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Aurora: The Psychiatrist Who Treated the Movie Theater Killer Tells Her Story
A compelling look at violence and trauma from the psychiatrist who treated mass shooter James Holmes, perpetrator of the infamous movie theater massacre.
As an expert and speaker on mass shootings and gun violence, Dr. Lynn Fenton knew it was impossible to “spot a killer.” But when she met her new patient, troubled grad student James Holmes, the hair on her arms stood up. She feared he was going to kill. Yet she could find no way to thwart him.
A few months later, Holmes he entered a packed movie theater and opened fire, killing twelve people and wounding seventy; some were left brain damaged, several were paralyzed for life. Immediately the familiar debates The crisis of mental health access. More restrictive gun laws vs more “good guys with guns.” The morality of the death penalty. The legitimacy of the insanity defense.
But what about the victims and bystanders whose lives would never be the same? Dr. Fenton’s memoir is a voice for them. Her inability to thwart Holmes’s mass murder made her a scapegoat and elicited innumerable death threats. Her chilling account provides an intimate look at her life before and after the Aurora massacre, as well as alarming insight into the sinister patient who called himself “fear incarnate.” With unprecedented access to thousands of pages of documents, audio and video recordings, trial transcripts, medical records, and notes, Aurora attempts to answer the question Holmes himself posed in his infamous “Why? Why? Why?”
As an expert and speaker on mass shootings and gun violence, Dr. Lynn Fenton knew it was impossible to “spot a killer.” But when she met her new patient, troubled grad student James Holmes, the hair on her arms stood up. She feared he was going to kill. Yet she could find no way to thwart him.
A few months later, Holmes he entered a packed movie theater and opened fire, killing twelve people and wounding seventy; some were left brain damaged, several were paralyzed for life. Immediately the familiar debates The crisis of mental health access. More restrictive gun laws vs more “good guys with guns.” The morality of the death penalty. The legitimacy of the insanity defense.
But what about the victims and bystanders whose lives would never be the same? Dr. Fenton’s memoir is a voice for them. Her inability to thwart Holmes’s mass murder made her a scapegoat and elicited innumerable death threats. Her chilling account provides an intimate look at her life before and after the Aurora massacre, as well as alarming insight into the sinister patient who called himself “fear incarnate.” With unprecedented access to thousands of pages of documents, audio and video recordings, trial transcripts, medical records, and notes, Aurora attempts to answer the question Holmes himself posed in his infamous “Why? Why? Why?”
304 pages, Hardcover
Published July 19, 2022
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588 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 13, 2022
It was interesting in that you got a little info into the mind of Holmes, however it felt a little disingenuous. Although, there should not be legal blame placed on Dr. Fenton, a repeated theme throughout the book was that she could not have predicted the murder. I don't think that's honest when one of your clients has obsessive homicidal thoughts. Maybe I am wrong, but I found much more sympathy and empathy with most all other players in the horrific events, then with Dr. Fenton. Perhaps because every page felt like a desperate plea for us to find her the biggest martyr of them all.
November 24, 2022
If you’re looking for a true crime book about the Aurora movie theater mass shooting, pay attention to the subtitle of Dr. Lynn Fenton’s Aurora: The Psychiatrist Who Treated the Movie Theater Killer Tells Her Story. This book is not really an exploration of the crime or the criminal. It is a cri de coeur from the doctor who was widely excoriated for her failure to “do something” about her ex-patient before his psychotic break. Her point that given the pertinent medical and legal regulations there was nothing she could do is well (and repeatedly) made. She implies, probably rightly, that given her academic excellence and long, successful experience, she was not merely the best (free) psychiatrist available to him, but probably the best, period.
Her account certainly achieves her purpose, making it plain that rather than being part of its cause, she was part of the crime’s collateral damage. And even more clearly (and much more important than the major damage to one doctor’s life) it illustrates the fact that the inevitable responses to mass shootings - if you see something, say something; we need more psychological screening/help - is a joke. As was the case with virtually all mass shooters, people did see something wrong with Holmes and they did say something to “authorities” and he did receive psychiatric attention. The obvious question was and remains “Then what?”. It is my opinion the issue isn’t really guns or mental illness, it’s finding an acceptable balance between individual autonomy and social needs. What makes that so difficult of course is that these two values are fundamentally opposed.
As for Fenton’s book: sufficiently edited and with the medical/legal constraints (and their consequences in this case) fully elucidated, it would have made a good long-form New Yorker article. As a book it is overlong and rambling. Recommended only for readers who are really into true crime.
Her account certainly achieves her purpose, making it plain that rather than being part of its cause, she was part of the crime’s collateral damage. And even more clearly (and much more important than the major damage to one doctor’s life) it illustrates the fact that the inevitable responses to mass shootings - if you see something, say something; we need more psychological screening/help - is a joke. As was the case with virtually all mass shooters, people did see something wrong with Holmes and they did say something to “authorities” and he did receive psychiatric attention. The obvious question was and remains “Then what?”. It is my opinion the issue isn’t really guns or mental illness, it’s finding an acceptable balance between individual autonomy and social needs. What makes that so difficult of course is that these two values are fundamentally opposed.
As for Fenton’s book: sufficiently edited and with the medical/legal constraints (and their consequences in this case) fully elucidated, it would have made a good long-form New Yorker article. As a book it is overlong and rambling. Recommended only for readers who are really into true crime.
January 10, 2023
I'm going to split this review in two parts because the book is pretty much two separate parts, one being Holmes' story and what happened, and the other being Fenton's story.
I felt Droban did a great job of writing Holmes' story. For the most part, those were the only parts of the book I found interesting. It gave a lot of information about Holmes before, during, and after the crime, including trial information. Those were the most informative and heartbreaking moments of the book.
But the other half, what this book is actually about, is the psychiatrist who was made into the villain and her take on the whole thing. Frankly, it felt extremely disingenuous and defensive. Her parts were a constant touting of her credentials and talking about being the best at absolutely everything she does. I also do not agree for one second that she should be putting her experience on the same level of the actual victims of Holmes, though she does throughout her story. If this wasn't enough, I nearly stopped reading in the chapter where she essentially compares Holmes to other mass shooters and effectively says "they had history that showed they were gonna do it but Holmes didn't show that so why vilify me instead of them?" Pointing the finger at other psychiatrists who "should've known" is absolutely not the answer. I would've found her part of the story so much more effective if she actually focused on the problems/obstacles providers face in reporting their patients and the other main issues that combine to create the problem with mass shootings we have in our country. Instead all I got was a very defensive woe is me account of someone who took every possible opportunity to brag about how good she is at everything.
I felt Droban did a great job of writing Holmes' story. For the most part, those were the only parts of the book I found interesting. It gave a lot of information about Holmes before, during, and after the crime, including trial information. Those were the most informative and heartbreaking moments of the book.
But the other half, what this book is actually about, is the psychiatrist who was made into the villain and her take on the whole thing. Frankly, it felt extremely disingenuous and defensive. Her parts were a constant touting of her credentials and talking about being the best at absolutely everything she does. I also do not agree for one second that she should be putting her experience on the same level of the actual victims of Holmes, though she does throughout her story. If this wasn't enough, I nearly stopped reading in the chapter where she essentially compares Holmes to other mass shooters and effectively says "they had history that showed they were gonna do it but Holmes didn't show that so why vilify me instead of them?" Pointing the finger at other psychiatrists who "should've known" is absolutely not the answer. I would've found her part of the story so much more effective if she actually focused on the problems/obstacles providers face in reporting their patients and the other main issues that combine to create the problem with mass shootings we have in our country. Instead all I got was a very defensive woe is me account of someone who took every possible opportunity to brag about how good she is at everything.
May 16, 2023
I actually have a lot to say about this book, but will keep it brief. In general, I think it's absolutely unreasonable to task psychiatrists with preventing crime. This is the job of law enforcement, not doctors. Psychiatrists are not fortune tellers at the end of the day, and they only know what they are told. I think that's what the book SHOULD have focused on.
Overall, the book is okay, but would be better if Fenton weren't so narcissistic. It reads VERY defensively, and the way she lists all her achievements in an attempt to appear competent for 2/3 of the book is just cringey. It's also cringey how she so easily accuses her colleagues of being wrong and how judgmental she is towards everyone. She doesn't seem like a particularly likeable person based on this book.
Overall, the book is okay, but would be better if Fenton weren't so narcissistic. It reads VERY defensively, and the way she lists all her achievements in an attempt to appear competent for 2/3 of the book is just cringey. It's also cringey how she so easily accuses her colleagues of being wrong and how judgmental she is towards everyone. She doesn't seem like a particularly likeable person based on this book.
August 24, 2022
I have not stepped a foot in this movie theater since that night, although I had been there many times before. How does anyone ever help someone who cannot or will not articulate in one form or another? There are people in life that we all run across at some point that make the hairs on our collective necks stand up. It's a bad feeling, darkness, fear, weirdness, an energy we want to be far away from. But he/she sits in a chair across from us.
This book ended I hope with healing for us all that experienced this tragedy in one form or another. Many times folks expect those that deal with these situations to have the answers on how to cope, forgetting that we too are human beings and must deal with the trauma ourselves.
I knew much of this story already having lived through it with the population of Aurora; it greatly affected how and where I find myself in public these days. I cannot imagine the endless recrimination shot from all directions. I feel for this doctor.
This book ended I hope with healing for us all that experienced this tragedy in one form or another. Many times folks expect those that deal with these situations to have the answers on how to cope, forgetting that we too are human beings and must deal with the trauma ourselves.
I knew much of this story already having lived through it with the population of Aurora; it greatly affected how and where I find myself in public these days. I cannot imagine the endless recrimination shot from all directions. I feel for this doctor.
January 11, 2024
Overall: ☆☆☆(3.0)
Writing style: ☆☆
Entertainment ☆☆☆
Facts:☆☆☆
Topic:☆☆☆☆
Ending:☆☆☆
I'll be honest, the reason I dislike this book so much, or gave it a mediocre rating, was because I really did not like Dr Lynn Fenton. I wanted to like her. I wanted to empathize with her. But she seems so narcissistic throughout the book. Maybe it's because she's had a defend herself so much, so she builds herself up so much in the book. I also did not like how it was written like a novel instead of like a memoir or like a factual piece. The parts that were very factual were the most interesting. Otherwise, the parts about how she likes plants and yoga were useless information and were not pertinent in my opinion. Just fluff.
I will agree that a lot of information was provided in the book, and the accounts of the people who experienced the massacre were very emotional. I don't think after reading this book I will forget about the police officer who carried out the 6-year-old girl.
Writing style: ☆☆
Entertainment ☆☆☆
Facts:☆☆☆
Topic:☆☆☆☆
Ending:☆☆☆
I'll be honest, the reason I dislike this book so much, or gave it a mediocre rating, was because I really did not like Dr Lynn Fenton. I wanted to like her. I wanted to empathize with her. But she seems so narcissistic throughout the book. Maybe it's because she's had a defend herself so much, so she builds herself up so much in the book. I also did not like how it was written like a novel instead of like a memoir or like a factual piece. The parts that were very factual were the most interesting. Otherwise, the parts about how she likes plants and yoga were useless information and were not pertinent in my opinion. Just fluff.
I will agree that a lot of information was provided in the book, and the accounts of the people who experienced the massacre were very emotional. I don't think after reading this book I will forget about the police officer who carried out the 6-year-old girl.
September 7, 2024
I listened to the poorly narrated audiobook of AURORA written by Dr Lynne Fenton, the university psychiatrist who tried to treat him. Dr Fenton was blamed and needed FBI protection from vigilantes who wanted to kill her for not preventing the murders. Let that sink in. Crazy vigilantes wanted to do the same thing as the shooter to Dr Fenton. People who thought of themselves as the “good guys” stalked, threatened and wanted to kill a doctor for something her patient did.
Psychiatrists are legally bound to keep patient confidentiality unless patients are a danger to themselves or others. Legally, the danger has to be specific and planned. “I want to kill everyone at my school” is a thought, not a specific plan. The therapist would then ask if there are specific people he wanted to kill and how he’d do it. If he says “I’ll shoot X Y and Z” it’s still a thought if he doesn’t have a gun and doesn’t plan on getting one. Similarly, “I’m going to shoot up my school Friday” is specific whether or not he has a gun yet.
A lot of people express anger as wanting to kill someone, a thought or fantasy without any plan of follow through. Committing someone was a lot easier years ago, too easy.
Fenton continued to try to find a way to report the shooter. She consulted colleagues, attorneys and mentors, none could envision a way to pass legal and ethical muster.
I had assumed Holmes was suffering from a form of psychosis, based on his appearance, especially his eyes. Upon reading AURORA, Holmes seems more like a cunning young man with Anti Social and Narcissistic Personality Disorders. Most clinical narcissists only see their world through their point of view. Holmes can see other points of view but doesn’t care.
Psychiatrists are legally bound to keep patient confidentiality unless patients are a danger to themselves or others. Legally, the danger has to be specific and planned. “I want to kill everyone at my school” is a thought, not a specific plan. The therapist would then ask if there are specific people he wanted to kill and how he’d do it. If he says “I’ll shoot X Y and Z” it’s still a thought if he doesn’t have a gun and doesn’t plan on getting one. Similarly, “I’m going to shoot up my school Friday” is specific whether or not he has a gun yet.
A lot of people express anger as wanting to kill someone, a thought or fantasy without any plan of follow through. Committing someone was a lot easier years ago, too easy.
Fenton continued to try to find a way to report the shooter. She consulted colleagues, attorneys and mentors, none could envision a way to pass legal and ethical muster.
I had assumed Holmes was suffering from a form of psychosis, based on his appearance, especially his eyes. Upon reading AURORA, Holmes seems more like a cunning young man with Anti Social and Narcissistic Personality Disorders. Most clinical narcissists only see their world through their point of view. Holmes can see other points of view but doesn’t care.
September 5, 2023
This book was very interesting. As someone who works in the mental health field and assesses patients with homicidal thoughts often, I was intrigued by this story of a psychiatrist who is put under the microscope due to the actions of a patient under her care. Dr Fenton describes the fear so many providers have coming to reality in this book describing her time treating Holmes and the aftermath of the tragedy. There were times where I wish she would have given more detail of the sessions with Holmes and what exactly was said to keep her from stepping him up to a higher level of care. The trial prep was interesting but I felt it took up too much of the book.
Overall, I think it was brave of Dr Fenton to share her story with us. No matter how knowledgeable or well trained a provider is, they cannot prevent crime. Holmes was quiet and resistant to treatment. Dr Fenton warned parties in the university and his family, and still the result of the massacre occurred. I cannot imagine the trauma of this incident on the victims and their families, those who knew Holmes and everyone in the Aurora community.
Overall, I think it was brave of Dr Fenton to share her story with us. No matter how knowledgeable or well trained a provider is, they cannot prevent crime. Holmes was quiet and resistant to treatment. Dr Fenton warned parties in the university and his family, and still the result of the massacre occurred. I cannot imagine the trauma of this incident on the victims and their families, those who knew Holmes and everyone in the Aurora community.
October 18, 2025
I haven’t finished yet. I’m on chapter 5, and are we serious? I might actually not finish this because the intro quotes to each chapter are not fucking real? I’m surprised no one else is concerned that some of the quotes attributed to the Joker specifically from the Dark Knight in 2008 (this is how they are cited) are not actually from that movie. They cited it! Like they did the research. LITERALLY THE FIRST CHAPTER THE QUOTE IS WRONG IM SO MAD. Are we watching the same movie? Did we ask AI the best joker quotes from the dark knight? Bc these quotes are not from the movie and it’s giving Chat GPT. Not all of them but definitely the first and the fourth chapters.
September 19, 2023
It’s very interesting because this all took place at the University Of Colorado anschutz where I went to PA school, where Holmes and Fenton both worked/studied. It made me really think are psychiatrists expected to be able to predict the future? Tricky subject, especially in this book it also feels like psychiatrists want to do more but in the realm of HIPAA and healthcare hold laws there wasn’t much to do in this case. A big thinker
August 19, 2023
This book was heartbreaking, gut wrenching, unreal. I was hoping for more about just James & inside his mind. It had a good mix of his psychiatrists story along with his. Their visits, his journal. It’s truly twisted how someone could do what he did. I also appreciated the dedication of honoring the victims and survivors in this book. May they forever try to heal & also rest in peace.
January 17, 2023
Ooh, this was a doozy.
I was in high school when James Holmes opened fire on a packed theater during the midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises. But I had never read an account quite like the one in Aurora: The Psychiatrist Who Treated The Movie Theater Killer Tells Her Story. Dr. Lynne Fenton and Kerrie Droban wove an incredulous tale of horror.
For a mere six weeks, Dr. Fenton treated James Holmes. He left her feeling uneasy and overwhelmed. It didn't help that he mentioned homicidal thoughts in their very first session. Something about him just nagged at her very being. But we have to remember, psychiatrists can only treat symptoms if they're patients are sharing them.
James wasn't someone who had a desire to maintain relationships with anyone. He hated all of humanity. It was only a matter of time before he hurt himself or someone else. The only problem was he didn't qualify for a psychiatric hold based on what he was willing to share with Dr. Fenton.
So much of Holmes' story left me reeling.
He omitted things from these sessions specifically to see if he could continue out his "mission" without further interference. Part of me thinks he really did want to be stopped, but part of me believes he wanted to do this for a long time.
This book contains graphic retellings of that fateful night but focuses primarily on Dr. Fenton and what she went through while treating James Holmes. Psychiatrists aren't supposed to be outed in criminal trials, which is why she was fully unprepared for the hate mail, death threats, and security measures she had to implement into her every day life.
It was definitely an interesting perspective.
More true crime reviews on A Reader's Diary.
I was in high school when James Holmes opened fire on a packed theater during the midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises. But I had never read an account quite like the one in Aurora: The Psychiatrist Who Treated The Movie Theater Killer Tells Her Story. Dr. Lynne Fenton and Kerrie Droban wove an incredulous tale of horror.
For a mere six weeks, Dr. Fenton treated James Holmes. He left her feeling uneasy and overwhelmed. It didn't help that he mentioned homicidal thoughts in their very first session. Something about him just nagged at her very being. But we have to remember, psychiatrists can only treat symptoms if they're patients are sharing them.
James wasn't someone who had a desire to maintain relationships with anyone. He hated all of humanity. It was only a matter of time before he hurt himself or someone else. The only problem was he didn't qualify for a psychiatric hold based on what he was willing to share with Dr. Fenton.
So much of Holmes' story left me reeling.
He omitted things from these sessions specifically to see if he could continue out his "mission" without further interference. Part of me thinks he really did want to be stopped, but part of me believes he wanted to do this for a long time.
This book contains graphic retellings of that fateful night but focuses primarily on Dr. Fenton and what she went through while treating James Holmes. Psychiatrists aren't supposed to be outed in criminal trials, which is why she was fully unprepared for the hate mail, death threats, and security measures she had to implement into her every day life.
It was definitely an interesting perspective.
More true crime reviews on A Reader's Diary.
May 25, 2024
I am, for reference, a mental health professional with experience assessing for risk of harm to others.
I am sympathetic to Dr. Fenton, who lived a professional nightmare in this case. I want to be clear that I do not blame Dr. Fenton for anything that happened nor do I think she deserved to be such a target of public and media scrutiny. (I also do think Dr. Fenton did several responsible and professional things that were appropriate for the situation.)
At the same time, even in this very, very defensive book, it is apparent, in my opinion, that Dr. Fenton was in over her head in this case. Even just the comment that she had never felt unsafe with a patient before-- all I can think is, "Ah, so you haven't spent much time working with people with dangerous behaviors." ...And that would be fine if it felt like Dr. Fenton had good self-reflection and could portray what happened in a balanced way. However, there is a lot that here related to risk assessment/safety planning that either wasn't done or, if it was done, wasn't mentioned. Dr. Fenton instead just spends almost the entire portion of the book repeating, essentially, "I am extremely qualified. There is NOTHING any mental health professionals could learn from this. If I couldn't stop this, absolutely no one could stop anything like this, ever, no matter what they did." (At the same time, she somewhat inexplicably makes comments that appear to be judgemental of mental health providers who worked with other future killers.) Aside from the postscript, the end of the book is literally, (I would be much more fine with a more modest, "I did the best I could with the information I had, met my legal and ethical obligations, and followed university policy". Is that what the lay public wants to read? I don't know. But I think it would be more fair.)
I am not sure if Dr. Fenton usually talks about herself this way or if she feels that she needs to make herself look competent because of the circumstances of the book, but it comes across very strangely to me. E.g., "I've had so many careers so I'm skilled at everything I do-- way more skilled than other people! People don't believe how many careers I've had! (Two: dancer and doctor.)"
It is not necessary to choose between the two polar extremes of "This is Dr. Fenton's fault and she is essentially a murderer!" or "Dr. Fenton is a perfect angel-- clearly better than other doctors-- who couldn't ever make an error!" In the ten years between the mass killing and this book being released, I would have hoped she would have spent some time coming to some kind of middle path on that. I also feel compelled to note that Dr. Fenton is clearly very psychodynamic in her thinking and it just feels... misplaced in an outpatient context with a client who is experiencing substantive homicidal ideation. Please note that this is not a knock on psychodyanamic clinicians in general, only just... observing that there may have been a different path here related to treatment, also (not just assessment and risk management).
My rating of the book, though, to be clear, is not based on my perception of the care offered, but rather is based on Dr. Fenton's lack of self-reflection (in my opinion), which would have been much more interesting and meaningful. "I am perfect and have learned nothing" is not a very compelling story from either a "knowing about this topic" perspective or simply as a narrative.
There is nothing of note about the case itself here, which has been covered elsewhere... and better.
I also want to observe that some of the language used is really inappropriate, in my opinion, such as saying that a distressed loved one of a victim experiencing distress was "go[ing] ballistic".
I am sympathetic to Dr. Fenton, who lived a professional nightmare in this case. I want to be clear that I do not blame Dr. Fenton for anything that happened nor do I think she deserved to be such a target of public and media scrutiny. (I also do think Dr. Fenton did several responsible and professional things that were appropriate for the situation.)
At the same time, even in this very, very defensive book, it is apparent, in my opinion, that Dr. Fenton was in over her head in this case. Even just the comment that she had never felt unsafe with a patient before-- all I can think is, "Ah, so you haven't spent much time working with people with dangerous behaviors." ...And that would be fine if it felt like Dr. Fenton had good self-reflection and could portray what happened in a balanced way. However, there is a lot that here related to risk assessment/safety planning that either wasn't done or, if it was done, wasn't mentioned. Dr. Fenton instead just spends almost the entire portion of the book repeating, essentially, "I am extremely qualified. There is NOTHING any mental health professionals could learn from this. If I couldn't stop this, absolutely no one could stop anything like this, ever, no matter what they did." (At the same time, she somewhat inexplicably makes comments that appear to be judgemental of mental health providers who worked with other future killers.) Aside from the postscript, the end of the book is literally, (I would be much more fine with a more modest, "I did the best I could with the information I had, met my legal and ethical obligations, and followed university policy". Is that what the lay public wants to read? I don't know. But I think it would be more fair.)
I am not sure if Dr. Fenton usually talks about herself this way or if she feels that she needs to make herself look competent because of the circumstances of the book, but it comes across very strangely to me. E.g., "I've had so many careers so I'm skilled at everything I do-- way more skilled than other people! People don't believe how many careers I've had! (Two: dancer and doctor.)"
It is not necessary to choose between the two polar extremes of "This is Dr. Fenton's fault and she is essentially a murderer!" or "Dr. Fenton is a perfect angel-- clearly better than other doctors-- who couldn't ever make an error!" In the ten years between the mass killing and this book being released, I would have hoped she would have spent some time coming to some kind of middle path on that. I also feel compelled to note that Dr. Fenton is clearly very psychodynamic in her thinking and it just feels... misplaced in an outpatient context with a client who is experiencing substantive homicidal ideation. Please note that this is not a knock on psychodyanamic clinicians in general, only just... observing that there may have been a different path here related to treatment, also (not just assessment and risk management).
My rating of the book, though, to be clear, is not based on my perception of the care offered, but rather is based on Dr. Fenton's lack of self-reflection (in my opinion), which would have been much more interesting and meaningful. "I am perfect and have learned nothing" is not a very compelling story from either a "knowing about this topic" perspective or simply as a narrative.
There is nothing of note about the case itself here, which has been covered elsewhere... and better.
I also want to observe that some of the language used is really inappropriate, in my opinion, such as saying that a distressed loved one of a victim experiencing distress was "go[ing] ballistic".
January 29, 2025
In Aurora: The Psychiatrist Who Treated the Movie Theater Killer, Dr. Lynne Fenton offers a harrowing and deeply personal account of her experience as the psychiatrist of James Holmes, the perpetrator of the 2012 Aurora, Colorado, movie theater massacre. Through this compelling memoir, Fenton chronicles her sessions with Holmes and provides a behind-the-scenes look at the legal and professional turmoil she faced following the tragedy.
Fenton’s involvement in the case was inadvertently made public due to a clerical error by the courts, thrusting her into an unexpected and relentless media spotlight. In the book, she reflects on how this exposure upended her professionally and personally. More importantly, she meticulously recounts the efforts she made to secure Holmes the psychiatric help he so clearly needed, as well as the challenges and limitations inherent in the mental health system that ultimately failed to prevent the tragedy.
A particularly illuminating aspect of the book is Fenton’s discussion of how other mental health professionals who evaluated Holmes after his arrest perceived his psychological state. By comparing their assessments to her own notes from their sessions, she provides a rare and valuable perspective on the complexities of diagnosing and treating individuals with severe mental illness, particularly those who may pose a danger to themselves or others.
Beyond her role as Holmes’s psychiatrist, Fenton’s personal and professional background is remarkable. She initially trained as a dancer before transitioning into medicine, specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. She later served as Chief of Physical Medicine for the U.S. Air Force during Operation Desert Storm before running her own practice. Rather than resting on her laurels, she pursued a second medical residency in psychiatry and completed a research fellowship, ultimately becoming a faculty member at the University of Colorado Boulder. It was in this final role that she encountered one of the most chilling and infamous cases of modern American crime.
As both a reader and someone who studies and experiences mental illness firsthand, I found Aurora to be an exceptionally informative and riveting read. Fenton’s account is detailed yet accessible, shedding light on the ethical dilemmas, systemic obstacles, and emotional burdens faced by mental health professionals. The book is as much a personal memoir as it is a cautionary tale about the challenges of identifying and addressing potential threats in a flawed mental health system.
For those interested in psychology, criminal justice, or true crime, Aurora is an essential read. It provides a rare, insider perspective on a case that continues to haunt public memory while raising important questions about the intersection of psychiatry, law, and personal responsibility. Dr. Fenton’s integrity, resilience, and dedication to her field shine through in this gripping and thought-provoking book.
Fenton’s involvement in the case was inadvertently made public due to a clerical error by the courts, thrusting her into an unexpected and relentless media spotlight. In the book, she reflects on how this exposure upended her professionally and personally. More importantly, she meticulously recounts the efforts she made to secure Holmes the psychiatric help he so clearly needed, as well as the challenges and limitations inherent in the mental health system that ultimately failed to prevent the tragedy.
A particularly illuminating aspect of the book is Fenton’s discussion of how other mental health professionals who evaluated Holmes after his arrest perceived his psychological state. By comparing their assessments to her own notes from their sessions, she provides a rare and valuable perspective on the complexities of diagnosing and treating individuals with severe mental illness, particularly those who may pose a danger to themselves or others.
Beyond her role as Holmes’s psychiatrist, Fenton’s personal and professional background is remarkable. She initially trained as a dancer before transitioning into medicine, specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. She later served as Chief of Physical Medicine for the U.S. Air Force during Operation Desert Storm before running her own practice. Rather than resting on her laurels, she pursued a second medical residency in psychiatry and completed a research fellowship, ultimately becoming a faculty member at the University of Colorado Boulder. It was in this final role that she encountered one of the most chilling and infamous cases of modern American crime.
As both a reader and someone who studies and experiences mental illness firsthand, I found Aurora to be an exceptionally informative and riveting read. Fenton’s account is detailed yet accessible, shedding light on the ethical dilemmas, systemic obstacles, and emotional burdens faced by mental health professionals. The book is as much a personal memoir as it is a cautionary tale about the challenges of identifying and addressing potential threats in a flawed mental health system.
For those interested in psychology, criminal justice, or true crime, Aurora is an essential read. It provides a rare, insider perspective on a case that continues to haunt public memory while raising important questions about the intersection of psychiatry, law, and personal responsibility. Dr. Fenton’s integrity, resilience, and dedication to her field shine through in this gripping and thought-provoking book.
August 27, 2022
The thesis of this book is that Lynne Fenton, James Holmes' psychiatrist, was villainized (as no psychologist in the history of the U.S. has been villainized), for not recognizing Holmes was going to commit mass murder.
The problem with this book is that it's her telling us this. And gosh, this sounds awful, but Fenton doesn't come across all that sympathetic.
It's a tough tightrope to walk when people blame you for not predicting or stopping a tragedy: Sue Klebold, mother of one of the Columbine shooters, walked this line pretty masterfully in her book "A Mother's Reckoning," which I highly recommend (she also donated the proceeds to charity).
I think Fenton could really have had something interesting to say about mental health, the benefits and limitations of therapy and medication, and what role gun control plays. She, with all her degrees and experience, couldn't recognize Holmes was really going to act, despite how icky he made her feel. Would a lack of access to guns have stopped him? She hints at this but doesn't commit. In the end, it's more about her.
The problem with this book is that it's her telling us this. And gosh, this sounds awful, but Fenton doesn't come across all that sympathetic.
It's a tough tightrope to walk when people blame you for not predicting or stopping a tragedy: Sue Klebold, mother of one of the Columbine shooters, walked this line pretty masterfully in her book "A Mother's Reckoning," which I highly recommend (she also donated the proceeds to charity).
I think Fenton could really have had something interesting to say about mental health, the benefits and limitations of therapy and medication, and what role gun control plays. She, with all her degrees and experience, couldn't recognize Holmes was really going to act, despite how icky he made her feel. Would a lack of access to guns have stopped him? She hints at this but doesn't commit. In the end, it's more about her.
March 18, 2023
I really felt engaged in the book and the way it was written. It was compelling and well-composed. I cried many times reading the courtroom testimonies, trying to simply comprehend what they must have experienced. However, it came across as almost “whiny” or “woe-is-me” because we’re literally reading about a man who killed many, with the intent to kill more, and there are many pages about how SHE felt fear after her name was revealed? I understand it’s her perspective, “her side of the story”, but there was an awful lot of information about her own personal accomplishments that felt forced. It seems more time and sympathy could have been lent to the survivors and families of victims and the anguish they must live with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2023
I don’t know that this book set out to fully explore this horrific crime from the lens of the psychiatrist. It was an odd mix of a straight forward book about the crime and postulations about what can and cannot be accomplished in the mental health field. I left the book with little understanding of what the subtitle shared. It is probably more of a 2.5 for me when I really think about it.
October 14, 2022
Anyone with 5 minutes of training in a psych 101 class or nursing class would know this is not her fault at all. I can’t see how people blame her. Social media has made this world insane with its outrage.
October 23, 2022
I can't put my finger on it, but something really turned me off on this one.
October 28, 2022
To me, this book showed so many things. That mental illness is still not taken seriously as it should be, and also just how messed up our justice system is here.
February 8, 2023
Dr Fenton treated James Holmes for six weeks. Such a short time span is not enough to breakdown the barriers that he created to portray himself as a normal grad student.
February 9, 2024
I'm not at all blaming Dr. Fenton for what happened, but her hypocrisy throughout the book, along with the sense of wanting a pity party, was very off-putting.
August 13, 2022
Dr. Lynne Fenton attended Chicago Medical School, using a scholarship provided by the United States Air Force. She served as Chief of Medicine at Lackland Air Force Base until she left the Air Force. After that, she moved to the University of Colorado, where she completed her psychiatry residency. She was employed in the capacity of director of the student mental health center on the Anschutz campus. It was here that she took on a new patient, James Holmes. She mentioned several times throughout the book that she met him a little over 100 days before the shooting. She mentioned several times that he made her nervous, that he was odd, that he was not opening up. She claimed that she didn't have enough to place him on a psychiatric hold, though she did inform others of his comments about wanting to kill a lot of people. She also broke protocol to call his mother to discuss his weird behavior. She was absolutely crucified in the media once it was uncovered that she was his therapist, and got smacked with some lawsuits as well.
James Holmes was born in 1987. (It is so odd to think that we are the same age.) His father was a scientist and mathematician. His mother was a registered nurse. It has been reported that he began to enter a mental and social decline around age twelve. He claimed there were ghosts hammering his walls all night. He decided to go to the University of Colorado to obtain a degree in neuroscience. His dating life was pathetic, though he did have one girlfriend. He apparently hired sex workers and reviewed their services online on a message board. He was awkward and made jokes and puns that nobody got or thought were funny. He didn't try very hard in school. He became obsessed with the Joker and the game Doom. He was also obsessing over killing people. He began purchasing weapons and practicing at the shooting range. Nothing ever came up on a background check for him.
Holmes went to the Century 16 movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado on July 20, 2012. He snuck out the exit, propping it open. He went to retrieve his weapons and put on the body armor that he bought before going back inside. The film that was showing was the midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises, which makes sense, given his obsession with the first film and the Joker. He set off tear gas and shot into the audience. 70 people were injured, 58 of those were injured from gunshots. Others were injured trying to escape. Twelve people were killed. He was given twelve life sentences for each person he killed, and he received 3,318 years for attempted murder of everyone else.
This book was wild. I remember this event happening, and I remember the aftermath of it. I recall a few details from the trial, but there are so many people that do not know how to act that go out and do things like this in the United States that it is (sadly) hard to keep track. I cannot believe that this guy is the same age as me. I also mentioned to my sister that we had a strange kid in our school who talked about shooting everyone with this same name. I think people do not understand the limitations that there are regarding reporting and what you can legally do as far as placing someone on a psych hold. I think that it is unfortunate that this doctor got ripped apart in the media and got so many death threats. I think people need to direct their anger and outrage when things like this happen and need someone to blame. The people who sold the weapons to him did what they were supposed to do. They checked his ID and background. Nothing showed up. The people that were treating him did what they legally could, which was not enough, obviously, but there are standards and rules. If the standards and rules do not work, they need to be amended. The school allowed him to enroll, but they are not responsible for his actions. He is. It was a disgusting situation and so tragic and traumatic for all of those people who experienced it, and are still experiencing it every day. The book offers a perspective from someone directly involved in the case, who was not able to speak or defend themselves at the time due to a gag order. It offers some interesting thought about mass shooters in general, and this particular one. I thought it contained a lot of information about this guy and the case, as well as the parameters for treating someone in the mental health field. If you are interested in this subject, this might be a good book for you to look into.
James Holmes was born in 1987. (It is so odd to think that we are the same age.) His father was a scientist and mathematician. His mother was a registered nurse. It has been reported that he began to enter a mental and social decline around age twelve. He claimed there were ghosts hammering his walls all night. He decided to go to the University of Colorado to obtain a degree in neuroscience. His dating life was pathetic, though he did have one girlfriend. He apparently hired sex workers and reviewed their services online on a message board. He was awkward and made jokes and puns that nobody got or thought were funny. He didn't try very hard in school. He became obsessed with the Joker and the game Doom. He was also obsessing over killing people. He began purchasing weapons and practicing at the shooting range. Nothing ever came up on a background check for him.
Holmes went to the Century 16 movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado on July 20, 2012. He snuck out the exit, propping it open. He went to retrieve his weapons and put on the body armor that he bought before going back inside. The film that was showing was the midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises, which makes sense, given his obsession with the first film and the Joker. He set off tear gas and shot into the audience. 70 people were injured, 58 of those were injured from gunshots. Others were injured trying to escape. Twelve people were killed. He was given twelve life sentences for each person he killed, and he received 3,318 years for attempted murder of everyone else.
This book was wild. I remember this event happening, and I remember the aftermath of it. I recall a few details from the trial, but there are so many people that do not know how to act that go out and do things like this in the United States that it is (sadly) hard to keep track. I cannot believe that this guy is the same age as me. I also mentioned to my sister that we had a strange kid in our school who talked about shooting everyone with this same name. I think people do not understand the limitations that there are regarding reporting and what you can legally do as far as placing someone on a psych hold. I think that it is unfortunate that this doctor got ripped apart in the media and got so many death threats. I think people need to direct their anger and outrage when things like this happen and need someone to blame. The people who sold the weapons to him did what they were supposed to do. They checked his ID and background. Nothing showed up. The people that were treating him did what they legally could, which was not enough, obviously, but there are standards and rules. If the standards and rules do not work, they need to be amended. The school allowed him to enroll, but they are not responsible for his actions. He is. It was a disgusting situation and so tragic and traumatic for all of those people who experienced it, and are still experiencing it every day. The book offers a perspective from someone directly involved in the case, who was not able to speak or defend themselves at the time due to a gag order. It offers some interesting thought about mass shooters in general, and this particular one. I thought it contained a lot of information about this guy and the case, as well as the parameters for treating someone in the mental health field. If you are interested in this subject, this might be a good book for you to look into.
April 12, 2024
This is an awful book from the very beginning, no nuance and very sensationalist, not any kind of a balanced examination of the events that occurred in Aurora, Colorado. Also riddled with factual errors and errors of attribution. At one point it lists the victims not by name but by attributes, and they do not match up with reality, as some of the wounded are listed among the dead. It opens with a quote from The Joker in The Dark Knight, further cementing the media created connection between the Aurora shooter and The Joker that there is no actual evidence for, which was an immediate red flag for me that this book is not any kind of balanced examination of the incident. A few pages later Columbine is referred to, and the perpetrators are called “two psychopaths”. Considering this book is supposed to be about the experience of a psychiatrist and their interactions with a patient that did indeed became an active shooter, one would think there would be more care involved in throwing around specific labels for undiagnosed individuals. Not all rampage killers are psychopaths, which is a specific diagnosis, and psychological diagnoses are difficult to give post-mortem, especially not with any degree of certainty. I realize that often the term psychopath is used in a non-clinical way, but it this kind of sloppy, sensationalized writing that really makes me dislike this book from the beginning.
It just keeps getting worse, the third person sections are strung together from incidents revealed in later interviews with James Holmes and are presented out of context or out of order, and if you have watched the many hours of interview footage, as this author must have done, you can see that she has she has taken copious notes of any interesting incidents mentioned and then followed them like a checklist. Like, oh, he called his plant Planty? I’ll just put that here. The early section on Holmes is very sensationalized, and tries to portray Holmes as some kind of master manipulator, which isn’t borne out at all by the evidence, the many hours of the interviews or any of the other psychiatrists final reports. I know the book is primarily written by Droban but Fenton should at least have some kind of editorial overview but there are so many egregious errors that it indicates either she didn’t review the material for accuracy as much as she should have, or suggests a level of incompetence on her part that brings to question her ability to be a practicing psychologist.
It’s readable if you have no familiarity with the facts, but under any amount of scrutiny the absurdity of this narrative becomes apparent.
The later half that focuses more on Dr Fenton’s experiences is better, as it relies on Fenton’s notes rather than other materials, though it is obvious that the work is mostly written by the ghost writer with Fenton providing access to her notes and probably providing the ghost writer with interviews, but the fact checking throughout is poor, much material that is publicly available is ignored, and Holmes is constantly portrayed as some kind of master manipulator that the evidence just doesn’t support. The book tries to depict Holmes as having manipulated Fenton, and tries to absolve Fenton of all blame. Fenton could not have prevented the shooting from occurring, and while Holmes was not manipulating her during their sessions he wasn’t being completely open either, which Fenton’s training should have made apparent, and she did not ask many questions which should have been asked.
It just keeps getting worse, the third person sections are strung together from incidents revealed in later interviews with James Holmes and are presented out of context or out of order, and if you have watched the many hours of interview footage, as this author must have done, you can see that she has she has taken copious notes of any interesting incidents mentioned and then followed them like a checklist. Like, oh, he called his plant Planty? I’ll just put that here. The early section on Holmes is very sensationalized, and tries to portray Holmes as some kind of master manipulator, which isn’t borne out at all by the evidence, the many hours of the interviews or any of the other psychiatrists final reports. I know the book is primarily written by Droban but Fenton should at least have some kind of editorial overview but there are so many egregious errors that it indicates either she didn’t review the material for accuracy as much as she should have, or suggests a level of incompetence on her part that brings to question her ability to be a practicing psychologist.
It’s readable if you have no familiarity with the facts, but under any amount of scrutiny the absurdity of this narrative becomes apparent.
The later half that focuses more on Dr Fenton’s experiences is better, as it relies on Fenton’s notes rather than other materials, though it is obvious that the work is mostly written by the ghost writer with Fenton providing access to her notes and probably providing the ghost writer with interviews, but the fact checking throughout is poor, much material that is publicly available is ignored, and Holmes is constantly portrayed as some kind of master manipulator that the evidence just doesn’t support. The book tries to depict Holmes as having manipulated Fenton, and tries to absolve Fenton of all blame. Fenton could not have prevented the shooting from occurring, and while Holmes was not manipulating her during their sessions he wasn’t being completely open either, which Fenton’s training should have made apparent, and she did not ask many questions which should have been asked.
Read
July 3, 2023Because of the severity of the crime and the contents of this book, I, like many others, chose not to give it a star rating. I don't really think that it's appropriate given the subject matter.
This is a very eye-opening look into the tragedy that James Holmes caused, but it's not quite what I expected it to be. If you're looking for a deep dive into the psychiatric side of James Holmes' crime, you're not going to find that here. This isn't going to share the "why" that I think many of us were looking for in between these pages. You're honestly not going to get any insight at all as to why this horrific crime happened but you will see just how quick people are to place blame where it doesn't need to be.
With all of that being said, I do think that this is an interesting look into not only how mental health isn't a one size fits all thing that can checked off on a checklist but also how harshly mental health providers can be affected when things go wrong.
Dr. Fenton shared in this book how, even though he was peculiar, Homles never gave any indication that he was a threat to anyone. While it was clear that he had some deep trouble, he didn't meet the standard criteria to need any level of involuntary treatment. Even though Dr. Fenton was concerned and knew that something wasn't quite right, there was nothing she could do because there was no outright threat made.
When Holmes committed his crime, Dr. Fenton was blamed, threatened and ultimately ran out of town by people who didn't understand her position. They believed that she should have done more, noticed more, treated the situation differently. She should have known that this peculiar man was a threat. But can we really blame someone who was only following the guidelines given for treatment? Can we really put the blame on her or should that blame be directed higher? Could she really have done more than she did without it costing her more than she had to lose?
Honestly, I can't imagine the weight that she carried with her and likely still carries with her today. She undoubtedly questioned what she'd missed, what she could have done differently, or what she should have done to avoid this before she even knew it was going to happen. It was incredibly unfair for people to blame her for his decision, whether mental health was the root of the problem or not. Following the massacre, Fenton lived every day in fear of being retaliated against just for doing her job and following proper procedures. For a period of time, she left her home and everything else behind and contemplated whether she even wanted to continue her career.
I think that this book opened up, for me, a lot of questions that I'd never considered before. It's absolutely worth reading if you're comfortable with the content - it's just not quite what you'd expect.
This is a very eye-opening look into the tragedy that James Holmes caused, but it's not quite what I expected it to be. If you're looking for a deep dive into the psychiatric side of James Holmes' crime, you're not going to find that here. This isn't going to share the "why" that I think many of us were looking for in between these pages. You're honestly not going to get any insight at all as to why this horrific crime happened but you will see just how quick people are to place blame where it doesn't need to be.
With all of that being said, I do think that this is an interesting look into not only how mental health isn't a one size fits all thing that can checked off on a checklist but also how harshly mental health providers can be affected when things go wrong.
Dr. Fenton shared in this book how, even though he was peculiar, Homles never gave any indication that he was a threat to anyone. While it was clear that he had some deep trouble, he didn't meet the standard criteria to need any level of involuntary treatment. Even though Dr. Fenton was concerned and knew that something wasn't quite right, there was nothing she could do because there was no outright threat made.
When Holmes committed his crime, Dr. Fenton was blamed, threatened and ultimately ran out of town by people who didn't understand her position. They believed that she should have done more, noticed more, treated the situation differently. She should have known that this peculiar man was a threat. But can we really blame someone who was only following the guidelines given for treatment? Can we really put the blame on her or should that blame be directed higher? Could she really have done more than she did without it costing her more than she had to lose?
Honestly, I can't imagine the weight that she carried with her and likely still carries with her today. She undoubtedly questioned what she'd missed, what she could have done differently, or what she should have done to avoid this before she even knew it was going to happen. It was incredibly unfair for people to blame her for his decision, whether mental health was the root of the problem or not. Following the massacre, Fenton lived every day in fear of being retaliated against just for doing her job and following proper procedures. For a period of time, she left her home and everything else behind and contemplated whether she even wanted to continue her career.
I think that this book opened up, for me, a lot of questions that I'd never considered before. It's absolutely worth reading if you're comfortable with the content - it's just not quite what you'd expect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2022
The problem of early deaths is a problem that should concern us all. Homicides and suicides are major categories which include the subset of mass attacks as happened at the Aurora movie theater. The author’s firsthand experience plus her training could provide many useful insights into this problem. The book did have a few useful insights and some useful background information, but was more a defense of the inability to prevent the violent incident along with the negative consequences she experienced.
I live near the theater and remember the news coverage. A lot of people wanted to blame someone and Dr. Fenton was an easy target. I did not think she was a major problem at the time and the book confirms that belief. Mental health providers have a difficult job and need support. We need better laws to help. Preventing problems requires a longer time frame. Even if it is possible to detect a problem it may be too late to stop things from happening. The damage done to her life is unfortunate. Her recounting of her problems is a positive part of the book.
The book moves from things concerning the killer and Dr. Fenton so we get some perspective of both. I suspect the book was limited because other things are mentioned like other killings like happened nearby at Columbine. The use of explosives there and the use by the killer here is included without any follow up. One incident mentioned was theater attack happened with a hatchet which is a hint we need to focus on behaviors more than weapons. The fact that there are over 40,000 suicides was mentioned without connecting that many of these mass violence incidents are murder-suicides.
This was a well written book and worth reading. Hopefully, there will be another book with more insights explored.
I live near the theater and remember the news coverage. A lot of people wanted to blame someone and Dr. Fenton was an easy target. I did not think she was a major problem at the time and the book confirms that belief. Mental health providers have a difficult job and need support. We need better laws to help. Preventing problems requires a longer time frame. Even if it is possible to detect a problem it may be too late to stop things from happening. The damage done to her life is unfortunate. Her recounting of her problems is a positive part of the book.
The book moves from things concerning the killer and Dr. Fenton so we get some perspective of both. I suspect the book was limited because other things are mentioned like other killings like happened nearby at Columbine. The use of explosives there and the use by the killer here is included without any follow up. One incident mentioned was theater attack happened with a hatchet which is a hint we need to focus on behaviors more than weapons. The fact that there are over 40,000 suicides was mentioned without connecting that many of these mass violence incidents are murder-suicides.
This was a well written book and worth reading. Hopefully, there will be another book with more insights explored.
November 28, 2023
This book is written by the psychiatrist who treated James Holmes prior to him opening fire and killing innocent victims in the Aurora, Colorado shooting. This book does offer a slight bit into who he was through her lens, but mostly documents the Psychiatrists journey navigating the aftermath of the event. There were some chapters that were a bit slow. A lot seemed very repetitive, and was the psychiatrist discussing how traumatized she was to have to ever have treated Holmes, and to have gone through the whole criminal trial. Some of it felt like, “please feel bad for me”. I’m having a hard time knocking off more stars for this, because the book is literally labeled, her account of these events. That being said, I do not think it is my place to say that this account is over-exaggerated or boring. It is quite literally, her account.
The pros- the final several chapters were outstanding. They introduced the testimony that survivors, victims’ family members, and first responders gave through the course of the trial. I personally did not know a tremendous amount about this case and reading this book gave me a lot of facts and information surrounding same.
This book is easy to read- meaning it is not filled with legal jargon or psychiatric terms that would puzzle the average reader. I would reccomend this book, just keep in mind it is through one lens of this very convoluted crime.
The pros- the final several chapters were outstanding. They introduced the testimony that survivors, victims’ family members, and first responders gave through the course of the trial. I personally did not know a tremendous amount about this case and reading this book gave me a lot of facts and information surrounding same.
This book is easy to read- meaning it is not filled with legal jargon or psychiatric terms that would puzzle the average reader. I would reccomend this book, just keep in mind it is through one lens of this very convoluted crime.
April 9, 2023
So much for doctor-patient confidentiality. I'm sure she would argue that the man's crimes justify such an aggravated violation of her commitment to privacy.
This work provides further evidence that the mental health industry is a scam plain and simple.
If the FDA had any morality and was not run by former doctors seeking to protect their parasitic income stream. They would publish PSA's showing the lack of science involved in this field. These professionals go to med school in order to build unrelated credibility for their positions as "masters of the mind". Then they practice "science" that is comparable to alchemy. Using vague descriptions of human behavior as a framework to diagnose "illness".
If mental illness is a definable illness with delineated characteristics. Why is it that two psychiatrists rarely diagnose the same patient with the same "mental illness"?
Has medical science discovered a method to read the thoughts contained in a person's brain? Until we have I think paying these charlatans to sit around and do nothing but "listen" to their clients should be treated like the grift that it is. A psychologist or psychiatrist is an overeducated psychic. Claiming knowledge of the unknowable at an exorbitantly high price.
This work provides further evidence that the mental health industry is a scam plain and simple.
If the FDA had any morality and was not run by former doctors seeking to protect their parasitic income stream. They would publish PSA's showing the lack of science involved in this field. These professionals go to med school in order to build unrelated credibility for their positions as "masters of the mind". Then they practice "science" that is comparable to alchemy. Using vague descriptions of human behavior as a framework to diagnose "illness".
If mental illness is a definable illness with delineated characteristics. Why is it that two psychiatrists rarely diagnose the same patient with the same "mental illness"?
Has medical science discovered a method to read the thoughts contained in a person's brain? Until we have I think paying these charlatans to sit around and do nothing but "listen" to their clients should be treated like the grift that it is. A psychologist or psychiatrist is an overeducated psychic. Claiming knowledge of the unknowable at an exorbitantly high price.
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January 27, 2023I won’t rate it as how can it be. I had been to that theater once or twice, and live less than a comfortable amount of distance from it. I think I have only been to 1 movie since then in theaters. I drive past Paris Street once or twice a month but not the address he lived in. It is a nauseating memory and hard to read it, but I do, trying to understand the probably impossible to understand events. I think some of this could have been done better; no need for the movie quotes and some of the details of her life, but it true crime, so maybe expected, I don’t tend to read much of it. The only way I think he could have been stopped is if people in his life (and not blaming them) had noticed or reported what he did and said. If you see something, say something. Saying you want to kill people is a clear sign of something, so say something. Or don’t befriend or date them, I think loss of friends would have made things more clear, given more time to expose him. Experts are at a loss, they just don’t know and can’t predict. Much love to survivors and loved ones, I hope this is not retraumatizing for them…
October 8, 2025
I found reading this book, particularly the first half, to be frustrating. The writing itself was fine. Certainly good enough for me to have finished the book. But the characters, who supposedly are real people in real life, don't act or behave or think in any way predictably, at least when compared to any other humans that I have ever encountered. The mass murderer, himself, would obviously be expected to think and act outside the norm. But the psychiatrist, her coworkers, her ex, her friends, do not resemble, in any way, the behavior of "normal" humans. So reading this book was like reading a book about a modern combustion engine that was written by the Amish. A book that would interesting, I'm sure, but puzzling in its approach. But ultimately, I did like Aurora, and I would recommend it. I ended up having sympathy for the man who was sentenced to life, (when normally I would not) but I am not sure if that was the intended outcome for those who read it. The mass murderer came off as more "likable" (for lack of a better term) than his psychiatrist did. An odd thing to say, I know.
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