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 twenties, 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.
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" I had never heard of dirty John before reading this book, so I had no preconceived notions about John or Debra Newell. About halfway through the book I became very judgemental and decided that as a mother, Debra should've done more to protect her children from this lunatic. She had plenty of warning symbols and was financially comfortable so that this should've been an easy decision. Newell seems to live for and even thrive on attention. True-Crime is my preferred genre, so this was an easy read, however, Debra's narration was like fingers down a chalkboard for me. It is a miracle that her daughter did not die in the attack of John that day, and if she had Debra's hands would be covered with blood, as well. "
— Julie, 5/16/2022