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Wasted: The Preppie Murder
The true, shocking story behind the infamous "preppy murder" case reveals how, in the author's opinion, the privileged social milieu to which victim and assailant belonged spawned the tragedy
303 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 1989
101 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
Linda Wolfe
33Ìýbooks11ÌýfollowersLinda Wolfe is an award-winning journalist and novelist. Among her many books are the novel "Private Practices" and the nonfiction books "Wasted: The Preppie Murder," "The Professor and the Prostitute," and "The Murder of Dr. Chapman." A longtime contributing editor at New York magazine, Wolfe's articles and personal essays have also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Playboy, and many other publications. Her short fiction has appeared in the Southwest Review and other literary journals. Learn more at .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 3, 2021
This case grabbed so much press it knocked just about everything else off the news. Everybody had an opinion and still does to this day. It's ironic Chambers is serving more time on drug charges than he did for Jennifer's murder. The beginning of the book covers both Robert and Jennifer's upbringing. It does so by jumping back and forth paragraph after paragraph. I found that very disorientating to follow. It was well researched though. I saw a documentary on Sundance Streaming a year or so ago and it finally told the story from the victims and her families point of view. I prefer it to this book.
April 10, 2025
I have no idea why I picked up this book at the library.............I should have left it on the shelf. I almost gave it one star but there were a few interesting parts, very few.
*I didn't like the author's writing style and she needed a little better editor to correct some of the errors of omission and grammar.
*Too many characters who really didn't have any part in the story.
*Repetitive descriptions of what people were wearing.
And that is just the beginning. Guess what? I didn't like it.
*I didn't like the author's writing style and she needed a little better editor to correct some of the errors of omission and grammar.
*Too many characters who really didn't have any part in the story.
*Repetitive descriptions of what people were wearing.
And that is just the beginning. Guess what? I didn't like it.
May 20, 2009
Very interesting true story but the ending was a let down.
July 28, 2018
Un caso que trascendió por el estatus de los protagonistas. Sirve para pensar la relación True Crime / Medios de comunicación. Es un buen libro para entender la New York de los 80.
October 17, 2018
the Kavanaugh hearings put me in the mood for this book, which i bought a while back and forgot about. I used to read author Linda Wolfe in New York magazine 30+ years ago and marvel at her long investigative pieces that brought twisted personalities alive through sociological detail delivered with relish. WASTED is about Robert Chambers, a fascinating monster who failed to live up to his mom's unrealistic expectations of him. She was a plucky self-starter from Ireland; he was a first-U.S. born only son; she was a hard-working nurse who provided him with opportunities; he failed at the pretigious schools she shoe-horned him into, eventually opting for drugs and burglaries... and then murder at age 19.
Jennifer Levin, 18, was his victim in the wee hours of August 27, 1986. Central Park was the crime scene, the milieu was moneyed prep-school grads who drank and partied, and the motive was "rough sex". the murder made national headlines for a year before the trial started. Wolfe portrays multiple points of view swiftly and surely. the crime was a heart-breaker but it's hard to feel sorry for a sociopath, except you sort of see how he got that way. hugely insightful about class privilege, our highly imperfect legal system, victim-blaming, sexual shaming, and the brainless media. and no, Kavanaugh is no Chambers, but the he said/she said playbook is the same: women are sacrificed to save men who never learn.
Jennifer Levin, 18, was his victim in the wee hours of August 27, 1986. Central Park was the crime scene, the milieu was moneyed prep-school grads who drank and partied, and the motive was "rough sex". the murder made national headlines for a year before the trial started. Wolfe portrays multiple points of view swiftly and surely. the crime was a heart-breaker but it's hard to feel sorry for a sociopath, except you sort of see how he got that way. hugely insightful about class privilege, our highly imperfect legal system, victim-blaming, sexual shaming, and the brainless media. and no, Kavanaugh is no Chambers, but the he said/she said playbook is the same: women are sacrificed to save men who never learn.
April 5, 2020
I don't know whether the author or the editor chose the title, but it definitely describes the way the reader feels about the lives and or deaths of the two teenagers. I was in college and grad school during the 80s, and although I was never a popular kid, I can envision sex and drugs taking over the lives of those who were � considering the amount that drugs had to play in the 70s!
I can't imagine this case being particularly easy to write in an unbiased way, but the author did a good job! My own biases, philosophies and prejudices resulted in my formatting my own opinion, unfortunately early on. I'm sure that it was a difficult case for the jury, also. But I think that the author presented a solid case and formidable details, much of which the jurors were not allowed to consider. As an outsider, I don't know how much of that could have been totally relevant to the jury impartially. To misquote a long-held belief � and I don't even remember who made the original quote "The jury system is the worst system in the world, except for all the others!"
I can't imagine this case being particularly easy to write in an unbiased way, but the author did a good job! My own biases, philosophies and prejudices resulted in my formatting my own opinion, unfortunately early on. I'm sure that it was a difficult case for the jury, also. But I think that the author presented a solid case and formidable details, much of which the jurors were not allowed to consider. As an outsider, I don't know how much of that could have been totally relevant to the jury impartially. To misquote a long-held belief � and I don't even remember who made the original quote "The jury system is the worst system in the world, except for all the others!"
January 7, 2021
Jennifer Levin was found dead in Central Park and the NYPD found their suspect in Robert Chambers. Although they were both raised on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, they ended up on very different paths. Jennifer was a friendly empathetic person who had a bright future ahead of her while Robert was on the fast path to jail. Jennifer ended up dead and Robert ended up exactly where he belonged.
This case was huge when I was growing up in New York. You couldn't see a news program without hearing about the Preppie Murder. Wolfe did a wonderful job of telling the story of Jennifer and Robert's lives and how they slowly came to intertwine. Linda Wolfe takes us through Robert's lies and confession and how they played out in court. She also takes on the way the media and those who had an opinion on the case felt that "victim blaming" was the way to go because Jennifer was not a girl that sat there and was quiet.
This case was huge when I was growing up in New York. You couldn't see a news program without hearing about the Preppie Murder. Wolfe did a wonderful job of telling the story of Jennifer and Robert's lives and how they slowly came to intertwine. Linda Wolfe takes us through Robert's lies and confession and how they played out in court. She also takes on the way the media and those who had an opinion on the case felt that "victim blaming" was the way to go because Jennifer was not a girl that sat there and was quiet.
January 15, 2016
A more satisfying read than Bryna Taubman's book on the same case; I had a much better sense of all the personalities involved and people's relationships to each other. I even learned about the jury and what they made of the evidence -- not something you find very often in a book like this. The author also does a nice job of placing this case in its historical and political context without making an extended detour into victims' rights or second-wave feminism. Well worth a look if you are interested in the Preppy Murder.
July 23, 2018
It's weird that I read two books called "Wasted" in the same month (this and Hornbacher's excellent account of her eating disorder). Anyway, this was a good account of the 80's Preppie Murder for the true crime fans among us.
March 13, 2016
A world of exclusive parties, drugs, sex, and parental authority virtually nonexistent.
December 28, 2024
This was an interesting true crime case from the 80s. The ‘preppy killer� Robert Chambers, a college aged man accused of murdering NYC teenager Jennifer Levin in Central Park after a night out.
The opening didn’t initially engage me as it walked back through the familial history of both perpetrator and victim. However, it soon became a gripping and complex story, painting a cohesive picture of the type of person Robert Chambers was. His overbearing mother, the many wasted opportunities, extensive drug use and endless excuses made for his behaviour.
Jennifer was brought to life with a messy teenage vibrancy. A girl so full of life, the world around her dazzled with endless opportunity. The adolescence of NYC teenagers in the 80s is not for the faint of heart: Parties, alcohol, glamour, excess. This doesn’t paint a perfect picture of a virtuous little girl. This was a teenager who, despite clearly being loved and born with some privilege, was also vulnerable and like many teens, was throwing herself into the nightlife, boys, and good times with friends. She graduated college and had the whole world ahead of her.
So desperately and hauntingly sad that Jennifer’s life was snuffed out in this way before it had truly began.
I found this booked served to play out the events and demonstrate the way their paths sadly entwined. I enjoyed reading about Jennifer, although Robert still remained somewhat of a mystery. I did find his shady behaviour interesting to analyse but was still left with a lot of questions about motive and exactly what transpired.
The final portion of the book regarding the trial, I did not enjoy the formatting and found it to be a bit of a mish mash of different accounts and opinions which was frustrating and unsatisfying to read. I did skip some of the unnecessary detail to get to more of the actual trial. Rounded up to a 4 star.
The opening didn’t initially engage me as it walked back through the familial history of both perpetrator and victim. However, it soon became a gripping and complex story, painting a cohesive picture of the type of person Robert Chambers was. His overbearing mother, the many wasted opportunities, extensive drug use and endless excuses made for his behaviour.
Jennifer was brought to life with a messy teenage vibrancy. A girl so full of life, the world around her dazzled with endless opportunity. The adolescence of NYC teenagers in the 80s is not for the faint of heart: Parties, alcohol, glamour, excess. This doesn’t paint a perfect picture of a virtuous little girl. This was a teenager who, despite clearly being loved and born with some privilege, was also vulnerable and like many teens, was throwing herself into the nightlife, boys, and good times with friends. She graduated college and had the whole world ahead of her.
So desperately and hauntingly sad that Jennifer’s life was snuffed out in this way before it had truly began.
I found this booked served to play out the events and demonstrate the way their paths sadly entwined. I enjoyed reading about Jennifer, although Robert still remained somewhat of a mystery. I did find his shady behaviour interesting to analyse but was still left with a lot of questions about motive and exactly what transpired.
The final portion of the book regarding the trial, I did not enjoy the formatting and found it to be a bit of a mish mash of different accounts and opinions which was frustrating and unsatisfying to read. I did skip some of the unnecessary detail to get to more of the actual trial. Rounded up to a 4 star.
April 18, 2019
I remember hearing about this case. I'm sure it was "the big deal" in New York, where it happened, but in Texas it was just another murder story. However, I will say that the media definitely left me with the impression that it was a KNOWN FACT that the murder was due to a sexual strangulation. That's probably because I didn't really follow the case after the first couple of days of hearing about it.
The book is good, but to me, I could do without so much detail about Jennifer's & Robert's early lives. I know it is included to give us insight into their characters and behaviors. But I found myself somewhat bogged down in it.
The book is good, but to me, I could do without so much detail about Jennifer's & Robert's early lives. I know it is included to give us insight into their characters and behaviors. But I found myself somewhat bogged down in it.
September 11, 2022
Fairly straightforward saga of the 1986 Central Park murder of Jennifer Levin by Robert Chambers, which magnetized the Big Apple at the time because both were upper middle class young people at a time when such preppies were the toast of the town. Saga follows both from their parents� lives to their lives to the murder, the trial and beyond, alternating the actions of one with what the other was doing at the same time. Author said she’d interviewed more than 200 people for the book in addition to what already was in the public purview. Compelling, especially for those who were around the same age at the time and could relate to the actions of either or both.
September 9, 2020
I was around when this happened, and on occasion I've heard what has happened with Chambers, a true waste of air and space. Wolfe's book has its moments, but I wasn't looking for something a bit more serious. The fact that she spends a lot of time speaking in the voices of Robert and Jennifer makes this a book that can't exactly be taken seriously.
October 17, 2020
Stands the test of time
I remember this case when it happened but never read any books about it. The time lapse proves that the court system is as unbalanced as it ever was, there doesn't appear to be justice for all, more how much money one has to buy the best attorney or defense, whatever the case may be.
I remember this case when it happened but never read any books about it. The time lapse proves that the court system is as unbalanced as it ever was, there doesn't appear to be justice for all, more how much money one has to buy the best attorney or defense, whatever the case may be.
July 22, 2019
Really good.
November 24, 2019
Not my favorite true crime book. Felt like it spent far too much time on Jennifer & Robert's early lives, and not enough detail on the actual trial.
November 30, 2019
Interesting story described well, but could have used better editing.
March 20, 2020
If you’re a true crime fan, I highly recommend this about the preppie murder bar killing.
Read
March 29, 2020I remember this case well. This is a good true crime recitation.
June 3, 2020
I read this after I watched a documentary on this subject. I just wanted more info. This book is poorly written and really lacked editing.
September 27, 2022
3.5 stars
September 11, 2023
No nonsense account of a horrific crime.
December 9, 2024
This was a pretty good read i would recommend it to others who like true crime. I remember reading about this in the paper. It’s an interesting story.
June 29, 2023
Very dramatic
September 3, 2019
The dark side of the NYC Preppie Scene, circa 1988
This guy looks like a Kennedy. Indeed, his mother has styled him as a Kennedy. An Irish Catholic nurse born in Ireland, she has devoted her life to climbing up the social ladder of New York society and pushing her very handsome son through the best prep schools, etc. Only one problem. Robert Chambers is a pretty boy loser, a druggie and a sociopathic sickie. He bombs out of prep school after prep school, mainly because he is caught stealing to support his cocaine habit. He just parties. That's about it. Mommie, nonetheless believes her son will turn it around and amount to something. He is irresistible to the girls. They see him as an alpha male. They think his unsavory character is sexy. Along comes Jennifer Levin, a not completely pretty, but sexy, lively girl, who just wants to have fun. She finds Robert and wants to have fun with him. Unfortunately, his idea of fun is to get wasted, and while wasted he chokes her to death, and then realizing what he has done, tries to make it look like a rape in Central Park. Then while being questioned he has a brilliancy. He claims she raped him! And in fighting back he accidentally strangled her to death.
Well. It's a sick scene. All the Studio 54 party preppies and wanna-bes think this is just the coolest scene. They now feel so important and they support Robert, one of their own. Meanwhile Mom hustles up bail and more to buy a high priced lawyer to defend her boy. We get a semi-competent judge, a not really talented ADA, and a "star of the show" defense lawyer. I'll leave it to the reader see how this sad story about the decadence of the New York-preppie scene, circa 1988, turns out.
Of course one might say that the real villain here is, if you will, Mom. She doesn't care what evil things her boy has done. She doesn't care that it is obvious he is a degenerate sickie, all she cares about is he is her Hope. She lies to herself. She self-deceives and even though any idiot can see that her son needs to be put away she continues to let him party and do drugs and rob while she keeps working seventy hours a week to support his debased life style. Of course he doesn't work at all. If she had ever said "NO!" and put him on his own, the earlier the better, say at twelve, he might have amounted to something. But Mom had to indulge her mother...lust.
Linda Wolf does an outstanding job of vividly bringing this tale to life. She has a literary novelist's eye for detail and the narrative control of a bestselling thriller writer.
--Dennis Littrell, author of the sensational mystery novel, “Teddy and Teri�
This guy looks like a Kennedy. Indeed, his mother has styled him as a Kennedy. An Irish Catholic nurse born in Ireland, she has devoted her life to climbing up the social ladder of New York society and pushing her very handsome son through the best prep schools, etc. Only one problem. Robert Chambers is a pretty boy loser, a druggie and a sociopathic sickie. He bombs out of prep school after prep school, mainly because he is caught stealing to support his cocaine habit. He just parties. That's about it. Mommie, nonetheless believes her son will turn it around and amount to something. He is irresistible to the girls. They see him as an alpha male. They think his unsavory character is sexy. Along comes Jennifer Levin, a not completely pretty, but sexy, lively girl, who just wants to have fun. She finds Robert and wants to have fun with him. Unfortunately, his idea of fun is to get wasted, and while wasted he chokes her to death, and then realizing what he has done, tries to make it look like a rape in Central Park. Then while being questioned he has a brilliancy. He claims she raped him! And in fighting back he accidentally strangled her to death.
Well. It's a sick scene. All the Studio 54 party preppies and wanna-bes think this is just the coolest scene. They now feel so important and they support Robert, one of their own. Meanwhile Mom hustles up bail and more to buy a high priced lawyer to defend her boy. We get a semi-competent judge, a not really talented ADA, and a "star of the show" defense lawyer. I'll leave it to the reader see how this sad story about the decadence of the New York-preppie scene, circa 1988, turns out.
Of course one might say that the real villain here is, if you will, Mom. She doesn't care what evil things her boy has done. She doesn't care that it is obvious he is a degenerate sickie, all she cares about is he is her Hope. She lies to herself. She self-deceives and even though any idiot can see that her son needs to be put away she continues to let him party and do drugs and rob while she keeps working seventy hours a week to support his debased life style. Of course he doesn't work at all. If she had ever said "NO!" and put him on his own, the earlier the better, say at twelve, he might have amounted to something. But Mom had to indulge her mother...lust.
Linda Wolf does an outstanding job of vividly bringing this tale to life. She has a literary novelist's eye for detail and the narrative control of a bestselling thriller writer.
--Dennis Littrell, author of the sensational mystery novel, “Teddy and Teri�
February 17, 2017
I can't even finish this book. The guy is so disgusting I can't. The beginning is interesting and then at some point you want to gag yourself at how this guy gets away with anything and everything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2008
An account of the Central Park rape and murder of a young girl by her boyfriend. The fact that such a "nonchalant" crime could take place is dramatic societal commentary.
September 13, 2016
It was fine.
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