The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer

by Brian Masters

________________________________________

AN UNSPEAKABLE CRIME

When he was arrested in July 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer had a severed head in the refrigerator, two more in the freezer, two skulls and a skeleton in a filing cabinet.

A DEPRIVED ACT

But if anything could be more disturbing than the brute horror of this scene, it was the evidence that Dahmer had been using these human remains not only for sexual gratification, but as part of a dark ritual of his own devising -- to furnish a shrine to himself.

A KILLER, BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING
________________________________________

The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer offers a chilling insight into the mind of a serial killer and reveals the horrors within.

Perfect for fans of Making a Murderer, Mindhunter and The Ted Bundy Tapes, this is a gripping and gruesome read that delves into the mind of a murder and what possesses someone to kill.
__________
By the author of Killing for Company , which was adapted into the hit ITV true crime drama DES, starring David Tennant.
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PRAISE FOR THE SHRINE OF JEFFREY DAHMER:

'Irresistible. . . . It's subject is terrible and repellent. But the study itself is enlightening' Independent

'Unputdownable' Patricia Highsmith

'The persuasive account of a young man spiraling into unspeakable insanity . . . fascinating' Daily Telegraph

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Biography, Psychology, Horror, Biography Memoir

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Brian Masters is a British writer best known for his biographies of mass murderers, including Killing for Company, on Dennis Nilsen; The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer; She Must Have Known, on Rosemary West; and The Evil That Men Do. He has also written about the British aristocracy and worked as a translator.

Reviews

[Maddy ✨ ~The Verse Vixen {AFK brb} · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ Review: The shrine of jeffrey dahmer
~ My Rating~⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

The Shrine of jeffrey dahmer is a deeply unsettling and thought-provoking book that dives into the dark and twisted life of one of history’s most infamous serial killers. It doesn't simply recount Jeffrey Dahmer's gruesome crimes; instead, it takes a broader perspective, examining the social and systemic issues that allowed his horrific actions to persist for so long.


Narrative Structure: The book does an excellent job of balancing the gruesome details with a reflective exploration of the societal conditions that enabled Dahmer's crimes. It doesn’t glorify or romanticize his actions but instead portrays him as a product of a flawed system.

Focus on the Victims: One of the book’s strongest aspects is its commitment to humanizing Dahmer's victims. It gives them a voice, sharing their backgrounds and dreams, making their loss even more palpable. This focus ensures that the narrative doesn’t center entirely around Dahmer, as so many true crime stories tend to do.

Social Commentary: The book dives deep into the systemic failures—ranging from law enforcement negligence to the marginalization of specific communities. It critiques how race, class, and sexuality played a role in allowing Dahmer to evade suspicion for so long. This layer of commentary adds depth and makes it more than just a retelling of a serial killer’s life.

Psychological Exploration: The analysis of Dahmer’s psyche is chilling and fascinating. The book doesn’t excuse his actions but provides insights into his troubled upbringing and mental state, leaving readers grappling with questions of nature versus nurture.

Pacing and Tone: While the book is gripping, some sections feel overly detailed, bordering on sensationalism. The graphic descriptions, while necessary for understanding the gravity of the crimes, might be too much for some readers.

~Final Thoughts:

It’s raw, unflinching, and at times overwhelming, but it’s also a necessary exploration of the dangers of systemic negligence and societal apathy. It’s a difficult, heavy read, but for those who are passionate about true crime, social justice, and understanding the deeper implications of such cases, it’s a must-read. However, if you’re looking for a casual true crime book, this might not be the one for you due to its unrelenting intensity.It forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths and reflect on the fragility of justice. If you’re a fan of true crime books that delve beyond the surface, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is worth picking up. Just be prepared for an emotionally heavy read.

But be warned—it’s not for the faint of heart.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect much from this book. It was published in 1993, not very long after Dahmer's trial, and before he was killed in prison, so I figured it was one of those rush jobs written to capitalize upon the sensationalism of the case.

I was surprised, however, to find that it was actually a well-researched and well-written case study of not only Dahmer's crimes, but of his childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, his aberrant psychology and bizarre personality, and his motivations for his crimes. One can tell within about two pages that the author is obviously British, and perhaps that allows him a little more objectivity on the case.

Brian Masters, the author, also does a competent job of presenting Dahmer's human face, not just the repellent monster whose name inspires loathing to this day. Masters spent time at Dahmer's trial and reports on it faithfully. It's a fact often lost upon people that Dahmer was on trial not for the murders he committed (he confessed readily and pleaded guilty) but to present a case of insanity, which would determine if he would go to prison or a mental institution.

Ultimately he was found sane at the time he committed his murders and sent to prison. Insanity is a legal and not a medical term; I personally believe that it would have served the medical community well had Dahmer been sent to an institution and studied. Of all the professional and expert testimony at his trial, none could agree on exactly what the nature of Dahmer's mental instability was; there was no name or label they could attach to him. This is because there isn't one. Dahmer engaged in necrophilia, cannibalism, fetishism, and even attempted on at least two occasions to create "living zombies," but there is no record of sadism or a desire to inflict pain or suffering on his victims. He merely wished them to stay with him to alleviate his loneliness, and he lacked the social skills to develop a normal relationship. No one in the psychological community had ever before seen anyone like Dahmer, and the only label put forth at trial was "paraphilia," which is an umbrella term for pretty much any sort of sexual deviance.

The only real quibble I had with this book was the author's insistence at several points to "spare the reader" from the gruesome details of a particular murder committed by Dahmer. Listen; if I or anyone else is reading an otherwise detailed biography of one of America's most notorious serial killers, we probably aren't going to be put off by a few gory specifics.

Full disclosure, by the way: I'm a well-known serial killer buff, and Dahmer is my "favorite."

[Kelly Kosinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are no words. Such a sicko!!! I understand he was neglected as a child but that does not explain his absolute depravity.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though classing a book about a infamous, brutal serial killer as one of my 'favourite books' may cast me in a somewhat dubious light, I'm unashamed to say it's the truth. There is something gloriously chilling about Master's clear-cut writing, delving into Dahmer's past, his killings, crazed obsessions and his capture, culminating in his trial. There is no other book (apart from Master's other opus, Killing For Company, about the 'English Dahmer', Dennis Nilson) which fully displays, with unstoppable readability, the catastrophic downfall of a deranged monster, and does not fall into emotionalizing Dahmer to the reader (which would, of course, be a massive mistake). From childhood influences to his ultimate sentencing, this book gives an unbiased view into the mind and calculations of a serial killer, who himself called the majority of the deaths of his victims 'a side effect'.
To me, a follow-up to this book is the wonderfully startling faux-fictionalization of a Dahmer-esque character, 'Zombie' by Joyce Carol Oates.

[Stoic Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️I recently heard about Jeffrey Dahmer, but I had no prior knowledge of his actions. So, when his name was mentioned in the novel Providence by Craig Willse, which I read and enjoyed last month, I decided to learn more about his story.

With numerous books written about him, I impulsively chose "The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer" by Brian Masters, and oh boy, was I shocked and terrified in equal measure! 😲

There were times I had to stop reading because it was so acutely distressing, a total descent into unreason. Once, I was so engrossed in the book at a busy café that when my order arrived, I was startled and felt like I was the only one there.

Brian Masters masterfully traces Dahmer's life, from his isolated childhood to the time of his first murder, and the chilling series of murders that eventually led to his capture. In the end, Dahmer was brought to trial and sentenced to 999 years of imprisonment.

This book prompted deep reflection on the dark facets of human nature, our capacity for behavior so egregious it defies comprehension, and the profound impact of mental illness.

It raises critical questions about control and accountability, the effects of trauma on our mental and emotional well-being, and the complex interplay between insanity and sanity within our legal and psychological systems. Masters' exploration offers a compelling, though unsettling, glimpse into the human psyche and the societal forces that shape it. 👊✨️

[Kavita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written a year after Dahmer's trial, Masters conveys an impression of freshness to The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer. The book delves deep into the family life of Dahmer and explores his relationships with his parents, relatives, and friends. It follows Dahmer's gradual isolation from the community and his growing loneliness. Masters collaborated with Lionel Dahmer and his wife as well as with Gerald Boyle, defence attorney in the case, so the narrative is pretty detailed.

Masters also is not shy in analysing the details and giving his own opinions on events. To be honest, I am not sure how qualified he is to do so, but some of the things he points out seem credible enough. The one main thing that stood out as not so sensible is his theory that Dahmer's double hernia operation in childhood led to his becoming a sociopath killer and a cannibal. This makes no sense and there are no credible sources I could find that such a thing has ever happened before. Masters does waffle on at times about random stuff that he thinks is relevant but I didn't really find them to be.

I did agree with him about one thing though. Despite what the American legal system claims, a man who kills random people because he is lonely and then eviscerates them and eats their organs is at least a slight bit mental. I should think he was stark raving mad. I don't really think anyone who had a choice in this matter would choose to do so because "he gave in" or some shit like that. This is not to say that people like Dahmer should not be kept safely away from the general public for the greater good but to say that he is not insane is simply ridiculous.

One thing I genuinely appreciated about Masters is his empathy to all concerned parties, including the killer himself. His goal seems to try to understand the working of Dahmer's mind more than anything else. He makes what I think are faulty assumptions in some cases, but I like that Masters tried instead of giving in to the temptation to simply say Dahmer is evil and that's that.

The crimes are horrifying and I often wonder when we are going to take mental health more seriously around the world? Also horrifying is how two white policemen led a Laotian young man to his death merely because Dahmer was white.

The book had largely interesting sections but I think it got a bit repetitive with the gruesome bits. Also, the trial just dragged on and on as did Master's long exposition on the theory of control. That whole chapter was just not necessary for understanding this tragedy. I think the book would have done much better with tighter editing. But it's still a good and empathic read about Dahmer's very unique case.

[Bryn D · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the very best book on any one specific serial killer I've ever read! This is book is extremely graphic in details regarding the Jeffrey Dahmer murders, but it's necessary to fully grasp how utterly insane he was. The author is English and is an amazing writer who delves into multiple subjects regarding Dahmer's influences, psychology and criminal pathology, philosophical concepts regarding good and evil throughout history, etc. It's really an awesome read. It's not like a typical Ann Rule true crime book nor a "profiler book" but really a journey into good and evil, mental illness vs. personality disorders, etc. I can't praise this book enough. After reading I understood how completely different Dahmer was from other killers such as Ted Bundy. They both struggled with an intense compulsion to kill and there are several arguments and ideas reagarding the "origin" of compulsion, but it was obvious that Dahmer was almost a pitiful person who was downright sick whereas Bundy was psychopath, big difference. Psychopaths don't suffer from a mental illness, it's a personality disorder unlike Dahmer, who was virtually deranged when he was in his prime. Enough said, best Dahmer book period, most thorough and articulate true crime book I've ever read.

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 4 out of 5]

It never fails to blow my mind how horribly human beings can treat one another. I just don’t understand it and I don’t think I ever will. This case is so far beyond horrifying, I can’t even put it into words. The more I learn about Jeffrey Dahmer the more horrified I get, the man truly was a monster. It will never fail to baffle me how he had so many close calls with the law before actually getting caught, it’s just fucking mind blowing. The author did a good job of covering Dahmer’s descent into madness, we really got the whole story from beginning to end and some gruesome details about the case I had never heard before. My only minor complaint is that once it got to the trials it was a bit repetitive. Hearing about the horrors the men endured at Dahmer’s hand once was enough, it didn’t need to be rehashed in the trial portion of the story.

[Macy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Far more comfortable it is to point a finger and declare a devil than to call upon one’s own imagination and search into Jeffrey Dahmer’s world. This is because one’s imagination is a reflection of oneself, and even to admit that one may know Dahmer’s world is to acknowledge his similarity to ourselves, instead of harping on his difference… It is fear which lies behind this timidity, the fear of looking at a part of the human condition that is not only frightening, but shared (Masters).”

This book took me a long time to read, and not because it was dull or unimportant. Dahmer’s story, particularly as told by Masters, has elicited weeks of self reflection and unanswerable psychological and moral questions. I found myself pausing at the heaviness of the crimes, the gravity of their implications, but also the question of control and mental illness compelling these behaviors. Does premeditation indicate soundness of mind? Or perhaps the existence of these desires in the first place speaks of extreme mental illness and lack of awareness for right and wrong. This work bravely sheds light on a sick and broken man, failed by society and entirely alone. And while this state does not absolve Dahmer from guilt, it does invoke feelings of sympathy and regret. This is the most profound and thought-provoking true crime book I have read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who seeks to understand the darkness.

[Sarah (is clearing her shelves) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and horrifyingly detailed full accounting of Jeffrey Dahmer's crimes. Very depressing that one of his later victims was the brother of one of the few who managed to escape (through good luck, not good management). The movie My Friend Dahmer is a good companion movie, telling the story of Dahmer's days in high school from a different point of view.

[Gabriela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly fantastic. I totally recommend it (along with Lionel Dahmer's A Father's Story), it talks about Dahmer's crimes but also gives an analysis about his actions that are interesting and educational, and in my opinion, mental health experts should investigate further into Dahmer's personality and behaviour.

[Hal Bodner · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a grueling and annoyingly pretentious read this was!

I had hoped for a decent expose of the Dahmer case, perhaps containing some new valid insights, written by someone who was able to interview the various parties involved. Instead, Brian Masters' book is a never-ending stream of psychobabble, combined with the author's criticism of everyone from the psychologist witnesses at the trial, to law enforcement, to the American justice system, all accompanied by the strong implication that Masters "knows better."

Forget the precious literary allusions, the rather lengthy pages which discourse lyrically and needlessly on the Dionysian aspects of the case. Forget the extensive quote from the play "Equus". Forget the fact that Masters (an Englishman) seems to find the American judicial system barbaric, its judges incompetent and its lawyers arbitrary. Much of the portion of the book dealing with the trial is in the form of Masters' harsh criticisms of the judge's rulings and the attorneys' conduct. The balance of those passages seem naught but Masters' flaunting his own acumen above that of the mental health professional who testified.

Masters, you see, has a theory -- a theory that, according to him, would have shed far greater light on the Dahmer proceedings if ONLY his colleagues in the mental health field had seen what was, to Masters, abundantly clear. Apparently, Dahmer had a very painful hernia operation as a child and, throughout the book, Masters hoists this event as his own personal "Ah HA! moment" which, he implies, explains much of what makes Dahmer tick.

Masters also seems to focus on the cannibalistic acts, albeit briefly, as affecting causation. However, the author's stress on cultural and historic aspects of cannibalism from an anthropological point of view are disproportionately lengthy in comparison to how he applies them to the Dahmer case. While Masters' research into this phenomena may have been intense and thorough, it struck me as an attempt to impress the reader with the author's vast knowledge of the subject and, for me, it was hardly worth the effort of reading.

I found nothing innovative about the the Dahmer case in my reading of this book. Though the work does not go so far as to become a case of what I often call "crackpot" psychology, it certainly seeks to over-simplify the case for what seems to be the author's self aggrandisement.

If you are a psychologist, or interested in such things, you may think that this book and Masters' theories interesting. As for me, I found most of the book to be egoistic and boring. In spite of the impressive blurbs on the cover from such as Patricia Highsmith, I cannot recommend it.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one gave a lot more of the details of Dahmer's life than other books, and more from the lives of his victims. This book also told me WHOSE sister (Errol Lindsey's) blew her stack at him during her victim's impact statement. It was interesting to read this one partly because the author is a Brit and does not hold back his disparaging comments about the way the American legal system works. I had to laugh at the points he got wrong, for instance when he said Dahmer watched THE EXORCIST 2: THE HERETIC over and over (it was #3, not #2). (Watch both those movies to see why that's a funny mistake to make.) Ultimately, he makes clear that he feels Dahmer was mentally ill but he does not base his argument on much of anything except 'res ipsa loquitur' ("look what he did -- he MUST be crazy"), an argument he himself calls fallacious. He came so close to getting it right, but missed the boat when he called Dahmer "almost autistic."

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not going to lie...didn't get much sleep last night. -_-

Despite the horrifying subject matter I do consider this a good book. It succeeded in humanizing Dahmer in a way I did not expect at all. Having recently listened to a podcast detailing his crimes and eventual capture by the police I was interested in reading more on this (perhaps in an effort to understand how anyone could be capable of such depravity).

The book delves into his early childhood, adolescence, his decent into madness and finally, his capture and the subsequent trial. I found the author a bit verbose at times when dealing with the pshycology of Dahmer and I found my attention drifting but it wasn't to such an extent as to put me off completely.

I would reccommend this book to true crime buffs (although I am sure that many of them would have read this book already).

[Kathryn_w_221185 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most people I had heard of Jeffrey Dahmer and the crime that he had committed. But this book is more than that. It looks at his childhood, his psychology and at possibly why he did the things that he did.

Brian Masters doesn't condone what he did, he tells it how it was in a concise easy to follow way.

If you read true crime I would recommend this (not for the faint hearted though!)

[Chrissey · Rating 5 out of 5]

i've been "studying" Jeffrey Dahmer since i was about 10 yrs old. i'm always interested in finding out what exactly went wrong in his life and this is the perfect book to do it.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives a reasonable account of the main events in the life of Jeffrey Dahmer, up to his conviction in 1993. I enjoyed the first 200 or so pages, despite the rather extravagant use of language and numerous literary references, which occasionally made it feel like an academic paper. Many of the references felt like they were shoe-horned in to fit the author's agenda or demonstrate how well read he is, without adding anything of value to the reader.

The final section of the book, which covers the trial, was very disappointing. It was very biased, and rather than providing a balanced account of the trial, it concentrated on a lot of aspects of why the author felt the trial was flawed. I have read a little about Brian Masters, and he is neither a psychologist nor a legal expert, yet he would claim to know better than numerous highly distinguished persons within those fields, by using his hindsight and opinions to point out what he considers to have been faults in the trial process.

This final section of the book is also very heavily laden with psychological language and theories making it quite hard to read for somebody with limited knowledge of the subject.

I have read a lot of books about true crime, and generally the authors have some insight or access to an aspect of the subject matter which makes their book stand out from other books retelling the story.
Masters did not speak to Dahmer, and only appears to have briefly spoken to a few peripheral characters. He does not appear to be in a strong position to back up his opinions on the case.

[Laura K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did like this book, even though it took me five months to finish it. The length of time to finish it is intricately tied to the reason I enjoyed and appreciated the book so much: humanization. Masters humanizes a man who has been thoroughly demonized in our culture. He hands his back his humanity through the close attention paid to Dahmer's quality of life and mental state. The man was psychologically tortured and could not make the pain stop. Reading about his pain and desperation, his utter hatred of himself, made the content fascinating, horrifying, and deeply saddening. I have read several true crime novels, but this was the only one where the subject seemed human. I highly recommend it.

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

on Saturday, September 22, 2007 I wrote:

Well I have already read it and yes I am not disappointed.
Brian Master is a wonderful author.
I also owe another book written by him called Killing for Company, which is also about a guy murdering (and slaughtering other men and both Dennis Nilsen and Jeffrey Dahmer seem to have lots of similarities)

Brian Master is very good at writing about the emotional state of Dahmer, more into the psychology stuff. Was he sane when he committed those crimes? This made this book a very interesting read.

[Beccy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The BEST book to read about Jeffrey Dahmer! From his childhood to his arrest, this book has it all. Although it’s not an easy read, giving what happened, it’s fascinating to learn about someone whose name is synonymous with evil, yet was actually very normal and like the average person. Couldn’t recommend it enough if you want to research about him.

[Aseel Ibrahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-researched, well-documented, with very interesting philosophical and psychological insights. It was a really enjoyable read. I would love to read more of Masters' work, especially his biography of Dennis Nilsen.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible insight into the psychology behind one of the most depraved serial killers in history! Informative and well explained, this book has a real shot at changing your entire perspective on the case of the infamous Jeffrey Dahmer.

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fill for the Popsugar 2018 Reading Challenge - True Crime

Dahmer was obviously a very disturbed individual, more than likely insane. The depiction of his crimes are horrific. This book is very detailed and goes from a young age of Dahmer to his trial, it was written before he died.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Masters provides a compelling case study of a destructive man overcome by his own macabre passions. This is unlike any other true crime book out there. You are immersed neck deep into the life of a madman as Masters goes into full depth of the details and insight of how one man could have so many problems. He recounts every significant element that eventually connects in the intricate puzzle of the mind of a necrophile and schizophrenic murderer.

Master’s starts from the very beginning as he covers the early trauma, childhood experiences and other influences that played as the components that eventually created the horrific imagination and impulses of Jeffrey Dahmer. This deep analysis encourages the reader to consider additional aspects of his obscure personality and cautiously suggests to imagine oneself in the shoes of Dahmer in an attempt to understand such complexities and, at best, humanize him. This book is genuinely fascinating as Masters not only accurately covers Dahmer’s crimes but investigates the psychology of a killer. Masters’ portrayal of Dahmer’s derangement and every evidence of his corruption being ignored before his final arrest is bone chilling.

You will have to pace yourself through this book for it is not an easy read. The author does not hold back with the gruesome details and overload of psychiatric analyzation as he delves into Dahmer’s state of mind. Of this subject, a vast portion of this book covers the biggest argument of Dahmer's trial, what defines insanity? Master’s questions if the killer truly had control of his impulses and an emotional understanding of his behavior. Masters is able to logically articulate that there is something deeply wrong with Jeffrey Dahmer but the execution of his heinous acts does not define him as truly insane, rather so, immoral and lacking a conscious.

[Rose Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much more interesting than I thought it would be! It was very hard to read about the crimes in this book and the author doesn't spare any details, not out of a callous view of the victims but because this book is more like a case study of the insanity defense for criminals such as serial killers, or more accurately, mainly for criminals such as serial killers of the most deranged degree, such as Dahmer, Ed Gein, etc. I don't agree with every little thought the author has, but he seriously made me think about what is the insanity defense and how calling someone such as Dahmer a monster is a way out, a cowardly one. As much as we don't want to admit it, these people are human as well. What they do is, unfortunately, human, not monstrous. Or human yet monstrous? I don't even want to say it's not monstrous, that's how much I wish people like Dahmer weren't human. Above all, this book made me realize some really weird aspects of the American court system and just how depraved the killer called Jeffrey Dahmer was.

[Sully Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book exceeded my expectations. You'll be submerge in a fascinating, chilling, and emotional journey. From Jeffrey's childhood, his fantasies- and when they started, his struggles, his killings and eventually his trial. Masters was insightful, and thorough. Be prepare to debate whether Jeffrey was completely responsible of his crimes, or if he was insane. You'll read facts and psychological points and analysis that sustain both.

"One must not confuse what is sick with what is sickening"

.. Masters adds references of Wendigo, primitive cultures, and religion. All on which add some "explanation"???
Find out for yourself!
If you are looking for a factual and hard-to-put-down book about Dahmer's life and crimes, this is it.

[sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been interested in this case for years now so I’ve gained quite a lot of knowledge before reading this book. After finishing it, I have to admit that I got a much deeper understanding of Jeffrey Dahmer and the whole case itself.

This book goes all the way from his childhood to the trials. It’s extremely informative but also very well written. In my opinion there weren’t really any dry or boring pages because somehow every little detail played a huge role in understanding his motives.

I am not a big fan of people portraying serial killers as simple monsters and creatures, saying they kill because they have an evil nature, etc. There’s always so much more to it and this book really served it’s purpose - Education. Portraying both, the killer and the victim as humans.

I recommend this to everyone who has a passion for true crime and is willing to really invest some time to reflect on Jeffrey Dahmers development.

[Eleana · Rating 5 out of 5]

while describing the most monstrous crimes in history, this book spares no detail of every single possible instance that could have contributed to Dahmer’s deterioration, as well as — my favourite part — analysing the motivations, blunders and perception of each figure in his trial. every sentence reveals a new face of the subtleties and imperfections in human psychology and the justice system, all with absolutely beautifully written prose, if such a thing could ever be said about the subject matter.

[storm Stellato · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the most interesting source I have consulted about Dahmer, especially the last chapters addressing the trial, psychological aspects and the different approaches of the experts called to weigh in. I wish there were more books like this.

[Deeksha]

I started this because I was intrigued. This was brutal and obviously traumatizing.
It gives the reader the details of Jeffrey's life and why and how he proceeded to do what he did. I liked how both the views from the prosecution and the defense are kept. But to prove he was not mentally sick and chose to do something like this is what I totally don't understand or would believe.
It was like reading a documentary. I was dragging through this.
I can't rate something like this.