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Deceived: An Investigative Memoir of the Zion Society Cult
“Deceived” is a memoir of detective Mike King’s 1991 investigation and the ultimate take-down of a deviant polygamist cult call the Zion Society. For over a decade, gossip swirled around northern Utah that a secretive group of religious zealots were buying up homes to take over a developing neighborhood in an Ogden community. The homes were known far and wide for their immaculately landscaped yards. Rumors spread that a well known landscaper in the city had proclaimed himself to be a prophet of God and was being commanded to start his own secret religion that promoted polygamy. It was also believed these extremists were stockpiling weapons as part of their doomsday beliefs. In reality, the leader was directing some of the most repugnant crimes against women and children ever seen in the state. The hidden atrocities of the cult may never have been discovered if not for the courage of one of its members. Thirty years later, the victims reconnected with each other and with the lead investigator to address the shortcomings of the criminal justice system regarding child victims.
251 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2021
289 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 25, 2022
While I enjoyed this book and it satisfied my craving for some true crime, I did have one complaint. The author presented certain conversations verbatim; conversations that he was not a part of or that happened many years prior. He gave quoted narratives of the leader's speeches, which he was not present for. With the author presenting these things as factual, it took away from his credibility, in my opinion. So for that reason, I wasn't able to enjoy this book as much as I wanted to.
March 10, 2021
Mike King does a phenomenal job of telling the true story of this Zion Society cult. It's a sobering fact of the inner workings of leaders and followers in this situation.
February 11, 2021
Mike King does a fantastic job of walking the reader through this case from start to finish. It was great to get the insight from the actual lead of the case. It was a great read and definitely recommend it to anyone who is into True Crime.
August 16, 2024
I am one of the victims he illuminates in his book, and I have to tell you my experience with this man.
We victims of THE ZION SOCIETY have been asking BEGGING Law Enforcement (specifically MIKE) to help us receive justice for THIRTY YEARS, and have always been told we don't deserve information or access thereto. When Mike King decided to write an investigative memoir, he came to the victims under the guise of activism and leaked us a little information we hadn't previously had about our abusers to keep us on the line.
As victims, we requested he name our molesters and rapists in his book, and he insisted on protecting their identities because he felt that "They'd been forgiven by God because they'd been through the repentance process in the LDS Church." We expressed our fears of our abusers reoffending because they were let off so easily in the 90's, even those who were convicted. He denied our requests and published Sharon Olsen's Name as Carla even though the victims gave him permission to use their names correctly.
I provided him access to a literary agent who he subsequently ghosted when she offered him representation, which burned a few bridges for me in my career.
Mike King told me that in the absence of a father, he was my father now, and I could come to him and his wife like a daughter could rely on a father. So... when Michael Shreeve and was once again accused of sodomy, I asked Mike if he would help me work within or without the LDS Church to get what justice we could against our abusers. Again, he declined, telling us we were "vindictive" "attention-seeking" and that he "had every FAITH we could take THE HIGH ROAD."
When we were on Dr. Phil with him, they ignored everything about our cult's weapon crimes, the police missteps creating trauma, the drugs we were forced to have, and the LDS Church's culpability, and focused on the fact that we were sex abuse victims and that we had weight requirements, which is such a small part of a larger issue.
While I begged him to help me and my family, Mike King asked me to not contact him anymore because even though he COULD help, he had no desire to and couldn't work against the church or people in it in any way. The man who told me he was my new father and that his wife was my new mother abandoned me within a matter of weeks. So... though he'll tell you what an amazing person he is at EVERY turn, he refuses to help victims after he's already made money off the story and published the book he needed our pain to make interesting.
Mike King has shown that he believes in patriarchy over women, and he'll protect the Mormon Church's reputation over our humanity, our dignity, or the safety of current children in the LDS church (Michael Shreeve and his brother John Shreeve are still in good standing with the LDS church and hold multiple positions over children)
This man is no hero, despite what he'd have you believe.
We victims of THE ZION SOCIETY have been asking BEGGING Law Enforcement (specifically MIKE) to help us receive justice for THIRTY YEARS, and have always been told we don't deserve information or access thereto. When Mike King decided to write an investigative memoir, he came to the victims under the guise of activism and leaked us a little information we hadn't previously had about our abusers to keep us on the line.
As victims, we requested he name our molesters and rapists in his book, and he insisted on protecting their identities because he felt that "They'd been forgiven by God because they'd been through the repentance process in the LDS Church." We expressed our fears of our abusers reoffending because they were let off so easily in the 90's, even those who were convicted. He denied our requests and published Sharon Olsen's Name as Carla even though the victims gave him permission to use their names correctly.
I provided him access to a literary agent who he subsequently ghosted when she offered him representation, which burned a few bridges for me in my career.
Mike King told me that in the absence of a father, he was my father now, and I could come to him and his wife like a daughter could rely on a father. So... when Michael Shreeve and was once again accused of sodomy, I asked Mike if he would help me work within or without the LDS Church to get what justice we could against our abusers. Again, he declined, telling us we were "vindictive" "attention-seeking" and that he "had every FAITH we could take THE HIGH ROAD."
When we were on Dr. Phil with him, they ignored everything about our cult's weapon crimes, the police missteps creating trauma, the drugs we were forced to have, and the LDS Church's culpability, and focused on the fact that we were sex abuse victims and that we had weight requirements, which is such a small part of a larger issue.
While I begged him to help me and my family, Mike King asked me to not contact him anymore because even though he COULD help, he had no desire to and couldn't work against the church or people in it in any way. The man who told me he was my new father and that his wife was my new mother abandoned me within a matter of weeks. So... though he'll tell you what an amazing person he is at EVERY turn, he refuses to help victims after he's already made money off the story and published the book he needed our pain to make interesting.
Mike King has shown that he believes in patriarchy over women, and he'll protect the Mormon Church's reputation over our humanity, our dignity, or the safety of current children in the LDS church (Michael Shreeve and his brother John Shreeve are still in good standing with the LDS church and hold multiple positions over children)
This man is no hero, despite what he'd have you believe.
February 25, 2023
Compelling, Excellent and Necessary Read
As a former victim of childhood s.a, a Christian, and social work/mental health major who also has experience in the court system, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. My reasons are several. One being that I know firsthand the devastating impact of such abuse on a child and teenager. Another reason is that although I've never been in a cult, I am convinced there are multiple cults out there today and I grew up in a time where some of those scenes in the news from similar cults are still easily called to mind. The names were news headlines when they occurred: Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, Scientology, Heaven's Gate, Warren Jeffs and the FLDS etc.
I think for many victims of cults it starts quite normally and innocently. After all, many of us want to believe in someone, some higher purpose and many of us grew up seeing our grandparents or parents going to church, or attending with them. We are taught to respect authority, in church we learn that there is an appointed leader of the congregation, temple or ministry. We are taught to call him "Father," "Reverend," or "Pastor." We find comfort, spiritual peace or familiarity in certain "rituals." We sing at certain times, kneel or bow our heads in prayer, listen to a sermon which is usually a Biblically based "lesson." Except in cults. Many of these same things are used: the leader, the prayers, tithing etc. But we must be on guard when introduced to a new group or spiritual program because some of these will take a sprinkling or two of truth, woo you in, and then TWIST that truth into something ugly and deviant.
With his book "Deceived," Mike King shines a light into a VERY dark place and he does so masterfully so that other adults will hopefully NOT get drawn in and subject their children to such perversion that could and would NEVER be "of God" for the Lord tells us that for anyone who harms a child, it would be better to have a millstone hung around their necks and drown.
I commend the children for their bravery and though I can't fathom EVER participating in ANYTHING like this thankfully, I have to say that I'm glad Erin came forward but I do believe she should have faced some punishment also. And Carla needs to be watched at the very least because I firmly believe she will not stop!
As a former victim of childhood s.a, a Christian, and social work/mental health major who also has experience in the court system, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. My reasons are several. One being that I know firsthand the devastating impact of such abuse on a child and teenager. Another reason is that although I've never been in a cult, I am convinced there are multiple cults out there today and I grew up in a time where some of those scenes in the news from similar cults are still easily called to mind. The names were news headlines when they occurred: Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, Scientology, Heaven's Gate, Warren Jeffs and the FLDS etc.
I think for many victims of cults it starts quite normally and innocently. After all, many of us want to believe in someone, some higher purpose and many of us grew up seeing our grandparents or parents going to church, or attending with them. We are taught to respect authority, in church we learn that there is an appointed leader of the congregation, temple or ministry. We are taught to call him "Father," "Reverend," or "Pastor." We find comfort, spiritual peace or familiarity in certain "rituals." We sing at certain times, kneel or bow our heads in prayer, listen to a sermon which is usually a Biblically based "lesson." Except in cults. Many of these same things are used: the leader, the prayers, tithing etc. But we must be on guard when introduced to a new group or spiritual program because some of these will take a sprinkling or two of truth, woo you in, and then TWIST that truth into something ugly and deviant.
With his book "Deceived," Mike King shines a light into a VERY dark place and he does so masterfully so that other adults will hopefully NOT get drawn in and subject their children to such perversion that could and would NEVER be "of God" for the Lord tells us that for anyone who harms a child, it would be better to have a millstone hung around their necks and drown.
I commend the children for their bravery and though I can't fathom EVER participating in ANYTHING like this thankfully, I have to say that I'm glad Erin came forward but I do believe she should have faced some punishment also. And Carla needs to be watched at the very least because I firmly believe she will not stop!
January 28, 2026
Who is anyone to decide what is the correct way of life, religion, worship, raise children their children their family, their boys, their girls, THEIR family. This oversite and judgement using “the LAW was covered in the Originating Documents of the USA and condescending judgement brought bile to my mouth. Who do they think they are the Catholic Church, Mormons, Jewish people, Christians to decide what is right or wrong with how others live.
Even Aristotle discussed how to raise children until 7…. Where did he learn? Have you ever had sex or relationship with someone who doesn’t clean their house, room, body, doesn’t like or know how to have physical relations, doesn’t have basic table manners or even how to be polite? Have you ever been around a young man who was raised without socialised male influence or been on his own since a teen young age.
So when you read this think about how all the policeman’s judgment build you to this crescendo then what happens to the whole family each Individual after the police judgement. Are you waiting for immediate, what’s the word…”Justice”. Think people and read more much much more.
“Profiling Evil”. Who is the evil one?
Even Aristotle discussed how to raise children until 7…. Where did he learn? Have you ever had sex or relationship with someone who doesn’t clean their house, room, body, doesn’t like or know how to have physical relations, doesn’t have basic table manners or even how to be polite? Have you ever been around a young man who was raised without socialised male influence or been on his own since a teen young age.
So when you read this think about how all the policeman’s judgment build you to this crescendo then what happens to the whole family each Individual after the police judgement. Are you waiting for immediate, what’s the word…”Justice”. Think people and read more much much more.
“Profiling Evil”. Who is the evil one?
December 25, 2021
The Zion Society
Many years ago, we looked for a home in this subdivision. It didn’t feel right to us. We did buy a home east of the area. We had acquaintances in that neighborhood. My children had friends in school from that neighborhood. The leader of the group went to school with my parents. My parents spoke of Arvin with great awe and respect. At their high school reunions, a table was available for class mates to write him letters in prison.
It was disturbing at the time the group was active. It was disturbing as information about the activities of the group emerged. And it is still disturbing to read how damaging and evil their actions were. It is most disturbing to think I may have lived in the midst of that evil.
Many years ago, we looked for a home in this subdivision. It didn’t feel right to us. We did buy a home east of the area. We had acquaintances in that neighborhood. My children had friends in school from that neighborhood. The leader of the group went to school with my parents. My parents spoke of Arvin with great awe and respect. At their high school reunions, a table was available for class mates to write him letters in prison.
It was disturbing at the time the group was active. It was disturbing as information about the activities of the group emerged. And it is still disturbing to read how damaging and evil their actions were. It is most disturbing to think I may have lived in the midst of that evil.
May 21, 2023
Good read; horrific story
It's one thing to know cults are pervasive, it's quite another to realize that cults are not limited to religious indoctrination. The information in this book is unsettling but it's good to know that there are so many people in law enforcement and private professions who seek to uncover and expose those who abuse children.
Mike King apparently doesn't like to take full credit for his part but without his determination, this Zion cult might still be operating.
It's one thing to know cults are pervasive, it's quite another to realize that cults are not limited to religious indoctrination. The information in this book is unsettling but it's good to know that there are so many people in law enforcement and private professions who seek to uncover and expose those who abuse children.
Mike King apparently doesn't like to take full credit for his part but without his determination, this Zion cult might still be operating.
October 12, 2022
necessary reading!!!
Well done. A fast, easy, and well written true account. The strength and courage of the survivors is remarkable. The grit and perseverance of the author and his colleagues in seeing this through to the bitter end, provided such insight into how the “good guys” face such atrocities during their careers and take it with them even into retirement. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Thank you.
Well done. A fast, easy, and well written true account. The strength and courage of the survivors is remarkable. The grit and perseverance of the author and his colleagues in seeing this through to the bitter end, provided such insight into how the “good guys” face such atrocities during their careers and take it with them even into retirement. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Thank you.
October 4, 2025
It is so sad how people get taken advantage of in cults...how can one accept the rape of their children. It both blows my mind and upsets me to no end. Such a SICK situation. The courts need to do more to put and keep these predators behind bars. As the author recognizes in the book, more services have to be available to support these children and young women and women who have also been raped.
June 4, 2021
Really tough to read this. It’s hard to believe one pervert can have so much control. Glad Arvin Shreeve died in jail. That being said, I think it’s important to understand how cults recruit and how they function. Anyone who has been following the Daybell murder case or similar cases would find this case fascinating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2021
Unerring need to be recognized.
Mike King has taken the plight of many children and brought it into light..Children do not know that something is wrong morally,unless they are taught..Thank you for having the guts to believe ,taking the effort into finding the truth,and setting these children free,,to be recognized as a child.
Mike King has taken the plight of many children and brought it into light..Children do not know that something is wrong morally,unless they are taught..Thank you for having the guts to believe ,taking the effort into finding the truth,and setting these children free,,to be recognized as a child.
March 10, 2023
Unbelievably sick people in this Cult
Watching the character development in this book was an exercise in human abberation. The cult leader is a mental state of a David Korean keeping his victims close z d dependant on him. It is hard to read these atrocities but we all must be aware this type of culture is alive and well.
Watching the character development in this book was an exercise in human abberation. The cult leader is a mental state of a David Korean keeping his victims close z d dependant on him. It is hard to read these atrocities but we all must be aware this type of culture is alive and well.
November 2, 2021
So good! I knew some of the people involved in this, and many of the police officers. It was so well written. It was good to hear the fact from the rumor I'd heard over the years. God bless the victims and bring them healing!
March 22, 2023
Interesting Story
The story was interesting, and I think there may have been a movie about it years ago. The writing was a bit "stream of consciousness" but I was able to get past that to digest the interesting story.
The story was interesting, and I think there may have been a movie about it years ago. The writing was a bit "stream of consciousness" but I was able to get past that to digest the interesting story.
July 25, 2024
I really liked this book. Mike King did an awesome job of walking his readers through this case. It was a real eye opener. I can’t even imagine the horrors the victims went through in this cult. Just getting this case to the point where it could be tried in a court would have required so much investigating, and the loss of a few nights sleep. I hope to read more of Mike’s books.
December 16, 2022
I usually love books about cults, but this one was much more about the detective work and policing used to uncover its workings than about the experiences of the cult members.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews