GRILLING DAHMER: The Interrogation Of "The Milwaukee Cannibal"

by Patrick Kennedy, Robyn Maharaj

In the late hours of July 22, 1991, Detective Patrick "Pat" Kennedy of the Milwaukee Police Department was asked to respond to a possible homicide. Little did he know that he would soon be delving into the dark mind of one of America's most notorious serial killers, the "Milwaukee Cannibal" Jeffrey Dahmer.

As the media clamored for details, Kennedy spent the next six weeks, sixteen hours a day, locked in an interrogation room with Dahmer. There the 31-year-old killer described in lurid detail how he lured seventeen young men to his apartment where he strangled, sexually assaulted, dismembered, and in some cases, cannibalized his victims.

In GRILLING DAHMER: The Interrogation of "The Milwaukee Cannibal" the reader is taken on a horrifying tour into the mind of evil as Kennedy patiently, meticulously, listened to unspeakable horrors so that a monster would be taken off the streets forever.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Psychology, Audiobook, Serial Killer, History

334 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 29, 2021

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.

Reviews

[MadameD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story 5/5
Narration 5/5

This book is the most interesting one about Jeffrey Dahmer, in my opinion.
I highly recommend it.

["Avonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

GRILLING DAHMER: The Interrogation of “The Milwaukee Cannibal” by Patrick Kennedy & Robyn Maharaj is an intense true crime book featuring the manuscript written by one of the detectives who “befriended” Dahmer, Patrick Kennedy to not only obtain his confession, but to identify his victims from his years as a serial killer. Ms. Maharaj was working with Mr. Kennedy, before his unexpected death, to bring this manuscript to the public.

In July of 1991, Homicide Detective Patrick “Pat” Kennedy responded to a possible homicide. It was the apartment of Jeffrey Dahmer. Pat was able to build a rapport with Dahmer that lasted through his confession, identification of his victims over several weeks and the length of his trial.

The majority of this book is Mr. Kennedy’s manuscript and then Ms. Maharaj wraps up any loose ends in the final chapters. This is a fascinating look at a man who was able to treat Jeffrey Dahmer as a human being and at times sympathize with him even as he discovered all his horrific secrets. The events depicted are graphic and difficult to read at times, but at the same time I could not stop. My personal problems with the book were that portions of the interrogation were repeated several times and became redundant and some of Mr. Kennedy’s personal life during this time is included and seems more filler than in depth look at what he must have been personally experiencing at the time. Otherwise, this story is an amazing look at this serial killer’s mind told from a unique firsthand perspective.

I highly recommend this true crime story of Jeffrey Dahmer!

[Linda Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most everyone knows the story of the Milwaukee Cannibal, Jeffrey Dahmer. He is considered one of America's most notorious serial killers.

This story centers on Detective Patrick "Pat" Kennedy who spend more time with Dahmer than anyone. He spent six weeks working with Dahmer for minimum of 16 hours a day. Detective Kennedy was chosen to be Dahmer's interrogator because of his calm manner, his ability to be patient and his winning way with people, in general. At 6 feet, 8 inches, 275 pounds, not too many would want to tackle him in any way.

Kennedy endured day after day, hour after hour of Dahmer remembering each and every one of his victims. He described in lurid detail what he did, when, and how ... and most importantly, why and how he felt.

It's a terrifying journey through Dahmer's evil mind and how Kennedy managed to sleep at night is beyond my comprehension.

This is not an easy book to read. It is well-written, researched, and put together to help understand Dahmer's mind. May his victims rest in peace, and may their families and friends have found some kind of closure. Patrick Kennedy, before his unexpected death, and Robyn Maharah worked diligently to bring this alternate look at Jeffrey Dahmer.

Many thanks to the authors / Wild Blue Press / for the digital copy of this biography of a serial killer. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a brilliant true crime book. I wanted to know details of Dahmer's life, the murders he committed, and how he felt about his victims. Wow, did I get all that in spades.
Be warned, this is EXTREMELY graphic in describing Dahmer's murders so I advise good mental preparation before reading! I could only read this book in small amounts, and definitely not before bedtime!
I couldn't say I 'enjoyed' this book, but it delivered on everything I wanted and expected. A fascinating insight into his life and his attitude towards his victims.
One of the best true crime books I have read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating look at the inside story of Jeffrey Dahmer’s interrogation. It’s written by the detective who was there and got him to open up about all of his killings. I’ve read lots of books on Dahmer, but this was a different angle on the story that I very much enjoyed. It is well written and good true crime, especially if the subject interests you.

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grilling Dahmer.
A Definitive And Firm Conclusion That Cannot Be Questioned.
Anyone over the age of 30 and those who read true crime all know who Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer was and know the atrocities he committed against young men and boys in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. Whenever I read books about Jeffrey Dahmer, I always learn something new.

Anyway, back to the book! This is yet another great read that’s really hard to put down. It's an insightful and graphically detailed account of one of the most horrific serial killers. In fact, while reading Patrick Kennedy’s book I just had to keep turning the pages as Patrick covers this horrific story in a professionally written and informative way.

Not necessarily because it's all that enjoyable in any way, shape, or form, to delve a little too deeply into the mind of such a murderous man, but because I sincerely believe that most people are fascinated in one way or another by serial killers. Perhaps it’s the human morbid fascination with death. I’m not exactly sure. However, maybe it just astounds the average person as to how depraved another individual can be.

Even if you are a seasoned campaigner of true crime Jeffrey Dahmer story is A Terrifying True Story of Rape, Murder & Cannibalism, and this book will surely raise more than a few hairs on the back of your neck. It was an exceptionally fascinating read, and the author gave a perspective to these horrific crimes that was both fascinating, intriguing, and new to me. This was one of the better true crime books that I have read recently on Jeffrey Dahmer, and I would highly recommend this read to all fans of the true crime genre. I’m also now a big fan of Patrick Kennedy and Author Robyn Maharaj so it’s another 5 Stars from me. Well done again!
I received an advance review copy for free from Wildblue Press and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[dukeofdelirium · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Trying to comprehend Dahmer is to attempt to understand the power of loneliness and alienation at its absolute core.”

I already knew a great deal about Dahmer, but the insight specifically provided by detective Kennedy whom interviewed Dahmer when he was apprehended was still appreciated, though I already knew all of the facts of the case. I didn’t necessarily gain new knowledge about the case, but I did still enjoy reading his account of interactions with Dahmer and his opinions of this serial killer. I did not care much for the additional writing of Robyn, and found her really just rambling opinions despite not really being useful in doing so considering she had zero interaction with Dahmer. It felt like she was really just inserting her opinions and while reading it, I was thinking like… I did not ask. I only bought the book for Patrick Kennedy’s firsthand accounts, so I’d say it’s worth reading if interested purely for what he has to say. Other than that, you can really skip the rest, which is around 3 whole chapters of the book, or around anywhere from 30-50 pages of rambling from Robyn Maharaj who didn’t even have a role within said case and only offers her own opinions, which is the equivalent of just asking any random person on the street their opinion of the case. In other words, it means fuck all to me.

I technically give this like a 3.5

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deep delve into the capture and interrogation of the notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Written by the lead detective charged with building a bond with Dahmer amid his lengthy confessions, this account is as shocking as it is fascinating.
Using direct quotes and statements from Dahmer, the author describes how he was first introduced to the case and of the many hours spent 1-1 to gain as much information as possible. The evidence was crucial during the court phase, and instrumental during sentencing.

Sadly, the author passed away before his book could be published, however his work lives on. The epilogue is a somewhat lengthy summary of the psychopathology of Dahmer, his diagnoses and an overall look at what may have contributed to his crimes. An ideal pick for true crime readers.

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

This is one of the best books I've ever read on Jeffrey Dahmer. It's an amazing read that left me with only one question that I'd love the author to answer. Dahmer admitted he didn't get to know his victims because if he did, he wouldn't be able to go through with the killing. He even let one guy go simply because he got to know him. But, he meets one guy in Chicago, brings him back to his apartment and relayed he had the best weekend ever with this guy, they went out, did things together and even thought this guy could be the one man he could have a normal relationship with. But, when the guy said he had to go to work, Dahmer thought, well, guess I'll have to kill him to keep him with me. Why did he go through with that murder? He'd gotten to know the guy well. So, how can that dichotomy be explained?

The behavior of Dahmer, explained very well in this book, makes it a must read for those fascinated with the psyche of serial killers.

[britt_brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most disturbing books I’ve ever read. It was also excellent. This was the start of a recent deep dive into Dahmer. I’m not going to fully review all the books, but this was the best. This contains very explicit descriptions of his behaviors and crimes, in his own words. It’s very upsetting.

[Ceri Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly I have read many true crime books including plenty about Jeffrey Dahmer and this is hands down the best book on this particular serial killer I have read. I loved how it was written in the form of conversations. It was so descriptive that I could completely imagine myself sitting in the interrogation room across from dahmer. The rapport built between Kennedy and Dahmer was impressive, the way he got him to trust him from the beginning and illicit a full confession through to how they identified all the victims. It did start to make me feel slightly sorry for JD as a completely lost individual with obvious mental health issues as they delved into the reasons behind the killings and what JD thought of himself as a person. I couldn’t put this book down pausing only to sleep as I fell asleep while reading it! It captivated and kept my attention from the very 1st chapter and it’s for this reason plus the immensely detail way the book was presented that I’ve given it a well deserved 5 star rating!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure how this was going to go. I honestly expected this to be poorly written due to an excerpt I saw of it online. However, I was very pleasantly surprised by how well this read. I wish I would have read this and then watched the Netflix series with Evan Peters instead of the other way around. I found this to be highly informative (I couldn’t stop telling my husband about it) while reading like a fiction novel; the perfect and necessary combination for any nonfiction, in my opinion. I really cannot put into concise words why this was so outstanding (this book deserves a lengthy conversation), just know that it is. As a fair warning, though, this is most definitely not for the faint of heart, which anyone picking up a Dahmer book should already know. His crimes are well-detailed and included a lot of information the show left out.
BUT if you want to know the real story, then this is absolutely the book for you.

[Raghav · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last few years have seen true crime emerge as a bona fide genre in the literary and movie world. While it has always been a hot topic, and there are many a classic that tackles true crime, the genre’s popularity is at an all-time high right now.

Grilling Dahmer is the inside scoop on one of the most notorious serial killers ever known and caught. Written by Patrick Kennedy in association with Robyn Maharaj, the book primarily focuses on Dahmer’s initial interrogation, which was done by Patrick Kennedy. As a result, the story about Dahmer’s arrest and his interviews are as accurate and factual as they can possibly get.

The most interesting aspect of the book is that it refrains from sensationalizing Dahmer’s killings. That is not to say that the content is not descriptive. As a reader, I had to try hard not to picture Dahmer’s atrocities on his 17 victims. However, Kennedy focuses more on Dahmer, his personality and humanizes him in this process. To get complete information from Dahmer, he almost befriends him, striking up a rapport that helps track down the identities of all the victims.

Grilling Dahmer is also a psychological insight into an unusual personality. Dahmer, as we find out, isn’t like most serial killers. He’s quiet, quick to share information that the detectives ask, and is not interested in fame. His progression into a stone-cold killer and the reason behind the killings is a character study that many will find fascinating.

The book reads well and is easy to understand. It is, unfortunately, repetitive. While I understand the need for the detectives to ask Dahmer questions again and again about individual killings, for the reader, these repeat details are tedious.

Nevertheless, the book presents a well-rounded depiction of the entire Jeffery Dahmer case, from his background, important moments in his life, and the unfolding of his acts to the court hearings and Dahmer’s murder while in prison.

Moreover, the book is as much about Kennedy as it is about Dahmer. The author not only shares information about interviewing the serial killer but also his feelings about Dahmer and select instances from his own personal life.

Having known just the basics of the Dahmer case, Grilling Dahmer proved to be an eye-opener. It’s a book that will appeal to both psychology and true crime enthusiasts.

Note: I received an advance review copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[DancingMarshmallow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall: 4.5 stars

This is a fantastic, in-depth retelling of Jeffrey Dahmer's initial interrogation by police, in which he confessed to 17 murders in surprisingly frank detail. This book is really a mash-up of two: the first is a memoir by detective Patrick Kennedy, who interrogated Dahmer and the second is an analysis by author Robyn Maharaj. I'm deducting .5 stars from my review for the concluding chapter by Maharaj - which isn't objectively bad by any means, just unnecessary. Maharaj sums up everything the rest of the book went over, and besides some details like what happened to Kennedy after the original 1994 writing date of his memoir, it's just a rehash of things the first book already told you. I think the overall publication would have been stronger had Maharaj shortened her chapter significantly to just tell you things Kennedy didn't cover or share original analysis of her own.

Still, in general, this is an outstanding work of true crime and probably a must-read for anyone particularly interested in serial killers. As someone who finds the interrogation process fascinating, I was absolutely hooked on the blow-by-blow coverage of the confession in this book. Dahmer talked a lot more and a lot more honestly and openly than like 99% of serial killers, so it's just so interesting to see those conversations unfold - if you're the kind of true crime nerd who enjoys the psychology bits.

I think this is a great book for the right audience, but a definite "nope" for everyone else. Make sure you know what you're getting into and maybe know something about Dahmer beforehand.

Content Warning: Dahmer's crimes are SUPER HORRIFYING AND GROSS. Don't venture into this book unless you have a strong stomach.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting and exciting!

The crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer shocked an entire nation. What started as a simple investigation into a head in a refrigerator, morphed into one of the worst serial killers the United States had seen at that time.
Patrick Kennedy, the detective assigned the case, did more to get Dahmer to cooperate than most. He sat down and treated him as a human being, not just a suspect in an investigation. While he never forgot that Dahmer had more information to offer, he did his best to put the young man at ease, earning his trust, and getting the murderer to open up to him about the many crimes that he had committed.
In "Grilling Dahmer" the many interrogations and thoughts of the detective are laid out. Additionally, you are going to get some of the comments from Dahmer himself, and the eventual circus that would become the court case.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting to get the impressions of the detective, as well as the many different areas of the crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer. I have long been familiar with Dahmer, but the inner tickings of what made him go off was something that I didn't know. While reading through this book, there were several times I had to stop and go "OH! That makes sense now!"

If you love true crime, you are going to LOVE this book!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

While most certainly more insightful and truthful than the recent Netflix series (which simply fabricated events that never occurred), this book is a difficult read given the details of his crimes. It lost a star for being unnecessarily repetitive; I feel they could have honored Pat Kennedy's manuscript while editing out the dozen times he mentions walking Dahmer back to county lockup and filing daily reports. This book does honor Pat Kennedy's amazing work and his continued efforts at law enforcement reform after the Dahmer case.

[Todd Nesbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Insight of Dahmer

Really insightful on Dahmer's personality and demeanor as a killer but also as a human being. It displays an important voice on on the dangers of extreme isolation and self loathing. Not saying its the only cause but shows how the human mind can go to very dark places without any social or human contact to speak of (except his victims of course). Good background information as well. Good read for true crime buffs.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to have a casual knowledge of the crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer, read a Wikipedia entry. If you want to know exactly what Dahmer’s crimes entailed and what he did to his victims, this is your book. It was written by Dahmer’s chief interrogator. Be forewarned, this is gory. Very gory. It does provide a well-written narrative of the arc between Dahmer’s capture and trial, and the source is credible. A great true crime book. You won’t be able to unread this one.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always been fascinated with Dahmer and I really felt like I got a better understanding of him. But I do have to say I found something really annoying about the detective that interviewed him. I think i would have enjoyed it more if all of his personal thoughts and actions where not in the book or if someone else had been the one to interview him.

[Michelle Alessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Not easy to read. Definitely well written. Im glad I read Lionel Dahmer’s book to go with this but should have read this first, then A Father’s Story. I appreciated the psychology behind it, which was more towards the end. Rip to all victims and Detective Pat.

[Fernanda Ailup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giving it four stars because I didn't really read the last part, though I tried to, because it seemed like a resume of what i just read but with less information, I really only cared about Patt's testimony, which was great.
Thank you Pat, for trying to understand the human side, and being the reason we have a full confession from this man. May you rest in peace.

[Stacy Crook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unexpected look into the mind of a serial killer. While it was intensely graphic, it was easy to read. It portrayed a side no one would have imagined and addressed mental illness vs. pure evil. Something to think about for sure

[Mkittysamom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Kennedy was an amazing person! I am humbled by his spirit and his passion for community! I can’t believe all of the amazing things he’s done and it is partly his story too. It was nice to actually read a respectful honest description of his interrogation.

[Michelle Willms · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best Ranked books I have read

I thoroughly enjoyed this work written by the primary detective in the Jeffrey Danger case. It was professional, detailed, and exceptionally well-written. I was annoyed, however, when the co-author felt the need to insult the reader by rehashing the entire case in minute detail after Patrick Kennedy had very beautifully covered it already. The recap was unnecessary and a waste of space and time.

[Linda Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are like true crime stories, and you want to know what is going on on their head, then this is the book for you!

Meet Detectives Pat Kennedy and Murphy. They spent many weeks talking with Dahmer. Not just about his horrendous crimes, but also about everyday life. They see the human side of him, along with the monster that was inside him.

Dahmer cooperated with them to help identify all his victims, going through hundreds of missing persons who was reported missing around the the time of each murder he did.

I'm not saying that he is a good person, and I do think he got what he deserved in prison.

I gave it only 4 stars because the last quarter of the book kind of boring, where everyone gives their opinions on him and why he did it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read about one of the most horrifying serial killers in the modern day. The book is a quick read and you will find this hard to put down. The first hand accounts and personal interviews makes this a must read for all true crime fans.
Reading this at night will keep you up!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have watched and read everything I could on Jeffrey Dahmer when it first happened, but I have never read the interview. I guess it’s true when they say you learn something new every day, because I thought I knew everything there was to know about Jeffrey Dahmer but I was wrong. If you love true crime this is a great addition to your library. The inner workings of what makes people do what they do is always fascinating and this is definitely a deeper glimpse into the cannibals mind. I received this book from Books sirens, but I am leaving this review totally voluntarily.

[Ron Baumer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! The story is gripping and really well done. The personal accounts by the detectives involved in the interrogation really added to he story. This is a great true crime book and a use read for all.

[Mary Lou]

Strange. He grew up lonely and alone and made poor choices. What a difference just one caring adult may have made.

[Krystal McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing look into Dahmers mind. Interesting to hear from a firsthand perspective.