5.0

I don't typically enjoy true crime -- it's hard for me to derive much pleasure out of real-life horrors -- but I approached this book as both a study of a disturbing cult, and a study of an ugly chapter in recent American history. Something about that feels appropriate in 2022.

It's hard to read this, but also impossible to put down. Other than Estação Carandiru, I've never read a book that made me so sad, yet held me so tightly in its grasp.

I'm glad I read it, and I'm glad it's finally over.