A review by abbyhoovs
The Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice by Rebecca Musser

5.0

It's hard for me to call this a "good" book because the content is disturbing, nauseating, heartbreaking.... Etc. But it was written well and elicited the strongest emotions I've felt from a memoir in a while. I was so angry for these young girls that tears were streaming down my face. The actions and beliefs of the FLDs are so audacious you tend to want to take what Becky describes with a a grain of salt, but unfortunately it tends to line up with evidence and others experiences. I appreciate that she shows the complexity of the situation by highlighting the good and bad parts of her experience-- it helps answer the begged question "why would any woman/mother/daughter stay?" It's easy to ask that as someone on the outside looking in, however she shows it's not so black and white when you have no power and have been brainwashed your whole life. Would recommend this book wholeheartedly