A chilling view of the Jonestown tragedy and the events that led Jim Jones and Peoples Temple to it. In the beginning, Jeff Guinn engages readers with the early life of Jim Jones; his depressing childhood, relationship with his mother who was described as a woman unlike the others in their neighborhood, and someone who probably instilled the very first idea of being God-like in Jones. Then, his neighbors and school friends who, one way or another, witnessed Jones's character change as he grew older. In his early days, the idea of building a socialistic community where the most vulnerable members of the American society would be most welcome while promoting racial equality and overall goodness and care for the endangered made sense. But then this idea suddenly became a religious matter and right here you simply know things will take the wrong turn.

Hiding behind the religious mask was enough to gain a huge number of followers, some of which stayed with Peoples Temple until the very end.

The second part of the book is, perhaps, a little bit rough as it generally focuses on the political aspects, following the movement of Peoples Temple to the jungles of Guyana. However, those who are more familiar with America's political scene would find it interesting probably since the author did really good research concerning people who were part of that scene in the '50s - '70s.

Knowing the outcome, the last few chapters are hard to process. At this point, you think how this could be? how are these people still following an abusive lunatic? The truth is, many members of Peoples Temple asked themselves as well but it was already late at this point. Perhaps, the most difficult part is when Jones ordered children to be murdered first and his devoted life partner, his wife Marceline Jones screaming You can't do this! as they fall on the ground screaming, eventually their bodies jerking as their mouth spilling the white foam from the cyanide they drunk. Jeff Guinn didn't even need to make an effort to describe the final moments of these people in more depth; with very few details they were already horrific enough. So horrific even for Jim Jones himself who, apparently, died of a gunshot through his head rather than doing what he suggested to his followers: a Flavor Aid mixed with cyanide.

I'm giving this book a 5-star rating because of the extraordinary research and insight into one of the most known massacres in recent American history.

Jeff Guinn is a former award-winning investigative journalist and the bestselling author of numerous books, including Go Down Together: The True Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde, The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral and How It Changed the West, and Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson. Guinn lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

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