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How I Outsmarted & Outlasted Dirty John

Tonia Bales, Amy Jauman

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Paperback

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English

Post Hill Press
31 March 2026

Hoaxes & deceptions

When a wife uncovers her husband’s sinister past and terrifying present, she wages a fierce battle to ensure the safety of her family and the integrity of her profession.

Tonia Bales married a handsome young man named John Meehan, who offered her a bright future. They had a happy marriage for nearly ten years, weathering the typical challenges couples experience. Then, Tonia sensed something was wrong. He started coming home late, spending more time traveling, and they were losing their connection. Her gut told her to start digging for answers. Her questions uncovered a web of lies and then a shocking truth: Tonia had married a sociopath.

How could he have hidden the truth about himself for so long? They had two children and seemingly normal, busy lives when Tonia discovered that John had been diverting drugs. She struggled to understand this level of deception. Little did she know this was just the beginning.

The more questions Tonia had, the more distant and angry he became, accusing Tonia of sabotaging their marriage and blowing things out of proportion. With the devastating realization setting in that Tonia may not have known her husband at all, and the threat of divorce looming over her, Tonia must push herself to dig further into this mystery. The discovery of more dark secrets—aliases, affairs, a criminal record, and a dark family past—reveal that there is a story to be told, a story that can only be complete if John’s previous victims, lovers, coworkers, and family are willing to come forward.

By: Tonia Bales, Amy Jauman
Imprint: Post Hill Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 210mm, Width: 140mm,
Weight: 191g
ISBN: 9798888459409
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 31 March 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Tonia Bales, a nurse anesthetist and mother, endured a tumultuous marriage with John Meehan, which ended in a bitter divorce involving legal battles and restraining orders. After John's death and the success of the Dirty John podcast and TV series, Tonia turned her experiences into advocacy. She now speaks at medical conferences and on media platforms about drug diversion, how domestic violence has changed over time, and navigating the legal system. Tonia aims to help others by sharing her journey of survival and resilience. Amy Jauman is a published author, researcher, and speaker specializing in victim-centered storytelling that fosters empathy, understanding, and meaningful change. In addition to her ghostwriting projects, she has authored three textbooks, five eBooks, and regularly contributes articles and blog posts to a variety of sources. Amy has a master’s degree in experiential education from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a doctorate in organization development from the University of St. Thomas. She also holds a graduate certificate in crime analysis from Boston University and is an active member of the International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA).