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Across The Hall
Over twenty years ago an event occurred in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that shocked the nation as well as the world. His name has been spoken from lips of many people and continues to do so. It has never before been revealed about what it was like to live across the hall from one of the world's most evil serial killers. Imagine moving into what's considered to be one of the nicest buildings in a troublesome and drug infested area and soon after you begin to notice a horrible odor unlike anything you have ever smelled but there's no way of knowing what it is or where it's coming from? What would you do? It has never been written about how life was living in the Oxford Apartments in 1991 across the hall from Jeffrey Dahmer before now. My story tells what I did as I didn't have to imagine how it was. So come with me as I tell about my life, during a time when I lived only small steps away from the door of TERROR.
- GenresNonfictionTrue Crime
222 pages, Paperback
First published January 22, 2012
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129 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 5, 2022
While Across the Hall, as a self-published (?) and unedited manuscript, is not as polished as some of the other books I've read on the subject, I did thoroughly enjoy Vern Bass's unique perspective. He and his then-wife Pamela lived in Apartment 214, directly across the hall from Dahmer's 213. Their interactions were minimal at best, but where else am I going to get the details of life in the Oxford Apartments while a serial killer prowled amid the unknowing neighbors?
I now understand better why no one asked more questions, why no one expressed their suspicions, why everyone doubted anything truly malevolent or evil was going on. Sure, Jeff was the only single white guy in the entire complex, and they were living right smack in the middle of "Drug City", the most crime-ridden neighborhood in Milwaukee, and there was a horrible smell that permeated the entire floor and was noticeably coming from 213, and men's clothes could be found in the garbage, and the sound of a power drill or saw could be heard in the middle of the night, and Vern once heard Jeff screaming obscenities at no one inside his apartment - but c'mon, you really think Jeff is up to something?
Granted, the unspoken suspicions and needling doubts began to pile on before the end. But surely no one could have guessed what was really going on. Certainly not Vern and his wife, who knew only a shadowy figure called Jeff Dahmer - shadowy in the sense of half a person, a soft-spoken and unassuming young man with a boyish face who liked cats. Like the rest of them, he seemed to be just trying to scrape by, hollowing out a meager existence in a bad neighborhood. And perhaps that much is still true, regardless of what he did with his free time.
The latter third of the book contains quite a bit of info on the trial, which Vern attended. A lot of the details are repetitive, although there were a few I hadn't seen before. In all, worth picking up just to see through the eyes across the hall.
I now understand better why no one asked more questions, why no one expressed their suspicions, why everyone doubted anything truly malevolent or evil was going on. Sure, Jeff was the only single white guy in the entire complex, and they were living right smack in the middle of "Drug City", the most crime-ridden neighborhood in Milwaukee, and there was a horrible smell that permeated the entire floor and was noticeably coming from 213, and men's clothes could be found in the garbage, and the sound of a power drill or saw could be heard in the middle of the night, and Vern once heard Jeff screaming obscenities at no one inside his apartment - but c'mon, you really think Jeff is up to something?
Granted, the unspoken suspicions and needling doubts began to pile on before the end. But surely no one could have guessed what was really going on. Certainly not Vern and his wife, who knew only a shadowy figure called Jeff Dahmer - shadowy in the sense of half a person, a soft-spoken and unassuming young man with a boyish face who liked cats. Like the rest of them, he seemed to be just trying to scrape by, hollowing out a meager existence in a bad neighborhood. And perhaps that much is still true, regardless of what he did with his free time.
The latter third of the book contains quite a bit of info on the trial, which Vern attended. A lot of the details are repetitive, although there were a few I hadn't seen before. In all, worth picking up just to see through the eyes across the hall.
December 20, 2017
"Another book about that guy??" Yes mom but this one is written by his neighbour so it’s a different perspective. And it is! After reading different books about Jeffrey Dahmer in a short period of time it is save to say I know the story by now. But Vernell Bass offers a new view in Jeffrey Dahmer's life. I was curious to know what he was like as "Jeff". And Vernell's story gave me this opportunity.
Two things that caught my attention the most are:
Vernell and his now ex-wife Pam had a cat. Jeff had picked her up and said he liked cats a lot. At times like this he seemed like a normal guy even though he was a loner.
But some other time Jeff was yelling "I told you! This shit is all your fucking fault! Look what you fucking made me do!".
Vernell later writes he was most likely yelling to a decapitated head.
A nice additon to your collection if you want to know more about Jeffrey Dahmer's life when he was living at apartment 213.
Two things that caught my attention the most are:
Vernell and his now ex-wife Pam had a cat. Jeff had picked her up and said he liked cats a lot. At times like this he seemed like a normal guy even though he was a loner.
But some other time Jeff was yelling "I told you! This shit is all your fucking fault! Look what you fucking made me do!".
Vernell later writes he was most likely yelling to a decapitated head.
A nice additon to your collection if you want to know more about Jeffrey Dahmer's life when he was living at apartment 213.
June 13, 2022
If you are hoping this book might have you dive deep inside the horror story that is Jefferey Dahmer. No you won't
Vernell Bass only manage to give you some of his chit chat conversation with Jeffrey Dahmer , his overhearing Jeffrey supposedly shouting at a headless corpse / victims and the overall mood of the building as the smell permeated it leading up to Dahmer's arrest. Thats all its worth coming from this book .
It should have been 100 pages shorter and we don't need this book reciting the whole trial
Vernell Bass only manage to give you some of his chit chat conversation with Jeffrey Dahmer , his overhearing Jeffrey supposedly shouting at a headless corpse / victims and the overall mood of the building as the smell permeated it leading up to Dahmer's arrest. Thats all its worth coming from this book .
It should have been 100 pages shorter and we don't need this book reciting the whole trial
December 27, 2023
Across the Hall gives us much more insight into Jeff Dahmer than we typically get from the media. This is an interesting story written by Jeff’s neighbor and friend. He describes Jeff as kind, generous, and meticulous.
Much of what he says contradicts what the media account of Jeff was/is. For example, Vernell had been in Jeff’s apartment quite often - and he said the images on the wall that were on the news were never hanging on Jeff’s walls. There was no smell (the smell seemed to originate from the hallway), and the blue barrel he had in his apartment was empty when Vernell was inside and happened to inspect it out of curiosity.
Vernell also covers the trial at the end, and expresses his complete and utter shock at how stark of a contrast the Dahmer on trial was from his own personal experience with him. Vernell was shocked at how thoroughly Dahmer hid this seemingly double life.
Overall a great firsthand account of a man that seems to have been turned into a media money-making character.
Much of what he says contradicts what the media account of Jeff was/is. For example, Vernell had been in Jeff’s apartment quite often - and he said the images on the wall that were on the news were never hanging on Jeff’s walls. There was no smell (the smell seemed to originate from the hallway), and the blue barrel he had in his apartment was empty when Vernell was inside and happened to inspect it out of curiosity.
Vernell also covers the trial at the end, and expresses his complete and utter shock at how stark of a contrast the Dahmer on trial was from his own personal experience with him. Vernell was shocked at how thoroughly Dahmer hid this seemingly double life.
Overall a great firsthand account of a man that seems to have been turned into a media money-making character.
March 25, 2020
Across the hall was a very interesting book telling things that had never been known before and although there were few spelling errors and grammar errors, it seems the author did a very good job for someone wanting to tell his story. And for those that complain about the spelling and the editing they should write , edit and publish a book themselves and see how well they do. I highly recommend this book.
September 17, 2022
Interesting perspective!
November 15, 2022
A very good book. Very easy to read. Has a lot of interesting information you might not heard before about Dahmers cases. I enjoyed reading it .5 starts
September 9, 2023
A unique first hand account, just like Patrick Kennedy and Lionel Dahmer's, but from a neighbour this time. My first read of a self published novel too.
September 20, 2015
ACROSS THE HALL —Vernell Bass 2011
Bass gives a first-hand account of what it was like to live across the hall from one of the world’s most evil serial killers.
Bass gives a first-hand account of what it was like to live across the hall from one of the world’s most evil serial killers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews