Surviving Dirty John

My True Story of Love, Lies, and Murder

By: Debra Newell, M. William Phelps - contributor

Narrated by: Debra Newell

Debra Newell is nothing if not a survivor. By the time she met John Michael Meehan online, she lived through a near-fatal childhood illness, an attempted rape in her 20s, the traumatic death of her sister at the hands of her brother-in-law, four failed marriages, and a litany of dating disasters. But despite those tragedies, she seemed to have it all: adoring children, a successful business, a fabulous penthouse apartment.

But there was something missing: the blinding, all-consuming love she first read about to occupy her time in her childhood sickbed. And she thought she found it with John Meehan.

More than a tabloid-ready true-crime expose, Debra's story is one of trauma, denial, and deception. But it is also a relatable, inspirational, and hopeful story of forgiveness, and, most of all, love. The lengths to which a woman will go to find - and keep - love; the boundaries children and parents cross to protect and save the people they love; the love one must find for oneself; and the ways the illusion of love can be used to manipulate and hurt.

©2021 A Voice for Women LLC (P)2021 Tantor

Very important read for women everywhere

I applaud Debra Newell's work and grateful that she told her story. A lifesaving and life changing read.

narrator

the narrator was horrific! flat, monotone and sentences were broken and just very difficult to listen to

Wow!

What a story. Not blaming the victim at all! It is sad how brainwashed she was into
choosing this man over her own kids at first. Debra also strikes me as very foolish throughout the story. Needless to say, after going through some abusive experiences myself, i will purposefully remain single forever! Men are scum!!!

The Book tells the whole story

I absolutely loved this book! I saw the movie and have watched the netflix special but nothing tells the story like hearing it from the person who lived through it! I learned things through the book that were never brought up in the movie! It is amazing that Debra was able to come out on top ahead of all of this. She is an extraordinary woman and an amazing mother. I would highly recommend this book! I love audiobooks so if you are able to listen instead of reading the book, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Shocking story

Interesting account of hoax and betrayal if you can get through the narrator’s cringeworthy mispronunciations

Educational

Super educational book about domestic violence and coercive control. The author does a good job of explaining her life experiences that made her susceptible to the somewhat subtle onset of domestic abuse known as coercive control. I have read and listened to everything out there on Dirty John yet still learned new details in this book. I did not like Ms. Newell’s narration. I am not sure why she chose to self narrate but I will assume it was to further her healing. Because I make that assumption, I won’t criticize the narration any more than to say - I did not like it and wish they had chosen a professional.

Needs a new narrator

Newell is brave in sharing her story in hope that it’ll save other women from her same fate. I found it confusing the way it jumped from different times of her life, however. And it really needs a professional narrator. Newell’s style is very choppy and sometimes doesn’t accent the right words or have the proper pauses, which makes it sometimes challenging to follow. And I’m a little flabbergasted that she wasn’t able to learn from her past experiences with men and wish she had shared whether she’ll keep seeking that ‘perfect’ man, or if she has finally learned that the fairy tale is just a fantasy.

Such an important story

For those who are not familiar with narcs. There is no doubt God was on Debra’s family’s side. She is a strong woman bc I am sure trolls have given her more than enough grief.

Don’t be put off by (in my opinion, unjust) criticisms of author’s reading

This is a very worthwhile book on a little known subject - coercive control. The author has poured her heart out, sharing her experiences. Any criticism of her, as I read in other reviews, are unjust and mean. There is something to be said for hearing the story in the survivor’s own voice. It is a plus - and however she gets through the story - she deserves respect. I had no trouble following the story, though I was somewhat familiar with it already. Many more details than one finds elsewhere. Highly recommend.

Narrator doesn't tell story well

I understand the narrator is the victim in this story. However, it was painful to listen to her read her story. Flat, bad pronunciation, weird pauses. Did this get edited before release? I've listened to 1000 audio books. This is the worst narration by far.

I feel sympathetic towards the victim. But it's hard to hear her be so absolutely naive over and over again. I just wanted to shake her and say, "What's wrong with you?"