The Vampire's Cult: The Untold Story of Obsession, Control, and a Shocking Small-Town Murder

by Chet Hardin

A self-proclaimed vampire.

His harem of "witches."

And the small-town murder that shocked America.

When twenty-four-year-old Sydney Loofe disappeared after a Tinder date, the quiet town of Wilber, Nebraska was stunned. Days later, her dismembered body was found scattered across nearby fields―and the horrifying truth began to emerge. Sydney hadn't just met the wrong man. She had crossed paths with a deeply disturbed psychopath and his dangerous accomplice.

In The Vampire's Cult, investigative journalist Chet Hardin exposes the twisted world of Aubrey Trail, an aging con man who presented himself as an all-powerful being, and Bailey Boswell, the woman who called herself his "queen." Together, they lured vulnerable young women into a spiral of sex, theft, and psychological manipulation―with deadly consequences.

Through exclusive interviews, firsthand reporting, and chilling detail, Hardin unravels the making of a modern cult―and the social desperation that feeds it. In an era defined by false realities and toxic charisma, The Vampire's Cult reveals just how easily darkness can disguise itself as devotion.

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

336 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2026

About the author

Chet Hardin is a journalist who specializes in reporting on bad ideas and worse people.

In addition to his years in the newspaper industry, writing for altweeklies in Colorado and New York, Chet has worked in construction, politics, coffee, and technology.

Born in a small town fifteen minutes outside of Pumpkin Center, Chet traveled the country before settling down in Saint Louis, Missouri, where he lives with his artist wife and any number of cats.

Reviews

[Miranda MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vampire’s Cult: The Untold Story of Obsession, Control, and a Shocking Small-Town Murder had me hooked from the title alone and completely pulled me in from the first chapter. This book is every true crime junkie’s bread and butter.

With short, fast-paced chapters and an easy-to-follow narrative, Chet Hardin unravels the story of self-proclaimed vampire and cult leader Aubrey Trail and the shocking murder that rocked a small Nebraska town. Without giving too much away, this case was as disturbing as it was heartbreaking.

If you’ve never heard of this case, I highly recommend going in blind and letting the story unfold as Hardin tells it. The Vampire’s Cult is a chilling reminder of just how far people will go when obsession and devotion outweigh reason and morality.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC!

[James Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Thankyou to Netgalley for the ARC of this one)

There’s something I can’t quite put my finger on with this, but it’s an uncomfortable read. Not solely because of the gruesome details of the crimes at the centre of the story (and they are gruesome and horrific), but also for the sense and the feeling that the descriptions given to the actions as told here are precisely what the villain of this story would love.

It feels like a villain’s story, through and through, with comparatively little redeeming space given to (for example) the investigation that put them behind bars. The title itself is also quite misleading, since there is no real cult, much as the ‘vampire’ is such an inconsequential detail in the whole case that it is almost nonexistent as an element at all. But then, of course, a title like “vampire’s cult” will turn heads, so why not lean right in?

Ultimately, and I’m sorry to say, it feels hard to recommend this to anyone.

[Tucker Almengor · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Audio for an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review
★ 3.70 stars ★

what a surreal read. when I requested this from the publisher, I had not heard of the Sydney Loofe's murder so I went in completely blind.

Hardin does an excellent job delivering the facts of the case in a narrative way that feels very much like a procedural drama. Of course, that makes me think this is meant to be more of a dramatic retelling of the case rather than real, true journalistic true crime.

all in all, a quick read and very odd. the oddness is what will keep you engaged. everyone involved was so weird. they all needed to go to therapy and learn how to healthily engage in kink.

[Jody Turpin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its definitely written in a way that sucks you in, but overall, I don't think this needs to be read.

First off, calling this a cult is pretty damn sensationalist. This wasn't a cult, at all. This was one fucked up guy who groomed a fucked up woman, who occasionally had a few other women tag along before they all eventually fall off and return to their lives. This really doesn't meet any criteria for a cult, it was something the headlines grabbed during the trail. And by the way, the murderer LOVED it.

So much of this book is written from the murderer's perspectives, and takes way too much liberty to talk about how others are feeling. I honestly think the author exploits this tragedy to make a name for himself. The murderer clearly loves being the center of attention and probably loves this book. I'm sure he himself has a copy that he's jerked off to many times.

[Karen Bullock · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vampire’s Cult is a seductively written telling of the world gone wrong through the power, control and brainwashing of a con man, who wielded false success on vulnerable and desperate young girls. Girls who appeared so broken, that the attention of an older man, made them feel loved and attractive.

It is so hard to believe that in today’s society of high technology and cellphones, that some of these girls had, didn’t have enough of an inkling that any part of Aubrey Trail’s “stories” of his wealth were checked.
How could a man, who bragged about wealth, have rotten front teeth? And live in a house apartment, in someone’s basement? How does that imply wealth?!

Chet Hardin’s writing gives off the vibe that you’re reading a psychological thriller instead of a true crime novel, which proves the point that this book will mess with your head!

Thanks to Sourcebooks for another fantastic true crime that is definitely an eye opener!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Sourcebooks for the gifted copy.

Summary

The Vampire's Cult examines the murder of twenty-four-year-old Sydney Loofe, who disappeared after meeting someone through Tinder in Nebraska. Her disappearance eventually led investigators into the disturbing world surrounding Aubrey Trail and Bailey Boswell.

Trail presented himself as a powerful vampire-like figure surrounded by women he called witches, creating a world built around manipulation, control, crime, and lies. Chet Hardin looks beyond the murder itself and digs into the people involved, how this group operated, and how manipulation and deception allowed Trail to maintain control over the people around him.

My Review

I was SO impressed with this book. The amount of research that went into The Vampire's Cult really shows, and I appreciated how much detail Chet Hardin gave us without making the book difficult to follow. There are so many layers of deception here. Lies on top of lies, manipulation, control, vulnerable people being pulled into this strange world, and a man creating this completely twisted version of himself that other people eventually became wrapped up in. The whole vampire and witches aspect sounds almost unbelievable until you remember that these were real people and Sydney Loofe was a real young woman who lost her life.

What really fascinated me was the cult and psychological side of the case. How does someone gain this much control over other people? How do increasingly bizarre ideas start becoming normal inside a closed group? And how much damage can one manipulative person cause when they figure out exactly what other people need or want to hear? The research was excellent, and I thought Hardin did an amazing job showing just how much manipulation, obsession, deception, and control surrounded this case. It was disturbing, fascinating, and incredibly well researched. This is exactly what I want from a true crime book.

Would I Recommend?

Absolutely, especially for true crime readers interested in cults, manipulation, psychology, and the people behind a crime rather than simply the crime itself. This was incredibly detailed and gave me so much more to think about than I expected.

[Queralt✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lot, a lot. Horrifying and shocking. I wish the focus had been more on the cons and the cult, or the investigation than on the cult’s sexual deviance, though.

RTC.

*ARC received for free, this hasn’t impacted my rating.

[Billi · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 4/5 ⭐️

The Vampire’s Cult: The Untold Story of Obsession, Control, and a Shocking Small-Town Murder by Chet Hardin

I always have such a hard time rating and reviewing non fiction reads. I have been wanting to read this one since it released though because I honestly was not familiar with this case at all. I always find cults to be an interesting topic. This is a pretty recent case too so that stood out to me. How does one man have so much control over people? Honestly just blew my mind listening to this. The research seemed well done and thorough. It was definitely disturbing with some of it. As I was listening I just kept asking myself how did this actually happen? Like how was this real life? I will say this kind of bounced around a lot which had me a little confused. I did enjoy the audio narration.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

🩸ARC REVIEW🩸

Available Now

“The only way to kill a witch,” Aubrey told Bailey, “is to tie her between two trees and cut her down the middle, all the way. Slice her all the way down the middle of her body.”

💬 How had I never heard of this story?? Really dark and disturbing. The journalist did a great job portraying the details of this disturbing case. Cult vibes, Manson-esque, con artists, robberies, sex, manipulation, this has it all! Overall recommend for fans of true crime🗞️

Thank you @chethardin @netgalley @sourcebooks

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a true crime junkie I can honestly say this author did an exceptional job writing this one. I vaguely remember some things about this case from listening to a crime podcast. But the way this author has written this one gives you a more in-depth perspective into this true crime and also into the trial itself.
The Author handled the dark and twisted and honestly just plain evil acts that these two individuals did with such great care and deep respect.
I watch a lot of true crime documentaries and true crime podcasts and the way this author laid out all the facts was hands down great and easy to follow.
It never felt biased, it felt very well presented and researched.

[RoseDevoursBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a devastating true-crime account of the murder of 24-year-old Sydney Loofe in a small town in Nebraska. Investigative journalist Chet Hardin explores the world of con man Aubrey Trail and his “coven” of witches, along with his accomplice, Bailey Boswell. What began with theft and deception eventually evolved into manipulation, assault, and ultimately murder.

Prior to reading this book, I was unfamiliar with Sydney Loofe’s case, and Hardin does a great job of presenting the facts in a narrative style that reads almost like a police procedural. The pacing is quick, the chapters are short, and the story steadily reveals how Trail and Boswell’s relationship developed and how their criminal activities escalated. Hardin also goes into detail about Boswell’s background and how she became Trail’s “Queen” and ultimately played a role in luring Loofe to her death through Tinder.

The level of psychological manipulation is at the heart of the case. Trail claimed to be an immortal who could communicate with a coven of 13 witches and use his body as a vessel for them to speak to the women around him. Whether these claims were something he actually believed or just another means of controlling others, he created an elaborate fantasy world in which he held the power. Boswell became devoted to him, and allowed his influence to override her own judgment and morality.

My only real criticism is the title. Despite being called The Vampire’s Cult, there’s no real connection to vampirism. The “vampire” aspect primarily comes from Trail’s claims and the persona he created for himself. The Witches’ Coven might have been a more fitting title, considering how central those claims are to the story.

Overall, this is a well-researched account of a case I knew nothing about. I’d recommend it to true-crime readers who aren’t familiar with the Sydney Loofe case and can stomach some difficult and disturbing details.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks for a copy of this title!

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Non Fiction True Crime. I read this book by listening to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed this audiobook. This book took me on a crazy ride. I found this book very interesting and crazy. I got pulled into this book, and I could not put this book down. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I found this book very interesting. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

#ad much love for my advance copy @bookmarked #partner

🆃🅷🅴 🆅🅰🅼🅿🅸🆁🅴’🆂 🅲🆄🅻🆃
< @
ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ɴᴏᴡ

Looking for a true-crime book club read? Well, look no further!

𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑣𝑢𝑙𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔.

The Vampire’s Cult by Chet Hardin is a dark twisted story about control, power, sex, coercion, manipulation, obsession, and ultimately, murder.

Oof.

Sydney Loofe was only twenty-four years old when she disappeared after meeting someone through the online dating app Tinder. Her body was eventually found dismembered and scattered across rural Nebraska. Sydney had no idea, when she got ready for what she thought was an ordinary date, that she was walking into a situation that would cost her her life. She had been deliberately lured into the orbit of Aubrey Trail and Bailey Boswell.

The media often referred to Aubrey Trail as a “sex cult leader,” but The Vampire’s Cult digs beneath that sensationalized label and into the mechanics of how he constructed his world. Trail was a lifelong criminal who portrayed himself as something extraordinary, including claiming to be a vampire and surrounding himself with women he called his “witches.” He cultivated an identity built around power, sex, fear, manipulation, and control.

But really, the more I learned about him, the less interesting that mythology became. Strip away the vampire nonsense, the grandiose claims, the manipulation, and the comparisons to other infamous cult leaders, and what remains is a deeply troubled man who learned how to exploit other people and con every one he came across.

How does someone convince another person to surrender pieces of themselves? How does manipulation become normalized? How do survival instincts, trauma, dependency, fear, and the need for belonging become tangled up with someone’s ability to make their own choices? And at what point does someone who was manipulated become responsible for the harm they ultimately participate in?

Those questions become particularly complicated when it comes to Bailey Boswell.

Bailey wasn’t just a footnote in Aubrey’s story. She was initially someone caught inside his world, but she ultimately became a participant in Sydney’s murder. This book forces us to sit with that uncomfortable distinction that a person can be manipulated and still cause horrific harm. And it could happen to any one of us.

And that’s where true crime gets complicated for me.

There is always a conversation about how true crime should focus more on victims rather than perpetrators. I understand that argument completely. But the reality is that victims are usually just ordinary people living ordinary lives. They aren’t inherently fascinating because of some bizarre history. Most became victims because of circumstance, opportunity, or because someone deliberately chose them.

The perpetrators, meanwhile, often have these bizarre, disturbing, psychologically tangled histories that make people want to understand why. They aren’t normal. Their behavior is so far outside what most of us can comprehend that we instinctively start looking for explanations.

I thought Hardin handled that tension particularly well by taking the story beyond the crime itself and into the courtroom.

The trial portions were some of the most impactful parts of the book for me because that is where Sydney began to emerge as more than a name attached to a horrific crime. Through the proceedings, we get to know more about her family, their loss, and, by extension, Sydney herself. We see the visceral pain her murder left in its wake.

The victim impact statements were brutal to read.

This wasn’t just a strange story about a man who called himself a vampire and surrounded himself with women. It was a story about how control can slowly become normalized, how vulnerable people can be exploited, and how the consequences of one person’s manipulation can spread outward and destroy lives.

There is also a heartbreaking amount of what ifs here. What if Sydney had never answered that message? What if she had never gone on that date? What if Bailey had never met Aubrey? What if the circumstances and systems surrounding these people had been different?

We can never know. What we do know is that Sydney should have had decades of ordinary, boring, beautiful life ahead of her. Instead, her life became a true-crime story.

The Vampire’s Cult is a one-sitting kind of read for me. Once I started, I was completely engrossed. Hardin doesn’t just recount the crime; he explores the people, the history, the manipulation, the investigation, and the trial, creating a much fuller picture of how this tragedy unfolded. His reporting also draws on interviews with Trail and Boswell, giving the book access to perspectives that are unsettling precisely because they come from the people at the center of the case.

Sometimes we need to remember that behind every headline is a real person. Sydney wasn’t just a Tinder date gone wrong. She wasn’t a body found in rural Nebraska. She wasn’t a case number or a name in a true-crime documentary. She was Sydney. Sydney Toofe. A young and beautiful girl on the cusp of discovering herself. Her future was promising until she met the people who would come to take her life. It’s heartbreaking.

The Vampire’s Cult reminded me that while the darkness of the perpetrators may be what initially pulls us into a story, it is the human beings left behind who should ultimately stay with us.

𝕆𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 ℚ𝕦𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤:
"Whenever you're with someone like that, it's so much easier just to isolate yourself, she said. The way she saw it, "If I don't have friends, then I can't get in trouble for anything that I do with my friends or anywhere I go with my friends. If I don't go to a function with my family, then I can't get in trouble for whatever is gonna happen there or for not making it back on time."

But what sickens and saddens me the most is that yours and your co-conspirator's were the last faces that Sydney had to see as you were strangling the life from her.

With Aubrey, she could never really tell what was a lie and what was the truth, because neither had any value to him.

"I think it's a reflection on themselves," Aubrey said one after-noon. "Everyone has deep, dark thoughts that they would never in a million years talk to anyone about, and I think I'm an extension of that. I think I'm a way to meet someone who's actually done the shit they think about. I think people in general are evil, conniving, and there's a lot of people that would do exactly what I did."

[De Rijdende Boekenwurm · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Charisma Becomes a Weapon

Some true crime stories are horrifying because of the crime itself. Others are even more disturbing because they reveal how easily manipulation can disguise itself as trust and devotion. 'The Vampire's Cult' is one of those books.

Chet Hardin delivers a gripping work of investigative journalism that examines the shocking murder of Sydney Loofe while uncovering the disturbing dynamics surrounding Aubrey Trail and Bailey Boswell. Rather than presenting the case as another sensational true crime story, Hardin explores the psychological manipulation, coercive control, and cult-like influence that ultimately led to tragedy.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its thorough research. Drawing from exclusive interviews, court records, and firsthand reporting, the narrative feels carefully constructed and well supported. The writing remains accessible throughout, making complex events and legal proceedings easy to follow without sacrificing depth.

What stood out most was the emphasis on understanding instead of exploiting the horror of the crime. Hardin examines how vulnerable people can become entangled with manipulative personalities who promise belonging, purpose, or power. The result is a thought-provoking exploration of cult psychology and social influence that extends far beyond this single case.

The pacing is remarkably engaging for nonfiction. Each chapter reveals another layer of deception, gradually building a comprehensive picture of how the investigation unfolded. While certain sections contain a significant amount of factual detail, they strengthen the credibility of the book and demonstrate the depth of Hardin's research.

Rather than relying on shock value, 'The Vampire's Cult' encourages readers to reflect on the broader themes behind the crime, including manipulation, loneliness, coercion, and the dangers of blindly following charismatic leaders. Those themes make this book especially relevant today.

Readers who enjoy investigative journalism, psychology, cult studies, and well-researched true crime will find this both compelling and deeply unsettling.

Thank you so much, Sourcebooks, for providing me with a review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

True Crime | Cults | Psychological Manipulation | Investigative Journalism | Murder Investigation

[Kate | Date With A Thriller · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a wild and interesting case! I had not heard of it before, so needless to say my curiosity was piqued when the opportunity to read this came my way! Not going to lie, I was left with some mixed feelings on this one. But feel free to check it out, true crime fans! 👏

Thank you partner Sourcebooks for the gifted advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

[Grace Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like the victim was a bit lost in this book. I know more than enough about the killers, but not much about Sydney Loofe.

[Leslie Oberhaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is well written and compelling true crime. It's not a light read; the story here is dark, full of shocking behavior and lawless attitudes. It is a can't-stop-reading account of a cold-hearted small town murder and the depraved conman who was able to entice women into a life of crime and abuse. It's fascinating in a horrific way to read about the power that self-proclaimed vampire Aubrey Trail had over those in his orbit. To the extent that such a disturbing story can be enjoyable, this one is. If you consume true crime media, I think you'll find this to be a must read. Hoping and waiting for Trail to come to justice will keep you reading even through the many tough scenes.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)

Thank you to NetGalley, Chet Hardin, and Sourcebooks Audio for providing me with an advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely wild.

I read a lot of thrillers and horror fiction, but few fictional stories are as disturbing as the real events chronicled in The Vampire’s Cult. The most unsettling aspect isn’t the violence itself, it’s realizing that every horrifying event actually happened. Families were destroyed, people were manipulated and abused, and lives were taken in ways that are difficult to comprehend.

What makes this book so effective is the author’s approach. Rather than inserting personal opinions or telling readers what to think, Hardin carefully pieces together the facts, perspectives, and timeline into a compelling narrative. The result reads with the tension of a true crime thriller while maintaining the integrity of the reporting. At times I found myself thinking, “There’s no way this can be real”, only to remember that it was.

Perhaps the most chilling takeaway is not the cult itself, but what it reveals about human nature. The story demonstrates how people can convince themselves to believe almost anything in order to justify their actions, no matter how destructive the consequences.

This wasn’t an easy listen because of the emotional weight of what happened. But it is an important story, thoughtfully told and deeply researched. It’s the kind of true crime book that stays with the reader long after finishing the book, leaving you reflecting not only on the case itself but on the vulnerability of people seeking belonging and purpose. Just be prepared, it will stay with you for quite some time.

[Mercedes Narain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading Chet Hardin, and wow, this book was truly disturbing. I knew nothing about the Sydney Loofe case before, and as a true-crime fan, I was surprised I hadn’t heard of it.

I started the book and switched to the audiobook partway through. The case was wild, and I wasn’t always sure how to feel about what I was reading. The details were horrifying, and learning about the victims, everyone involved, and how it affected Sydney’s loved ones made this a really tough story to get through.

What stood out most was how vivid and detailed the storytelling felt. It was almost like watching a true-crime documentary, but I was experiencing it through the book. The story looks at the people involved and their versions of what happened, but with all the lies and conflicting accounts, I’m left wondering how much of the truth we’ll ever know.

This isn’t an easy read. Some parts were really graphic and disturbing, and I had to stop and process what I’d read. Even though the case was horrifying, I kept going because I wanted to understand how it all happened. My heart goes out to Sydney and everyone who cared about her.

I’m glad I switched to the audiobook because Charles Linshaw’s narration added a lot to the experience. His voice captured the eerie, unsettling mood and made the details feel even more real. It made an already disturbing case feel even more intense.

Overall, this was a fascinating but very unsettling true-crime book. I finished it with mixed feelings, and I’m still thinking about the case. If you like true crime, just know this one gets really graphic and isn’t for the faint of heart.

Thank you, Sourcebooks, for the complimentary eBook!

[_linnslibrary_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first true crime book I ever read. And honestly it was crazy. Chet Hardin does an amazing job writing this book in a way that almost made me think I read a fiction book. Everything that happens through the book is so absurd. To think that this happened in real life is terrible to think about. The main «villain» in the story is just using manipulation and mind games on inecent girls in the most surreal ways. I think it is sad and scary that there are people out there who lets them get tricked liked this because they are desperate for money.

The writing was fast pased and easy to read. Even tho there are som terrible and grotesce scenes here (check trigger warnings), the book was addictive and hard to but down. I really enjoyed it, tho it was ofc also terrible to read.

[Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storytelling, I went into this book not knowing anything about the crime, and it was a fast paced ride with a lot of suspense. It has all the elements of a good true crime book: a gruesome crime, great "characters" (although obviously they are real flesh and blood persons) , some mystery about what happened, an interesting investigation and some court drama.

A very good page-turner true crime book. The only negative is it could use somo photo inserts about the people involved.

I've got and advance copy from Net Galley. Thank you.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even 2 seems generous!!
This felt like an amateur sleuth looking to cash in on the horrific death of Sydney. It’s almost like he sympathized with Bailey and Trail. Way too many details about the sexual nature. It was weird and gross. Just watch a true crime documentary about the case and pass on the creepy book.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆

Feels really odd to rate this a 5 since the story is absolutely disgusting. But it was extremely well written and detailed and really dove into the case. As a true crime fan, I'm surprised I'd never heard of this. I feel for the Loofe family. Bailey and Aubrey deserve much worse than they got tbh.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to reading this book, I had no idea that this case existed. It is about a gruesome murder of a young girl by the hands of a manipulator who brainwashed young women into his cult where he claimed to be a vampire and his girls to be witches. I couldn’t put this book down. It reminded me of Jonestown where people were brainwashed by the cult leader.

[Gabs Mantzoris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A non-fiction! Hopefully the first of many - not a ton of "vampire" or traditional "cult" but def evil and crazy people.

[Jill Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was teaching in Wilber when this murder occurred. Couldn't believe then and still struggle to now that something like this happened in our community. Pure evil.
Prayers continue for the victims and families.

[Ursula McDaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to be shocked by the depravity simple humans are able to commit. A horrifying, well-written and thoroughly researched true crime account. Hug your loved ones tight.

[Brittany Solorzano · Rating 5 out of 5]

As much as this book is disturbing and horrid. It was very well written and hard to put down. I commend the author and the way he did the timeline.

[Beauregard Francis · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

I decided to listen to this book because it was a local interest story, despite my general thoughts that true crime is sensationalist and exploitative of real human suffering. Unfortunately, this book doesn't deviate from that.

[Laurie Plue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book by its title alone and it did not disappoint! Hearing from the actual women involved in this 'cult' was fascinating. If you like true crime, give this one a read. Crazy people are always entertaining!