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The Doomsday Mother: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the End of an American Family
In The Doomsday Mother , bestselling true crime author John Glatt tells the twisted tale of Lori Vallow, accused of having her two children murdered to start a new life with her new husband, doomsday prepper Chad Daybell.
At first, the residents of Kauai Beach Resort took little notice of their new neighbors. The glamorous blonde and her tall husband fit the image of the ritzy gated community. The couple seemed to keep to themselves―until the police knocked on their door with a search warrant. Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell had fled to Hawaii in the midst of being investigated for the disappearance of Lori’s children back in Idaho―Tylee and JJ―who hadn’t been seen alive in five months.
For years, Lori Vallow had been devoted to her children and her Mormon faith. But when her path crossed with Chad Daybell, a religious zealot who taught his followers how to prepare for the end-times, the tumultuous relationship transformed her into someone unrecognizable. As authorities searched for Lori’s children, they uncovered more suspicious deaths with links to both Lori and Chad, including the death of Lori’s third and fourth husbands, her brother, and Chad’s wife. In June 2020, the gruesome remains of JJ and Tylee were discovered on Chad’s property, and the newlyweds were arrested and charged with murder. And in a shocking development, horrifying statements revealed that the couple’s fanatical beliefs had convinced them the children had become zombies--a belief that may have led to their deaths.
Bestselling author and journalist John Glatt takes readers deeper into the devastating story of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell in an attempt to unravel the lethal relationship of this doomsday couple.
At first, the residents of Kauai Beach Resort took little notice of their new neighbors. The glamorous blonde and her tall husband fit the image of the ritzy gated community. The couple seemed to keep to themselves―until the police knocked on their door with a search warrant. Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell had fled to Hawaii in the midst of being investigated for the disappearance of Lori’s children back in Idaho―Tylee and JJ―who hadn’t been seen alive in five months.
For years, Lori Vallow had been devoted to her children and her Mormon faith. But when her path crossed with Chad Daybell, a religious zealot who taught his followers how to prepare for the end-times, the tumultuous relationship transformed her into someone unrecognizable. As authorities searched for Lori’s children, they uncovered more suspicious deaths with links to both Lori and Chad, including the death of Lori’s third and fourth husbands, her brother, and Chad’s wife. In June 2020, the gruesome remains of JJ and Tylee were discovered on Chad’s property, and the newlyweds were arrested and charged with murder. And in a shocking development, horrifying statements revealed that the couple’s fanatical beliefs had convinced them the children had become zombies--a belief that may have led to their deaths.
Bestselling author and journalist John Glatt takes readers deeper into the devastating story of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell in an attempt to unravel the lethal relationship of this doomsday couple.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 18, 2022
About the author
John Glatt
31 books653 followersEnglish-born John Glatt is the author of Golden Boy Lost and Found, Secrets in the Cellar, Playing with Fire, and many other bestselling books of true crime. He has more than 30 years of experience as an investigative journalist in England and America. Glatt left school at 16 and worked a variety of jobs—including tea boy and messenger—before joining a small weekly newspaper. He freelanced at several English newspapers, then in 1981 moved to New York, where he joined the staff for News Limited and freelanced for publications including Newsweek and the New York Post. His first book, a biography of Bill Graham, was published in 1981, and he published For I Have Sinned, his first book of true crime, in 1998. He has appeared on television and radio programs all over the world, including ABC- 20/20Dateline NBC, Fox News, Current Affair, BBC World, and A&E Biography. He and his wife Gail divide their time between New York City, the Catskill Mountains and London.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/johnglatt
http://us.macmillan.com/author/johnglatt
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January 12, 2024
This is a True Crime book. I found this book to be very interesting, but there was parts that I felt was repetitive. Some how I did not know anything about this case before reading this book. I have a kid that has autism, and It just upset me what happen to the kids in this book including the one that has autism. There was so much craziness going on in this book that I can even wrap my head around how anyone would do this or let this happen. This is just so sad. I did start off by listening to the audiobook from this book, but I did not like the narrator so I could not keep listening to the audiobook. I ended up reading this book on my kindle, and I enjoyed the kindle book of this book. I cannot say the audiobook was good. I was kindly provided an e-copy and e-audiobook of this book by the publisher or author (John Glatt) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
October 12, 2023
Can we say insane, boys and girls?
Lori and Chad Daybell are absolutely cuckoo.
People are dropping like flies around them and they just go off to Hawaii to have a good time on the beach…..while her children are missing!! She has no cares. None! Why? Because they weren’t missing,, she knew exactly where they were.
This book was awesomely researched and well written. A highly recommended read.
Since the publication of this book Lori has been tried in Idaho and received life in prison. Now she is to be extradited to Arizona to answer to charges there.
Chad being up against the death penalty waved his right to a speedy trial (coward) and is still waiting for his day in court.
Justice for Tylee and JJ!!
Rest in peace.
I’m so sorry this happened to you guys.
Fly high with the angels 😇
Lori and Chad Daybell are absolutely cuckoo.
People are dropping like flies around them and they just go off to Hawaii to have a good time on the beach…..while her children are missing!! She has no cares. None! Why? Because they weren’t missing,, she knew exactly where they were.
This book was awesomely researched and well written. A highly recommended read.
Since the publication of this book Lori has been tried in Idaho and received life in prison. Now she is to be extradited to Arizona to answer to charges there.
Chad being up against the death penalty waved his right to a speedy trial (coward) and is still waiting for his day in court.
Justice for Tylee and JJ!!
Rest in peace.
I’m so sorry this happened to you guys.
Fly high with the angels 😇
January 23, 2022
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
I was first introduced to John Glatt’s true crime novels through “Golden Boy: A Murder Among the Manhattan Elite”. I enjoyed the true story of mental illness, real and imagined, and how it was used as a defense for the young, rich and powerful young man living in the upper echelons of Manhattan. When I was invited to read, “Doomsday Mother”, also by Glatt, I jumped at the chance.
Lori Vallow married Doomsday Prepper and LDS church member, Chad Daybell, in a quiet ceremony on a Hawaiian beach. However, both Lori and Chad had dark secrets that they wanted to keep quiet. For example, both Chad’s former wife, Tammy, and Lori’s former husband, Charles, were both found dead within weeks of each other, in seemingly mysterious circumstances. Then, once the couple had married, two of Lori’s children, Tylee and J.J, completely disappeared, and no one in their immediate family or friends, had seen them. After months of searching, police in the couple’s former home of Idaho uncover two dead human bodies in Chad Daybell’s backyard- and the seemingly perfect couple are arrested and tried for murder.
“Doomsday Mother” provides a haunting look into a cult of “doomsday preppers”, led by Chad Daybell. Although Daybell claimed his Mormon religious beliefs supported his teachings, the church itself disavowed both Chad and Lori, claiming the couple were too “extremist”. Although the majority of the legal proceedings label Lori as a “follower” of Chad’s, Glatt also implies that Lori’s upbringing could very well have attributed to her crimes, as the death of two of her previous husbands (prior to meeting Chad) would indicate.
The novel is divided into three parts; Lori’s past, Chad’s rise to LDS fame, and the disastrous events (including the trial) that happened after the two had wed. There are a lot of characters in this story, from Lori and Chad’s family and friends, to LDS preppers and Doomsday Preppers, to former exes of the exes, so there are quite a few people to differentiate between in this plot. However, I thoroughly enjoyed all of the detailed background provided, especially the twisted sibling relationship between Lori and Alex.
Although I had not heard of this case prior to this novel, the murder of JJ especially was heartbreaking for me, as JJ was on the autism spectrum and it touched a particular chord. The fact that this case was relatively recent (the trial took place during the Covid pandemic) made the story all the more gruesome and disturbing. Glatt provides a first-hand look at the case from various perspectives, and when justice is finally handed out, I felt an immediate satisfaction and sense of reassurance.
Glatt somehow manages to highlight true crime stories that have not been discussed ad nauseum, and I appreciated Glatt’s respect for the victims and their families.
I was first introduced to John Glatt’s true crime novels through “Golden Boy: A Murder Among the Manhattan Elite”. I enjoyed the true story of mental illness, real and imagined, and how it was used as a defense for the young, rich and powerful young man living in the upper echelons of Manhattan. When I was invited to read, “Doomsday Mother”, also by Glatt, I jumped at the chance.
Lori Vallow married Doomsday Prepper and LDS church member, Chad Daybell, in a quiet ceremony on a Hawaiian beach. However, both Lori and Chad had dark secrets that they wanted to keep quiet. For example, both Chad’s former wife, Tammy, and Lori’s former husband, Charles, were both found dead within weeks of each other, in seemingly mysterious circumstances. Then, once the couple had married, two of Lori’s children, Tylee and J.J, completely disappeared, and no one in their immediate family or friends, had seen them. After months of searching, police in the couple’s former home of Idaho uncover two dead human bodies in Chad Daybell’s backyard- and the seemingly perfect couple are arrested and tried for murder.
“Doomsday Mother” provides a haunting look into a cult of “doomsday preppers”, led by Chad Daybell. Although Daybell claimed his Mormon religious beliefs supported his teachings, the church itself disavowed both Chad and Lori, claiming the couple were too “extremist”. Although the majority of the legal proceedings label Lori as a “follower” of Chad’s, Glatt also implies that Lori’s upbringing could very well have attributed to her crimes, as the death of two of her previous husbands (prior to meeting Chad) would indicate.
The novel is divided into three parts; Lori’s past, Chad’s rise to LDS fame, and the disastrous events (including the trial) that happened after the two had wed. There are a lot of characters in this story, from Lori and Chad’s family and friends, to LDS preppers and Doomsday Preppers, to former exes of the exes, so there are quite a few people to differentiate between in this plot. However, I thoroughly enjoyed all of the detailed background provided, especially the twisted sibling relationship between Lori and Alex.
Although I had not heard of this case prior to this novel, the murder of JJ especially was heartbreaking for me, as JJ was on the autism spectrum and it touched a particular chord. The fact that this case was relatively recent (the trial took place during the Covid pandemic) made the story all the more gruesome and disturbing. Glatt provides a first-hand look at the case from various perspectives, and when justice is finally handed out, I felt an immediate satisfaction and sense of reassurance.
Glatt somehow manages to highlight true crime stories that have not been discussed ad nauseum, and I appreciated Glatt’s respect for the victims and their families.
February 19, 2022
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE DOOMSDAY MOTHER: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the End of the American Family by John Glatt is the true crime account of the lives of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell and their twisted religious beliefs that became the theological justification for the murder conspiracies which led to the deaths of their spouses and Lori’s two minor children.
Lori Vallow had a turbulent young life. Even being a devout Mormon, she was married several times and moved continually. Finally with her fourth husband, she begins to find stability and happiness for herself and her children. But it was not to last. Lori began to study and follow extreme preppers and doomsday zealots that preached the end days were upon us and one of these people was Chad Daybell.
Lori begins her extreme belief in everything Chad teaches. Both lose their spouses, who are at first deemed natural deaths, and within two weeks of Chad’s wife’s death they are married to each other with no children in sight.
In a multi-jurisdiction investigation, the authorities begin to uncover a web of deaths surrounding the couple and then the remains of Lori’s children are found buried on Chad’s land.
Mr. Glatt’s writing brings you into Lori and Chad’s lives and beliefs with even handed descriptions that let the reader make their own conclusions of the crimes. They both had many supporters until the day the children were found. Some felt Lori was brainwashed and this was all Chad’s doing while others believe that Lori was just as guilty and smart enough to manipulate her brother’s involvement in the deaths and set up financial gains from every death. There is no conclusion to this horrific story currently with Chad still awaiting trial and Lori in a mental health facility unable to contribute to her own defense at this time.
I feel this true crime book is full of interesting information that I did not get while the case was in all the headlines. It is also heartbreaking and scary in this case and many more the way religion can be twisted with cult-like beliefs and destroy so many lives.
THE DOOMSDAY MOTHER: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the End of the American Family by John Glatt is the true crime account of the lives of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell and their twisted religious beliefs that became the theological justification for the murder conspiracies which led to the deaths of their spouses and Lori’s two minor children.
Lori Vallow had a turbulent young life. Even being a devout Mormon, she was married several times and moved continually. Finally with her fourth husband, she begins to find stability and happiness for herself and her children. But it was not to last. Lori began to study and follow extreme preppers and doomsday zealots that preached the end days were upon us and one of these people was Chad Daybell.
Lori begins her extreme belief in everything Chad teaches. Both lose their spouses, who are at first deemed natural deaths, and within two weeks of Chad’s wife’s death they are married to each other with no children in sight.
In a multi-jurisdiction investigation, the authorities begin to uncover a web of deaths surrounding the couple and then the remains of Lori’s children are found buried on Chad’s land.
Mr. Glatt’s writing brings you into Lori and Chad’s lives and beliefs with even handed descriptions that let the reader make their own conclusions of the crimes. They both had many supporters until the day the children were found. Some felt Lori was brainwashed and this was all Chad’s doing while others believe that Lori was just as guilty and smart enough to manipulate her brother’s involvement in the deaths and set up financial gains from every death. There is no conclusion to this horrific story currently with Chad still awaiting trial and Lori in a mental health facility unable to contribute to her own defense at this time.
I feel this true crime book is full of interesting information that I did not get while the case was in all the headlines. It is also heartbreaking and scary in this case and many more the way religion can be twisted with cult-like beliefs and destroy so many lives.
April 16, 2023
It's hard to believe this isn't fiction. A deeply disturbing combination of cold-blooded murder and religious fanaticism with greed thrown in for awful measure. The first trial is currently ongoing. Glatt gets all the details without overburdening the reader. This is the third true crime book of his I've read.
January 17, 2022
I really wanted to read this true crime story, because I remember when J.J. and Tylee went missing and it made national headlines (2019 seems like a lifetime ago, but I guess it wasn’t). It seemed so crazy at the time, probably because it was. Then the pandemic started, their cases were delayed, and after they found the kids’ bodies, I pretty much stopped paying attention. This is a super-detailed timeline that really lays the case out in an interesting and easy way. It also delves into Chad and Lori’s lives, and how they ended up the way they did. We’ll get to why I’m only giving it 3.5 stars at the end…
For anyone not familiar with the story, Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell met at a loosely-Mormon conference (I say loosely, because the Mormon church wants nothing to do with this, and I’m pretty sure it resembles nothing that these two believed). Soon, their spouses are dead, two of Lori’s children are missing, and they’ve moved from Idaho to Hawaii to get married and start a new life. After months of the grandparents asking where the kids are, police in Idaho give Lori five days to produce them. When she doesn’t comply, she is extradited back, where she and Chad were charged with a multitude of crimes, including killing J.J. and Tylee, and burying them in the pet cemetery behind Chad’s house.
There was so much more to the story that I didn’t realize, like the kinds of things Chad and Lori believed. They believed they’d been married in multiple lives, but the apocalypse was near and God brought them together to lead 144,000 to salvation. They believed people had either light or dark energies, and dark energies were “zombies” that needed to be released from Earth. Lori believed that she actually was a god, and that she was immortal. She claimed to not need to eat or go to the bathroom (the old Kim Jong Un defense) and believed she couldn’t be killed. She also believed in Chad’s many books about the apocalypse and conspiracy theories. There is so much more in the book - you’ll be blown away!
Religion played a huge part in all of this, but again, I wouldn’t say they were typical LDS members by any means. Many of their beliefs sounded more like Scientology - souls trapped on the planet, energies surrounding everyone, being eternally bound to your faith, etc. I believe that each of their strict religious backgrounds certainly didn’t help matters, but I think, especially with Lori, this is severe mental illness. Schizophrenia, or some type of narcissistic personality disorder? I’m not a doctor so I can’t say, but it’s quite rare that only attending a relatively mainstream church would push people to these extremes.
This stuff was all fascinating, and made for a great read that I was going to give 4.5 stars. I was afraid it would be dry, but the only place it was dry was the beginning, going through Lori and Chad’s lives. She had some issues; I lost count of how many kids she had and adopted, and Chad is her fifth husband. Chad also has five children, Lori’s family history is full of unstable people, many siblings, and they had too many friends/followers to count. These people were all important to the plot (and quite a few ended up dead), so by the end, I didn’t mind going through all of the relationships to see how everything correlated.
The reason it only gets 3.5 stars (rounded up because this was better than I thought it would be) is because this isn’t over yet! I thought maybe I missed their sentences in pandemic and election news, but sentencing hasn’t happened; they are both still incarcerated pending further legal action. She was found unfit to stand trial and is in what they used to call “a prison for the criminally insane” (sorry, I don’t know the current terminology but I’m sure it’s not that). Chad is still behind bars, awaiting trial. There should be some sort of outcome this year, at least in his case, so I don’t understand the rush to publication. I’m glad the book was written, but in a year or two, half of the ending might be obsolete (this book comes out in two days). I wasn’t pleased by that, but otherwise, this was a fascinating look at this horrific case.
(Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, John Glatt, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
For anyone not familiar with the story, Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell met at a loosely-Mormon conference (I say loosely, because the Mormon church wants nothing to do with this, and I’m pretty sure it resembles nothing that these two believed). Soon, their spouses are dead, two of Lori’s children are missing, and they’ve moved from Idaho to Hawaii to get married and start a new life. After months of the grandparents asking where the kids are, police in Idaho give Lori five days to produce them. When she doesn’t comply, she is extradited back, where she and Chad were charged with a multitude of crimes, including killing J.J. and Tylee, and burying them in the pet cemetery behind Chad’s house.
There was so much more to the story that I didn’t realize, like the kinds of things Chad and Lori believed. They believed they’d been married in multiple lives, but the apocalypse was near and God brought them together to lead 144,000 to salvation. They believed people had either light or dark energies, and dark energies were “zombies” that needed to be released from Earth. Lori believed that she actually was a god, and that she was immortal. She claimed to not need to eat or go to the bathroom (the old Kim Jong Un defense) and believed she couldn’t be killed. She also believed in Chad’s many books about the apocalypse and conspiracy theories. There is so much more in the book - you’ll be blown away!
Religion played a huge part in all of this, but again, I wouldn’t say they were typical LDS members by any means. Many of their beliefs sounded more like Scientology - souls trapped on the planet, energies surrounding everyone, being eternally bound to your faith, etc. I believe that each of their strict religious backgrounds certainly didn’t help matters, but I think, especially with Lori, this is severe mental illness. Schizophrenia, or some type of narcissistic personality disorder? I’m not a doctor so I can’t say, but it’s quite rare that only attending a relatively mainstream church would push people to these extremes.
This stuff was all fascinating, and made for a great read that I was going to give 4.5 stars. I was afraid it would be dry, but the only place it was dry was the beginning, going through Lori and Chad’s lives. She had some issues; I lost count of how many kids she had and adopted, and Chad is her fifth husband. Chad also has five children, Lori’s family history is full of unstable people, many siblings, and they had too many friends/followers to count. These people were all important to the plot (and quite a few ended up dead), so by the end, I didn’t mind going through all of the relationships to see how everything correlated.
The reason it only gets 3.5 stars (rounded up because this was better than I thought it would be) is because this isn’t over yet! I thought maybe I missed their sentences in pandemic and election news, but sentencing hasn’t happened; they are both still incarcerated pending further legal action. She was found unfit to stand trial and is in what they used to call “a prison for the criminally insane” (sorry, I don’t know the current terminology but I’m sure it’s not that). Chad is still behind bars, awaiting trial. There should be some sort of outcome this year, at least in his case, so I don’t understand the rush to publication. I’m glad the book was written, but in a year or two, half of the ending might be obsolete (this book comes out in two days). I wasn’t pleased by that, but otherwise, this was a fascinating look at this horrific case.
(Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, John Glatt, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
October 26, 2024
Oh my sweet baby Jesus these people are bonkers! When this story first went national my second shift team at work would check in with me every night to look up on the internet to see what was going on with this story. And we just shook our dang heads at how incredible his was. And every week I would say “oh there is going to be a book about this and I cannot wait!” Well now my second family (at work) has disbanded but I am still here and I’ve never known anyone to,be so cuckoo in ages. HOW DID THEY THINK THEY COULD GET AWAY WITH THIS? They’re dumb.
Addendum 10/24 so yes there have been books, but I want one that comprises the trials. BUT we will be interested to know what this new mental evaluation will discover. I don't think she's necessarily "insane in the membrane". She knew what she was doing. Daybell knew what they both were doing. But there is one thing I do question. I think I checked out this book from the library, and believe it or not, someone has been hacking my library account! No one I can ask has ever heard of this but I truly thought my phone was no longer mine. I can't even retrieve the words to describe what it looked like. Anyway I no longer have a library card. But I digress. There was something that happened toward the end of this book while Lori "kill the zombie kids" Vallow did or was doing that really grabbed my attention that made me pause and for the life of me I cannot remember what it was. I purposefully left it out of my review because it was that questionable and odd (I didn't want to give anything away) and now I may need to buy this book. Ugh needless to say I hope this next murder trial will allow at least one camera in the courtroom so I can listen while I'm at work. Also, someone do something with her hair please.
Addendum 10/24 so yes there have been books, but I want one that comprises the trials. BUT we will be interested to know what this new mental evaluation will discover. I don't think she's necessarily "insane in the membrane". She knew what she was doing. Daybell knew what they both were doing. But there is one thing I do question. I think I checked out this book from the library, and believe it or not, someone has been hacking my library account! No one I can ask has ever heard of this but I truly thought my phone was no longer mine. I can't even retrieve the words to describe what it looked like. Anyway I no longer have a library card. But I digress. There was something that happened toward the end of this book while Lori "kill the zombie kids" Vallow did or was doing that really grabbed my attention that made me pause and for the life of me I cannot remember what it was. I purposefully left it out of my review because it was that questionable and odd (I didn't want to give anything away) and now I may need to buy this book. Ugh needless to say I hope this next murder trial will allow at least one camera in the courtroom so I can listen while I'm at work. Also, someone do something with her hair please.
January 31, 2022
This case is so intriguing to me, so I was so excited when St. Martin’s Press sent me a copy of The Doomsday Mother. Just to let everyone know, this case is still ongoing, so there is no conclusion as of now. The last I heard there should be more information in January 2023. For those of you who don’t know about the case, it’s about Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell. The book starts with Lori’s history with her many husbands, her relationship with her children, and good information on her history. The second part is about Chad, growing up in the LDS church, and how he became a “famous” speaker. The third part follows the disappearance of Lori’s two children, Tylee and JJ.
Thoughts: I loved learning about this case. There are so many layers to it and it was awful to see the destruction that one woman caused. The author did a great job of laying out Lori’s history, so you can see her pattern of thinking and escalation over time. It was heartbreaking to see her put Tylee in harms way from the very beginning, and only got worse with her fantastical thoughts. It is interesting when two fanatics find each other, the utter devastation they can cause.
I felt really bad for her fourth husband and the way he was collateral. It’s sad to see religion used in this way, where it becomes a cult. Some of the things she was saying about zombies and how she was a God and how she doesn’t have to eat or sleep would probably disturb the average person, but somehow she found a group that bought into her self-serving paradigm. The book is so fascinating and I learned so much I didn’t know about the case. It was so easy to read and kept my attention the entire time. I know I will be following this case as it hopefully comes to a conclusion in the next year. 5-stars!
Thoughts: I loved learning about this case. There are so many layers to it and it was awful to see the destruction that one woman caused. The author did a great job of laying out Lori’s history, so you can see her pattern of thinking and escalation over time. It was heartbreaking to see her put Tylee in harms way from the very beginning, and only got worse with her fantastical thoughts. It is interesting when two fanatics find each other, the utter devastation they can cause.
I felt really bad for her fourth husband and the way he was collateral. It’s sad to see religion used in this way, where it becomes a cult. Some of the things she was saying about zombies and how she was a God and how she doesn’t have to eat or sleep would probably disturb the average person, but somehow she found a group that bought into her self-serving paradigm. The book is so fascinating and I learned so much I didn’t know about the case. It was so easy to read and kept my attention the entire time. I know I will be following this case as it hopefully comes to a conclusion in the next year. 5-stars!
May 16, 2022
John Glatt I am so glad you wrote this book. I have followed this story on the news and different programs but never understood exactly what all occurred. This book helped answer questions particularly about Lori and Daybell. The double homicides of Tylee and JJ is more troubling than enough. Charles Vallow, Lori’s fourth husband, had issued warnings about her behavior but to no avail. I blame Lori as much as Chad maybe more so. Lori is such a narcissist and there were plenty of red flags about her long before Chad Daybell. Although the specific timeline for these crimes are documented John Glatt does a superb job of putting everything together, from a very well- researched background story of the main characters to the horrifying final conclusion to the fate of the people who crossed Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow in their quest to be together at all costs.
Along with much of the rest of the country I was horrified but fascinated by the unfolding story of the disappearance of two young children and the bizarre circumstances in which they, their mother, stepfather, and numerous other relations led their lives. I found the book easy to follow as this is so complicated. The content makes is easier to understand this utter American nightmare. This is the first book of have read by John Glatt, but it won't be my last. Highly recommend.
Along with much of the rest of the country I was horrified but fascinated by the unfolding story of the disappearance of two young children and the bizarre circumstances in which they, their mother, stepfather, and numerous other relations led their lives. I found the book easy to follow as this is so complicated. The content makes is easier to understand this utter American nightmare. This is the first book of have read by John Glatt, but it won't be my last. Highly recommend.
March 9, 2022
No matter how many sick books I read, nothing prepares me for the horrors of true crime.
“The Doomsday Mother tells the twisted tale of Lori Vallow, accused of having her two children murdered to start a new life with her new husband, doomsday prepare Chad Deybell.”
This was a pretty interesting book taking us through the early life of both Lori and Chad, their families, their Mormon faith and later their fanatical beliefs which eventually lead to murder.
I love how John Glatt was able to give all the necessary information and background without bogging down the book with too many unnecessary details and length. If you’re a fan of anything cult related and just truly bizarre and chilling cases, this one is definitely a good pick. But please keep in mind that this case is still ongoing. 3.5⭐️
“The Doomsday Mother tells the twisted tale of Lori Vallow, accused of having her two children murdered to start a new life with her new husband, doomsday prepare Chad Deybell.”
This was a pretty interesting book taking us through the early life of both Lori and Chad, their families, their Mormon faith and later their fanatical beliefs which eventually lead to murder.
I love how John Glatt was able to give all the necessary information and background without bogging down the book with too many unnecessary details and length. If you’re a fan of anything cult related and just truly bizarre and chilling cases, this one is definitely a good pick. But please keep in mind that this case is still ongoing. 3.5⭐️
February 14, 2023
I've been looking forward to reading this book since before it was out, and I was even going to preorder it, now I kind of wish I did because it's good, and one of John Glatt's best.
Mr. Glatt sometimes likes to info dump, but luckily that didn't happen here. There's enough info about Lori and Chad's pasts and what transpired when they got together, without it being overwhelming.
I first heard about this case through an ID documentary and that broke my heart, especially for JJ's grandparents. I think it aired at the end of 2020, but aired in my country in 2021. And since then I've been invested in this case. It's a relatively "fresh" one too, seeing as it only happened a few years ago.
And you know, this is such a sad book, I want to cry when I think about what those poor kids went through. Thank you John Glatt for telling their story.
The trial is in around 2 months, I'll definitely be following it. I do however wish that was included in this book too, because now I'm predicting someone will write another book about this case just to include the trial, which isn't a bad thing, I don't mind reading multiple books about a case. But then this specific book will never be a complete account.
Mr. Glatt sometimes likes to info dump, but luckily that didn't happen here. There's enough info about Lori and Chad's pasts and what transpired when they got together, without it being overwhelming.
I first heard about this case through an ID documentary and that broke my heart, especially for JJ's grandparents. I think it aired at the end of 2020, but aired in my country in 2021. And since then I've been invested in this case. It's a relatively "fresh" one too, seeing as it only happened a few years ago.
And you know, this is such a sad book, I want to cry when I think about what those poor kids went through. Thank you John Glatt for telling their story.
The trial is in around 2 months, I'll definitely be following it. I do however wish that was included in this book too, because now I'm predicting someone will write another book about this case just to include the trial, which isn't a bad thing, I don't mind reading multiple books about a case. But then this specific book will never be a complete account.
August 9, 2022
A comprehensive account of the strange sage of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, which culminated with the murders of two of Vallow's children when she and her cult leader husband decided they were "zombies" who had to be eliminated (translation: they were inconveniences). Written in John Glatt's usual no-frills style, The Doomsday Mother doesn't come alive like the best of Ann Rule (
Everything She Ever Wanted
) and Jeff Guinn (
Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde
) but it contains pretty much everything you need to know about a bizarre, sad case that, as of this writing, is still crawling towards closure. Personally, I'll never understand how any intelligent person can allow themselves to believe some dumpy douchebag has a direct line to God regarding an impending judgement day, but Glatt comes as close to making sense of such things as can reasonably be expected. What Glatt lacks in style, he makes up for in substance.
February 1, 2022
When Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell meet, they have long held alternate beliefs about souls and the coming of the end times. But together, they advance down the path of delusion, culminating in the murder of Lori’s children Tylee and JJ.
I knew of this case from fairly recent developments, when the bodies of the children were found last year, but through this book I learned that the murders had been decades in the making. The author follows Lori and Chad from their childhoods, tracing their respective travails until they finally meet at a conference and began making podcasts together about their loosely Mormonism-based beliefs. Through this exploration we get to know what kind of people they are, though I felt that I learned more about Lori than Chad.
The book is well-written and well-researched, giving us a decent level of detail without getting overly descriptive, which sometimes happens with true crime. For the most part the book does not get graphic, which is a plus as it might have otherwise been overwhelming in the audio format that I consumed it in. The author was able to use a plethora of sources, including the families of Lori and Chad, as well as the detectives who investigated the case, which immerses the reader in the story. And there’s plenty of bizarre details to make you question why people are so gullible.
However, I had a couple issues with this book. The major one is the ending – the case is not yet complete, with Lori and Chad still awaiting trial, which I felt left the reader without much closure, which is important in a book about such a heinous case. I also would have liked to learn more about what Lori and Chad’s cult believed and what led the pair to decide to have Tylee and JJ killed. Both of these are sometimes mentioned, but not discussed in any depth which I found odd considering the level of detail in the rest of the book. Finally, I would have liked to learn more about Tylee and JJ – but then I prefer more victim-centered true crime than is the norm in the genre.
I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Shaun Grindell. I thought his narration was decent but without much intonation, which may in part be due to the genre which calls for less performance than fiction. I didn’t have much of an opinion one way or another about his narration.
Overall, I recommend this book for those trying to learn more about this bizarre and heartrending case.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I knew of this case from fairly recent developments, when the bodies of the children were found last year, but through this book I learned that the murders had been decades in the making. The author follows Lori and Chad from their childhoods, tracing their respective travails until they finally meet at a conference and began making podcasts together about their loosely Mormonism-based beliefs. Through this exploration we get to know what kind of people they are, though I felt that I learned more about Lori than Chad.
The book is well-written and well-researched, giving us a decent level of detail without getting overly descriptive, which sometimes happens with true crime. For the most part the book does not get graphic, which is a plus as it might have otherwise been overwhelming in the audio format that I consumed it in. The author was able to use a plethora of sources, including the families of Lori and Chad, as well as the detectives who investigated the case, which immerses the reader in the story. And there’s plenty of bizarre details to make you question why people are so gullible.
However, I had a couple issues with this book. The major one is the ending – the case is not yet complete, with Lori and Chad still awaiting trial, which I felt left the reader without much closure, which is important in a book about such a heinous case. I also would have liked to learn more about what Lori and Chad’s cult believed and what led the pair to decide to have Tylee and JJ killed. Both of these are sometimes mentioned, but not discussed in any depth which I found odd considering the level of detail in the rest of the book. Finally, I would have liked to learn more about Tylee and JJ – but then I prefer more victim-centered true crime than is the norm in the genre.
I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Shaun Grindell. I thought his narration was decent but without much intonation, which may in part be due to the genre which calls for less performance than fiction. I didn’t have much of an opinion one way or another about his narration.
Overall, I recommend this book for those trying to learn more about this bizarre and heartrending case.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
January 22, 2022
This was a disturbing read about Lori and Chad Daybell and their crazy beliefs that led to the murders of Lori’s children and other family members. The story was interesting, but there were several things that made me wish that the author had taken his time and researched better or an editor had caught the many errors that were included in this book. He needed someone who is an actual member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to proofread this—the multiple times he referred to them joining up at their local temple or attending “temple” (when I think he meant their ward or congregation) or Lori becoming Primary president and recruiting her friend to become the young women president. There was plenty more that made me cringe. I also felt that this book shouldn’t have been released until after the trial and sentencing.
Other than that, it was interesting and so horrible. I can’t understand how these people went so far off on the core beliefs of members of the church. We believe that salvation comes through Jesus Christ only and yet, when Chad Daybell speaks of all his and Lori’s past lives, it negates that core belief. There was just so much more that is disturbing about this case.
Other than that, it was interesting and so horrible. I can’t understand how these people went so far off on the core beliefs of members of the church. We believe that salvation comes through Jesus Christ only and yet, when Chad Daybell speaks of all his and Lori’s past lives, it negates that core belief. There was just so much more that is disturbing about this case.
January 25, 2022
Overall, an interesting and accessible read that is really heartbreaking when you realize the whole thing is true.
Spoiler-free Review: https://amberinoface.wordpress.com/20...
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
Spoiler-free Review: https://amberinoface.wordpress.com/20...
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
February 28, 2022
True crime is quickly becoming a favorite genre of mine behind thrillers, especially when they are as well done as this one was. I had not heard anything about this case, and let me tell you, it is one of the craziest ones I have heard in a long time. It is crazy to me how people rise to the level that they do so quickly and then are able to turn around and manipulate others even quicker. This is one of those cases, and what is even wilder is Chad Daybell was able to convince Lori Vallow to leave her husband and be with him. But unlike normal people who get a divorce, these two went on a killing spree, trying to eliminate those closest to them in order for them to be together. And i’m talking about Lori’s third and fourth husbands, her two kids, and Chad’s wife. Who does that?!?!?!
Like I said, this is wild, and per usual Glatt does a great job of telling the story without it getting dry. This held my attention from the start and I was captivated until the end, which covers the trial that happens to take place during the pandemic. I did not know about the case and had no idea the trial was this recent, so that was an extra gem.
If you like true crime then I highly recommend this one for sure. There are some tough scenes in here regarding the kids so I do want to mention that just as an fyi.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital galley to review. This one is available now.
Like I said, this is wild, and per usual Glatt does a great job of telling the story without it getting dry. This held my attention from the start and I was captivated until the end, which covers the trial that happens to take place during the pandemic. I did not know about the case and had no idea the trial was this recent, so that was an extra gem.
If you like true crime then I highly recommend this one for sure. There are some tough scenes in here regarding the kids so I do want to mention that just as an fyi.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital galley to review. This one is available now.
July 31, 2022
I've read John Glatt before and he's able to lay out the true crime story with what feels like accuracy. He doesn't add a lot of flare, but you will find out what happens and how.
Having a tiny bit of a crush on Dateline's Keith Morrison, I'm a devout watcher of that show and saw the episodes on Lori Vallow. That was probably the problem with then reading this book. It added nothing that I hadn't already learned from television, and fell flat in its delivery.
This is the second Glatt book I've listened to with narrator Shaun Grindell, and while he was good at telling the story of dad/murderer Chris Watts, I did not like listening to him read The Doomsday Mother. Sorry. I hate to just not like someone's efforts, but his accent and monotone combined with an already told story made this read long.
Having a tiny bit of a crush on Dateline's Keith Morrison, I'm a devout watcher of that show and saw the episodes on Lori Vallow. That was probably the problem with then reading this book. It added nothing that I hadn't already learned from television, and fell flat in its delivery.
This is the second Glatt book I've listened to with narrator Shaun Grindell, and while he was good at telling the story of dad/murderer Chris Watts, I did not like listening to him read The Doomsday Mother. Sorry. I hate to just not like someone's efforts, but his accent and monotone combined with an already told story made this read long.
June 11, 2022
I followed the Lori Vallow case as it was happening and I thought I knew most of what was involved. However I was definitely wrong and I learned so much about the layers of the case from this book! Glatt has an engrossing writing style that kept my attention the entire time through the history of Lori and Chad and the details of the aftermath. I can’t even wrap my head around some of the events that were described or things that were said/believed. It’s an incredibly heartbreaking, bizarre, and chilling story that Glatt details in a respectful, well-written, and well-researched manner. I definitely recommend picking up “The DoomsDay Mother” if you are interested in true crime.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy! #SMPinfluencers
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy! #SMPinfluencers
September 5, 2022
The Doomsday Mother by John Glatt is a true crime novel which followed Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, and Lori's missing children.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin’s Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Lori Cox was born in 1973 in California, one of six kids. Although raised Mormon, the family was not really devout, and the parents often took off for Hawaii for weeks at a time, leaving the kids to fend for themselves. Lori, however, eventually became a strong believer in the Mormon faith, although perhaps it was more her own version of it. She grew up craving attention, and getting it, becoming somewhat narcissistic after losing childhood weight. She married Nelson when she was just 19, and divorced a year later. At 22, she married Wiliam LaGolia, had her first child Colby, and divorced shortly after. At 29, she married Joe Ryan, and later that year gave birth to Tylee. At 32, she was again divorced. At 33, she married Charles Vallow. They adopted Joshua (JJ), who was the child of Charles drug-addict sister.
Lori's Mormon beliefs started to take on some sinister undertones. They got worse when she met Chad Daybell, a Mormon doomsday prepper, whose ideas were also off the Mormon charts. Lori swapped everything she had for Chad, a religious zealot who preached end of days doctrine to all who would listen. The pair planned on leading the chosen ones on a path to survive the end of the world. He and Lori believed they were gods, and Chad received messages from his spirit guides on the other side which enabled him to identify and rid the world of evil zombies.
Apparently their current spouses were not "chosen", and neither were Lori's children. Both Charles (Lori's husband) and Tammy (Chad's wife) ended up dead, as did others that stood in the way of Lori and Chad Daybell.
When it finally came to light that JJ and Tylee were missing, Lori and Chad were in Hawaii, celebrating their marriage (two weeks after the death of Chad's wife). 7 year old JJ, who was autistic, and Tylee, who was now around 17, had not been seen for 5 months, and they made headlines across the continent, yet Lori and Chad did not return, and offered the police no assistance.
The bodies of the children were eventually found on Chad's property, and Lori and Chad arrested.
My Opinions:
First, I knew nothing about these people, and had no recollection of the case (maybe it's because I'm in Canada). The children's bodies were just found in 2021, so this is a really current story.
My biggest complaint....I wish the book had not been written until a final verdict had been rendered, because at this point, both Chad and Lori are in jail, but their trials are not scheduled until 2023. When I read a true story, I expect it to be relatively "over", but there is no closure to this story yet. It's one thing to read a book of fiction and have to draw your own conclusion at the end (which I don't really like either), but having to "guess" what is going to happen next in a true-crime novel is not acceptable. Does this mean that Glatt is going to have a "book 2"???? Not impressed.
Anyway, moving on, the writing was good, if a little repetitive, and perhaps a little long.
Heads up....Many of the characters were repulsive. Chad, Lori and Alex were beyond reprehensible, and some of their "friends" who lied for them were not much better. I felt so sorry for JJ's grandparents.
The book seemed, at times, to lay all the blame on "Chad", as he was the cult leader, and swayed everyone his way, including Lori. I disagree. Lori's beliefs and actions were bizarre even before Chad entered the picture. It looks like they are trying to say she is mentally unstable. However, Lori came up with some interesting lies all on her own, that showed she knew exactly what she was doing.
Anyway, although I really think the book should not have been published until the full story is told, it was still an okay read. I will probably follow the news on this one, but I would not read a second book on this topic, as I already feel a little cheated.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
January 17, 2022
I don't usually read non fiction books, but I had read in media about the missing children and the massive search to find them, they were found and it was such a sad story that I was intrigued to find out more. This book certainly covers a lot of history about what happened. Lori Vallow would probably never win any mother of the year awards, she is very vain and self serving, using her children at times to get back at anyone she feels has wronged her. She's onto her fifth marriage at the beginning of the book, a beach side one in Hawaii, her two kids, Tylee and JJ were missing at that point and she did not appear concerned about them. Ex husband number three was the father of Tylee and him and Lori had a very nasty fight over custody of her. Lori even had Tylee accuse her father of molesting her, causing the police to investigate. Lori also made it very difficult for him to see Tylee, moving to Hawaii at one point. Lori is a Mormon a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS). She eventually becomes involved with an offshoot of the LDS that believe the end is near, there will be a cataclysmic earthquake that will wipe out large parts of the USA. Chad Daybell is a prominent author of this type of thinking and considers himself a god, someone who can see spirits and tell if someone has a dark or light spirit in them. Lori and Chad (her fifth husband) eventually get together but at the expense of almost everyone that was close to them. A very heart wrenching story very well told. I only wish that the author had waited until the trial had taken place to include that outcome, otherwise I recommend. Thank you to #Netgalley and #St Martin's Press for the ARC.
January 13, 2022
I was fascinated by this case when it was national news so a chance to have an insiders perspective was something I wasn’t going to pass up. And this read like a 3 part episode of Law & Order SVU and I am here for it! It took me a few to get all the characters straight in my head, but once I did it was go time!
Lori Vallow was a devout member of the church of Latter Day Saints and gets taken into a doomsday cult by the leader, Chad Daybell. The problem was, they both had families standing in their way of being able to be together. I got taken in by the cult, murder for hire and the denial that anything was wrong and their very extensive lifestyle that they were living all the while covering up what was really going on.
The narrator would not have been my first choice to tell this story because he kind of delivers it like he’s telling the news or something-just kind of matter of fact and not much emotion brought to it. However, being a relatively quick story, I won’t hold it against the author.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my review.
Publication date: January 18, 2022
Lori Vallow was a devout member of the church of Latter Day Saints and gets taken into a doomsday cult by the leader, Chad Daybell. The problem was, they both had families standing in their way of being able to be together. I got taken in by the cult, murder for hire and the denial that anything was wrong and their very extensive lifestyle that they were living all the while covering up what was really going on.
The narrator would not have been my first choice to tell this story because he kind of delivers it like he’s telling the news or something-just kind of matter of fact and not much emotion brought to it. However, being a relatively quick story, I won’t hold it against the author.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my review.
Publication date: January 18, 2022
February 20, 2022
“It’s not every day that we have someone come in and say that their wife has threatened their life and that she’s got angels ready to dispose of his body.”
This is really sad and twisted even for true crime. Includes a doomsday cult, Tasering someone in a parking lot, the infamous "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" radio contest that resulted in one death and a $16.5 million settlement, manipulation, excommunication, communing with the spirit of a dead lawyer, sex tourism, child neglect, child abuse, narcissism, bleaching the hair of an infant, trying to sell the family dog, complaining that your fourth husband is not your spiritual equal, telling people that you expect your wife to die in her sleep soon, getting married after knowing someone for three days and then becoming an FBI informant in an attempt to rescue them, and human burials in a pet cemetery.
This is really sad and twisted even for true crime. Includes a doomsday cult, Tasering someone in a parking lot, the infamous "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" radio contest that resulted in one death and a $16.5 million settlement, manipulation, excommunication, communing with the spirit of a dead lawyer, sex tourism, child neglect, child abuse, narcissism, bleaching the hair of an infant, trying to sell the family dog, complaining that your fourth husband is not your spiritual equal, telling people that you expect your wife to die in her sleep soon, getting married after knowing someone for three days and then becoming an FBI informant in an attempt to rescue them, and human burials in a pet cemetery.
September 6, 2022
I had the hardest time getting through this book because of how much it read like a college textbook. I've been getting into more true crime, but normally the ones I pick up are super easy to read - similar to a fiction book. Everything about this book was just not it. I am going to watch the documentary when it releases on Netflix in a week.
January 18, 2022
I had heard of this case but I did not know the details.
This book provided a thorough account of the terrible and absolutely heinous crimes the people are accused of.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
This book provided a thorough account of the terrible and absolutely heinous crimes the people are accused of.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
January 21, 2022
H O L Y S H I T.
I followed this case from the very beginning. I could not wrap my head around a mother not actively trying to find her missing children, one of which is special needs. She instead tried to derail the investigation. But that's just who Lori Vallow is.
I've read many things that state none of this would have happened if she never met Chad Daybell, an end times preacher. The same has been said for Chad never meeting Lori. In reality, I think these two were a ticking time bomb. Together, the end times became their reality.
The amount of bodies piling up between these two people is absolutely insane.
Lori's sister? Dead.
Two of Lori's ex-husbands? Dead.
Two of Lori's kids? Dead.
Lori's brother? Dead.
Chad's ex-wife? Dead.
Not to mention the attempted murders, actual murders, and assaults carried out by Alex, Lori's brother who is now dead.
Tylee and JJ went missing in 2019.
Nearly six months had passed before their remains were found buried on Chad's property. I was fully unaware of how gruesome their deaths were. It all happened so fast.... Charles was killed. Lori and the kids moved to Idaho to be closer to Chad. Tammy was killed. The kids were missing, while Lori and Chad flitted off to Hawaii to get married.
But their trials are obviously not moving nearly as fast.
As of January 2022, Lori has been deemed not fit to stand trial and has been placed in a mental health facility. Chad should be standing trial sometime this year, but considering his first trial date was set for November 2021, I'm not sure when it will happen.
This review and other true crime reviews can be found at A Reader's Diary!
I followed this case from the very beginning. I could not wrap my head around a mother not actively trying to find her missing children, one of which is special needs. She instead tried to derail the investigation. But that's just who Lori Vallow is.
I've read many things that state none of this would have happened if she never met Chad Daybell, an end times preacher. The same has been said for Chad never meeting Lori. In reality, I think these two were a ticking time bomb. Together, the end times became their reality.
The amount of bodies piling up between these two people is absolutely insane.
Lori's sister? Dead.
Two of Lori's ex-husbands? Dead.
Two of Lori's kids? Dead.
Lori's brother? Dead.
Chad's ex-wife? Dead.
Not to mention the attempted murders, actual murders, and assaults carried out by Alex, Lori's brother who is now dead.
Tylee and JJ went missing in 2019.
Nearly six months had passed before their remains were found buried on Chad's property. I was fully unaware of how gruesome their deaths were. It all happened so fast.... Charles was killed. Lori and the kids moved to Idaho to be closer to Chad. Tammy was killed. The kids were missing, while Lori and Chad flitted off to Hawaii to get married.
But their trials are obviously not moving nearly as fast.
As of January 2022, Lori has been deemed not fit to stand trial and has been placed in a mental health facility. Chad should be standing trial sometime this year, but considering his first trial date was set for November 2021, I'm not sure when it will happen.
This review and other true crime reviews can be found at A Reader's Diary!
May 13, 2023
May 12, 2023 Update: Lori Vallow has been found guilty on all charges! It didn't take long for the jury to deliberate.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've been following the Lori Vallow/ Chad Daybell case from the beginning and it's definitely a strange and complicated case. There are so many people involved and I had been confused about that but John Glatt breaks this case down very well.
It will be interesting to see what finally becomes of this case and if justice for Tammy, and especially JJ and Tylee, is ever served. As a resident of the county where Chad Daybell's trial will supposedly be held, (in another year 🙄) I know I wouldn't be picked for the jury but oh man, I'd love to be in the galley.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've been following the Lori Vallow/ Chad Daybell case from the beginning and it's definitely a strange and complicated case. There are so many people involved and I had been confused about that but John Glatt breaks this case down very well.
It will be interesting to see what finally becomes of this case and if justice for Tammy, and especially JJ and Tylee, is ever served. As a resident of the county where Chad Daybell's trial will supposedly be held, (in another year 🙄) I know I wouldn't be picked for the jury but oh man, I'd love to be in the galley.
January 14, 2022
“The bodies are starting to pile up” -Dateline
The Doomsday Mother is a true crime novel about a crime almost everyone has heard about. This is my second book by John Glatt and I really enjoyed it. It completely blows my mind how crazy these two people got and no one saw it coming.
This book is a behind the scenes of everyone. Their family backgrounds, all her marriages, and any other crazy thing that came up along the way. I love the way John Glatt writes and highly recommend it if your a true crime fan.
I chose to listen to this book on audio and enjoyed Shaun Grindell narrating this. This was 8 hours and 38 minutes.
Thanks Tantor Audio via NetGalley.
The Doomsday Mother is a true crime novel about a crime almost everyone has heard about. This is my second book by John Glatt and I really enjoyed it. It completely blows my mind how crazy these two people got and no one saw it coming.
This book is a behind the scenes of everyone. Their family backgrounds, all her marriages, and any other crazy thing that came up along the way. I love the way John Glatt writes and highly recommend it if your a true crime fan.
I chose to listen to this book on audio and enjoyed Shaun Grindell narrating this. This was 8 hours and 38 minutes.
Thanks Tantor Audio via NetGalley.
January 15, 2022
This was a very well researched, well written book. It was easy to follow along with, although hard to stomach at times. It's very obvious that Lori wasn't all there mentally. I hate moms that kill children, or at least in this case have children killed. As a mom myself it's unfathomable. However I do wish the author had waited to write this book until the cases were over and dealt with. 3.5 stars rounded down.
June 5, 2022
No. This book sucked so bad. If you are really curious read a news article or watch the movie. It was basically told in 3rd person with facts you can get anywhere. I don’t know how they managed to even fill this many pages.
July 10, 2024
Love John Glatt, but... when writing true crime books, please can he wait until the sentence is given so there is closure.
Followed Glatt's journey from the birth of Lori and Chad to... awaiting trial. Had to Google their trials and sentences. As a lazy person, I should not be expected to do this.
Followed Glatt's journey from the birth of Lori and Chad to... awaiting trial. Had to Google their trials and sentences. As a lazy person, I should not be expected to do this.
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