They Must Be Monsters: A Modern-Day Witch Hunt - The untold story of the McMartin Phenomenon: the longest, most expensive criminal case in U.S. history

by Matthew Leroy, Deric Haddad

It began on August 12, 1983, when a disturbed woman's bizarre accusation ignited hysteria across the small Southern California community of Manhattan Beach. Driven by over-zealous investigators and a sensational news media, the legend of The McMartin Preschool became the "case of the century"-the longest, most expensive criminal trial in United States history. Four years later, in the spring of 1988, in the midst of the ongoing frenzy, authors Matthew LeRoy and Deric Haddad, students at San Diego State University, left school to follow the case, a path that led them to Manhattan Beach, an upscale community where a vortex of suspicion left most residents leery of outsiders. In this instance, however, where the inquisitors were two unassuming college students, many opened their doors . . . and they had so much to say. Through the summer of 1990, the authors conducted over one hundred interviews, as they bonded with key players on both sides of the conflict. No other journalists or network reporters were able to obtain such a diverse range of sources. Now, thirty years later, this extraordinary event comes to life. Written in a creative non-fiction format, They Must Be Monsters is told through the eyes of the "mother who started it all." Using exclusive content-her volume of lost archives-the depth of her paranoia is unveiled; the portrait of a schizophrenic woman whose dark visions became a microcosm of the community around her. These authentic, never-before-seen documents finally bring an end to the mystery behind her fateful accusations. The events of Manhattan Beach are true, an untold story, the calamity of an upscale seaside town gripped by fear, where friends turned on neighbors in a frantic campaign of misguided retribution-a devastating crucible that afflicted a generation of innocent people, an event eerily similar to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. It's a tale of horror, rage, superstition, and faith; a shameful moment in American folklore that's been erroneously ignored by historians-a great injustice that should've never taken place-but, as history tends to repeat itself, most tragically did

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Crime, History

396 pages, Paperback

Published July 31, 2018

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the latter part of 1983, a kind of mass hysteria descended on the city of Manhattan Beach in southern California.



It started on August 12, 1983, when a woman named Judy Johnson accused 25-year-old preschool aide Ray Buckey of molesting her toddler son Mitchell at the McMartin Preschool.


Ray Buckey


McMartin Preschool

Judy reported the abuse to Detective Jane Hoag of the Manhattan Beach Police Department (MBPD), and Hoag arranged for Mitchell to be examined by pediatricians who were 'child abuse experts.' The doctors' report stated: "It appears the boy's anus was forcibly entered....he's been sodomized." After further investigation, Detective Hoag's report stated that Ray Buckey had "inflicted injury, bound and gagged his victim, and committed forcible sodomy."



Fearful that the molestation extended well beyond little Mitchell, the MBPD mailed 200 letters to families whose children attended (or had attended) the McMartin school. The letter asked parents to "question your child to see if he or she has been a witness to any crime or if he or she has been a victim." The letter listed the possible criminal acts under investigation: "[The acts include] oral sex, fondling of genitals, buttock or chest area, and sodomy, possibly committed under the pretense of taking the child's temperature. Also photos may have been taken of children without their clothing. Any information from your child regarding having ever observed Ray Buckey to leave a classroom alone with a child during any nap period, or if they have ever observed Ray Buckey tie up a child, is important."

Before long scores of panicked parents were taking their children to the Children's Institute International in Los Angeles (CII) - an agency for the treatment of abused children.



At CII the youngsters were physically examined for signs of abuse, and interviewed by therapists. Almost all the children reported that they were molested, and the medical examinations backed them up.




Therapists used puppets to interview the children

Moreover, the abuse allegedly extended well beyond Ray Buckey. The children implicated ALL the teachers at McMartin Preschool, and seven people were suspected of belonging to a Satanic cult that molested children. The youngsters also reported that the adults killed animals (and even babies) in front of them, and threatened to kill their parents if they told.



Before long the accusations spread to other preschools in the area, and the suspicion spread that the toddler schools were part of a pedophile/Satanist ring that did horrific things to children while adults took pictures and made films.


Outraged parents and community members

The police had a field day with this. They raided preschools in three counties and obtained warrants to search the homes of all the implicated teachers. This resulted in the closure of several preschools.....and many people who didn't even know Ray Buckey lost their jobs and reputations.

Though no evidence of any kind was ever found (no photos; no films; no bones of dead animals or babies), preliminary hearings began in June, 1984 and lasted for eighteen months. As a result, charges were dropped against everyone except Ray Buckey and his mother Peggy McMartin Buckey, who ran the McMartin preschool.




Peggy Buckey and Ray Buckey

Ray and Peggy Buckey were put on trial, and both defendants were acquitted on 52 counts of child abuse. The jury, however, was deadlocked on 13 additional counts against Ray. Ray was retried, and the jury was deadlocked once again - though the majority of jurors thought he was not guilty. The prosecution decided not to proceed and Ray was set free.



In the end the state had spent 7 years and 15 million dollars on the McMartin case and obtained no convictions. In addition, most experts now agree that NONE of the charges were true.

So what happened? The authors of this book, Matthew LeRoy and Deric Haddad try to explain.


Matthew LeRoy and Deric Haddad

In the 1980s, LeRoy and Haddad were attending San Diego State University. They knew consultants for the Buckey defense team and thought the case would make a good college research paper. So LeRoy and Haddad took leaves of absence from school and spent three years interviewing people in the Manhattan Beach area, including parents of 'abused children'; extended family members; teachers accused of child molestation; prosecutors; defense lawyers; friends of the McMartins; enemies of the McMartins; and so on. LeRoy and Haddad collected filing cabinets full of material, but didn't complete their book until now.

No one can really explain the hysteria that gripped Manhattan Beach in the 1980s, or why people believed the children's absurd stories. Kids reported seeing people fly; being transported in airplanes; being molested at locations all over town in a single morning; being abused in underground tunnels; having to sing while they were being molested; being forced to dance naked; and much more. How could all this be going on for years with no townspeople - and no parents - noticing.

It's now known that the therapists who examined the youngsters used incorrect methods, such as asking leading questions; putting ideas in the children's heads; and refusing to take no for an answer - that is, badgering the children until they agreed they were abused. Once the children admitted they were molested, doctors found 'physical evidence' to support the claims.

LeRoy and Haddad believe the whole shebang revolves around Judy Johnson, who was the first person to report child abuse. Judy - an alcoholic who was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia - was in the midst of a contentious divorce when she accused Ray Buckey of hurting her son Mitchell. Judy also had an older son with terminal cancer, which undoubtedly contributed to her problems.



The writers obtained a garbage bag full of Judy's scribblings and writings from her father, and it appears that Judy's delusions convinced her that a Satanic cult was operating in Manhattan Beach.

The authors note: "The contents of the garbage bag embodied Judy’s experience. Each notation symbolized her mindset—a jumble of disbanded thoughts and emotions, confined to a single chamber, howling to escape, to be heard.....They came together into a sensible time-line: the paradigm of a schizophrenic in decline, where her misguided fear was the microcosm of the community around her."


Written notes of Judy Johnson


Calendar page of Judy Johnson from the month she reported child abuse

When the community joined in the hysteria, Judy relished being the center of attention and egged things on. Of course things soon spiraled out of control.

Leroy and Haddad's creative non-fiction describes the McMartin case (and another Manhattan Beach child abuse case) from the first accusations of child abuse through the subsequent trials. The authors also elucidate Judy's life and state of mind from the years 1983 through 1986, when she died from alcohol poisoning.

I wanted to know what happened to the overzealous police, prosecutors, doctors, psychologists, etc. who were instrumental in promoting the 'Salem Witch Trial' atmosphere in southern California. The McMartin debacle caused irreparable harm to many people, including the children, and there should have been consequences. The authors don't go into this however.

This is a fascinating look at a bizarre incident that could probably happen anywhere to almost anyone. Highly recommended to people interested in the subject.

Thanks to Netgalley, the authors ( Matthew LeRoy and Deric Haddad) and the publisher (The Manor Publishing House) for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was simply an amazing book about the McMartin Preschool abuse case back in the 1980s that was all over the news. I remember seeing it, but was busy starting a family, so I didn’t really follow the details then. So this gave me a chance to really dig in and see what it was all about, and wow what a story! What started with one child sexual abuse allegation, eventually snowballed into over 100 at 7 different businesses. It went from molestation to killing animals and devil worship, pictures taken for porn purposes, all kinds of allegations. People never knew who could be next to have the police beating on their door early in the morning with a warrant to search their home or business, and/or taking their kids away to be medically examined for signs of being molested, regardless of your wishes. It really got out of hand and is a good lesson.

This is a very eye-opening case, and I highly recommend it if you haven’t read a thorough run down of the full story. This one is written by two college student who took time off to cover this and spent three years doing so. This book is what they came up with and put together nearly 30 years later, but it’s worth the wait. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, authors Matthew LeRoy & Deric Haddad, and the publisher.

Also posted on my WordPress blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...

[Paul Falk · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors revealed a dark side of humanity - child abuse. In its wake it leaves a catastrophic toll on its victims to endure a lifetime. No unsuspecting child survives the aftermath untouched from its venomous sting. This well-written narrative explored the hidden depths of these horrendous tragedies that affected countless victims. There were far too many.

Nina Barron reported to Detective Jane Hoag that her fourteen-year-old daughter Heather had been molested by a janitor up at American Martyrs Church. The attacks took place between 1981 and 1982. The suspect was a fifty-seven-year-old janitor who fit the profile of a pedophile to a tee. He preyed on girls between eight and eleven-years-old. In Heather's case, she would be the tip of the spear that would unveil the many cases of child abuse to follow.

The narrative spiraled into the infamous McMartin preschool case that grabbed nationwide headlines in the 1980s. Sadly, after years of trials no convictions were found for the offenders. It went down as being the longest and most expensive criminal court case in history. In the end, justice had not been served. What is to become of the unwary parents of innocent children when the gatekeepers of society can no longer be trusted? This concise collaboration from the authors is recommended for those wanting to experience the accounts of the dreadful perils and evils of child abuse that continue to persist in our society.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a remarkable story!! As the old saying goes, truth is stranger than fiction! I was gripped by this book. A modern day witch hunt is an accurate description. I’m surprised that I haven’t ever heard about the McMartin seven and the unbelievable accusations that these poor people faced. What a horrendous event. I hope Netflix picks this one up and does a movie as it needs to be told. A brilliant telling of what can happen when shoddy police work incites mass hysteria. My jaw must have dropped at least ten times as I read this book. Definitely recommend to folks looking for an absorbing and emotional nonfiction. A huge thank you for an ARC on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Dana-Adriana B.]

DNF.

[Badseedgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the scariest books I have ever read because these people were terrorized by a community that turned on them so quickly.

It also makes me concerned for the "Me Too" movement because replace "Woman" with "Children" and the phrase "I believe the Children." and you have the basis of that movement also.

Please don't cancel me for this statement, I'm just saying we all need to be careful and look at each case individually and with a clear head.

[Asher · Rating 5 out of 5]

They Must be Monsters by Matthew LeRoy and Deric Haddad is a non-fiction book with documentary style literary reenactments of the McMartin Preschool Trial and the chaos that surrounded this infamous case before, during, and after it played out in the late 80's and dawn of the 90's. Compiled and written over the course of three decades, LeRoy and Haddad have crafted a narrative from the point of view of the first mother to accuse the preshool of a host of crimes ranging from sexual abuse to neglect and torture. As the most expensive case in US history, the story of a small community thrust into a media frenzy based on sensational claims is brought back to the forefront once more.

They Must be Monsters is a true crime story that reads like a work of extraordinary fiction. Matthew LeRoy and Deric Haddad are able to dig deeper than even journalists of the day and present a narrative that is instantly engaging and thoroughly engrossing. I have to admit that this is the first I'd heard of the McMartin Preschool Trial and going in I had no idea what to expect. From the perspective of an uniformed reader this played to my own advantage as I resisted the urge to search for a summary and, instead, allowed the story to unfold, layer by layer, without any preconceived notions. The result was a masterful, tension filled tale where art actually imitates life in the most gruesome ways. The authors liken the event to Miller's The Crucible, an apt comparison for the 20th century. I'd recommend this book to lovers of the true crime genre, but also to those who enjoy thriller, suspense, and mystery.

Review written for Readers' Favorite.

[MM Suarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It was maddening for him to accept that something so unjust could have happened in a modern society. It was as if his constitutional rights were not recognized simply because the charges against him were so heinous— charges based on evidence manufactured by adults who’d used innocent children as their weapon."

An extreme example of how a false accusation of sexual molestation of a child made by a mentally disturbed mother, and pushed along by police personnel, procecutors, medical doctors, etc, turned a beautiful California community into a modern day Salem witch trials. Lasting almost a decade, costing California tax payers millions of dollars and destroying the lives and reputations of multiple innocent people, this is probably the worst case of miscarriage of justice I have ever seen. This could happen to anyone of us, that is the most terrifying thing of all.

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

“They Must Be Monsters…” is a true-crime/courtroom procedural documenting the McMartin trial in the 1980’s in California. What starts with a single accusation, a claim that a young boy was molested while in the care of the McMartin preschool, balloons into a modern-day witch hunt where no child care provider is safe.

Dozens of victims turn into hundreds, and what started at McMartin spreads to nearby preschools in what is claimed to be a child pornography “ring.” Kids flown to far away places and somehow returned for noontime pickup. The stories are ridiculous, and it’s shocking that no one, at the time, who said, “Hey, this is quite literally impossible,” was listened to.

Pretty soon it’s not just molestation by male staff, but by female staff as well, including well-respected pillars of the community with decades’ worth of accolades for their work with children. Not everyone can fathom the accusations, and the “Believe the children” movement is born. Parents are made to feel negligent for not blindly accepting that their children have been sexually assaulted. They’re told that their children have already been victimized, and that making them relive their trauma without support is akin to re-victimization.

Guilt propels an already out-of-control situation, inciting a parental riot. 20/20 gets involved. Geraldo. The story evolves again, this time to include ritualistic blood/urine drinking and a goat-headed man. Ritualistic animal sacrifices and black masses at local churches. Now, according to the victims’ families, almost all childcare providers in Manhattan Beach are satanic child pornographers and pedophiles.

The stories that are retold throughout this book are shocking to say the least. Ludicrous, really, and the unproven allegations land several folks in jail. The McMartin family lost everything, including years of their lives spent behind bars. You wouldn’t believe how this all started, but there’s an interesting woman named Judy whose psychological decline is chronicled throughout. She’s a compelling catalyst, apparently, for what would seem, in our justice system, to be the impossible. A fifteen-million-dollar trial spanning years that persecuted and imprisoned the innocent. Well-written and impeccably detailed, “They Must be Monsters,” is a stellar chronicle of the case, if not a little long-winded where it comes to Judy’s minutia.

[Alison Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"They Must Be Monsters" by Matthew LeRoy and Deric Haddad tells the account of a disturbing series of events in Manhattan Beach, California in the early-mid 80's. I had vaguely heard of this story, but was too young back then to really understand or invest thinking in what happened. Though, I'm not sure I will ever be able to wrap my head around the ridiculous, heartbreaking, and unfathomable events that occurred.

While the content is disturbing, the content is also well-written and the investigative journalism seemed to be as objective as it possibly could be. It is an excellent read if you are seeking to understand the effects of child abuse, abuse cases, and the many nuances involved.

And as a side note, in a general sense this book provides insight into the effects that making assumptions and judgments, and not dealing with mental illness can have on society as a whole. It is mind-boggling that anywhere in our nation we would fail at both 1) not being proactive with the care of our children and ALSO 2) not handling allegations with even an ounce of thought and consideration before we jump to conclusions and go on witch hunts.

Thank you to the authors, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Rowland Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Satanic Horrors

An agonizing read given that so many people lost their livelihoods, community respect and years of their lives based on false accusations supported by bogus medical and psychiatric efforts. To my mind Kee McFarlane and Dr. Summit should have had their licenses revoked and the medical doctors who claimed to have found physical evidence of rape should at a minimum have been censured and required to undergo further training.
This book explains so much that I wasn’t aware of about cousins on my father’s side. We spent an afternoon at the beach with the Buckey’s in the early 1960’s on a visit to Ray’s paternal grandmother. It was an idyllic afternoon, our first visit to a beach on the Pacific Ocean. To know that they were forced into this ordeal is heartbreaking. As well the pain of the parents of these so-called victims and those children themselves who likely continue to struggle with the after effects of this highly publicized incident. And to the teachers who lost jobs were ostracized by the community they dedicated themselves to. Hopefully this will never happen again.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what an unfortunate story for all of those involved. I kept thinking how could those kids have known details about what comes out of male genitalia. While it all seemed so far fetched, I know that these things probably do exist. But truly at first I was torn. As someone who was repeatedly raped and molested as a young child in the early 80s, the story made me sick to my stomach and I felt for those kids but the more facts that were presented as the book progressed there was just no way that those things could have happened. How traumatizing for the accused and also for the children for having to go through just needless acts. My mother was a paranoid schizophrenic, she was diagnosed when I was in high school. This book touched on two subjects that happened to me in real life. I remember my mom's paranoid episodes, they were similar to Judy Johnson's. At first they were so believable but then they got more outlandish. Ray Buckey and Michael Ruby's strength is inspiring. I hope that they've been able to move on and live their lives in peace.

[Megan J Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Story that should be told and not firgotten

It's our natural tendency to believe without question those things that provoke a deep passion within us. It's also very natural to believe without question things told to us by experts - be they credible psychologists, credible government officials, or credible media organizations. This book is a powerful example of why we must remain objective in all things. The amount of destruction this case caused is incalculable. This book is a non-dramatic presentation of the history of the McMartin Preschool sex abuse scandal. It is a fascinating read. I couldn't put it down. I read it in one day! It was thorough, but humble enough to not answer all questions. It makes me want to learn so much more. I love true stories above all else. This one is written in a different format than I've ever encountered before, and it gave me the ability to insert myself and my thoughts into the story without being emotionally manipulated.

[Lizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I grew up in the 80s. I remember Adam Walsh’s kidnapping and the fear of stranger abduction that spread afterward. I remember the fears about widespread Satan worshipping. I remember widespread fears about child molestation. I remember the McMartin case.

This book made me so ANGRY. So many lives were ruined – the people accused, who were not guilty; the parents, who struggled with anger and guilt and fear; and the children, who believed all of these terrible things happened to them. This NEVER should have happened! Parents, law enforcement, prosecutors, they all got it into their heads that this happened, we know it did, so by God we will keep looking until we find the evidence that it did, no matter what. They believed the children, no matter how fantastic and implausible their stories. They never critically looked at the statements being made, the means and methods used to get those statements. They never let the lack of any corroborating physical evidence stop them. I believe victims, but I also believe there needs to be proof.

This book was well written, my only criticism is that not enough time was spent looking at the medical evidence and the psychological evidence. What criteria were these doctors using to determine if a child had been sexually molested? We don’t know, only that eventually those methods were considered outdated. What evidence SHOULD doctors have been looking for? We don’t know. We’re told in an off-hand way that the psychological interviews were coercive and leading, but they don’t go into much detail. How were the children led? How should they have been interviewed? How young is too young to be a credible witness? I think answering these questions would have enhanced our understanding of how this happened, but instead the focus was on Judy and the parents.

On a personal note, reading this book made me understand my father better. He never gave us any physical affection. My mom has told me that he was afraid that my younger brother and I would say something innocent that could be twisted. So, in my opinion, perhaps we need to add the children whose fathers kept a distance from them to the list of minor victims of this hysteria. Add to the list all of the men who may have wanted to become teachers and caregivers, who never did because they were afraid that this could happen to them, too.

[Margaret Flood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This book lays out all the machinations of the Mc Martin trial and the utter lawlessness of the crazed prosecutors . It treats Judy Johnson the paranoid schizophrenic the genesis of the initial charges kindly and wants it clear she was not in her right mind and should have investigated. It’s only right that Ray Buckey was exonerated as well as his grandma, sister, and mom and the other teachers but oh what a price they all paid. A similar sexual abuse case occurred in 2014 when the accused tonya Craft Book named ACCUSED), a kindergarten teacher was acquitted of all charges but it’s frightening to know 30 years after the Mc Martin cases such atrocities are still being perpetuated.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a true crime junkie, I felt compelled to read this book even though the events happened before my time.

Even though this is a non-fiction book covering a case that took place in the 80s, it read like fiction and had me completely absorbed in the story.

Having been a preschool teacher for many years, I could imagine the panic that would spread if a teacher were accused of sexually abusing children. Be prepared before reading that this book contains a lot of distressing material and disturbing allegations.

Well written and documented- I would definitely recommend to lovers of true crime genre.

Thanks Netgalley and The Manor Publishing House for this copy.

[Brett buckner · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exhaustive narrative of the events that led up to what became known as the Satanic Panic. I loved the depth of research the authors provided especially the life of Judy Johnson, the painfully misunderstood and maligned parent who first accused the McMartin Preschool of child abuse.

I would have liked a bit more cultural references as the Satanic Panic was a national campaign that ruined countless lives, the devastation of which still lingers.

What I also appreciate was the authors didn’t get trapped in morass of a trial that the defense intentionally dragged on in hopes the absurdity of the allegations took shape.

A great book for any curious about this odd bit of american history.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a non-fiction written about a news case that took place back in the 80's. It brings to mind the same fanatical horror of the salem witch trials. Very well written and documented in this book by Mathew LeRoy and Deric Haddard, they do an amazing job of covering all points in this case. Not for the faint ofheart to read.
Terrible to think things like this can still happen in the supposidly enlightened time.
The wrtitng is easy to follow the course of the events and helped to understand more of what acctually happened.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you were a child in the 80s, you likely had parents that were constantly worried that you’d be kidnapped or sold into a satanic cult. Possibly both. The McMartin accusations and resulting trial were seared into all of our psyche at the time and provided an early lesson in mass hysteria that feels quite possible in today’s world.
Highly recommend for fans of true crime or current events.
Many thanks to Net Galley fork the opportunity to read They Must Be Monsters in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah Minchin · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review**

This was fascinating yet terrifying stuff. The idea that one person's accusation could snowball into a wide-reaching affair which ruined the lives of several innocent people is very believable and very scary.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang

This is a book about the craziness that happened in the early 1980s with the " Satanic Panic". The whole thing sounds like a bad horror novel, and PEOPLE BELIEVED IT. In the 1980s. This is a good book about all the events around the case, and worth a read. 5 stars

[Mark Brule · Rating 5 out of 5]

A chilling tale of mob mentality taking over a community. Very well written (despite the difficult subject matter) and some top notch investigative reporting.

[Cazlam · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an absolutely insane true story! it's very easy to see parallels to the world today and im surprised this story isn't as widely known

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for a free reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

I vaguely remembered hearing about this case in the media at the time it unfolded, and this book is an amazing read. The authors approached the happenings with an open mind, and conducted extensive interviews with people on both sides of the conflict. This gave them unparalleled access, with many sharing things no one else writing about this case heard about. The story is told through the eyes of the mother at the vortex of this entire case, and once you dive into the story, you realize just how much her paranoia fueled the events as they unfolded.

This true crime story reads like a work of extraordinary fiction, that really pulled me in and didn't let go. As the story developed, layer by layer, the horrifying truth becomes apparent. I highly recommend this book to lovers of the true crime genre, but also to those who enjoy thriller, suspense, and mystery.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading the novel “THEY MUST BE MONSTERS: A MODERN-DAY WITCH HUNT - THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE McMARTIN PHENOMENON: THE LONGEST, MOST EXPENSIVE CRIMINAL CASE IN U.S. HISTORY“ by MATTHEW LEROY and DERIC HADDAD. This is #12 in my AROUND THE YEAR IN 52 BOOKS BOOKCLUB 2021 (a non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir). It began on August 12, 1983, when a disturbed woman’s bizarre accusation ignited hysteria across the small Southern California community of Manhattan Beach. Driven by over-zealous investigators and a sensational news media, the legend of The McMartin Preschool became the “case of the century”—the longest, most expensive criminal trial in United States history. Four years later, in the spring of 1988, in the midst of the ongoing frenzy, authors Matthew LeRoy and Deric Haddad, students at San Diego State University, left school to follow the case, a path that led them to Manhattan Beach, an upscale community where a vortex of suspicion left most residents leery of outsiders. In this instance, however, where the inquisitors were two unassuming college students, many opened their doors . . . and they had so much to say. Through the summer of 1990, the authors conducted over one hundred interviews, as they bonded with key players on both sides of the conflict. No other journalists or network reporters were able to obtain such a diverse range of sources. Now, thirty years later, this extraordinary event comes to life. Written in a creative non-fiction format, They Must Be Monsters is told through the eyes of the “mother who started it all.” Using exclusive content—her volume of lost archives—the depth of her paranoia is unveiled; the portrait of a schizophrenic woman whose dark visions became a microcosm of the community around her. These authentic, never-before-seen documents finally bring an end to the mystery behind her fateful accusations. The events of Manhattan Beach are true, an untold story, the calamity of an upscale seaside town gripped by fear, where friends turned on neighbors in a frantic campaign of misguided retribution—a devastating crucible that afflicted a generation of innocent people, an event eerily similar to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. It’s a tale of horror, rage, superstition, and faith; a shameful moment in American folklore that’s been erroneously ignored by historians—a great injustice that should’ve never taken place—but,as history tends to repeat itself, it most tragically did. Heartbreaking, disturbing, unfathomable.....

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

They Must be Monsters by Matthew Leroy and Derric Haddad is a true crime story that reads like a novel. Hands down the best true crime book I have read. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book about A Manhattan Beach preschool.
It is true so even better.