Surviving Dirty John: My True Story of Love, Lies, and Murder

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Product Description Now that articles, podcasts, newsmagazines, and miniseries have had their sensationalistic say, Debra Newell, the one woman who truly knows what it was like to survive “Dirty John” Meehan shares the full story—the reality—with the world for the first time. 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.  Told in Debra’s words with the help of New York Times bestselling author M. William Phelps, this book is filled with exclusive  stories about Debra and her family, previously unpublished  photos, and the unvarnished, unapologetic, and unbelievable reality of Surviving Dirty John. Review “Debra Newell’s journey, her tale of survival, and her openness in sharing her story, is awe inspiring. By helping the world better understand the twisted manipulative power of coercive control, she is helping us all to identify it. By sharing her story, she has created a pathway for communication in a corridor that has for too long been dimly lit.” —Eric Bana “Debra is a true survivor. You may think you know her story, but you don’t—and you should. This really could happen to anyone. Coercive control has many guises and faces and is much more common than you think. This book may just save your life.” —Laura Richards, criminal behavioral analyst, coercive control and stalking expert, formerly with New Scotland Yard “God bless Debbie Newell, my fellow warrior in the fight against the silent and shame-fueled epidemic of intimate partner violence/domestic violence. God bless you, Debbie, for writing Surviving Dirty John and not being shamed into silence by half-truths and mischaracterizations of your hellish journey with the monster, John Meehan. God bless you for having the strength to survive and become more than a victim, more than a survivor. By having the courage to share your real story in Surviving Dirty John, you are saving many lives and stopping much suffering. I am so proud to call you friend! Well done, Debbie and M. William Phelps!” —Robin McGraw, author and founder of When Georgia Smiled Foundation “Debra’s book is a must-read for anyone who has experienced trauma in their life, has loved someone who has experienced trauma, or is in the helping professions working to heal trauma with clients. Her honest and gripping account of her experiences and her inspiring story of recovery will help empower and educate all people about the impact of coercive control and impart important lessons about how to overcome extreme adversities.” —Dr. Judy Ho, clinical and forensic neuropsychologist, tenured professor, and author of Stop Self-Sabotage “In her book Surviving Dirty John, Debra Newell has bared her soul to the world, providing intimate details to help other women learn from her experiences and avoid the horror of being manipulated and abused by a partner. Debra has shown us that searching for love can be a dangerous game and we need to always have our eyes wide open and trust our instincts. I have seen the dan