Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown

by Candace Fleming

How did Jim Jones, the leader of Peoples Temple, convince more than 900 of his followers to commit "revolutionary suicide" by drinking cyanide-laced punch?

Using riveting first-person accounts, award-winning author Candace Fleming reveals the makings of a cult leader...from Jones’s humble origins as a child of the Depression… to his founding of a group whose idealistic promises of equality and justice attracted thousands of followers… to his relocation of Temple headquarters from California to an unsettled territory in Guyana, South America, which he dubbed "Jonestown”… to his transformation of Peoples Temple into a nefarious experiment in mind-control.

And Fleming relates Jones’s final act, persuading his followers to swallow fatal doses of cyanide—to “drink the kool-aid,” as it became known—as a test of their ultimate devotion.

Here is a sweeping story that traces, step by step, the ways in which one man slowly indoctrinated, then murdered, 900 innocent, well- meaning people. And how a few members, Jones' own son included, stood up to him... but not before it was too late.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, History, Audiobook, Cults, Religion, Crime

368 pages, Hardcover

First published April 29, 2025

About the author

I have always been a storyteller. Even before I could write my name, I could tell a good tale. And I told them all the time. As a preschooler, I told my neighbors all about my three-legged cat named Spot. In kindergarten, I told my classmates about the ghost that lived in my attic. And in first grade I told my teacher, Miss Harbart, all about my family's trip to Paris, France.

I told such a good story that people always thought I was telling the truth. But I wasn't. I didn't have a three-legged cat or a ghost in my attic, and I'd certainly never been to Paris, France. I simply enjoyed telling a good story... and seeing my listener's reaction.

Sure, some people might have said I was a seven-year old fibber. But not my parents. Instead of calling my stories "fibs" they called them "imaginative." They encouraged me to put my stories down on paper. I did. And amazingly, once I began writing, I couldn't stop. I filled notebook after notebook with stories, poems, plays. I still have many of those notebooks. They're precious to me because they are a record of my writing life from elementary school on.

In second grade, I discovered a passion for language. I can still remember the day my teacher, Miss Johnson, held up a horn-shaped basket filled with papier-mache pumpkins and asked the class to repeat the word "cornucopia." I said it again and again, tasted the word on my lips. I tested it on my ears. That afternoon, I skipped all the way home from school chanting, "Cornucopia! Cornucopia!" From then on, I really began listening to words—to the sounds they made, and the way they were used, and how they made me feel. I longed to put them together in ways that were beautiful, and yet told a story.

As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.

After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.

But writing children's books is harder than it looks. For three years I wrote story after story. I sent them to publisher after publisher. And I received rejection letter after rejection letter. Still, I didn't give up. I kept trying until finally one of my stories was pulled from the slush pile and turned into a book. My career as a children's author had begun.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I'm not sure why I'm surprised that I enjoyed this book so much! Candace Fleming is well known for her ability to write compelling non-fiction titles. Though I knew a little about Jonestown before diving into this title, Fleming provided some much needed insight to the overall impact of this tragic event. Though I knew there were survivors, I never took into consideration the mental and emotional strain felt by each one of them as they reflect on the many friends and family that were tragically killed. Also, there were facts in relation to this group that I knew nothing about. I didn't realize that most of the group members were Black or that Jim Jones utilized anti-racist rhetoric to draw people into his schemes. This book is dark and rightfully so considering that it covers such a tragic aspect of American history; however, it is great insight to the danger of simply writing everything off as a cult without truly understanding the manner in which these individuals are brought into these groups. Fleming's writing was gripping and compelling and done with so much respect and compassion towards those who who survived and those who didn't. This is what I consider to be great teen non-fiction. If you haven't had the opportunity to pick this up, I highly recommend it.

[Renata · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've consumed a fair amount of media about Jonestown (even though it blurs the line between my usual preferences-I like reading about cults and scammers but not murderers), so I already knew a lot of the basics here. But I appreciated Fleming's choice to pick a few victims/survivors to focus on throughout the narrative, and I think she did such a compelling job of showing exactly how and why so many people ended up at Jonestown and how tragic it was. Also a decently subtle job of highlighting potential similarities between Jones and some other uhh "charismatic leaders" that come to mind.

Great for high schoolers who are into weird shit as well as adults who want a good solid concise overview of Jonestown.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sick but will update with a full review once I recover. Highly recommend for now.

[Hanna *Middle School Librarian* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting and Heartbreaking. Candace Fleming is so good as what she does. I ultimately would pass for Middle School, but would recommend for High School purchase.

[BooksAsDreams (Tiffany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️. Very well-written and the research behind the story is impeccable. The story and content is 5 ⭐️. I don’t love the decision to tell the story chronologically. It’s the people who drive the story. We see more and more of them as the story unfolds (so stick with it, readers!). Great insight into humanity and the underside of it. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC! Great addition to the YA nonfiction genre for adolescent readers. If you want to know the Jonestown story, love nonfiction, or want to evaluate the decisions humans make, read this book.

[Madelyn (Vaughn) Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

this one was intense & made me want to hug my baby a little tighter
•
the racial analysis of this really added a layer to the story & I’m surprised it’s not talked about more
•
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, it’s not socialism’s fault that one weird guy wanted to have sex with everyone

[Emily McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before this book, I knew only the basics of Jonestown—cult, kool-aid, mass suicide. This is a complicated historical event, and Candace Fleming structured the story so that it was easy to follow. Beginning with Jim Jones’s childhood, Fleming builds a picture of how Jones gradually acquired control over several thousand people. The victims and survivors are portrayed very sympathetically. The most graphic details are not watered down, nor are they gratuitous. I think it’s appropriate for high school age readers.

If you listen to the audiobook, there is a 20 minute list of names along with brief descriptions at the beginning; I skipped it and don’t think it affected my understanding.

[Amy McMillan]

Written for a teen audience, this book explains HOW the Jonestown Massacre came to be. Like what made people join the movement in the first place and how Jones was able to make followers go as far as they did. Instead of blaming the followers, the author makes you see how we as human beings are all susceptible to this kind of coercion because we are wired to want to be part of communities, to work for purposes bigger than ourselves. The people in Jonestown were quite literally trapped—both by the physical jungle and armed guards and by their own thinking.

[kristyn ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i've always known the most notable aspects of jonestown, but hearing the finite details like this make it all the more disturbing. the psychological warfare that jones put these people through is unfathomable. thinking of the almost 1,000 lives lost today and hoping their souls have found peace. as for you, jim, i know you are rotting in hell and i wish i could piss on your grave.

[Cade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read A LOT about Jonestown and was interested in how wellnit would translate for a YA audience. Fielding did an excellent job covering the topic sensitively but without sugar coating anything.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Candace Fleming delivers a riveting and in-depth look at the early life of Jim Jones and his rise to cult/destructive group leader and the 1978 murder/suicide of over 900 members of his Peoples Church in Guyana. This YA through adult non-fiction will fill in so many gaps in reporting for those who remember the horrific event and expose today’s teens to the methods used by Jones and other nefarious leaders to draw vulnerable, seeking souls into harmful factions/cooperatives/groups.

As a teen in the 70s, I remember the news coming out about the atrocity but only recall hearing the alarming number of adults and children and that the method used was Kool-Aid tainted with cyanide, which was partially incorrect and woefully inadequate. Filling in so many gaps, Fleming’s book begins with Jones’ traumatic childhood and his early fascination with speakers such as Hitler and an assortment of preachers, whose magnetism and delivery styles seemed to put their audiences under a spell. His younger years and early jobs in church leadership and as a hospital orderly all clearly point him towards the shocking end to his so-called church ministry. Interviews with 10 survivors of the Peoples Church, librarians and historical records directors at the California Historical Society, Indiana Historical Society and San Diego State University, plus FBI files including documents, recordings, photographs, letters, diaries, radio communications and more are all a part of the sources used by Fleming to compile a narrative style non-fiction book that will surely impact readers from grade 9 through adult.

Text is almost profanity free and the sexual activities of Jim Jones and some of his followers are recorded in a factual, non-graphic manner. The violence within the Peoples Church is clearly documented but as with the sexual content, is kept factual and without unnecessary detail or gore. However, the grisly end of the church cannot be whitewashed and is not for all readers in the targeted age groups. Interesting and important, readers will come away armed with new knowledge of the mass murder/suicide as well as a deeper understanding of how so many people fell under the spell of Jim Jones and, even when they wanted to leave, could not break away from the destructive group.

Thanks, Penguin Random House, for providing me with a finished hardcover copy of this book at the 2025 Texas Library Association annual conference.

[Books Amongst Friends · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book/ Overall Story: 5/5
Narration/ Audiobook: 4.5/5

We live in a time where people constantly ask, How did we get here? How did so many people follow this man? Who would allow this to happen? These questions are often asked in reference to the Holocaust, slavery, or the Congo. But I also think about the Peoples Temple, Jim Jones, and the jungle of Guyana. This book serves as a powerful reference for understanding exactly how that happens and the tragic, dangerous consequences that follow.

For anyone who doesn’t know about Jonestown, Guyana and the predatory and devastating actions of Jim Jones and his creation of the Peoples Temple, I highly recommend reading Death in the Jungle and seeking out other sources of information as well. As someone who is already fairly informed about this tragic chapter of history, I was grateful for this book because it offered new insight in a way that was not only powerful and devastating, but deeply empathetic.

For those who already know what happened at Jonestown, it can be easy to distance yourself from the humanity that was lost within the Peoples Temple and tell yourself that it could never be you. This book does an excellent job of showing just how easily so many people fell into that trap. It clearly illustrates how predators like Jim Jones, driven by power, authority, and greed deliberately target those who need community the most. These patterns are laid out plainly, not just through the author’s research, but through the eerie and raw entries of firsthand accounts from those who survived.

Death in the Jungle is not only a painful reminder of the lives lost at Jonestown; it is also a magnifying glass into the paranoia and madness of Jim Jones, and the way figures like him weaponize ideals of community and faith to carry out unimaginable harm. Reading about how Jim Jones targeted minorities, religious followers, the unhoused, the young and disenfranchised, single parents, and both highly educated individuals and those with no formal education — all people who felt disconnected from or unsupported by their government — feels eerily similar to dynamics we’re witnessing today with false prophets and cult-like followings.

I truly cannot recommend this book enough, especially given our current political climate. If you’ve read this book or are familiar with Jonestown, this is a topic I always appreciate discussing. One I believe more of us need to remain aware of, and continue talking about, so that history doesn’t repeat itself and the losses lost aren’t forgotten.

[Elise (elise reads & writes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the ultimate example that trust is a form of currency.

What an absolutely stunning story of how a man used his intelligence and skills to manipulate a community. Oscillating between help, love, fear tactics, and manipulation over multiple decades, Jim Jones earned the trust of a community, then used that trust to convince and coerce nearly one thousand people to move to South America to develop a Utopia and eventually end their life together.

This book gives you a chance to understand where Jim Jones followers come from. This man created a community then tightened the reigns. He used religion as a means of people joining his community then, after gaining loyalty of his followers, claimed that HE was god. He used the fear and distrust of the government and cold war to sow fear in his followers. He set up elaborate hoaxes in order to serve as "proof" of his premonitions and ability to survive and heal. He created a group of super followers to do his dirty work.

This man was a menace and a mastermind.

There is no way for me to comfortably rate a story that impacted and affected so many people. It is not my place to judge how interesting/good/useful the story is, because what happened to these people is tragic. A rating does not do that justice. In terms of writing, I would give this a 4 star. There were moments where I was confused about who was speaking. There were TONS of names that I found difficult to keep track of. Some people had the same names, which confused me at times, but perhaps their relation to Jones could have been used instead of their names. The flow of the book was inconsistent, sometimes going by quickly and other moments inundated with details and slowing things down. The first few chapters were absolutely captivating and hooked you, then the middle was a bit of a slog. I think there was potential to tell the story in a different way that kept readers captivated, but perhaps it is good that it is slow in some places so readers can read it in bite size pieces.

This story is originally intended for a Young Adult audience, but this book is very frank and candid at times (without being overly descriptive and gory). I think adults interested in this story would find this book suits their interests, too.

[Jlauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, I was so glad when I finished this book! I didn’t know a lot about Jonestown, other than “drinking the Koolaid.” Now I know more and it was so disturbing. Jim Jones was evil and surrounded himself with weak, wicked people. It was a really sad and tragic account to read.
The reason I gave the book 2 stars is because the prologue is ridiculous, in my opinion. It talks about how we shouldn’t use the term “cult” because it makes us seem morally superior to those in a “cult.” So, the author says, let’s call Peoples Temple a “destructive group.” Then, the author goes on to give a lot of vague boundaries of what could make a destructive group.
Also, this book is labeled as young adult, which I know some people take to mean that it’s clean. It’s not. There’s foul language and sexual content, which you would expect if you knew the story of Jim Jones, which I did not.

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so compelling and so heartbreaking. I was riveted. I knew about Jonestown, the Kool-Aid, Jim Jones, and the works. Or at least I thought I did. After reading this compelling narrative nonfiction title, I realized that it was so much worse than I ever realized. I only knew the broad strokes and author Candace Fleming did an amazing job of connecting the dots and focusing on a few key survivors to tell the story. Obviously the story starts with Jim Jones, but it goes so much more deep than that. This title is geared towards teens, but really I think it's a perfect place to start if you want to know about this tragedy. It is SO in depth and uses the testimonies of some key survivors to help set the scene and make readers understand how normal people could find themselves caught up in the web of deceit. Very well written and includes photos (none of the massacre itself thankfully). Truly moving, a fitting tribute to the survivors and a glimpse into something truly terrifying.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this all I knew about Peoples Temple was 1) Guyana, 2) Kool-aide, and 3) 900 dead. This book painted a picture of what really happened, from literally day one of Jim Jones life, and how things quickly spiraled from bad to worse for members on the inside- without them even knowing. Having the first hand accounts that she did, Fleming got a unique first person perspective that really changed this narrative over what some true crime podcasts can do. It changed the narrative from "these people are cultists" to "these people are victims of a narcissistic lunatic" and I think that distinction really is what makes the difference when talking about these organizations that go bad.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about Jonestown or the Peoples Temple. A really fantastic read.

[Elizabeth Boileau · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'ai passé plusieurs heures à étudier ce groupe pour mon mémoire et je peux dire que l'auteure, personnellement reliée à des personnes décédées sur place, a fait un excellent travail !!! On n'est pas dans le sensationnalisme, mais plutôt dans la reconstruction factuelle de l'histoire du groupe en partant de l'enfance du leader jusqu'aux jours suivants la tragédie de novembre 1978. En utilisant l'expérience de membres pour amener des détails concernant la vie dans le groupe, l'auteure humanise les personnes qui ont fait partie de cette communauté et nuance certaines idées préconçues à leur sujet.

[Fonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be careful where you finish this book — you might cry; you might punch something; you might feel sick; and you might close the book and need to decompress.

I liked the chronological telling of events. I knew very little about Jonestown, so the progression of events was captivating.
In the beginning of the book I was baffled, wondering how something that is doing so much good will end up so horrible?? Now I know.
Three quarters the way though I’m still baffled, wondering how he will convince 1,000 people to commit suicide??? Now I know that too. (Spoiler: he doesn’t.)

The middle of the book did start to feel long and disjointed, but this is historical non-fiction so I appreciate erring on the side of factual. And giving a voice to the stories of the victims and survivors.

[Kierston Foutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sad story, this story is not a joke nor should it be brought down to a kool aide joke. (That’s not even what they drank) But this is a human story about people who believed in something and believed in a man so much that they were willing to die to be free. In the end they were all pushed to be murdered.

[Book Riot Community]

This is one of Book Riot’s Best Books of 2025:

Jim Jones, leader of one of the most notorious cults in history, The People’s Temple, managed to convince 900 people to drink cyanide to their ultimate deaths. But how did he do it? This book traces Jones’s story from his youth growing up during the Great Depression to where and how he convinced people to follow him and his beliefs. You’ll follow Jones and his devotees from California to their off-grid Jonestown compound in the depths of Guyana. Fleming's research is deep, and the story is situated in the experiences of young people growing up within this cult. An example of knockout nonfiction for young adult readers (and beyond!).

- Kelly Jensen

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Candace Fleming won a ton of YMAs this year and she deserves it! This book is a great example of why. She did a great job of explaining the Peoples Temple and Jonestown in an age-appropriate way that is accessible to teens. It's such a tragedy and she approached it with such care, I think anyone interested in Jonestown should read this, even adults!

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually knew very little about Jonestown and the Peoples Temple beyond drinking the kool-aid (it was Flavor Aid!) This was really compelling reading and, because it is written for a YA audience, not too gruesome or graphic.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating. Candace Fleming never ceases to amaze.

[Jessica Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrifying but fascinating and very eye opening. I knew next to nothing about Jim Jones and Jonestown before this and I was totally riveted.

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

out of everything i’ve read about this tragedy, this had the most empathy for the victims. incredibly sad, but a needed narrative as we get closer to the 50th anniversary

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although DEATH IN THE JUNGLE was written for young adults, it’s comprehensive enough for adults. I vividly remember when Jonestown happened and I’ve seen several documentaries since then, meant for adults which contained no additional information.

[Meggen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very heartbreaking accounting of the rise and fall of Jim Jones and all those he ensnared. Reading this book showed me how little I previously understood about this horrific American tragedy. Well researched and well written.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. This was tough to read. Hats off to Fleming for her original research. The interviews and long format humanize an inexplicable atrocity. Hyacinth is a new personal hero.

Well worth reading if you remember these shocking events as they unfolded, or if this unbelievably ghastly massacre is all new to you.
The seventies really were an endless parade of appalling events.

There are two areas where questions are raised and not answered.
I would have appreciated some more speculation or comment directed at the incomprehensible decision of US medical examiners to declare all the deaths as suicide. Who would have been in a position to make that decision? Not only was that policy tragic for the memories of those who went down fighting, but it planted a lie in the minds of the nation and the world. All the lack of sympathy towards survivors and victims flowed from that decision- as arbitrary and autocratic as the decisions of Jim Jones.
I appreciate the reminder that the jokey references to drinking the coolaid are problematic but do think some sympathy is warranted for the nation gobsmacked that 900 American citizens would kill themself after murdering a congressman, and even worse, would compel their own babies to die. I remember it as a child and remember asking my parents about it. Explanations were impossible. It was an event so horrifying some deflection was needed. By the time I was in high school it was a relief to roll those feelings of horrified incomprehension into a creepy and cautionary aphorism.
I struggled with the addition of modern scholars efforts to reframe the racial elements of the tragedy within an explicable and honorable paradigm of African American culture. This felt like weak sauce and a bit of a slur. I didn’t buy what felt like gross generalizations and I felt putting forward those theories reflected poorly on the other examples of careful research and the individual accounts.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fleming is such a talented writer. She handled this story with respect and doesn’t sensationalize the events. But what a wild slice of history.

[DaNae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, compelling, horrifying! This narrative of Jim Jones and his People’s Temple is not just history but a cautionary tale of what happened when a Narcissistic Megalomaniac finds disenfranchised people to manipulate. I can’t say enjoyment was part of the reading experience, but for marveling at Fleming's great skill. She did a flawless execution, making a difficult subject jump off the page. Her underlining compassion for Jones’s victims adds a layer of humanity to this truly tragic bit of history. I will never use the phrase, “Drank the Kool-Aid” again.