Cover Image: The Doomsday Mother

The Doomsday Mother

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Chilling account of one of this country's most disturbing crimes in recent history. Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell are the kind of soul mates who bring out the absolute worst in each other. The two used their so-called Christianity to build a cult obsessed with evil and the coming of the Apocalypse.
Author John Glatt builds the story of two people who seem to be pursuing religious lives, but end up leading to several shocking cold blooded murders. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's True Crime Press for a free copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

I am a true crime junkie who enjoys all the documentaries and books. The Doomsday Mother was no exception. I only knew a little bit about the mother who killed her children and then flew to Hawaii. This book was an in-depth took at her history of mental illness and crimes she had committed. The beginning started off a bit slow and parts were repetitive, but overall it was an interesting and informative read. I would recommend it to any of my fellow true crime junkies!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

Good book, very interesting. Read it.

Was this review helpful?

Another masterpiece by John Glatt and a must read for all true crime lovers. This is my third book by the author and each one gets better and better. I’m not sure how I keep missing these major crimes that are apparently high publicized. Maybe it didn’t make mainstream news here in Canada. This story was very tragic as I could never imagine a mother killing her own children.

This book details the life and story of Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow who’s paths cross due to their religious affiliations. Lori had a history of multiple failed marriages and mental health issues. Chad had a religious belief that the world was going to end. After their spouses died they connected and eventually got married. They were determined to ensure nobody stops their mission of preparing for the end of the world.

Was this review helpful?

This book was very interesting and fast-paced, the author held my attention and the plot was very appealing. I would recommend this book to friends.

Was this review helpful?

This is a case I haven't been very familiar with. I heard about it many times but didn't get all the details, just bits and pieces here and there as it was happening in the news. I'm really glad I read this book. It was very detailed and set up in a way that was easy to follow. In my opinion this case can be a bit confusing to follow in general, so I was glad to find the book very informative. I would recommend it to anyone interested in true crime.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available Now!

Was this review helpful?

I don’t think John Glatt can hide his racism and sexism in his writing. I think he thinks he is being nonjudgmental but he is and I find him offensive and gross.

Was this review helpful?

Excellent writing. Well researched and it hit all the points that I wanted to know about. This is a great example of good true crime.

Was this review helpful?

Real life horror story. This is difficult to read because it’s true. In my many years on this earth I’ve struggled to understand people who do things like this. Makes me shiver.

Was this review helpful?

I have been obsessed with this case since the very beginning, I've watched all the tv shows and listened to all the podcasts and thought I knew the whole story. Boy, was I wrong! John Glatt definitely did his research and so much more information was provided in this book that other information that I have head prior. The title is totally fitting for Lori Vallow, because she really is the doomsday mother.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. John Glatt always spins true tales so that the reader will want to turn the pages quickly. This murder story is no different. This story is horrifying, and Glatt brings the reader all through the horror.

Was this review helpful?

Oh boy, where do I start with the true crime book, The Doomsday Mother: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the End of an American Family by John Glatt.? I first heard of Lori Vallow on the news when her two children were reported missing. No one had seen the children, Tylee and JJ, for months! That put Lori and her new husband Chad at the top of my suspect list and I am sure, most peoples. More and more info was released about dead spouses and doomsdays prepping. All very crazy to me. John Glatt paints the picture of what happened as well as the background of these two murders. A definite read for true crime lovers!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my review!

Was this review helpful?

Holy cats! True crime fans will love this book. Somehow in all the concern of the missing kids, I missed the crazy beliefs that Lori Callow and Chad Daybell held. It really frames the events that took place in a different light. This book is well-researched and has John Glatt's wonderful writing style. The pages magically keep turning until you're wondering how you arrived at the end so quickly. I appreciated the thoroughness of the book, and it satisfied the true crime fan in me.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Doomsday Mother by John Glatt.

Like so many people, I was terrified and fascinated by this story, particularly because it was so slow to unfold. We remember when the children went missing. We remember when this, seemingly normal and attractive couple, were finally picked up in Hawaii. And we remember being devastated with the children's remains were finally found. It took forever for the couple to get charged with their murders and we still wait today for sentencing.

This book does a great job diving into the backgrounds of this couple, where they began, and how they ended up spiraling so hard in their culty religious philosophies, that they were willing to take the lives of people who loved and trusted them. I appreciated how clearly the author pieced the story together, it was easy to follow from beginning to end. It was infuriating to read without the author having to interject any personal opinion or speculation.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a twisted story. The author did a good job in the execution and the pacing. It held my attention and was a page turner.

Was this review helpful?

A great breakdown of this insane story. Well done! This case has yet to be concluded, would love to see an update made when it has.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed what the author wrote but honestly the woman in question made me sick to my stomach. The fact that she could do something like that to her children just baffles me.

Was this review helpful?

Although I’ve seen many documentaries about this woman, reading about how awful she is was even more interesting. Better than any tv show I could watch about this horrific event

Was this review helpful?

Thank for the advanced copy

This read more like a fiction, hard to believe that this a true story and that so many lives were affected.
Also shows how one can manipulate and be manipulated and how one’s delusions will make them act

Was this review helpful?

I am a big true crime fan. I have previously listened to a podcast on this. I think John Glatt did a great job of telling the story of what happened in a engaging and interesting way. Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell became obsessed with the end of times leading them to commit crimes that are pretty shocking. I would recommend this story to my true crime loving friends.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

Was this review helpful?