📖 Overview
Prophet's Prey details private investigator Sam Brower's seven-year investigation into the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) and its leader Warren Jeffs. Brower documents his efforts to expose criminal activities within the secretive polygamist sect operating across multiple states.
The book combines first-hand investigative work with historical background on the FLDS church and its evolution under different leaders. Through interviews, surveillance, and legal proceedings, Brower reconstructs the power structure and internal workings of the isolated religious community.
The narrative follows parallel tracks of Brower's personal investigation and the broader law enforcement efforts to build cases against FLDS leadership. The author recounts his interactions with former church members, law enforcement officials, and others involved in bringing criminal activities to light.
At its core, Prophet's Prey examines themes of power, manipulation, and the exploitation of religious authority. The book raises questions about the balance between religious freedom and criminal justice, while documenting one investigator's quest to expose hidden truths.
👀 Reviews
Readers describe Prophet's Prey as a detailed investigation into Warren Jeffs and the FLDS church. The book offers firsthand accounts from Brower's seven-year investigation as a private detective.
Readers appreciated:
- Clear documentation and evidence
- Personal insights from someone directly involved
- Photos and court documents included
- Balance between facts and human stories
- Straightforward, accessible writing style
Common criticisms:
- Some repetitive sections
- Occasional disorganized timeline
- Focus sometimes strays from main narrative
- A few readers found parts sensationalized
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.1/5 (3,800+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.5/5 (900+ ratings)
Several reviewers noted the book helped them understand how cults operate. One reader stated: "This exposed the FLDS more thoroughly than any other book I've read." Multiple reviews praised Brower's persistence in pursuing justice while maintaining objectivity in his reporting.
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Escape by Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer A former member of the FLDS church details her arranged marriage at age eighteen to a fifty-year-old man and her eventual flight with her eight children from the polygamous community.
Going Clear by Lawrence Wright This examination of Scientology traces its founder's life, the organization's practices, and the experiences of former members who left the church.
Not Without My Sister by Juliana Buhring Three sisters recount their childhood experiences growing up in and eventually escaping from the Children of God religious cult.
Beyond Belief by Jenna Miscavige Hill The niece of Scientology's leader shares her first-hand account of life inside the organization's secretive Sea Organization from childhood through her eventual departure.
Escape by Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer A former member of the FLDS church details her arranged marriage at age eighteen to a fifty-year-old man and her eventual flight with her eight children from the polygamous community.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔎 Author Sam Brower spent seven years investigating Warren Jeffs and the FLDS church as a private detective before writing the book
📚 Jon Krakauer, author of "Under the Banner of Heaven," wrote the foreword and helped convince Brower to turn his investigation into a book
🎬 The book was adapted into a documentary film in 2015, also titled "Prophet's Prey," directed by Amy Berg and produced by Showtime
⚖️ Brower's investigation helped lead to Warren Jeffs being placed on the FBI's Most Wanted List and his eventual arrest in 2006
🗣️ The author conducted over 100 interviews with former FLDS members, law enforcement officials, and others connected to the case while researching the book