They Must Be Monsters explores a witch hut which turned out to be the longest running most expensive criminal trial in the history of the United States of America. The trial lead to zero prosecutions and many young lives were adversely affected. This book is based on interviews carried out by two University of San Diego students Matthew LeRoy and Deric Haddad in the town of Manhattan Beach, California, four years after the incident of the McMartin preschool scandal. They interviewed one hundred locals from both sides of the fence who witnessed first hand the media frenzy caused when the bizarre accusations of an unstable woman were listened to. She claimed her daughter was molested by the school janitor whose description stereotypically fitted that of one who might molest children. Hysteria ensued. The authors waited twenty years before publishing their work and even still many were not ready for their findings. This work is extensively researched and very well written. It is a compelling read showing how mass hysteria can happen so easily. It would make an excellent movie also.

This book has a great beginning that hooks you into the story. As you go along though, you wonder how the story ends and why it is taking so long to end the tale. There seems to be too much background information about Judy Johnson; it isn’t necessary once it is established she is mentally unstable. Also, there isn’t a clear description of the janitor and how he claimed responsibility except for the photo.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for a free reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

I vaguely remembered hearing about this case in the media at the time it unfolded, and this book is an amazing read. The authors approached the happenings with an open mind, and conducted extensive interviews with people on both sides of the conflict. This gave them unparalleled access, with many sharing things no one else writing about this case heard about. The story is told through the eyes of the mother at the vortex of this entire case, and once you dive into the story, you realize just how much her paranoia fueled the events as they unfolded.

This true crime story reads like a work of extraordinary fiction, that really pulled me in and didn't let go. As the story developed, layer by layer, the horrifying truth becomes apparent. I highly recommend this book to lovers of the true crime genre, but also to those who enjoy thriller, suspense, and mystery.

Goodreads review here (direct link not possible): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2871400693

They Must be Monsters by Matthew Leroy and Derric Haddad is a true crime story that reads like a novel. Hands down the best true crime book I have read. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

My first true crime novel of 2019! I'll preface by saying that while this case was interesting, a book about suspected child abuse is very difficult to read, especially when you have children of your own. The book led you through the timeline of events in an almost storybook-like fashion and I flew through it in days. The last section was particularly fascinating. Solid three stars.