Richie

A Father, His Son, and the Ultimate American Tragedy

By: Thomas Thompson

Narrated by: Shawn Compton

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

George Diener, World War II veteran and traveling salesman, and his wife, Carol, had old-fashioned values and ordinary aspirations: a home, a family, the pleasure of watching their two sons grow up. But in February 1972, an unthinkable tragedy occurred in the basement of their Nassau County residence, shattering their hopes and dreams forever.

George and Carol doted on their shy eldest son, Richie. But at 15, the boy fell into a devastating downward spiral. He started smoking marijuana, shoplifting, and hanging out with drug dealers, and was soon arrested for assault and expelled from school. By the time his parents sought psychiatric counseling for their son, Richie was addicted to barbiturates and given to violent outbursts and threats. The boy George and Carol knew was long gone. Then, one winter evening, Richie came at his father with a steak knife and a suicidal cry of "Shoot!"

Edgar Award-winning author Thomas Thompson delivers a "scary, harrowing" account of a turbulent era in American history when the gulf between young and old, bohemian and conservative, felt wider and more dangerous than ever before (the New York Times Book Review).

©1973 Thomas Thompson (P)2019 Tantor

Wow! very well written and performed.

Good bad shocking book. Laws have made barbiturates highly difficult to get, for any reason other than seizures. I never realized that’s what downers were back in 70’s. I thought it was like Xanax. But barbiturates are dangerous. It leads to death, and is part of the lethal execution in most states.
The story is sad, and I don’t know how else the dad could have reacted. It’s terrible situation! Very interesting true crime!

Truly a great American Tragedy

This book was so much more than I was expecting. A tragic story of the sinister infiltration of drugs and the abuse of those drugs by the young people of America beginning in the early 1970’s. How those drugs ruined, and continue to devastate our country. This very sad story is but one account of the horror inflicted on but just one of probably millions of American families.

I was born just one year after Richie, so I lived through all this and saw and experienced this first hand within my own family as well as those of my friends and schoolmates.

A very sad but important book. 🫤

Powerful Read- How Drugs Destroyed One Family

My heart ached for this family. I was Richie's age and remember so many of the details of this book in my own community. and social circle. While I personally didn't identify with Richie, I very much understood him and his contemporaries.
I'm thankful I didn't get into the drug scene which was escalating at an alarming pace at the time of this story.
And now I read this as a mother of 3 children with a different set of eyes- the eyes of Richie's parents.

This is the story of what drugs did to one family. It's truly an American tragedy that has played out over and over for so many.

The book was expertly written and while this is an old title it's timely as the drug war continues.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although enjoyed isn't really the word I'm looking for. It was a very good read/listen.

every parents worst nightmare.

tradgic story which came happen to anyone. unfortunately it is difficult to find the answer other than this outcome.

Such a sad story.

The writer seemed to accurately portray the times and drug use. It tells of a family spinning out of control. I would give it 5 stars but it started off slow and monotone for me. About 1/2 way through it picked up and I hated to turn the book off.
Really told and written well.

Stupid kid had it coming

Thank goodness this future career criminal was dealt with early. Saved society millions in prison costs and public healthcare cost as that trash would have put hundreds in the hospital from overdosing.

Interesting but sad story

If you lived through the changes from 1968 through the early 70s you’ll recognize the social changes and the beginnings of the drug scene in middle class America and the early tragedies it brought. The narrator was excellent and the story touching. My only complaint is the ending. It was abrupt and there was no epilogue. If you are interested in true crime with a sociological bent, this is for you. Not Thompson’s best ( that was Blood and Money), but worth reading.