PRAISE FOR THE Y MUST BE MONSTERS: A MODERN DAY WITCH HUNT

“They Must Be Monsters documents the McMartin Preschool phenomenon. It weaves a narrative nonfiction prose with authentic records through the eyes of a schizophrenic mother whose visions of ‘monsters’ running her son’s preschool instigated a process that changed the awareness and lives of those around her in a prestigious Manhattan Beach community, much as the Salem witch hunt events achieved in early American history.

At each step, Matthew LeRoy & Deric Haddad document the perceptions, logic, illogic, and influences that lead to each character's perceptions, choices, and decisions that in turn hold a lasting impact on everything around them. They researched both the original events in the 1980s and their impact on modern times, interviewing those on all sides, from accusers to defenders, spending three years doing so in order to tell both sides of the story from different perspectives. Their account not only documents the origins of social hysteria, but shows how these generate their own definitions of reality and revised values throughout society.

Anyone who lived through these real-life events, and generations that came after who live with their results, will find They Must Be Monsters a vivid account not just of one community's eye-opening changes; but of a process that affected American perceptions and reflects ongoing ideas of monsters and saviors today.

Very, very highly recommended not just for its detailed background research and approach; but for its ability to tailor a wealth of information into a digestible, understandable narrative non-fiction format that will hold readers riveted to the end.”

— D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

“In this era of fake-news allegations, They Must Be Monsters is a refreshing addition to the realm of real news in that it reveals the untold story of the hysteria that engulfed the McMartin Preschool sexual abuse investigation. Authors Matthew LeRoy and Deric Haddad, by disclosing previously unpublished evidence in the case, offer an important and timeless lesson—that this should never happen again. Where the law-enforcement and criminal-justice professionals got caught up in the emotion, paranoia, and ego-driven need to be at the forefront of a highly publicized case, LeRoy and Haddad follow an objective, rational path in laying out and exposing the outrageous allegations for what they were.”

— Larry M. Edwards, award-winning investigative journalist & author of the acclaimed true-crime memoir, Dare I Call It Murder?: A Memoir of Violent Loss

“They Must be Monsters is a poignant and invaluable rendition of the famous McMartin Preschool Trials. Told in a creative non-fiction narrative, this novel was fascinating, informative, and thought-provoking. Having had no insight of the Trials before, the horror of the allegations, the intrigue of who was guilty, and the conspiracy theories drew me in until the last page. The portrayal of character relationships, 80’s pop culture, and the authors’ own insight created an intuitive interpretation of the famous trials. Told through the eyes and notes of the schizophrenic mother who started this madness, They Must be Monsters shouldn’t be missed.

— Danielle Mathieson, Editor

“They Must be Monsters is a true crime story that reads like a work of extraordinary fiction. Matthew LeRoy and Deric Haddad are able to dig deeper than even journalists of the day and present a narrative that is instantly engaging and thoroughly engrossing. I have to admit that this is the first I'd heard of the McMartin Preschool Trial and going in I had no idea what to expect. From the perspective of an uninformed reader, this played to my own advantage as I resisted the urge to search for a summary and, instead, allowed the story to unfold, layer by layer, without any preconceived notions. The result is a masterful, tension-filled tale where art actually imitates life in the most gruesome ways. The authors liken the event to Miller's The Crucible, an apt comparison for the 20th century. I'd recommend this book to lovers of the true crime genre, but also to those who enjoy thrillers, suspense, and mystery.”

— Asher Syed, Reader's Favorite, 5 stars

“They Must Be Monsters drew me in and held me completely spellbound until the very last page. I could barely believe what I was reading as I was taken on a dark and sinister journey, a tale reminiscent of the Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s. Matthew LeRoy and Deric Haddad perfectly captured the sinister and toxic atmosphere of the time. The hysteria and lack of objectivity of ordinary people and the authorities involved in the case were absolutely shocking, redolent of the excesses of the McCarthy era of the 1950s. The background material and the depth of analysis provided by these two intrepid journalists are compelling and insightful. It is an utterly astounding and previously untold narrative describing a complex and dark period in U.S. history.”

—Amanda Rofe, Reader's Favorite, 5 stars