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Wolves Among Sheep: The True Story of Murder in a Jehovah's Witness Community
There are tragedies in life. The young child killed by a drunk driver. The family devastated by an early morning house fire. These events sadden us and make us reflect. "There but for the grace of God..." But if tragedy has a degree, there is surely none more unspeakable that the cold-blooded, brutal, shotgun murder of two beautiful children. Such was the case when Kim Anderson's estranged husband, Jeff Anderson, killed her and her two children-Juri, aged 10, and Lindsay, aged 8. Juri died with his arms wrapped around his sister, in a futile effort to protect her. Wolves Among Sheep is unlike any book you have read-or are likely to read again. It is written by the person most affected by the deaths of these two innocent children and their mother-their father and Kim's first husband, James Kostelniuk. Compelled to write the book as an expression of sorrow and love for the family so cruelly taken from him, Kostelniuk also had a deep need to arrive at some understanding of why these senseless murders took place. This question led him to expose the influence of the Jehovah's Witness organization that wielded total control over Kim's life, as it had over himself until he found the resolve to break with the organization. In making that break, Kostelniuk knew he would be forever shunned by the Witness community and, according to its laws, forbidden contact with his own wife and children. The convicted killer, Jeff Anderson, was also a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses. In a bizarre turn of events, Anderson began to correspond with Kostelniuk from prison, and his correspondence provides a chilling look into the mind of a murderer who held back a terrible secret from the world. After serving fifteen years, the Canadian criminal justice system offered Jeff Anderson the opportunity of a faint-hope hearing for early parole from his 25-year sentence. In February 2009, Anderson's file was opened up for public scrutiny at his first National Parole Board hearing at William Head Institution near Victoria, British Columbia. That parole hearing confirmed Kostelniuk's suspicions and revealed even more about this offender than anyone outside the system had known up until that time. Wolves Among Sheep is a riveting read that explores the darkest parts of the human heart and mind, and surprises us with the depth of its love and compassion.
- GenresNonfictionTrue Crime
Hardcover
First published September 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 16, 2012
It is a rare occurrence when a published novel is used as a victim’s impact statement in a parole hearing, but that is exactly what happened with this book.
In Wolves Among Sheep: The True Story of Murder in a Jehovah's Witness Community; author James Kostelniuk relives the tragic events surrounding the murders of his ex wife Kim Anderson, and their two children Lindsay (8) and Juri (10). The three were cold bloodedly gunned down in their own home by Kim’s estranged husband Jeff Anderson.
The story begins in Manitoba, with RCMP on Kostelniuk’s doorstep informing him about the tragic incident that took place in Burnaby, BC on August 29, 1985. In his narration of the events leading up to the fatal event the author recalled his traumatic upbringing within the Jehovah’ Witness community that included strict beliefs and public shunnings. At his own children’s funeral he was forced to sit at the back of the church, and his name was deliberately excluded as a family member.
Determined to find out what lead up to the tragedy James and his new wife Marge eventually began corresponding with the murderer with hopes of find out why the tragedy occurred. However, instead of answers the couple sought they were dragged into a web of deceit as Anderson attempts to use them as pawns for an earlier parole.
I found this story heartbreaking on so many levels. James’ personal torment is evident as he fights to maintain contact with his children from Manitoba, while he struggles with his faith in general. A faith that is shattered when he discovers that the tragedy could have been prevented if Kim’s attempts to gain assistance from the Jehovah Witness’s in BC had not fallen on deaf ears.
In a story that is both riveting and disturbing, it is evident that writing Wolves Among Sheep: The True Story of Murder in a Jehovah's Witness Community was part of James’ personal healing process, and a memorial to his children’s lives.
In Wolves Among Sheep: The True Story of Murder in a Jehovah's Witness Community; author James Kostelniuk relives the tragic events surrounding the murders of his ex wife Kim Anderson, and their two children Lindsay (8) and Juri (10). The three were cold bloodedly gunned down in their own home by Kim’s estranged husband Jeff Anderson.
The story begins in Manitoba, with RCMP on Kostelniuk’s doorstep informing him about the tragic incident that took place in Burnaby, BC on August 29, 1985. In his narration of the events leading up to the fatal event the author recalled his traumatic upbringing within the Jehovah’ Witness community that included strict beliefs and public shunnings. At his own children’s funeral he was forced to sit at the back of the church, and his name was deliberately excluded as a family member.
Determined to find out what lead up to the tragedy James and his new wife Marge eventually began corresponding with the murderer with hopes of find out why the tragedy occurred. However, instead of answers the couple sought they were dragged into a web of deceit as Anderson attempts to use them as pawns for an earlier parole.
I found this story heartbreaking on so many levels. James’ personal torment is evident as he fights to maintain contact with his children from Manitoba, while he struggles with his faith in general. A faith that is shattered when he discovers that the tragedy could have been prevented if Kim’s attempts to gain assistance from the Jehovah Witness’s in BC had not fallen on deaf ears.
In a story that is both riveting and disturbing, it is evident that writing Wolves Among Sheep: The True Story of Murder in a Jehovah's Witness Community was part of James’ personal healing process, and a memorial to his children’s lives.
March 23, 2010
I think to start off with it needs to be said that this is a True Crime Novel, which tells a story of murder and is not for sensitive readers.
It tells the story of James Kostelniuk a former Jehovah’s Witness who’s was shunned from the organization and banned from seeing his two children or having any contact with his ex-wife. It is the gut wrenching story told by James himself of the despair and guilt and the struggle with everyday life he went through trying to come to terms with the murder of his children and ex-wife by the hands of her estranged husband Jim Anderson. James had gone as far as to write letters to Jim in Jail trying to gain better understanding of why he did what he did. In cases like these how can you possible explain why you did something so horrid, is there really an answer that is good enough?
In this book James takes you right to the beginning of how he became involved with the Jehovah Witnesses as well as how he met Kim, when they had their children Juri and Lindsay and what started driving their marriage apart. I found the book very informative on the views of Jehovah witnesses as well, so in that sense it was quite educational. I did not realize the amount of restrictions they lived with.
This was a very sad story, but a definite page turner for me.
It tells the story of James Kostelniuk a former Jehovah’s Witness who’s was shunned from the organization and banned from seeing his two children or having any contact with his ex-wife. It is the gut wrenching story told by James himself of the despair and guilt and the struggle with everyday life he went through trying to come to terms with the murder of his children and ex-wife by the hands of her estranged husband Jim Anderson. James had gone as far as to write letters to Jim in Jail trying to gain better understanding of why he did what he did. In cases like these how can you possible explain why you did something so horrid, is there really an answer that is good enough?
In this book James takes you right to the beginning of how he became involved with the Jehovah Witnesses as well as how he met Kim, when they had their children Juri and Lindsay and what started driving their marriage apart. I found the book very informative on the views of Jehovah witnesses as well, so in that sense it was quite educational. I did not realize the amount of restrictions they lived with.
This was a very sad story, but a definite page turner for me.
August 2, 2011
This is the heart wrenching story of the murder of Kim Anderson and her two children. Kim, a devout Jehovah's witness lost her life at the hands of her husband, also a member of that faith community. The story is told with courage and compassion by James Kosteliuk, her first husband and the father of the two children. While the trigger was pulled by Jeff Anderson, some blame must be laid at the doors of faith communities where religious principles come before the safety and well-being of its women and children. This book tells of a tragedy on many levels, but most importantly it reminds us of the violence that women and children continue to face in that safest of all places: their homes. Riveting and disturbing at the same time.
July 17, 2012
Kostelniuk tells the true story of his murdered children and ex-wife. Someone recommended this book to me years ago (can't remember who or why), and I finally picked it up the other day. Kostelniuk searches deeply for some kind of healing and meaning after the deaths of his children, trying to find out as much about what happened as he can. The book is also a look at a religious cult whose legalistic ways impact the family and their safety. (I would be interested to know how much the Jehovah's Witnesses have changed in the last two decades.)
January 31, 2024
Powerful
Very good book. Its horrible what the manipulative Jeff did. Sick man. I hope his history makes it to America before he does. I am so glad the author followed thru on writing and getting this book published. He and Marge are survivors. Good people. There are surprises in this book. About Jeff's crimes that slowly and eventually come out I sincerely hope kristalnuik and Marge can heal. Hopefully i spelled his name right. My apologies if i didnt. In writing this book I believe it has helped them. Its good to know about Jeff. The manipulative criminal.
Very good book. Its horrible what the manipulative Jeff did. Sick man. I hope his history makes it to America before he does. I am so glad the author followed thru on writing and getting this book published. He and Marge are survivors. Good people. There are surprises in this book. About Jeff's crimes that slowly and eventually come out I sincerely hope kristalnuik and Marge can heal. Hopefully i spelled his name right. My apologies if i didnt. In writing this book I believe it has helped them. Its good to know about Jeff. The manipulative criminal.
December 5, 2017
Sad. Very sad.
November 3, 2018
Well written and thoroughly depressing. I’m not sure I’d recommend it, unless I was sure the person was interested in the subject matter.
March 2, 2008
An absolutely devastating story of murder and heartbreak. A classic example of how those in power fail to recognize and deal with problems and those problems that led to the death of innocent children and a Mom. A must read, a true story, a lesson to be learned.
December 23, 2011
Interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews