
Seductive Poison
A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the Peoples Temple
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Narrated by:
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Kathe Mazur
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Deborah Layton
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By:
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Deborah Layton
About this listen
Told by a former high-level member of the Peoples Temple and Jonestown survivor, Seductive Poison is the "truly unforgettable" (Kirkus Reviews) story of how one woman was seduced by one of the most notorious cults in recent memory and how she found her way back to sanity.
From Waco to Heaven's Gate, the late 20th century saw its share of cult tragedies. But none was quite so dramatic or compelling as the Jonestown massacre of 1978, in which the Reverend Jim Jones and 913 of his disciples perished. Deborah Layton had been a member of the Peoples Temple for seven years when she departed for Jonestown, Guyana, the promised land nestled deep in the South American jungle.
When she arrived, however, Layton saw that something was seriously wrong. Jones constantly spoke of a revolutionary mass suicide, and Layton knew only too well that he had enough control over the minds of the Jonestown residents to carry it out. But her pleas for help - and her sworn affidavit to the US government - fell on skeptical ears.
In this very personal account, Layton opens up the shadowy world of cults and shows how anyone can fall under their spell. Seductive Poison is both an unflinching historical document and a riveting story of intrigue, power, and murder.
©1999 Deborah Layton (P)2013 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"A suspenseful tale of escape that reads like a satisfying thriller, Layton's account is the most important personal testimony to emerge from the Jonestown tragedy." (The Chicago Tribune)
"A fascinating account of a debacle that continues to resonate." (Entertainment Weekly)
"Shattering." (The Boston Globe)
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Story
Defying both civil authorities and the Mormon establishment in Salt Lake City, the renegade leaders of these Taliban-like theocracies are zealots who answer only to God; some 40,000 people still practice polygamy in these communities. At the core of Krakauer’s book are brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they received a commandment from God to kill a blameless woman and her baby girl. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this appalling double murder, Krakauer constructs a bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, polygamy, savage violence, and unyielding faith.
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Interesting @ arm's length
- By pixychild on 07-17-09
By: Jon Krakauer
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Hard to believe that so much suspense could be generated by a book that tells a story that is known so well. We all know how it ends, as we all knew what happened at Little Big Horn and on the Titanic. Yet Deborah Layton's first hand telling of the tale breathes life into the lurid headlines and puts a face, so many faces to the victims of this horrendous tragedy. Touching and chilling, "Seductive Poison" is a true cautionary tale that reads like a thriller. A must-read.Gripping
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Wow
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Outstanding read.
Fascinating and unique in every way
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Great 1st hand account story
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Incredible tale of courage and survival
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heart breaking on so many levels
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Awesome
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I enjoyed this book tremendously!
What a view to such a mesmerizing story.
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Tragic & Heartwrenching
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Honesty
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