Prophet's Prey

Incredible Story of the FLDS

I first learned of the FLDS church a few years ago when I read "Under the Banner of Heaven" by Jon Krakauer. I was horrified, and have followed the developing story and Jeffs trial ever since. I snagged this audiobook as soon as I noticed it, and worked my way through it very quickly.

This story is told in the first person by Sam Brower (narrated by Jonah Cummings, who does an awesome job), a private investigator working hard to break down and expose the incredible evil taking place in the world of the FLDS. The story is an interesting look into the innerworkings of a sad religious, a lunatic religious leader, legions of followers, poor unfortunate children, and how a private investigator goes about infiltrating this mess.

This is not an easy book to listen to. It's depressing and frustrating. It's hard enough to hear about the atrocities happening within the FLDS church, and even harder to hear about how difficult it is to get the government to intervene.

The only complaint I have is that the timeline of the story jumps around quite a bit. There are lots of characters in this book, and it's hard to keep them all straight. On top of this the author jumps back and forth in time frequently, and it can be easy to get lost at times. A fairly minor complaint, but I can't help but this this would be a stronger story if told in a more linear fashion.

32 people found this helpful

Good follow up to 19th Wife

I picked this up after reading “The 19th Wife” to get more information about the modern-day fundamentalist Mormon sects that continue to practice polygamy today. There are a variety of books to choose from, but I picked this one because I was particularly interested in finding out what had become of the fundamentalist compound in Texas that was investigated by the FBI in 2008. About all I could recall from the episode was dozens of women in prairie-style dresses, along with hundreds of children, being taken into state custody because of alleged child abuse at the fundamentalist compound.

This book more than delivered what I was looking for. Brower is a private investigator and a Mormon who was working in Utah when he heard about a family, members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), who had been kicked out of their home by their “prophet,” Warren Jeffs. Thus began Brower’s involvement in multiple investigations into the crimes perpetrated by this psychopath in the name of God. Brower had a ringside seat investigating and helping prosecute those responsible for these crimes, which include not only child abuse, rape and underage marriage but also racketeering, defrauding the US Government via entitlement schemes, and much more.

This book is not for the faint of heart. I was shocked at how cavalierly many government officials, including law enforcement, treated the crimes that were occurring under their noses. The ultimate fate of all those children we saw on television? Every single one was returned to the cult, where the girls will be forced to wed men three times their age and the boys will be abandoned (too many boys=too much competition for young brides). At least Warren Jeffs, a pedophile and megalomaniac, is serving a life sentence, but he still has followers, and that is what makes the whole thing so disturbing.

I listened to this as an audio book read by Jonah Cummings. About halfway through, I decided to speed up and turned my player to 1.5 speed. I am glad I did so. The book was gripping, but Cummings’ delivery was just too slow.

25 people found this helpful

Sam the Man!

What did you love best about Prophet's Prey?

Seriously, Sam Brower is a fantastically awesome human being. The story is truly captivating! I appreciate the detail to the timeline.

The narrator is slightly annoying with his mispronunciation of names and places.

Any additional comments?

Would love any other books in the future from Sam Brower.

10 people found this helpful

Loved the book, hated the narration

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I might. This type of book is not for everyone so it depends on the person.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Prophet's Prey?

When they finally caught the slime sucker Warren Jeff's.

Would you be willing to try another one of Jonah Cummings’s performances?

No. His mispronunciation of common Utah/Mormon words was horrifying. Obviously did not research any of it before reading this book. If you know how to pronounce Hurricane, Nephi, Cumorah, Rulon, Zion, or Helaman, this narration will make you crazy.

Was Prophet's Prey worth the listening time?

Yes. I have a sick fascination with the FLDS, so I liked it.

7 people found this helpful

Babylon AD

Would you consider the audio edition of Prophet's Prey to be better than the print version?

I certainly prefer to have a book read to me rather than reading it myself.

What other book might you compare Prophet's Prey to and why?

I would compare it with "Under the Banner of Heaven" by Jon Krakauer.Another expose into the FLDS. Both books deal with the excess of this cult and its complete power over its congregation.

What does Jonah Cummings bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I thought his narration of the book was thoughtful, and hit the right tone for this subject matter.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Where do you start, these FLDS people have violated every convention of civilised society.Animal cruelty, incest, slavery, child abuse, rape, etc.

Any additional comments?

The FLDS is an insidious organisation that uses religion as a tool of manipulation for self profit. I saw nothing in this group that in anyway inspires hope in their congregation.Legislators have to have resolve to put an end to this disgusting group.In the 21st century while we are busy liberating foreign nations, our very own citizens live under a pseudo religious tyranny.

5 people found this helpful

Fascinating read

Would you try another book from Sam Brower and Jon Krakauer and/or Jonah Cummings?

Yes I would. I have read every book by Krakauer.

What did you like best about this story?

The interesting details and insight into Short Creek and the FLDS and especially Warren Jeffs.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The narration was difficult for me at times. It would have really been a great idea for this narrator to do some research into the local pronunciations. I would be listening along and all of a sudden something so common would be mispronounced. Common if you have spent time in Utah, and I grew up there. For example, its not the 'Desert News' - the newspaper in Salt Lake is the

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

maybe

5 people found this helpful

Real life evil

Sam Brower knows more about the inner workings of the FLDS than many members of the cult do. He demonstrates a cycle of horrific abuse that is not likely to end without significant government intervention in an accessible, interesting manner. He approaches the community with an open mind, and though he reveals a thoroughly corrupt social system that can't be allowed to stand, he still treats each individual with the respect they deserve. In other words, he doesn't paint everyone with the same broad brush. It's a rich portrait of members of an isolated community that is intended to be "good" but turns out to be very bad.

Jonah Cummings did a great narration. I felt like I was listening to the author himself recount his experiences.

11 people found this helpful

A Sociopath and His Follwers

Prophet’s Prey is the story of a private investigator’s involvement in uncovering the workings of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) during the reign of Warren Jeffs. A member of the Mormon Church (LDS), Sam Brower relates the history of the FLDS sect and how Jeffs took control. Along the way, he describes the horrendous and illegal workings of the organization in the US and Canada. The result is a heart rending story of crime against children and their families. It is a disturbing story of corrupt politics, courts, and law enforcement. This is for anyone reading true crime, concerned about child abuse, and those who have been reading about the imprisonment of Jeffs. It is not entertaining. It is a disturbing book. If you are sensitive to graphic description, this may not be for you. The reading of Jonah Cummings is very good.

4 people found this helpful

Evil

I do not very often judge another human being, but in this case I can tell you that Warren Jeffs is one of the most evil men on the face of the earth. I pray he NEVER gets out of prison. Although he has never actually killed someone (that we know of), nevertheless, he has taken so many lives and destroyed their freedom that he should and must be held accountable.

8 people found this helpful

Very revealing about the evil nurtured in the west

What made the experience of listening to Prophet's Prey the most enjoyable?

The details and exhaustive research.

Who was your favorite character and why?

There aren't any "favorite" characters in the FDS. It was hard for me to even drum up any sympathy for the women, except those raised into it and brainwashed from birth.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Prophet's Prey is just fine.

Any additional comments?

My only criticism is that the book could be better-written. It is very repetitive. On the other hand, the author is a private investigator, not a writer, so he is to be forgiven. I admire his investigative work, though. He's done a courageous and selfless thing exposing this evil cult.

3 people found this helpful