judge.
Possibly the best true crime writer I have read a book by. This one I would highly HIGHLY recommend.
Dirty John and Other True Stories of Outlaws and Outsiders by Christopher Goffard
This writer and reporter is amazingly gifted. I read this after seeing the "Dirty John " mini series. This book is not only about that story. It also covers other stories.
Stories about people who have been forgotten. The whole thing is riveting and though I very rarely rate True crime novels five stars in this case it was not even a question.
One thing that makes me mad..so many people who viewed "Dirty John" carried on about the woman who got involved with him being "stupid". That stuck in my craw. The fact is good decent people can get involved with morons, sociopaths, criminals and just all around crummy people. It happens so often. I never viewed ANY of the women who were unfortunate enough to come across Dirty John in that context and I wish others would not be so quick to judge.
Possibly the best true crime writer I have read a book by. This one I would highly HIGHLY recommend.
April 7, 2019
Let me first say I have been a fan of Chris Goffard’s writing in the LA Times long before the podcasts and media attention on his stories ensued. I have had no need to seek out the podcast or other media, because for me, his stories stand alone and need no further embellishment.
This collection of true crime articles by Chris Goffard of the LA Times is completely compelling. Absorbing as good fiction, Chris Goffard writes beautifully of the human condition. I was captivated by 12 of the 14 stories in this collection. This is true crime writing at its best.
A story is an experience, (as opposed to a mere article.) The proof is in his writing. Check it out!
This collection of true crime articles by Chris Goffard of the LA Times is completely compelling. Absorbing as good fiction, Chris Goffard writes beautifully of the human condition. I was captivated by 12 of the 14 stories in this collection. This is true crime writing at its best.
A story is an experience, (as opposed to a mere article.) The proof is in his writing. Check it out!
November 3, 2019
RATING: 1 STAR
I was first introduced to the story of Dirty John on Dateline a few years back. It was an interesting and terrifying story of a dangerous con man and drug addict. I saw that there was a podcast but I didn't actually listen to it till last month (Feb 2019). While it was okay to listen to while working, it wasn't riveting as I imagined. They were trying to stretch out the good parts and packed it with meh. Last weekend, I saw that the documentary was on Netflix so I thought what the heck. The Dirty John documentary was a more tight version of the podcast. It definitely had more information about John's past than Dateline focused on. Dateline looked at Debra and Terra's story, while the documentary looked at how John Meehan came to be so dangerous. Had this book been just about Dirty John, I would have passed on it, as I am so tired of this case now, lol. The title indicated that there were more interesting stories like the title story. You would think.
Unfortunately, I mostly saw this book as a waste of my reading time. I have so many books I want to read that I should have dropped it. It's a library book after all. Goffard, who does the podcast and documentary, is a journalist that has won the Pulitzer Prize. I went in with modest expectations, but slowly after story four I was trying to drop them quickly. I liked two stories, "Framed" and "The Accused", that were interesting true crime tales that were more complicated than they initially seemed. If not for two police detectives looking outside the box, these cases would have gone a different way with no justice. "Dirty John" was quick and all right and if not a big case I would have skipped it. The rest of the stories were not really true crime, and didn't really seem to have a purpose. They seemed like snippets of a story that was never developed. It reminded me of when I hear young kids tell a story. Stuff happens, but it is nonsensical. Full disclosure: I skimmed through most of the latter half of the books with the short stories. I feel like Anne Rule's anthologies of shorter tales does a better job of telling a story. I will try the TV series on Netflix as I do like Connie Britton and Eric Bana.
My Novelesque Blog
I was first introduced to the story of Dirty John on Dateline a few years back. It was an interesting and terrifying story of a dangerous con man and drug addict. I saw that there was a podcast but I didn't actually listen to it till last month (Feb 2019). While it was okay to listen to while working, it wasn't riveting as I imagined. They were trying to stretch out the good parts and packed it with meh. Last weekend, I saw that the documentary was on Netflix so I thought what the heck. The Dirty John documentary was a more tight version of the podcast. It definitely had more information about John's past than Dateline focused on. Dateline looked at Debra and Terra's story, while the documentary looked at how John Meehan came to be so dangerous. Had this book been just about Dirty John, I would have passed on it, as I am so tired of this case now, lol. The title indicated that there were more interesting stories like the title story. You would think.
Unfortunately, I mostly saw this book as a waste of my reading time. I have so many books I want to read that I should have dropped it. It's a library book after all. Goffard, who does the podcast and documentary, is a journalist that has won the Pulitzer Prize. I went in with modest expectations, but slowly after story four I was trying to drop them quickly. I liked two stories, "Framed" and "The Accused", that were interesting true crime tales that were more complicated than they initially seemed. If not for two police detectives looking outside the box, these cases would have gone a different way with no justice. "Dirty John" was quick and all right and if not a big case I would have skipped it. The rest of the stories were not really true crime, and didn't really seem to have a purpose. They seemed like snippets of a story that was never developed. It reminded me of when I hear young kids tell a story. Stuff happens, but it is nonsensical. Full disclosure: I skimmed through most of the latter half of the books with the short stories. I feel like Anne Rule's anthologies of shorter tales does a better job of telling a story. I will try the TV series on Netflix as I do like Connie Britton and Eric Bana.
My Novelesque Blog
December 13, 2018
Christopher Goffard is an award-winning Los Angeles Times reporter. Dirty John and Other True Stories of Outlaws and Outsiders is a collection of his best work.
Wow! I was hooked from the first story until the last - and quite sad when I did reach the end. I could happily listen to everything Goffard has written.
Most of the appeal for me is the fact that the stories are true. Goffard takes an event, a happening, a crime, a piece of life, a person and wholeheartedly immerses the reader/listener in the tale. Detail, depth and a unique take on reporting make each piece fascinating.
It's hard to say I liked one more that another. The cover title Dirty John, is the longest and the most frightening. John is a conman, but his new wife can't see it. Its a close second Framed. A school volunteer makes an innocent mistake, but the parents involved take retaliation to a whole new level. The $40 Lawyer follows a brand new lawyer as he wades into the court system. There are fifteen stories in this collection and every last one is a winner.
I chose to listen to this book. The reader was George Newbern - a favorite of mine. He has such a unique voice - very, very expressive, capturing the nuances, emotions, drama, absurdities and more of Goffard's work. There's a sardonic tone to his voice that completely suits this audiobook. His diction is clear and easy to understand. Highly recommended! I'll be following Goffard's work from here forward.
Goffard's writing will be in even more formats soon - Dirty John (also a podcast) is an upcoming Bravo series. Framed is being developed by Netflix as a film starring Julia Roberts.
Wow! I was hooked from the first story until the last - and quite sad when I did reach the end. I could happily listen to everything Goffard has written.
Most of the appeal for me is the fact that the stories are true. Goffard takes an event, a happening, a crime, a piece of life, a person and wholeheartedly immerses the reader/listener in the tale. Detail, depth and a unique take on reporting make each piece fascinating.
It's hard to say I liked one more that another. The cover title Dirty John, is the longest and the most frightening. John is a conman, but his new wife can't see it. Its a close second Framed. A school volunteer makes an innocent mistake, but the parents involved take retaliation to a whole new level. The $40 Lawyer follows a brand new lawyer as he wades into the court system. There are fifteen stories in this collection and every last one is a winner.
I chose to listen to this book. The reader was George Newbern - a favorite of mine. He has such a unique voice - very, very expressive, capturing the nuances, emotions, drama, absurdities and more of Goffard's work. There's a sardonic tone to his voice that completely suits this audiobook. His diction is clear and easy to understand. Highly recommended! I'll be following Goffard's work from here forward.
Goffard's writing will be in even more formats soon - Dirty John (also a podcast) is an upcoming Bravo series. Framed is being developed by Netflix as a film starring Julia Roberts.
January 9, 2019
Dirty John and Other True Stories of Outlaws and Outsiders by Chris Goffard is a collection of real-life stories curated by the author. Goffard’s background in in journalism shines through as each of the stories is indeed interesting in concept; however, Dirty John loses its footing in the storytelling itself. Goffard does an expert job in setting the stage for each of the stories, building your interest as a reader by invoking empathy and sympathy with the characters, but the stories lack legs beyond the initial premise. For example, there is a story about a young man who experiences a tragedy as a child and devotes himself to become a police officer, but then the story ends and there is no moment of him “paying it forward” and preventing this from happening to someone else. Dirty John is the candy bar dangling in the vendor machine, sweet on the surface but lacking in substance.
January 31, 2019
This guy can really write. I had read the Dirty John story in the paper, and it was well done. The other stories in here are outstanding. Better than The Best American Short Stories books.
December 21, 2018
A great novel keeps your attention. When you start reading a page your fingers instinctively move to the top of the next page so you can turn it as quickly as possible without interrupting the thread or the mood of the lives you are sharing. "Dirty John" is not a novel but, rather, is a series of articles by a journalist about real people and their stories but many of them read as if they were a part of a terrific novel. Many of the tales are gripping, the characters vivid, and the crises they face real. A few stories are not as exciting as most and there are occasional lapses of grammar and punctuating annoy for the moment. Also, unlike the best novels, there is no tidy denouement and the question 'what happened next?' lingers. Still, the writing is mostly crisp and, overall, this is indeed a good read.
July 25, 2021
I found this book in the “True Crime” section of a local bookstore, but not all the stories are about crime. One of my favorites is the “The Choice”. It’s about a Syrian woman who finds asylum in Sweden but must leave her family behind. Apart from that, though, the most powerful of the pieces, in my opinion, do land squarely in the crime genre. The tale of the two white collar sociopaths who try to frame a primary school volunteer will stay with me for a long time. At the very least it casts doubt on the relationship between success and merit. The author is a master of the striking ending. Read the last line of the title piece if you want a glimpse of what I mean.
April 7, 2019
Not impressed. I only liked a couple of the stories, others were hard to get into. Two of the stories were amazing and that's why this book got a 3 star rating instead of 2.
January 22, 2021
I legitimately said “omg thank god” when this book ended.
September 25, 2018
Hooked on the podcast Dirty John? This book is a collection of newspaper stories by the reporter who wrote about “Dirty John," and it makes for compulsive reading. You'll read a little about a young couple that railroad hops that ends badly, a Syrian mother who has to make a Sophie's Choice type of decision. Great nonfiction that reads like fiction and true crime.
I read an advance copy and was not compensated.
I read an advance copy and was not compensated.
February 8, 2019
This is a collection of in-depth stories Christopher Goffard wrote in his role as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, among other newspapers. The title account, which is currently the basis of a TV show, is a corker. But the whole collection is excellent, made particularly so by Goffard's keen eye and sympathy.
January 31, 2021
There is not a single story I here that did not leave me feeling sad. I expected more criminal type stories like Dear John which Is a shame. I had watched the Netflix version of Dear John so knew what to expect fro that chapter. The remainder of the stories were also well done but made me feel a bit depressed and helpless
April 15, 2022
A big old meh. I was expecting more true crime with this, and many of the stories were just a little snapshot of nothingness. I've not yet found a short story collection that I've enjoyed and this series of articles can be added to the pile of why did I bother.
August 15, 2020
If "Dirty John" and "Framed" don't convince you that Goffard's accolades are well-deserved, I don't know what will. He unfolds stories at a perfect pace and hits all the emotional beats.
July 3, 2021
Amazing journalism. The stories are heartrending but also hopeful.
December 10, 2018
I liked how these stories read. What I didn’t like was how some of them ended. And I’m sure that’s the point, but I like a story that has a true ending. Like you know what happened and why someone was doing something. And maybe some of them were just to inspire hope. I get that, but I also like to know what happened. I liked the Easter story because why would two lawyers do something like that over something so little. It’s just nuts! Or the story of the lady that had herself tied up and claimed rape. Just crazy! The lengths people will go to get what they want is outrageous.
I read this via audiobook.
I read this via audiobook.
January 20, 2020
Christopher Goffard is an excellent writer. He writes with insight and a gift for placing you in the middle of what he's writing about.
February 16, 2020
Mostly got this book because of Dirty John but there are more stories than just that. Somewhat enjoyed some of them but all in all I was pretty bored.
February 14, 2025
This was fine. Not bad, not great. Some stories were more interesting than others. (I’d already listened to the Dirty John podcast, so was familiar with that one already).
I listened to this on audio, so it’s hard not to compare it to podcasts, but Criminal and Crime Junkie have more compelling tales IMO (Esp Criminal!)
I listened to this on audio, so it’s hard not to compare it to podcasts, but Criminal and Crime Junkie have more compelling tales IMO (Esp Criminal!)
October 31, 2018
"Dirty John and Other True Stories" is a collection of Chris Goffard's newspaper articles, which one reviewer described as "literary journalism." What's good: Without question, Goffard has an eye for a story and he's easily able to hook the reader on his characters. In "Dirty John," in particular, Goffard has landed on a magic mixture (as seen again in the podcast of the same name) that is particularly fascinating. (Without spoilers, the story has a spectacular finish that begs for analysis of what we consider masculinity and ideas of strength.) What's not as effective: Not all of the stories are at the "Dirty John" level, and it's a matter of preference ultimately. Do you like shorter stories, or longer narratives? The start-stop of reading through a collection of essays can be frustrating. Finally, for those who have already gobbled up the podcast "Dirty John," there isn't much new here. I would have set the book at a 3 for me because I did indeed know "Dirty John" as the podcast and therefore didn't get as much from the story as I wanted, but I decided that a more fair rating would be a 4, since my negative (already knowing the podcast) really wasn't reflective of the book's quality.
(Note: This unbiased review is based on an ARC given to me by Edelweiss.)
(Note: This unbiased review is based on an ARC given to me by Edelweiss.)
June 15, 2019
There are 15 "true crime" stories in this narrative nonfiction and only a few of them are really intriguing. I liked Goffard's writing style but in some chapters I thought he was trying too hard to draw out a story that could have been told in a few pages. While I love true crime, this book didn't hold my interest - but it was a quick read.
July 13, 2019
After reading the introduction by author Christopher Goffard, I was expecting a lot, so I'm glad this turned out to be a good book. It is a collection of true stories, well told. My only complaint is that a number of the stories just don't go anywhere, yet here they are along side the other (highly compelling) tales.
February 15, 2020
Good thriller and lesson in this story. It’s based from true events. Sometime the history towards the middle about his childhood was confusing but necessary. Loved the end. Also now you can watch on Netflix too.
December 3, 2018
All of my favorite LA Times stories!!!! I definitely recommend this to everyone!!!
April 3, 2019
I really enjoyed the Dirty John podcast, so tried this out. I skipped that story because I knew the drill - lots of other excellent true crime and profile stories here. Very enjoyable.
October 17, 2020
About a decade ago, I read Christopher Goffard’s novel Snitch Jacket and thought that it was great. I looked for his other works and was excited to see that Edward R. Hamilton was offering a remainder copy of Dirty John for a song. I ordered the book and tore through it last weekend.
Dirty John is a collection of Goffard’s journalism. The stories are primarily from the Los Angeles Times. Therefore, most are set in Southern California. A few are also set in Florida, presumably from Goffard’s earlier stint with the Saint Petersburg Times.
Most of the entries are very good. The title story is about a drug-addicted con artist, and it has become somewhat famous. Don’t miss it. Also, terrific are “Framed” about a couple of wealthy, Orange County lawyers who framed a woman for drug possession because the attorneys thought that woman had insulted their son. I also enjoyed “The Deserter’s Son,” about a man who wanted to make up for his father’s desertion during World War II and “The $40 Lawyer” about a recent-law-school graduate who becomes a public defender in Florida.
A few of the stories fell flat for me. The consistent drawback in those was that they were very political and seemed to be more about Goffard (and perhaps his bosses) than they were about the stories. In particular, I thought that “The Choice” (about a Syrian refugee) and “The Hidden Man” (about a closeted gay soldier) just weren’t that compelling.
But, on the whole, this collection is very good. Even better, there’s no need to read it straight through - you can pick it up and put it down when you’re ready.
Dirty John is a collection of Goffard’s journalism. The stories are primarily from the Los Angeles Times. Therefore, most are set in Southern California. A few are also set in Florida, presumably from Goffard’s earlier stint with the Saint Petersburg Times.
Most of the entries are very good. The title story is about a drug-addicted con artist, and it has become somewhat famous. Don’t miss it. Also, terrific are “Framed” about a couple of wealthy, Orange County lawyers who framed a woman for drug possession because the attorneys thought that woman had insulted their son. I also enjoyed “The Deserter’s Son,” about a man who wanted to make up for his father’s desertion during World War II and “The $40 Lawyer” about a recent-law-school graduate who becomes a public defender in Florida.
A few of the stories fell flat for me. The consistent drawback in those was that they were very political and seemed to be more about Goffard (and perhaps his bosses) than they were about the stories. In particular, I thought that “The Choice” (about a Syrian refugee) and “The Hidden Man” (about a closeted gay soldier) just weren’t that compelling.
But, on the whole, this collection is very good. Even better, there’s no need to read it straight through - you can pick it up and put it down when you’re ready.
March 23, 2019
A great variety of essays makes up this book, written by an LA Times writer. The most famous story is the Dirty John tale, and it takes up 2 full chapters. It is very definitely well-written.
However, the other essays are just as strong. You will meet the adult child of a man who deserted during WWII, and a child whose father is incarcerated for murder. You will meet a young lawyer and a Syrian refugee, teen runaways who travel around by train and the son of a murdered sister who is now a cop. Some of the pieces are longer than others and go in for more background; for example, the essay about the boy whose father is imprisoned also discusses thoughts from a psychologist who specializes in therapy for families of prisoners (at least from a research perspective).
My favorite essay was the school volunteer who was framed by a married couple--both lawyers--and this story is crazier than the Dirty John one.
If you are interested in learning about interesting people and hearing their stories, you will enjoy this book. I highly recommend.
However, the other essays are just as strong. You will meet the adult child of a man who deserted during WWII, and a child whose father is incarcerated for murder. You will meet a young lawyer and a Syrian refugee, teen runaways who travel around by train and the son of a murdered sister who is now a cop. Some of the pieces are longer than others and go in for more background; for example, the essay about the boy whose father is imprisoned also discusses thoughts from a psychologist who specializes in therapy for families of prisoners (at least from a research perspective).
My favorite essay was the school volunteer who was framed by a married couple--both lawyers--and this story is crazier than the Dirty John one.
If you are interested in learning about interesting people and hearing their stories, you will enjoy this book. I highly recommend.
December 6, 2020
This was a well crafted and gripping book. Goffard introduces us to people on the edge of society—aimless drifters, sociopaths, the homeless, the delusional. He doesn’t embellish them, but crafts a narrative of their respective worlds via top notch journalistic prose. He makes them profoundly interesting.
My only problem with the writing was that in one story Goffard didn’t know the distinction between the Navy and the Marine Corps. My only problem with the narration was when the reader (who did an otherwise excellent job), pronounced one Vietnamese woman’s name Nugyen as “Noo-goo-yen.” That was pretty cringe-worthy. It’s the age of YouTube and Google. A moment’s research would have shown him it is a silent “g”.
Neither of those detract enough from the book to knock it down a star. I loved it. If he comes out with another volume of stories like this, I’ll read it.
My only problem with the writing was that in one story Goffard didn’t know the distinction between the Navy and the Marine Corps. My only problem with the narration was when the reader (who did an otherwise excellent job), pronounced one Vietnamese woman’s name Nugyen as “Noo-goo-yen.” That was pretty cringe-worthy. It’s the age of YouTube and Google. A moment’s research would have shown him it is a silent “g”.
Neither of those detract enough from the book to knock it down a star. I loved it. If he comes out with another volume of stories like this, I’ll read it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews