Denial: A Memoir of Terror is a true story about a rape victim—the author Jessica Stern—who investigates her own case.
One day, Jessica receives an email from Paul Macone, the police lieutenant who oversaw her rape case many years ago. His email pushes her to dive headfirst into overcoming her trauma, which requires her to confront her deepest fears. She ends up conducting intimate interviews with members of her family, and with victims of the same rapist.
The first half of Denial is riveting. Jessica delivers her memoir in a very blunt fashion. It gets rough and difficult to read at times, but the book is hard to put down.
Many times I’ll skip the introductions and prefaces in books, but the one in Denial is intriguing. It piqued my interest, to say the least.
The second half of Denial isn’t as enjoyable. It becomes repetitive, particularly the interviews with the rape victims, which all go pretty much the same.
Denial is a great story about Jessica Stern’s healing process. It provides an in-depth look at PTSD, and an effective way to overcome it. I’d like to read more of her work.
Other books by Jessica Stern include:
- Terror in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants Kill
- My War Criminal: Personal Encounters with an Architect of Genocide
Last Updated on December 3, 2025 by Sarah Ann
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