Prophet's Prey

My Seven-Year Investigation into Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints

By: Sam Brower, Jon Krakauer

Narrated by: Jonah Cummings

Length: 12 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Despite considerable press coverage and a lengthy trial, the full story of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints has remained largely untold. Only one man can reveal the whole, astounding truth: Sam Brower, the private investigator who devoted years of his life to breaking open the secret practices of the FLDS and bringing Warren Jeffs and his inner circle to justice.

In Prophet's Prey, Brower implicates Jeff in his own words, bringing to light the contents of Jeffs's personal priesthood journal, discovered in a hidden underground vault, and revealing to readers the shocking inside world of FLDS members, whose trust he earned and who showed him the staggering truth of their lives.

Prophet's Prey offers the gripping, behind-the-scenes account of a bizarre world from the only man who knows the full story.

©2011 Original material by Sam Brower. Preface © 2011 Jon Krakauer. Recorded by arrangement with Bloomsbury USA. (P)2011 HighBridge Company

Informative but puzzled about the authors beliefs

Any additional comments?

I have listened to other audio books on the FLDS and while their behavior may be shocking to the uninitiated, I have become to expect the irrational from the faithful. This book is very revealing about what occurs within this religious community. However, I am very puzzled by the authors own beliefs in Mormonism. Based on the book and his occupation as a PI, he seems like a rational human being capable of logic and reason. During the course of his investigations and research into the FLDS, I have to believe he uncovered the truth about the not so humble beginnings of Mormonism which contradicts the whitewashed version the church leaders are slinging. I know about the white washed version since I was forced into the religion growing up. Additionally, the FLDS is actually staying true to what the founder of this religion envisioned in many ways that the more popular LDS religion does not. Like it or not his religion (LDS) and its doctrine have the same fundamental holes in its validity and the same sordid past as the FLDS. It's very puzzling to me that the author has turned a blind eye to this, especially knowing how this blind faith can be exploited by evil people. One would have to be very naive to think that some of the horror stories coming from the FLDS devoutly faithful would never occur in the Mormon religion or any other religion for that matter where followers turn off their brain and follow without questioning.

Good and horrifying

Good and horrifying book. The only silly part is the author a devout Mormon is calling the FLDS a cult while being in one himself. The pot calling the kettle black here.

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

Assault on the Sensibilities

this book and the cases described herein is an all out assault on the senses of a civilized people. that such activity can take place, hidden in plain sight and be ignored by our government is a travesty of unconscionable greed in itself. when taken in context alongside Jon krakauer's "uber the banner of heaven", what leaves me most confounded is that hundreds of thousands of mainstream LDS faithful remain blinded to the fact their faith was the brainchild of a main no less delusional and no less criminal than Warren Jeffs, their founder, Joseph Smith, whom Jeffs and every other fundamentalist leader strives to emulate.

All around great

If you have ever read or known about Warren Jeffs and polygamy and and the Cults disgusting abuse and acceptance of Pedophilia, Sam Brower does and eloquent job of explaining & exposing the F LDS truth. You will want to stand up and fight for these children. It's a difficult road.

Great read!

A mesmerizing subject that alerts us to the use of power in mentally I'll people. The reading was excellent!!

Narrator detracts from the book

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I found myself frequently aware of the narrator due to his odd pacing, fluctuating volume, and distracting voices. Almost all the men's voices sound like asthmatic old men. The women sound like whispery drag queens. Usually I lose myself in Audible books, but this narrator's style made me painfully aware of his presence at all times.

What did you like best about this story?

I am super impressed with Sam Brower's perseverance in seeking justice within the impenetrable walls of the FLDS. I am sure he had no idea what he stumbled into in the early days, but he did not back down even as the horrors of the complete picture unfolded. Just to keep track of all the players and their various crimes required a great deal of skill. I've driven through Colorado City, and that is one scary, unwelcoming place. I commend him on his bravery.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Jonah Cummings?

This is the first time I haven't liked an Audible narrator, so I would have to say that I would pick almost anyone else.

Do you think Prophet's Prey needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I would be fascinated to find out how the apostates, and those who were kicked out of the church are faring. Perhaps a second book would be in order as Warren Jeffs spends more time behind bars and the FLDS community crumbles. I find myself rooting for the men, women, and children who were caught in Jeffs' web. I hope that they are finding peace and security. I don't know if this story will have a happy ending, but perhaps some of the individual stories will have a silver lining. Hopefully no one steps in to take Warren Jeffs' place to keep the horrors continuing. I would like to see the abuses of this cult stop with this generation. At any rate, I found myself on the internet trying to learn the latest info about the FLDS, so a follow up book may be in order, in a few years.

Riveting and Amazing

This is one of my favorite Audible books. Very well done! A riveting and amazing story of sanctioned abuse.

Informative and well researched

This was very informative and concise. The book does a good job of helping the reader keep all the various members of the enormous (and often incestuous) FLDS familied straight. The writing was repetitive in a few places, though this may have been a deliberate choice to emphasize the disturbing "lifestyle" in the polygamist cult. Sam Brower manages to stay as neutral as his Mormon faith allows. He is somewhat reluctant in his description of some key polygamist figures such as Winston Blackmore, but this is forgivable as the focus of the story is on the psychopathic despot at the helm of the FLDS.

I would love to read a follow up from Sam regarding the last few years and the many new abuse allegations that have emerged. I'd also love to hear his take on TV shows like "Sister Wives".

This is a must-read for anyone intereted in the numerous polygamist sects spread out across North America or for anyone who is fascinated in despotic cult leaders like Warren Jeffs.

My only complaint was how the narrator changed his voice to quote female figures in the book. On the ither hand, I very much enjoyed how he accurately mimicked Warren Jeffs' creepy monotonous voice. I recommend this and look forward to more from this pair on the subject of the Jeffs crime syndicate.

Interesting!

Very detailed but there should have been more over site with the narration due to countless mispronunciations.