Killer Cults: Shocking True Stories of the Most Dangerous Cults in History

This book is just what the title of my book review suggests, a sample of various cults in recent history. While the book is good at giving basic information about the cults, it lacks the details true crimes fans like myself enjoy.James J. Boyle discusses 11 recent cults in his book. These groups include: Charles Manson and his family, Jim Jones, Gordon Kahl and his militia, Hare Krisna leader Kirtanananda Swami Bhakipada, John Africa and MOVE, Jeffery Lundgren and his Mormon movement, Mexico's El Padrino, Yahweh Ben Yahweh, Roch Theriault and his experimental surgeries of live members of his group, David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, and the environmentalist group known as "cirlcle of fire". In his synopsis of each of these groups he does give some good information. Some of the information I had not read in other sources. For example, the book states Charles Manson's favorite pick up line. This is not mentioned in "Helter Skelter". Nor is it mentioned in the book "Helter Skelter" that "Helter Skelter", the Beatles songs was named for a roller coaster in England. However, examples of these types of details are few and far between. Having never heard of El Padrino, I found it particularly interesting. Boyle sites books which give a more detailed accounts of each of the cults. This can add to your research in any particular story interests you. The few pictures also add to the presentation. This book sets out to give the reader a sample of cults. It is successful in doing this. More interested readers will be able to find more detailed accounts of each story in the original sources.