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, History, Audiobook, Crime, Cults, Adult

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]

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!

[Tucker Almengor]

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.

[James Thomas]

(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.

[Heather]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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.

[Karen Bullock]

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!

[Queralt✨]

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.

[Jody Turpin]

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.

[Amber]

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.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡]

#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]

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]

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! ❤️

[Tina Loves To Read]

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.

[Wendy]

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (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.

[_linnslibrary_]

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]

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.

[RoseDevoursBooks]

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!

[Gabs Mantzoris]

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

[Jill Shea]

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]

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.

[Alexis]

I did not expect so much of this to revolve around branson

[Melanie]

A little choppy in the timeline and basic reporting of some whacked out people.

[~~*Julie Kawalec-pearson]

Received from NetGalley. Thank you so much.

The author describes himself as "a journalist who specializes in reporting on bad ideas and worse people"- seems accurate. i am interested in what he writes next.

Just a generally F$%#÷@ up story. I listened as an audiobook. Although I liked the audiobook narrator. I think listening makes it harder to follow. I also wished that we would have had a bit more information on exactly what made these people a cult. I read the whole book, and i can't for the life of me figure out how anyone followed these messed-up individuals.

I wish the author would have leaned into the entire story and the time spent in Wilbur with all the involved individuals.

Not really vampire-related, just a real F@#%÷# up dude. 

[Jakki (BizzyBookNook)]

This was a hard book for me to put into words. I appreciated the author's ability to tell the story in a way that almost read like a novel, which made my first venture into true crime a little easier to follow. I don't watch much news, so this case was completely new to me. I've always been fascinated by cults and how people can become so deeply drawn into believing and following them. I also appreciated the section at the end of the book that detailed the sources and research behind the story.

That said, this book was far more graphic than I expected. I'm not even sure the number of explicit sex scenes was entirely necessary. I understand that some of that content was important to convey the reality of the events and the dynamics involved, but after a while it started to feel excessive and distracting.

I also felt there was a fair amount of speculation on the author's part about what certain people were thinking or feeling without much evidence to support those conclusions. This stood out to me because the author didn't actually interview many of the people involved.

Overall, I'm conflicted. As my first true crime read, I was really excited going into it, but I ultimately walked away feeling unsettled—and not necessarily in the way I think the author intended.

[Leah M]

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been dipping a toe into true crime for years, and I have become a lot more selective about the type of true crime books I read and the podcasts that I listen to. Reading The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold a few years back had completely changed how I approach true crime stories. I prefer books that center the victims rather than glorifying or detailing the entire life of the people committing the crime.

There is a lot to appreciate about Hardin’s style in this book, although Hardin is a writer who is new to me, so I don’t know much about his signature style. There were a few things that I would have liked to see but didn’t, but there was more about it that I did find intriguing. To start with, Hardin adopts a clear tone that doesn’t even attempt to ‘pretty up’ the crimes of this bizarre cult. He does talk a little bit about the background of each character, devoting significantly more time and some more empathy towards the victims. I was hoping to see more about what led these people to participate in this sick, heinous cult more than anything else, but it wasn’t explored as much as providing a detailed accounting of the events and the people involved.

I did like how straightforward this was. Sources are credited, and the author makes it clear where the information came from, such as from the family of the victims, the victims themselves, law enforcement, and news media. The research done for this book is thorough and meticulous, and it reads like a fictional story even though this is grounded in facts from the case. I just kept thinking, “this can’t be real,” because the facts are so bizarre. An older, unattractive man ropes young women into his schemes, which include various crimes including theft and murder, and proceeds to psychologically manipulate these women to the point where it became a cult.

As I mentioned earlier, I would have liked to know what pushed these people to engage in a cult and do things they normally wouldn’t. There’s a big element of kink involved in the cult, but it’s more like the 50 Shades of Gray kink, aka not actually kink but physical and psychological manipulation, and I wish it had been made more clear that while some of their behaviors could be described as kink, the circumstances involved ensured that this wasn’t going to be a healthy, fully consenting account of kink as opposed to what it really was: abuse.

This was a really engrossing story, although I really struggled to put myself in a mindset where I could understand how these people just accepted the beliefs of this ‘cult,’ even though these women were accomplices to the cult, they were also victims. The women who bought into the weird ideas that Aubrey Trail presented—he was a 500-year-old vampire, drinking blood, and his own personal version of kink where the women had to be naked in the house at all times, one woman had to wear a collar and act like a cat on all fours, and heavy psychological abuse. But what really kept me hooked was wondering why these women would willingly submit to this man who didn’t seem to offer them anything positive.

I read this as an audiobook, narrated by Charles Linshaw. He did a wonderful job with the story, narrating in a grave tone of voice to match these heinous crimes, and managing to keep his voice steady even through the worst behaviors. His voice was engaging and kept me reading long into the night.

Overall, this was one of the most bizarre true-crime stories that I’ve read. Hardin did a great job with telling the story of these events, although he didn’t delve into what made these women willingly fall under the influence of Aubrey Trail. His ‘harem of witches’ were both victims and perpetrators, although I had more trouble extending empathy to them than to the young woman who died at their hands. I had no empathy for Aubrey, and I make no apologies for this. He’s evil personified, and the unusual circumstances he created led to the death of an innocent young woman. My heart broke for her and her family, especially since she was dismembered and her body parts strewn about her small town in Nebraska, which is unimaginably cruel. They never gave a thought about what they were doing and the wide circle of people who have been hurt by their actions, and that’s what this book was able to do—let the people closest to Sydney Loofe talk about her life, not simply her death, and focus the reader’s empathy to Sydney as a woman who met the wrong person on a dating website and got sucked into a dangerous, deadly dynamic of kinky sex, manipulation, and crime. Regardless, this was an outstanding example of a true-crime story that is centered on the victims rather than making the perpetrators seem like anything other than an evil man and his devoted, brainwashed, and manipulated group of female accomplices.

Bottom line: Truth is stranger than fiction, and this fast-paced true crime story proves it with a twisted web of abuse, manipulation, and crime culminating in a heinous murder, although I would have preferred to see a bit more of an exploration into *why* these people did what they did, rather that simply *what* they did.

[Ann Onimaus]

It reads much like a true-crime documentary translated to the page. Hardin uses an almost third-person, voice-over style of narration, combining investigative overviews with interviews and accounts from people connected to Aubrey Trail, Bailey Boswell, and the case. The relatively objective, reportorial tone often makes the book feel like a detailed case study, presenting the evidence, background, and perspectives to the reader much as a documentary might present them to an audience.

Rather than focusing solely on the murder itself, Hardin traces the years leading up to the crime and the aftermath, including Aubrey and Bailey’s meeting, their individual histories, their evolving relationship, and the increasingly disturbing behaviors and beliefs surrounding them. Knowing where the story ultimately leads creates an underlying sense of dread as seemingly separate interactions and decisions gradually converge into something horrific.

The crime itself is incredibly dark, and some of the details are graphic and difficult to read. However, what I found particularly compelling was the book’s exploration of the people behind the crime and the different individuals who became entangled in Aubrey’s world. Hardin examines how manipulation can operate differently depending on a person’s circumstances, vulnerabilities, experiences, and state of mind. The women surrounding Aubrey were not all affected in exactly the same way, and their varying levels of involvement provide a disturbing look at how someone with a powerful and manipulative personality can exploit different needs and vulnerabilities.

This also makes the book interesting from a psychological and sociological perspective. Throughout the case, we see an intersection of individual psychology, personal history, relationships, social circumstances, and outside influences. Rather than providing one simple explanation for how someone becomes capable of monstrous behavior, or why another person becomes susceptible to that individual’s influence, the book illustrates how complicated human behavior can be. Aubrey’s own explanations of human nature are particularly unsettling because they raise questions about the ways people rationalize their behavior and construct their own versions of reality.

For me, that complexity is important when reading true crime. Labels such as “psychopath,” “sociopath,” “cult leader,” or even “monster” can provide a shorthand for discussing disturbing behavior, but they can also make it tempting to place people into neat categories. Human psychology is far more complicated, and understanding the traits, circumstances, manipulation, and choices involved does not mean excusing the resulting actions. If anything, cases like this demonstrate why recognizing patterns of coercion and manipulation, and understanding how differently people can respond to them, is so important.

I appreciated the criminal justice details woven throughout the narrative. Those elements added another layer to the book and complemented its investigative, case-report style without taking away from the human story at its center.

This is a dark read, but it is also a fascinating examination of manipulation, control, vulnerability, and the disturbing complexity of human behavior. Reality can sometimes be stranger, and considerably more horrifying, than fiction. For readers who enjoy true-crime documentaries and podcasts, this offers a similar experience in literary form while providing plenty of material for deeper discussion about the psychological and social forces surrounding cases like this one.

[Misha]

🎧 Even though I gave this book 4 stars, I feel like my rating will tell you absolutely nothing about my judgement of this book. First of all, this is nonfiction, and I by no means judge the "story" itself, as it should mirror reality. And honestly, how do you judge what happened to an actual person? I can, however, comment on other things.

The writing style - I can tell this book was written by a journalist. It reminded me so much of those reels about millennials obsessed with true crime having a chill evening, followed by something like, "when they pulled the dead body from the local playground..." I don't know why, but it sounded very detached while being extremely descriptive at the same time.

The graphic sexual nature - The kinky parts get described in more detail than the investigation itself. We barely know how they catch the bad guys, but we surely do know there were dozens of sex toys at their house and a bag of dildos in a motel room. It seemed over the top and more like a way to make the story even more shocking.

The cast - I really liked how we get an in-depth view of every person involved. It helped paint a fuller picture and added a layer you will not get by simply listening to a true crime podcast about the same case. What rubs me the wrong way is that most of these people are still alive and, as far as I know, their real names are used.

Too many details? - My main question is: how does the writer know all of this? I've listened to the audiobook, and it has no sources included. I couldn't find any on the author's website either. It left me with a bit of a "trust me, bro" feeling, and that is not enough. The author describes everyone's thoughts, motivations, and what they were doing at any given point, but I couldn't help feeling like a lot of it was a serious reach. Especially when, at the end, we get part of an interview with one of the criminals and there really isn't much detail in what she says.

Absence of actual vampirism or a cult - Everyone starts calling Aubrey a vampire only during the trial phase. There is no actual vampirism. If you call something The Vampire's Cult, I have expectations. Even though the girls' behaviour does feel somewhat cult-like, I don't think this could really be classified as one. Almost no one actually believed Aubrey had any kind of powers, and many declined his sexual propositions without any issues. The only truly fanatical follower was Bailey, and I would argue she had just as much of a part in the whole shebang, maybe even a bigger one.

The audiobook - The narration is very unsettling, even enhancing the content itself. I wasn't particularly a fan of the male narrator doing female voices. Also, should we really act out true crime? It didn't fit, in my opinion. A simpler narration would have made this feel more neutral and less like a thriller.

I've rated this 4 stars because, on my scale, that means memorable in a good way. I in no way hated this book, but I would still call my view of it very sceptical. It would entertaining experience for a lover of VERY explicist true crime, but the accuracy is yet to be determined.

ALC via NetGalley
I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Chelsea]

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a very well-researched book about a string of events I had not heard of before, and yet I'm not convinced it achieves its goal. Hardin notes in the afterword that the events of this story seem wild--and they are--but that he wanted to capture the idea that anyone can be caught in the trap of "magical thinking" and that this could have kind of happened to anyone.

But I don't think it could have. Maybe this is because, intentionally or not, Hardin makes almost everyone in this book out to be incredibly stupid. There are no criminal masterminds here despite a lot of crime happening. They get caught constantly, and anyone with ANY sort of functional vibe-checker would have avoided Aubrey trail like the plague. That the various women in this book didn't (with the exception of poor Sydney, who didn't know she was getting involved with Audrey at all) seems to say something about their level of intelligence...as does them believing, if even for a bit, that he was a vampire with a cult of witches at his command.

There's a lot of abuse in this book and of course NONE of that is excusable with "well they were stupid." Aubrey Trail is obviously a very bad person, and so is Bailey, who was both a victim and joined in perpetuating his abuses. It's a "multiple things can be true at once" scenario. But despite it being so clear how much BAD was happening, it's hard to build up a sense of empathy from this book because the writing is VERY distant and clinical. It's a very "just the facts, ma'am" relation of this case and I guess I would have liked to see some more emotion in it. There's also very little of the WHY this happened, with all of the focus being strictly on the "how." In comparison, Catch the Devil: A True Story of Murder, Deception, and Injustice on the Gulf Coast, which also came out this summer, goes into so much depth about the perpetrator, the victims, and WHY all of this happened, from an individual level to systemic failures, and that made it a striking work. That sense of depth is missing here.

Overall an sad and weird case, but a book that doesn't really go into it beyond a surface-level recitation of facts.

[Kelly (veggiekittykelly_reads)]

Prior to my reading of The Vampire's Cult by Chet Hardin I was not familiar with the true crime case surrounding Sydney Loofe. Loofe was a twenty four year old woman who was coerced, assaulted, murdered and dismembered by two heinous people. 

I think it is important to note that the focus of this book is primarily on the two perpetrators, Aubrey Trail & Bailey Boswell, and secondarily on murder victim Sydney Loofe. 

Aubrey Trail, a lying manipulative conman, promoted himself to the women he met as a powerful vampire with a coven of witches at his disposal. He used money, coercion & threats to attract & hold onto relationships with these women who were often pressured into criminal & sexual acts. 

While many of the women in Aubrey's orbit got away from him, Bailey Boswell did not and acted as a bridge between Aubrey and other women. She assisted with his schemes, engaged in his deviant proclivities, and in the end helped him murder someone and cover it up.

I think this book had some missed opportunities. I wish it would have delved more into topics like coercive control, human psychology, issues within the justice system, and capital punishment.

There's a lot that can be said about what happens when vulnerable people who are desperate for domestic and financial solutions, seeking acceptance, struggling with past trauma, and wanting a feeling of magic and respite from their lives, discover someone/something they see as a solution. 

Both Aubrey and Bailey are guilty of the crimes they committed. While I have sympathy for Bailey because of some of the things that she experienced, it is difficult to view her as anything other than a violent offender who was complicit in the crimes she took part in. It is clear that Aubrey used money and fantasy to assert influence and employ control, but in the end Bailey did what she did.

The case was interesting but overall I found the book to be a passably written account that relied on the salacious details of the lifestyle Aubrey had with Bailey and the other women he took under his wing. It is also discouraging to know that Aubrey, who enjoys the attention and notoriety from his crimes, is likely pleased by the fact that he now has a book written about him.

Thank you to Sourcebooks who provided me with an eARC of this book through NetGalley. The Vampire's Cult: The Untold Story of Obsession, Control, and a Shocking Small-Town Murder by Chet Hardin is out NOW!

[Brendan (History Nerds United)]

Never underestimate the power of an idiot. Make no mistake, Aubrey Trail is an idiot among many other negative terms which can be applied to him.

The Vampire's Cult by Chet Hardin is the type of true crime book which boils down to a matter of taste. Hardin tells the story of the murder of Sydney Loofe with journalistic accuracy and detachment. His prose is easy to read and all the details are meticulously sourced. He has a ton of material on the perpetrators as well as a few victims/perpetrators. Trail is a self-proclaimed vampire (yes, he really tried to sell that) who has a coven of witches (uh, sure bro), but don't worry, he can go in the sunlight because he is apparently the Twilight vampire kind. He is (inexplicably!) able to convince multiple women to join his coven even though he is quite ugly (literally their words, not mine). They perform various (very gross!) things at his behest including murder.

Hardin makes a storytelling choice which didn't work for me, but again, this is a matter of taste. He has access to a significant amount of information from and about Trail and the women in his orbit. Unfortunately, it feels like we are seeing life through their eyes instead of anyone else's. It means that Hardin presents their views of things, but doesn't step back to analyze if what they are saying lines up with what reality probably was. These are despicable people, and it means I wanted a bit more outside of their viewpoints. Hardin doesn't make Sydney Loofe a nameless victim, but all of the victims in this book get short vignettes. I also like a bit more atmosphere added to the overall story. Why these people in these places? Were they more prone to following a guy like Trail because of their circumstances? What was the difference between the people who got away and those who chose to stay?

To summarize, my rating on here is mostly based on my preferences for true crime and could easily be argued as too harsh. I'd like more atmosphere, more analysis, and more background. However, if you want a well-told, direct, and detailed narrative of an absolutely crazy story, then you will be happy with this one.

(This book was provided as an advanced reader copy by NetGalley and Sourcebooks.)

[Janine]

A true crime nonfiction read well researched and meticulously detailed gives an inside look at human depravity.

In November 2017 Sydney Loofe went missing from her small Nebraska town. The trail leads quickly to Aubrey Trail (not his birth name) and Bailey Boswell. Trail is a conjurer of mayhem and madness and like the Svengali he is, he traps young women who are rudderless and totally as nuts as he is. He manages to ensnare other young girls and women into a coven of witches who perform to his every nasty thought. Some of the older women had advanced education and while they weren’t involved in the murder, their belief in Trail’s magical abilities is outright ludicrous.
And then there’s the book’s title which comes from Trail telling Boswell he’s a vampire and that’s why he’s assembled his coven of witches.

The book is not written linearly but goes back and forth between Trail and Bailey, outlining their lives and motivations. Trail was born a bad seed - he wanted to be a robber growing up. Bailey is pure dumb to my way of thinking - she’s gifted with clothes and trinkets but had no insights into the ramifications of what these things would later require, she’s just trying to make a buck anyway she can - in a country of greed and poverty I can appreciate the difficult position Boswell was in. While she and Trail talked about killing, I think that was Bailey just trying to hang onto her sugar daddy - though unfortunately she would do whatever it took to keep him. I have no sympathy for her there.

The back and forth and roundabout nature of the storytelling keeps the reader in suspense. The book actually starts with the trial of Aubrey and cuts off into the story of what lead up to murder when Aubrey cuts his throat - only giveaway here to show how the author built the suspense.

I enjoy true crime books and their look into the nature of evil and what makes some people tick. If you enjoy reading these kinds of true crime books give this one a shot.

I gave this book five stars because it was well researched, the storytelling was compelling and well paced and I liked the title (I’m a sucker for anything titled vampire - which is why I’d like to thank NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS for granting me access to this ARC).