Death in the Jungle

Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown

By: Candace Fleming

Narrated by: Karen Murray

How did Jim Jones, the leader of Peoples Temple, convince more than 900 of his followers to commit "revolutionary suicide" by drinking cyanide-laced punch? From a master of narrative nonfiction comes a chilling chronicle of one of the most notorious cults in American history.

Using riveting first-person accounts, award-winning author Candace Fleming reveals the makings of a monster: from Jones’s humble origins as a child of the Depression… to his founding of a group whose idealistic promises of equality and justice attracted thousands of followers… to his relocation of Temple headquarters from California to an unsettled territory in Guyana, South America, which he dubbed "Jonestown”… to his transformation of Peoples Temple into a nefarious experiment in mind-control.

And Fleming heart-stoppingly depicts Jones’s final act, persuading his followers to swallow fatal doses of cyanide—to “drink the kool-aid,” as it became known—as a test of their ultimate devotion.

Here is a sweeping story that traces, step by step, the ways in which one man slowly indoctrinated, then murdered, 900 innocent, well- meaning people. And how a few members, Jones' own son included, stood up to him... but not before it was too late.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF with sources and a bibliography.

Critic reviews

★ "Extraordinary and illuminating." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Teens fascinated by cults will find plenty of that here, but they’ll also come away with a more nuanced understanding of a highly sensationalized historical event." —Booklist, starred review

★ "Riveting.... this fascinating and disturbing work will help readers 'recognize the destructive groups in their own midst.'" —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "[A]n engrossing exploration of just how easily good intentions can drag people down the wrong path if led by a charismatic speaker with a skill for manipulation." —The Bulletin, starred review

★ "Fleming’s writing is riveting....Gripping and wrenching." —School Library Journal, starred review

★ "It’s a testament to Fleming’s storytelling prowess that the book becomes more and more compelling despite our knowledge of the outcome." —The Horn Book, starred review

★ "Fleming spares few of the horrific details, while filling her account with mesmerizing yet respectful insights. Photographs are included (although not of the bodies)....lessons about the dangers of groupthink, mind control and misinformation remain all too relevant." —BookPage, starred review

★ "Candace Fleming documents with the tension of a thriller the history of an infamous 20th century cult while maintaining a sense of humanity that conveys immense empathy for its victims....a gripping and disturbing nonfiction narrative." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

Humanizing a horrible event

I have read many books and articles about The Peoples Temple and Jonestown. I am always pleasantly surprised when I find out new personal stories about the members of Peoples Temple. This book delivered that and kept me invested. The author did a great job of humanizing those who too often were judged as just crazy cultist who fell for a madman.

Comprehensive

Although DEATH IN THE JUNGLE was written for young adults, it’s comprehensive enough for adults. I vividly remember when Jonestown happened and I’ve seen several documentaries since then, meant for adults which contained no additional information.

The seamless narrative that brought the whole jungle period to vivid life

The narrator was wonderful and allowed me to listen and absorb a fascinating true story without distraction.

An important story

A well written and researched book with an important message about the dangers of cults. Its roots in San Francisco bring it close to home.