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The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: An American Nightmare
They smelled the foul odors. They heard the power saw buzzing in the dead of night but neighbors never imagined the horrors happening right next door. The hot sultry night of July 22, 1991 was one the tenants of the Oxford Apartments would never forget. A panic stcricken young man--a pair of handcuffs still dangling from his wrists--ran out of Apartment 213 and told police an incredible tale of terror. Shaking with fear, he led officers back to his captor's lair, where they made the gruesome discovery. Inside were the body parts of at least fifteen men--including torsos stuffed into a barrel, severed heads in a refrigerator, and skulls boiled clean and stashed in a filing cabinet. Tacked to the freezer were Poloroid photographs of mutilated corpses. When investigators arrested 31-year-old Jeffrey Dahmer, they realized they had stumbled onto a "real-life Hannibal Lecter"--a sadistic murderer who told them he had saved a human heart "to eat later". What could turn a handsome, former tennis player, the son of middle-class parents, into a perverse serial killer whose unthinkable acts shocked the nation? The Jeffrey Dahmer Story takes you into Jeffrey Dahmer's twisted world of bizarre sexual encounters, mutilation and cannibalism--in one of history's most appalling true crime cases. With 8 pages of chilling photographs.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 15, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
May 3, 2009
The original title, The Milwaukee Murders, fit this book better than the more generic, more ubiquitous The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: An American Nightmare. This is because writer Don Davis goes into great unnecessarily graphic detail about the geography of Wisconsin. The reader is, in fact, given an impromptu history lesson regarding the German origins of Milwaukee, placing emphasis on the beer-based economy thereof.
While it can be said that Jeffrey Dahmer was an alcoholic, having been discharged from the army for his potable indiscretions, the focus on this does come across as exceptionally superficial - filler for a book that would otherwise have been significantly stunted. Several chapters are devoted to the geography and history of the area, rattling off factoids and statistics for upwards of eight pages in certain passages of the book.
Too, various trite phrasings apparently intended to enhance suspense fall flat, almost abrasive in their blatant sensationalism. In one particularly absurd entry, Davis describes the apprehension experienced by a former fellow soldier stationed in Dahmer's battalion in Germany, "realizing that when Dahmer had looked at him in that small barracks room, he could have been visualizing dinner." This immediately follows Davis' derision of a German publication's headline which "left absolutely nothing to the imagination."
In this, its third printing (the first after the death of Dahmer himself), Davis includes a new chapter on the case of the homosexual necrophiliac who ran into a dead end of a different sort in a prison restroom, at the hands of a violent fellow prisoner. The chapters leading up to this final sequence of events clearly had not been edited to reflect this turn of events (referring to Dahmer as if he were, indeed, still alive at press time), and this subtle neglect reflects harshly on the book as well.
Not a challenging biography so much as an exploitative attempt to cash in on the infamy of a name, The Jeffrey Dahmer Story provides little by way of insight moreso than as an outsider's recanting of known elements in the highly-publicized case.
While it can be said that Jeffrey Dahmer was an alcoholic, having been discharged from the army for his potable indiscretions, the focus on this does come across as exceptionally superficial - filler for a book that would otherwise have been significantly stunted. Several chapters are devoted to the geography and history of the area, rattling off factoids and statistics for upwards of eight pages in certain passages of the book.
Too, various trite phrasings apparently intended to enhance suspense fall flat, almost abrasive in their blatant sensationalism. In one particularly absurd entry, Davis describes the apprehension experienced by a former fellow soldier stationed in Dahmer's battalion in Germany, "realizing that when Dahmer had looked at him in that small barracks room, he could have been visualizing dinner." This immediately follows Davis' derision of a German publication's headline which "left absolutely nothing to the imagination."
In this, its third printing (the first after the death of Dahmer himself), Davis includes a new chapter on the case of the homosexual necrophiliac who ran into a dead end of a different sort in a prison restroom, at the hands of a violent fellow prisoner. The chapters leading up to this final sequence of events clearly had not been edited to reflect this turn of events (referring to Dahmer as if he were, indeed, still alive at press time), and this subtle neglect reflects harshly on the book as well.
Not a challenging biography so much as an exploitative attempt to cash in on the infamy of a name, The Jeffrey Dahmer Story provides little by way of insight moreso than as an outsider's recanting of known elements in the highly-publicized case.
August 21, 2014
This book was horrible (in my opinion of course). It had a multitude of grammar errors and typos. It also left out a ton of details about the case. Some of the murders were summed up in a paragraph or two that basically said "he did this just like he did the other ones." He uses very unscientific and sometimes plain-out biased language. He keeps calling the mixture that Dahmer gives to his victims a "sleeping potion" and never says what is in the concoction. He talks about rock and metal music as if it's the evil scourge that causes teenagers to perform actions maybe they shouldn't. Instead of realizing that not all metal and rock music is as vulgar as he suggests. The author also leaves a lot of loose ends dangling, which perturbs me because I want to know what happened! That's why I am reading a true crime book in the first place. This book was just not for me and I most likely won't read anything by Don Davis again. I had to drag myself through this book and in my opinion it was horribly written. I haven't read a book this bad in quite a while. I am sure there are many other true crime books written on the Dahmer case, my advice is to skip "The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" and read one of those instead.
August 12, 2019
Incredible book that goes through the life of Jeffrey Dahmer and his victims. This is not a play by play of police procedures. This book tells a definitive story with lots of background information. Well researched and easy to follow.
I would recommend this book to those interested in true crime/serial killers.
I would recommend this book to those interested in true crime/serial killers.
February 2, 2008
If you're looking for something that contains the straight facts with the occasional pointless history lesson on areas in which Dahmer lived, then this book is for you. Quite frankly, for something that claims to be a "New York Times Bestseller" it leaves a lot to be desired.
It was interesting in the way a news report about the subject matter would be, but there was no real insight. No hypothesis or attempts to understand the case by Davis.
To me it seemed to be nothing more than a collection of other people's transcripts, work, and hypothesis surrounded by Davis's annoying references to the history of the mundane (for example, a rather large chunk of one of the early chapters was devoted to the rubber industry and the jobs it brought to the area some 50 years before Dahmer was even born.
It was interesting in the way a news report about the subject matter would be, but there was no real insight. No hypothesis or attempts to understand the case by Davis.
To me it seemed to be nothing more than a collection of other people's transcripts, work, and hypothesis surrounded by Davis's annoying references to the history of the mundane (for example, a rather large chunk of one of the early chapters was devoted to the rubber industry and the jobs it brought to the area some 50 years before Dahmer was even born.
December 7, 2019
on Sunday, November 13, 2005 I wrote about this book:
I did read just a bit. I had to stop cause when I read about the 14 year old boy Konerak, who ran away with Dahmer following him, and the police believing Dahmer'who said the boy was a gay drunk, the boy still had a pair of handcuff's on his wrist!!! and bringing the boy back to Dahmers apartment where he was slaughtered....
No this was too emotional for me.
on Saturday, September 22, 2007 I wrote further:
Well I did manage to read it. Very sad story and Jeffrey Dahmer is pictured so different when you compare it to The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer written by Brian Masters. I read both books at once.
Masters tries to see the human side of Dahmer where Davis pictures him as a monster.
Both books were very interesting.
I did read just a bit. I had to stop cause when I read about the 14 year old boy Konerak, who ran away with Dahmer following him, and the police believing Dahmer'who said the boy was a gay drunk, the boy still had a pair of handcuff's on his wrist!!! and bringing the boy back to Dahmers apartment where he was slaughtered....
No this was too emotional for me.
on Saturday, September 22, 2007 I wrote further:
Well I did manage to read it. Very sad story and Jeffrey Dahmer is pictured so different when you compare it to The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer written by Brian Masters. I read both books at once.
Masters tries to see the human side of Dahmer where Davis pictures him as a monster.
Both books were very interesting.
November 3, 2010
In general the book was pretty good. I just did not understand why the author kept getting into the history of all the places where Dahmer lived from childhood on up? I don't know if he was trying to fill pages up (?) or perhaps thought Dahmer's residence and enviroment influenced his lifestyle, but it would have been more interesting if he would have deducted all the tire companies, breweries, what happened way back when in Wisconsin or Ohio, etc. and filled those pages with interviews/quotes from Dahmer's family or people who knew him personally. That part of the book frustrated me.
September 25, 2017
4.5 stars.
This book, which exposed the facts behind the Jeffrey Dahmer murders back in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, fascinated me.
It was a terrifying book that would mess-up with your mind. I would have never expected or anticipated that a human being can do all these kinds of unspoken atrocities to another human being, which include murdering young men and adolescents in horrible ways, dismembering their bodies, necrophilia, and even, the most shocking of all, CANNIBALISM.
I was impressed by the writer's style of writing, which was simplistic but also laid out with well-understanding to the layers and details of the murders and the murderer. The book was explicit and graphic, and not only did it study the nature of the crime but also of serial-killer Jeffrey Dahmer's psychology, which he presented with credible sources, such as his interview with a high-profile psychologist.
And the author also made the book even more interesting with his study of the times of the murders and the social time of that era that followed the Jeffrey Dahmer murders.
However, my only complaint was that the book needed some limitations concerning the author's mentions of the history of each town or area or state.
Ultimately, this book captivated my attention and curiosity in my exploration for a hard-boiled case in the dark human nature field, and the depth of deception and monstrosity that lied under a face of normality and oddness.
This book, which exposed the facts behind the Jeffrey Dahmer murders back in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, fascinated me.
It was a terrifying book that would mess-up with your mind. I would have never expected or anticipated that a human being can do all these kinds of unspoken atrocities to another human being, which include murdering young men and adolescents in horrible ways, dismembering their bodies, necrophilia, and even, the most shocking of all, CANNIBALISM.
I was impressed by the writer's style of writing, which was simplistic but also laid out with well-understanding to the layers and details of the murders and the murderer. The book was explicit and graphic, and not only did it study the nature of the crime but also of serial-killer Jeffrey Dahmer's psychology, which he presented with credible sources, such as his interview with a high-profile psychologist.
And the author also made the book even more interesting with his study of the times of the murders and the social time of that era that followed the Jeffrey Dahmer murders.
However, my only complaint was that the book needed some limitations concerning the author's mentions of the history of each town or area or state.
Ultimately, this book captivated my attention and curiosity in my exploration for a hard-boiled case in the dark human nature field, and the depth of deception and monstrosity that lied under a face of normality and oddness.
February 15, 2015
This book was mostly filler based on lazy research. I've handed in many a last minute paper in college that was filled with quotes and pedestrian research and perhaps this is why I was able to see through it! There is no information in this book that one could not have gathered by watching news coverage of these crimes, except maybe the pages long histories of several midwest towns that took place generations before Jeffery Dahmer was born.
My issue with all of the filler is this:
This guy is one of the most notorious criminals ever. He committed unimaginable acts and hours later shows up to meetings with a parole officer. Two of his victims turned out to be brothers (one escaped). He was dissolving bodies in acid in his one bedroom apt (ala breaking bad) and nobody noticed. His story is filled with stuff you just can't make up. There is enough crazy to fill several books, why do you need filler?
The author conducted no interviews with JD, his family members, victims' families, police who worked the case, lawyers, neighbors, co-workers, etc that one would expect from a true crime book.
Waste of time unless you've never heard of Jeffery Dahmer.
My issue with all of the filler is this:
This guy is one of the most notorious criminals ever. He committed unimaginable acts and hours later shows up to meetings with a parole officer. Two of his victims turned out to be brothers (one escaped). He was dissolving bodies in acid in his one bedroom apt (ala breaking bad) and nobody noticed. His story is filled with stuff you just can't make up. There is enough crazy to fill several books, why do you need filler?
The author conducted no interviews with JD, his family members, victims' families, police who worked the case, lawyers, neighbors, co-workers, etc that one would expect from a true crime book.
Waste of time unless you've never heard of Jeffery Dahmer.
April 18, 2016
Well I haven't had a book rated less than 3 stars all year so I guess I was due for a stinker.
I started a book club last month for fans of the new podcast My Favorite Murder. If you're a fan of true crime, I highly recommend it. This book was the first selection and it was not good. It reminded me of a few papers I wrote in college (thankfully just a few) where I procrastinated like hell and when I finally sat down to write, I realized I did not have enough information gathered and I had zero time gather more. I just bullshitted and quoted like crazy to fill the space until I was done. That's what this book reads like; A half-assed research paper.
Unless you've been living under a rock or maybe if you're super young, you know who Jeffrey Dahmer was. He was a serial killer who murdered 17 young men, mostly gay and mostly racial minorities. This book was originally published in 1991, before Dahmer's trial had even concluded and the ramifications of his crimes could truly be felt. The writer tried for a more high brow approach to crime writing by adding local history. This can be an effective technique if it's done correctly and it's relevant to the narrative. The writer spends dozens of pages on the history of Akron, Ohio. Dahmer's childhood home is located in Bath Township, which is a suburb of Akron but otherwise has nothing to do with the story. I can only assume Don Davis is from Akron and wanted to use some hometown history to fill out his book.
There are some interesting parts. The murders did expose the racial divides that existed in Milwaukee and caused a great deal of social and political tension in the city. It would have been interesting to see how all of that shook out given some time and perspective. But this was lost in the rush to publish this book while Jeffrey Dahmer was still in the news.
There are excellent true crime books. Ann Rule, Jon Krakauer and Erik Larsen have written some great ones. Do yourself a favor and pick up one of their books and give this one a pass.
I started a book club last month for fans of the new podcast My Favorite Murder. If you're a fan of true crime, I highly recommend it. This book was the first selection and it was not good. It reminded me of a few papers I wrote in college (thankfully just a few) where I procrastinated like hell and when I finally sat down to write, I realized I did not have enough information gathered and I had zero time gather more. I just bullshitted and quoted like crazy to fill the space until I was done. That's what this book reads like; A half-assed research paper.
Unless you've been living under a rock or maybe if you're super young, you know who Jeffrey Dahmer was. He was a serial killer who murdered 17 young men, mostly gay and mostly racial minorities. This book was originally published in 1991, before Dahmer's trial had even concluded and the ramifications of his crimes could truly be felt. The writer tried for a more high brow approach to crime writing by adding local history. This can be an effective technique if it's done correctly and it's relevant to the narrative. The writer spends dozens of pages on the history of Akron, Ohio. Dahmer's childhood home is located in Bath Township, which is a suburb of Akron but otherwise has nothing to do with the story. I can only assume Don Davis is from Akron and wanted to use some hometown history to fill out his book.
There are some interesting parts. The murders did expose the racial divides that existed in Milwaukee and caused a great deal of social and political tension in the city. It would have been interesting to see how all of that shook out given some time and perspective. But this was lost in the rush to publish this book while Jeffrey Dahmer was still in the news.
There are excellent true crime books. Ann Rule, Jon Krakauer and Erik Larsen have written some great ones. Do yourself a favor and pick up one of their books and give this one a pass.
January 3, 2013
This book was not what I expected. There were loads of useless information throughout the entire book. Halfway through I felt I was reading the history of Wisconsin. I wanted to read this book mainly because I was interested in the Jeffrey Dahmer story, but was thoroughly disappointed. I felt the author, Don Davis, just touched on Dahmer's story and added useless fluff to thicken up the pages. I would not recommend this book to anyone interested in Dahmer. Unless they were Wisconsin history fanatics.
August 6, 2017
After reading a graphic novel about Dahmer, I was intrigued and wanted to know more about him so I picked this book up at the library.
It started off strong and read like a fiction novel which really captivated me because I knew it was all true, but a third of the way in, it lost that element. The last two thirds felt rushed and disorganized. It felt more like a textbook. 3/5
It started off strong and read like a fiction novel which really captivated me because I knew it was all true, but a third of the way in, it lost that element. The last two thirds felt rushed and disorganized. It felt more like a textbook. 3/5
January 16, 2023
This book didn’t give me chills…
It gave me morbid nightmares. 😅
It gave me morbid nightmares. 😅
December 29, 2020
Don Davis’ take on the tragic life of Jeffrey Dahmer is incredibly detailed but leaves out the more gruesome features of the his crimes. If you are unable to handle the goriness of his horrendous actions, then this is the Damher book for you. Davis thoroughly describes events before the final arrest and intensively recounts the immediate outrage of Dahmer’s publicized crimes and how they affected the minority and lgbt community and exposed corruption in law enforcement. The long and tedious process of the trial is kept to minimal pages but all the interesting aspects you need to know are there.
My biggest complaint about this book are the constant references to geographical, political, or historical events happening during the era or in the area. These history lessons felt so out of place for a book about a serial killer. I sensed that the author was attempting to fill in more pages rather than tell the story about a madman. Because of this, I could feel myself dozing off as my eyes just glazed over the words and not digesting the information. Here is an example:
“The Bel Aires, a rhythm-and-blues group up from Columbia, Missouri, was playing a free noon concert at the Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, but Jeffrey Dahmer could not have cared less.”
The musical group is never mentioned again and are not tied to Dahmer in any way, like most of the facts told throughout this book. These random pieces of trivia add nothing to the story and became a tad annoying as I progressed through the book.
Additionally, Davis gave an incorrect date of Dahmer’s death, citing that Dahmer passed in 1993 when it actually occurred in 1994.
My biggest complaint about this book are the constant references to geographical, political, or historical events happening during the era or in the area. These history lessons felt so out of place for a book about a serial killer. I sensed that the author was attempting to fill in more pages rather than tell the story about a madman. Because of this, I could feel myself dozing off as my eyes just glazed over the words and not digesting the information. Here is an example:
“The Bel Aires, a rhythm-and-blues group up from Columbia, Missouri, was playing a free noon concert at the Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, but Jeffrey Dahmer could not have cared less.”
The musical group is never mentioned again and are not tied to Dahmer in any way, like most of the facts told throughout this book. These random pieces of trivia add nothing to the story and became a tad annoying as I progressed through the book.
Additionally, Davis gave an incorrect date of Dahmer’s death, citing that Dahmer passed in 1993 when it actually occurred in 1994.
November 20, 2022
I’m so disappointed with this book. It was poorly written, in my opinion and contained a ton of random facts that had nothing to do with Dahmer. Some of the book is not written in chronological order and the same story of one of the victims is told multiple different times randomly throughout the book, while other victims were barely touched on. I love true crime but this particular one is definitely one to skip.
July 23, 2008
He was one sick person and I think he got what he deserved when that black man killed him in jail.
September 4, 2021
Definitely interesting. That’s about all I can say.
October 11, 2021
Aanrader voor zij die interesse hebben in seriedoders.
Dit was een zeer aangrijpend boek over het leven en de daden van Jeffrey Dahmer. Het gaat niet enkel over zijn gruweldaden, maar ook een andere gruwel: namelijk die van racisme. Jeffrey 'joeg' voornamelijk op zwarte holebi jongens. Slechts twee keer vermoordde hij Aziatische jongens (die uiteindelijk nog broers van elkaar bleken te zijn!). Blijkbaar werd niet veel aandacht besteed aan het verdwijnen van deze types. Omstaanders zagen regelmatig dat ze meegingen met Dahmer. Nooit werd echter iets gezegd: enerzijds: dit vond plaats in het holebi milieu... wat toen nog niet aanvaardt werd. Ze werden al genoeg lastig gevallen door de politie en hulp moesten ze niet verwachten. Anderzijds: ze gingen niet te veel moeite in een zwarte steken... laat staan een zwarte holebi 🙁
Had hij sneller ontmaskerd kunnen worden als men het verdwijnen van etnische minderheden serieuzer had genomen? Één van de Aziatische jongens kon ontsnappen van Dahmer. Half verdoofd en onder invloed van de verdovende cocktail die Dahmer hem gaf kon hij het appartement ontvluchten. Hij was naakt en 'dronken'. Twee politie agenten hielden deze jongen staande. Ze hoorden hem paniekerig iets proberen duidelijk te maken. Drie zwarte vrouwen kwamen erbij staan en spoorden de agenten aan de jongen te helpen. Toen kwam Dahmer zelf. Doodkalm zei hij tegen de agenten dat dit vaker gebeurt als zijn vriendje zat is, hij zou wel voor hem zorgen. De agenten stonden toe dat Dahmer de jongen meenam. De drie zwarte vrouwen riepen nog dat hier iets niet klopte maar ze moesten zich "met hun eigen zaken bemoeien en oprotten". Diezelfde avond nog, werd de Aziatische jongen vermoord, daarna verkracht, en daarna aan stukken gesneden. De schedel werd bewaard als trofee.
Het boek kijkt naar de jeugd van Dahmer. Wat liep daar fout? Wat had een invloed op zijn psychische problemen? De scheiding van zijn ouders, zijn depressieve moeder, alles was zwaar voor hem. Hij had moeite met sociale interactie, leefde volledig in zichzelf en leek een aangeboren liefde voor dode dieren te hebben. Hij stal als tiener een paspop omdat hij zich beter voelde met een paspop in zijn bed dan een levende mens. Later zou hij besluiten dat als hij affectie wil hij eerst de mens moet doden en er daarna zijn affectie op loslaten.
Dahmer bracht zijn verplichte legerdienst door in Duitsland. Daar zouden ook moordzaken met hem in verband gebracht worden maar Dahmer zelf heeft dit nooit bekend... we gaan het fijne er dus nooit van weten.
Los van het doden van mensen, seks met lijken, en het opeten van organen, wilde Dahmer ook een 'tempel' maken in zijn appartement. Een tafel waar hij alle schedels op wilde etaleren. Met daarboven de kop van een geit. Dit was zijn intieme ruimte waar hij zichzelf kon zijn voldoening vinden in zijn verlangens. Hij probeerde om zijn slachtoffers tot zijn 'slaven" te maken door wanneer ze nog leven een gat in de schedel te boren en daar koken water of mierenzuur in te gieten.
Een boek over een uitermate kwaadaardig, ziek persoon. En vooral: hoe de armoede, racisme, en werkdruk bij de sociale diensten ervoor zorgde dat hij zo lang onder de radar bleef. Hij was immers al veroordeeld voor zedefeiten, dronkenschap, enz. Hij werd op de voet gevolgd door het gerecht... maar nooit werd er bij hem thuis gecontroleerd. Zo pleegde hij zelfs een moord in zijn appartement op dezelfde dag dat hij een gesprek had met zijn justitie assistent.
Nu ik deze gelezen heb kan ik beginnen aan het boek dat zijn vader schreef: "Mijn zoon, de seriemoordenaar"
Dit was een zeer aangrijpend boek over het leven en de daden van Jeffrey Dahmer. Het gaat niet enkel over zijn gruweldaden, maar ook een andere gruwel: namelijk die van racisme. Jeffrey 'joeg' voornamelijk op zwarte holebi jongens. Slechts twee keer vermoordde hij Aziatische jongens (die uiteindelijk nog broers van elkaar bleken te zijn!). Blijkbaar werd niet veel aandacht besteed aan het verdwijnen van deze types. Omstaanders zagen regelmatig dat ze meegingen met Dahmer. Nooit werd echter iets gezegd: enerzijds: dit vond plaats in het holebi milieu... wat toen nog niet aanvaardt werd. Ze werden al genoeg lastig gevallen door de politie en hulp moesten ze niet verwachten. Anderzijds: ze gingen niet te veel moeite in een zwarte steken... laat staan een zwarte holebi 🙁
Had hij sneller ontmaskerd kunnen worden als men het verdwijnen van etnische minderheden serieuzer had genomen? Één van de Aziatische jongens kon ontsnappen van Dahmer. Half verdoofd en onder invloed van de verdovende cocktail die Dahmer hem gaf kon hij het appartement ontvluchten. Hij was naakt en 'dronken'. Twee politie agenten hielden deze jongen staande. Ze hoorden hem paniekerig iets proberen duidelijk te maken. Drie zwarte vrouwen kwamen erbij staan en spoorden de agenten aan de jongen te helpen. Toen kwam Dahmer zelf. Doodkalm zei hij tegen de agenten dat dit vaker gebeurt als zijn vriendje zat is, hij zou wel voor hem zorgen. De agenten stonden toe dat Dahmer de jongen meenam. De drie zwarte vrouwen riepen nog dat hier iets niet klopte maar ze moesten zich "met hun eigen zaken bemoeien en oprotten". Diezelfde avond nog, werd de Aziatische jongen vermoord, daarna verkracht, en daarna aan stukken gesneden. De schedel werd bewaard als trofee.
Het boek kijkt naar de jeugd van Dahmer. Wat liep daar fout? Wat had een invloed op zijn psychische problemen? De scheiding van zijn ouders, zijn depressieve moeder, alles was zwaar voor hem. Hij had moeite met sociale interactie, leefde volledig in zichzelf en leek een aangeboren liefde voor dode dieren te hebben. Hij stal als tiener een paspop omdat hij zich beter voelde met een paspop in zijn bed dan een levende mens. Later zou hij besluiten dat als hij affectie wil hij eerst de mens moet doden en er daarna zijn affectie op loslaten.
Dahmer bracht zijn verplichte legerdienst door in Duitsland. Daar zouden ook moordzaken met hem in verband gebracht worden maar Dahmer zelf heeft dit nooit bekend... we gaan het fijne er dus nooit van weten.
Los van het doden van mensen, seks met lijken, en het opeten van organen, wilde Dahmer ook een 'tempel' maken in zijn appartement. Een tafel waar hij alle schedels op wilde etaleren. Met daarboven de kop van een geit. Dit was zijn intieme ruimte waar hij zichzelf kon zijn voldoening vinden in zijn verlangens. Hij probeerde om zijn slachtoffers tot zijn 'slaven" te maken door wanneer ze nog leven een gat in de schedel te boren en daar koken water of mierenzuur in te gieten.
Een boek over een uitermate kwaadaardig, ziek persoon. En vooral: hoe de armoede, racisme, en werkdruk bij de sociale diensten ervoor zorgde dat hij zo lang onder de radar bleef. Hij was immers al veroordeeld voor zedefeiten, dronkenschap, enz. Hij werd op de voet gevolgd door het gerecht... maar nooit werd er bij hem thuis gecontroleerd. Zo pleegde hij zelfs een moord in zijn appartement op dezelfde dag dat hij een gesprek had met zijn justitie assistent.
Nu ik deze gelezen heb kan ik beginnen aan het boek dat zijn vader schreef: "Mijn zoon, de seriemoordenaar"
September 14, 2025
I thought I knew everything about Dahmer and the case but this gave a few other details I didn't know but also left some out. This was an interesting but tough read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
December 1, 2020کتاب قتل های شهر میل واکی
August 30, 2019
This book goes into far to much detail. It was so disturbing I had to stop reading 75% in !
November 21, 2023
Before I started reading this book this year (2022), I had already known about Jeffrey Dahmer and his cannibalism starting back when I was a kid in the 1990s. But it was through this book that I really got a detailed look at how Dahmer grew up, what led him to his disturbing obsession with human body parts, and more.
Author Don Davis in the Jeffrey Dahmer Story, put his own spin on a story that gripped the nation back in the early to mid 1990s (when Dahmer was caught that is). Davis dotted the book with his own quips, smart-alecky quotes, and contempt for not only Dahmer, but for the Milwaukee Police Department (read the book and you'll see why I brought up Davis's contempt for the Milwaukee Police Department).
Davis wasn't interested in writing a basic book about Dahmer's sick lifestyle in a seedy part of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. No, the author wanted you the reader to understand what made Dahmer become one of the world's most notorious and sickest criminals, and Davis wanted you to feel some serious hurt and compassion for his victims which included a trusting and blind victim by the name of Anthony Hughes.
I DO NOT recommend reading this book before bed, because you're going to have nightmares or disturbing thoughts about what Dahmer did, especially the parts where Davis laid out how Dahmer did you know what to his victims while they were alive as well as when those victims were deceased.
Pros of The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: The book did its job in laying out why Dahmer became one of the world's most disturbing criminals. And that job included analysis of his childhood, his being a loner for much of his scholastic career, his severe drinking problem, and more. When you write a book on a criminal it's always a good idea to present the why and the how on what made the criminal become a criminal or deviant in the first place.
Cons of The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: I could have lived without the many history lessons that were present throughout the book that the author felt coincided with the subject. And some of those lessons did coincide with the subject of the text, but much of those lessons didn't and just added more pages to the book.
In conclusion, The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is required reading for anyone who wants to delve into one of the most disturbing human beings who ever lived on this earth. After reading this book I wonder if Dahmer had of gotten help for his drinking problem; if he would have gotten extensive counseling; would have had a woman or two who really liked him or nourished him mentally; or if he would have had some friends that truly liked or cared about him from junior high to Ohio State University would he have become the Jeffrey Dahmer that the world came to know from the time he was caught in 1991 to the present. No one may ever know.
Author Don Davis in the Jeffrey Dahmer Story, put his own spin on a story that gripped the nation back in the early to mid 1990s (when Dahmer was caught that is). Davis dotted the book with his own quips, smart-alecky quotes, and contempt for not only Dahmer, but for the Milwaukee Police Department (read the book and you'll see why I brought up Davis's contempt for the Milwaukee Police Department).
Davis wasn't interested in writing a basic book about Dahmer's sick lifestyle in a seedy part of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. No, the author wanted you the reader to understand what made Dahmer become one of the world's most notorious and sickest criminals, and Davis wanted you to feel some serious hurt and compassion for his victims which included a trusting and blind victim by the name of Anthony Hughes.
I DO NOT recommend reading this book before bed, because you're going to have nightmares or disturbing thoughts about what Dahmer did, especially the parts where Davis laid out how Dahmer did you know what to his victims while they were alive as well as when those victims were deceased.
Pros of The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: The book did its job in laying out why Dahmer became one of the world's most disturbing criminals. And that job included analysis of his childhood, his being a loner for much of his scholastic career, his severe drinking problem, and more. When you write a book on a criminal it's always a good idea to present the why and the how on what made the criminal become a criminal or deviant in the first place.
Cons of The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: I could have lived without the many history lessons that were present throughout the book that the author felt coincided with the subject. And some of those lessons did coincide with the subject of the text, but much of those lessons didn't and just added more pages to the book.
In conclusion, The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is required reading for anyone who wants to delve into one of the most disturbing human beings who ever lived on this earth. After reading this book I wonder if Dahmer had of gotten help for his drinking problem; if he would have gotten extensive counseling; would have had a woman or two who really liked him or nourished him mentally; or if he would have had some friends that truly liked or cared about him from junior high to Ohio State University would he have become the Jeffrey Dahmer that the world came to know from the time he was caught in 1991 to the present. No one may ever know.
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August 13, 2016I left the star "rating" blank, because I still have hopes that this book will improve. I am a little more than halfway through reading it and I am yet to be impressed. Don Davis writing is that of a pretentious high school jack ass. One of the things I love most about true crime books is that they read like fiction. One can get lost in the content of a true crime book, and once the realization of its 'based on a true story' stance comes back to the mind, it becomes more terrifying. However, Don's style of writing seems as though he is trying too hard to make it sound like fiction (in some areas).
He begins his book with Dahmer's Laotian victim. Several chapters later, he brings up the exact same content again. A few more chapters go by and he talks about it again. Amidst another chapter (in which he talks about a couple victims leading up to the Laotian boy), he details this victim again. He leaves out some very important details about the manner in which he treated his victims (such as his 'zombifying' treatments), and makes every victim's death seem exactly the same as the one before.
Don titles all of his chapters, and starts writing about things that seem to fit that title for a paragraph or two, and then rambles on with something completely different. (Eg: the chapter titled Grandma's House talks more about the history of the city as apposed to Dahmer's grandmother's house).
I keep hoping that the book will get better as I read further, but I continue to be let down. According to several reviews on here, I don't think it will get any better (thanks for the warning). And some of the reviews on here seem to have read another book (not this one), because they mention the graphic detail of the book. The graphic detail in which the book actually lacks. Yes it discusses the murders, and what he did with the bodies, but non of it is as graphic (in my opinion).
I would strongly advise that you don't read this book. There are far better true crime books about serial killers than this.
He begins his book with Dahmer's Laotian victim. Several chapters later, he brings up the exact same content again. A few more chapters go by and he talks about it again. Amidst another chapter (in which he talks about a couple victims leading up to the Laotian boy), he details this victim again. He leaves out some very important details about the manner in which he treated his victims (such as his 'zombifying' treatments), and makes every victim's death seem exactly the same as the one before.
Don titles all of his chapters, and starts writing about things that seem to fit that title for a paragraph or two, and then rambles on with something completely different. (Eg: the chapter titled Grandma's House talks more about the history of the city as apposed to Dahmer's grandmother's house).
I keep hoping that the book will get better as I read further, but I continue to be let down. According to several reviews on here, I don't think it will get any better (thanks for the warning). And some of the reviews on here seem to have read another book (not this one), because they mention the graphic detail of the book. The graphic detail in which the book actually lacks. Yes it discusses the murders, and what he did with the bodies, but non of it is as graphic (in my opinion).
I would strongly advise that you don't read this book. There are far better true crime books about serial killers than this.
November 7, 2022
This gave big 'this essay is due tomorrow and I am only halfway to the word count' vibes. It felt like the author kept (1) adding unnecessary drivel about the geographical history of freaking Wisconsin and (2) repeating the same thing but with slightly different syntax to pad out the chapters, while keeping certain details completely unexplored. An example is the chapter regarding the trial, when incredibly important details came to light, things such as the drills and the acid, that were mentioned once in passing and never mentioned again, but are essential details in the Dahmer 'lore', leaving readers confused. I understand that this book was originally published before the full story was known, but when the revised edition was published, these details should have been added properly. There are also things such as the number of victims, certain dates and details, which in some chapters were revised in the 1995 edition, but not in others, sometimes being completely wrong (such as the mention of '11 victims' in the picture section). As a piece of literature, this is also subpar, as the author struggles to give a clear picture of the topic at hand, instead jumping from topic to topic within the same chapter without a clear train of thought. This needed another two or three rounds of revisions, simply put. Also - a conclusion? Don Davis has never heard of her. This just ends, like he was meeting a deadline and no one thought to check if it was ready for printing. There have to be better Dahmer books out there, this one can be passed, in my opinion, especially in 2022 - this feels incredibly outdated (including in its language regarding different races and homosexuality). Ok, I'm done now.
March 9, 2014
This book approaches a topic in which can only be successfully carried out with a lot of research. It is quite apparent that the author did his research in order to write this book, but one of the many things it lacks is detail. Each topic that is brought up is briefly viewed except for Dahmer's childhood, which is not the main focus of the book. Another thing I disliked about the book is a lack of organization. It jumps from his childhood to Dahmer's first victim and then to his high school life. It was a bit confusing to follow until you realized it was not in correct order. The book contains interesting content, but I do not suggest reading this book, especially if you're looking for new information on him that you haven't read before. Everything in the book is a brief overview, and contains nothing that other books haven't covered.
June 5, 2012
Jeffrey Dahmer certainly was a serial killer that will forever be etched in America's history--not the sort of notariety one might seek, but so goes it for the tragic life of Dahmer.
I have always been intrigued as to what made this man do the heinous acts in which he committed upon seventeen unsuspecting victims. Most of what is reported in this book was just a small fraction of what most of us heard or read about in the news, at the time Dahmer was arrested. In fact, I learned a great detail of the life of Jeffrey Dahmer. It gave me chills just reading the words knowing what was going to happen, and powerless to stop it.
If you have children, love them and nurture them so that this tragedy never occurs again in human kind! Outstanding read!
I have always been intrigued as to what made this man do the heinous acts in which he committed upon seventeen unsuspecting victims. Most of what is reported in this book was just a small fraction of what most of us heard or read about in the news, at the time Dahmer was arrested. In fact, I learned a great detail of the life of Jeffrey Dahmer. It gave me chills just reading the words knowing what was going to happen, and powerless to stop it.
If you have children, love them and nurture them so that this tragedy never occurs again in human kind! Outstanding read!
October 20, 2020
3/5. I wish I could give it more, but it was lacking in some areas. My biggest issue with the book is that it wasn’t in chronological order. It kinda jumped around. Yes, it tells you what year it is at the beginning of the chapter, but that doesn’t take away the fact that I was constantly going back in time then forward then back again. I really do not enjoy reading that way. I was also sad that the author didn’t spend more than one paragraph talking about how Dahmer tried to turn his victims into zombies before killing them. I find that fascinating and it wasn’t even mentioned for for one sentence in a paragraph. Lastly, there was a lot of geography stuff that I could not have cared less about so I would skip a few pages to get back to the actual story line.
September 25, 2016
This was an ok book. If you go into it knowing next to nothing about the Dahmer case you'll probably enjoy it. But I went in with a pretty good understanding of the case already and this book just seemed to gloss over a lot of details. Random tidbits seemed to tossed in at the end, that were actually pretty important. Dahmer's attempt at creating zombies? The contents of his 'sleeping potion'? These were significant details that were just paid so little attention. A lot of the victims were glossed over as well.
October 4, 2022
Ryan Murphy's show, Dahmer, provided more detail than this book. From what I can gather, the book was released fairly soon after Dahmer's apprehension and consequent death, and this is reflected in the book's vagueness. There must have been an overwhelming desire to publish one of the earliest Dahmer books. The information on the victims was wrapped up by the halfway point, yet there was information on other killers, when this page space could've been dedicated to victims instead. There were a lot of discussions that were only vaguely addressed here and that's disappointing.
July 9, 2017
This was obviously published in a hurry to capitalize on the still-fresh Dahmer trial, so very little research was done. There are errors all throughout, and it's written in a very sensationalist style. It's not very objective, either. My copy also has a very lurid bright-orange cover, which just further adds to its pulpy feel.
July 2, 2012
I went through a literary phase when I was younger of reading true-life crime stories and biographies on mass murderers. I'm not quite sure why I went through this phase save for curiosity on how people could inflict such pain and damage on their fellow man.
This was a harrowing account on the crimes committed by Jeffrey Dahmer. Not easy reading and certainly not for the faint of heart.
This was a harrowing account on the crimes committed by Jeffrey Dahmer. Not easy reading and certainly not for the faint of heart.
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