A Father's Story

By: Lionel Dahmer

Narrated by: Scott R. Pollak

Raising a serial killer

A Father's search for answers

In July of 1991, the country was shocked by the unfathomable crimes of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. But no one was more shocked than his parents. In A Father's Story, the listener becomes witness to the incremental unraveling of a parent's image of their child, and the thousand different reactions that follow. In his attempt to understand the nature of his son's psychosis, Lionel Dahmer methodically scrutinizes every possible contributing factor to his son's madness. His desperation is palpable as he searches for clues in the emotional, psychological, and genetic landscape of his son's life.

Riveting and soul-wrenching, this unprecedented memoir is the confession of a father who must confront the saddest truth a human can know—that his child has somehow crossed the line that separates the human from the monstrous.

Produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont.

©1991 Lionel Dahmer (P)2024 Echo Point Books & Media, LLC

Fascinating and sad.

Its hard not to imagine that this poor man missed much of what his son needed and was happening to him due to aspergers. His self-confessed lack of emotional spectrum and inability to connect with others, especially when young, certainly sounds to me that he could be on the spectrum and despite the best of intentions may have missed many cues that something was going seriously amiss with his son. Listening to this book there were a million ‘if only’s for me’. Still very fascinating and worth the listen.

Overall a good read but…

Lots of boastfulness from Lionel about his education and such. Also his ridiculous use of $5 words throughout was a little off putting. It was refreshing to hear that he takes sufficient blame for issues that may have lead up to his son’s mental issues and crimes. Overall a good read. Narrator was wonderful!!

Great narrator!

Pollak is an excellent narrator. It’s sad that no one noticed Jeffrey Dahmer’s behavior. It appears to be neglect.

More Surprising Than You Think

I've followed the royal family all my life (since mid-'80s) and have a pretty extensive knowledge of all things royal. I really thought I knew what these people were like.... but apparently I didn't, and you don't, either. Harry's account is both stunning and heartbreaking, and his narration is brutally honest and relatable. I couldn't put this down, and haven't stopped thinking about it since. Can't recommend enough.

A gut wrenching, written internal dialogue

As a parent, it’s easy to sympathize with Lionel’s thoughts. Most of us, despite our children’s shortcomings wouldn’t be any different. Having said that, I feel no sympathy for Jeff. We’ll never know what made him who he was, all we know for sure is the pain he has caused so many others. The Dahmers were victims as well in their own right. He wasn’t raised this way he was born this way, and sadly I don’t believe Jeff ever had a chance. But like most Dietes, most parents offer a grace to their children they may not deserve out of love. My prayers go out to the Dahmers for what has to be such an excruciating existence, living in the shadows of the trauma Jeff caused, and prayers especially to his victims and their families living in an even darker shadow of this trauma.