True crime is quickly becoming a favorite genre of mine behind thrillers, especially when they are as well done as this one was. I had not heard anything about this case, and let me tell you, it is one of the craziest ones I have heard in a long time. It is crazy to me how people rise to the level that they do so quickly and then are able to turn around and manipulate others even quicker. This is one of those cases, and what is even wilder is Chad Daybell was able to convince Lori Vallow to leave her husband and be with him. But unlike normal people who get a divorce, these two went on a killing spree, trying to eliminate those closest to them in order for them to be together. And i’m talking about Lori’s third and fourth husbands, her two kids, and Chad’s wife. Who does that?!?!?!

Like I said, this is wild, and per usual Glatt does a great job of telling the story without it getting dry. This held my attention from the start and I was captivated until the end, which covers the trial that happens to take place during the pandemic. I did not know about the case and had no idea the trial was this recent, so that was an extra gem.

If you like true crime then I highly recommend this one for sure. There are some tough scenes in here regarding the kids so I do want to mention that just as an fyi.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital galley to review. This one is available now.

I was not familiar with this story and found the authors way of telling it well done. Well researched and great background on the people involved. The book is broken down into distinct sections which makes it easier to follow. Others criticize the author stating he should have waited to release the book after trial, but I wasn't bothered by that at all. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ve recently been on a true crime kick and this one did not disappoint, the case is chilling to the core, involving minors. The research put into this book was amazing, making it one of the best true crime books I’ve read yet, and only my first from this author!

Even though I have several John Glatt works on my shelf, this is my first John Glatt work that I've consumed.

This case has had my attention from the moment the news shared that Tylee and JJ were missing. Their story is heartbreaking and while I feel that Dateline has covered this case very well, Glatt has some additional details that Dateline has not shared. Such as familial background and all of the ins and outs of past relationships and jobs.

As this does cover the murder of two children, readers do need to realize that a lot of information probably can't be shared about the victims as they are minors. Therefore, understand going in that this is not a victim-centered coverage of the case. It is more of a background to leading up to what happened directly around Lori and Chad at the time the children went missing.

I will say this is one of the best true crime books that I've read in awhile, but I am a bit disappointed that this was released prior to the conclusion of the court proceedings related to the case. While Dateline can update their coverage of the case, a book cannot be easily updated.

John Glatt always thoroughly researches his books before writing and it shows. This is the second book I've read by him, and once again it's well researched and well written! I had read some articles when this story was on the news, but I didn't do a deep dive into this case so there was plenty of new information for me to learn! I learned a lot about Lori, Lori's family, and Chad and a lot of it was jaw dropping.

The only bummer was that this book doesn't really have an ending since the book was released before the trial took place. We don't really get answers in that sense, but I didn't really mind because I can look it up myself later.

I couldn't put this book down though, It read so easily and it was such a page turner! Even if you don't know anything about this case, you won't have a problem reading this one as the author lays out everything in an organized way for all readers.

I'm looking forward to reading John Glatt's backlisted books, because John knows what he's doing and he does it well! I definitely recommend this one to both lovers of true crime/nonfiction and those who are new to true crime or nonfiction!

The Doomsday Mother is the chilling, true story of Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and their obsession with the end times that cause an entire family to crumble.
John Glatt is an automatic read for me and this was no exception. I had heard the headlines from this case but didn't know all of the details - but this book does an excellent job of retelling all of the details to get the full picture on who these people are and how the pieces came together. This was a heartbreaking story that unfortunately still is not over yet. Glatt's retelling was great because no detail was missed, but it occasionally felt repetitive.
If you've watched the Dateline or listened to the podcasts, do yourself a favor and read this book. There was so much that was covered that made all the pieces click.

Many thanks to #netgalley this is my first book by #johnglatt and it definitely won’t be my last. #doomsdaymother we’ve all heard of #lorivallow whether in the #truecrime word or just the news. I thought that I had read all I could … maybe it’s been a minute. John delved so far in the lives of both Lori and Chad. I loved it. We hear about their families. How they grew up. Alex’s seemingly obsession with his sister. We get the information of when Tylee and JJ went “missing”. Reading this was like being there. It can really pull you in to his tale that he weaves of these two individuals. Even though both Daybell and Lori are awaiting their trials definitely grab this book and devour it. I’m curious if you believe Chad brainwashed Lori. Or. If she is simply psychotic and didn’t need Chad to plan the #endtimes #netgalleyreview #bookstagram #truecrimeaddict #readersofinstagram #lorivallowdaybell #chaddaybell #tyleeandjj #murder #endoftimes

An interesting read. John Glott ha written a great book that many if my true crime friends will enjoy.

THE DOOMSDAY MOTHER: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the End of the American Family by John Glatt is the true crime account of the lives of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell and their twisted religious beliefs that became the theological justification for the murder conspiracies which led to the deaths of their spouses and Lori’s two minor children.

Lori Vallow had a turbulent young life. Even being a devout Mormon, she was married several times and moved continually. Finally with her fourth husband, she begins to find stability and happiness for herself and her children. But it was not to last. Lori began to study and follow extreme preppers and doomsday zealots that preached the end days were upon us and one of these people was Chad Daybell.

Lori begins her extreme belief in everything Chad teaches. Both lose their spouses, who are at first deemed natural deaths, and within two weeks of Chad’s wife’s death they are married to each other with no children in sight.

In a multi-jurisdiction investigation, the authorities begin to uncover a web of deaths surrounding the couple and then the remains of Lori’s children are found buried on Chad’s land.

Mr. Glatt’s writing brings you into Lori and Chad’s lives and beliefs with even handed descriptions that let the reader make their own conclusions of the crimes. They both had many supporters until the day the children were found. Some felt Lori was brainwashed and this was all Chad’s doing while others believe that Lori was just as guilty and smart enough to manipulate her brother’s involvement in the deaths and set up financial gains from every death. There is no conclusion to this horrific story currently with Chad still awaiting trial and Lori in a mental health facility unable to contribute to her own defense at this time.

I feel this true crime book is full of interesting information that I did not get while the case was in all the headlines. It is also heartbreaking and scary in this case and many more the way religion can be twisted with cult-like beliefs and destroy so many lives.

I enjoyed this book. The prose was well-written, and the characters were dynamic and jumped off the page. I thought the story was interesting and the plot kept me guessing.

I flew through this book. I remember when this was in the news and then I forgot about until the book came out.
This was so interesting to read after I recently read the book Cultish. It’s amazing to me how people can get sucked into things but after reading Cultish and then The Doomsday Mother it makes sense.

I enjoyed the investigative style of this book. I’m going to have the back list now of John Glatt! I am a fan of true crime and this didn’t disappoint. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4⭐️

John Glatt is one of those whom truly knows how to write true crime, and this book is another perfect example of this! A very wicked, sad case, which i knew very little about prior to this book, but do feel I got a good amount of information on the case, without boring me with unneeded details! Well written, intriguing, and emotional! Would definitely recommend to my fellow true crime junkies!

This was the second true crime book I’ve read by John Glatt so I was already somewhat used to his writing style. I did not know much about Lori Vallow prior to reading this beyond what little I’d seen in the media. Glatt is quite thorough when discussing the background and personal history of those involved in the cases he investigates and reports on. Regardless of how much I know about a case going into his books, I always finish them feeling I now have a more thorough understanding of the facts of the case and trial.

Very well written and easy to read! Thanks to the publisher + NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

3.5⭐️

The Doomsday Mother is an in depth look at the lives of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell who are being held for killing Lori’s two children Tylee and JJ and husband, Charles Vallow, as well as Chad Daybell’s wife, Tammy.

I thought this was super interesting. We got more of a look at the lives of Lori and Chad prior to them meeting each other and also what led to their arrest. Most of it is the same information from the news and podcasts but put together in one place.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was very well written full of detail. I have always been interested in this story this book was all I needed. Such a sad situation for all involved.

I love John Glatt and love true crime books. This was a very detailed and thoroughly researched book about Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell and the disappearance of her children. Lori Vallow is your all American mom who is overtaken by her religious beliefs and enters in to a cult lifestyle led by Chad Daybell. Although this book was interesting, it was almost too detailed for me. The book got long towards the end.

OMG! This is the actual story of the weird and fascinating tale of Lori and Chad Daybell. The way they went about killing people that they said were "Zombies" and that the only way to save the person that they loved was to kill them so they could go to heaven. Complete with end of the world visions, "Knowing" when people around them would die, and a cult mentality, this book has it all!

Thank you to Netgalley, John, and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of The Doomsday Mother: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the End of an American Family.

Lori and Chad’s story is a tragic one of twisted and toxic love and obsession. Lori was a lost soul for her entire life. Hopping from husband to husband, the only thing that seemed to really stick with Lori was her devotion to the Mormon church and her children. Chad, a sociopath obsessed with the idea that he was meant for more, meets Lori at a doomsday prepper’s convention and the connection was instantaneous. The relationship that followed left a path of bodies that included both of Lori and Chad’s spouses and Lori’s two beloved children.

The psychology of this story is just mind-blowing to me. And if you’re familiar with this crime and also longing to understand what Lori was thinking, unfortunately this book will not give you those answers. That is not to take away from this book at all; I don’t think we will ever know. And really, if we did know, would it make the heinous acts any more understandable? I don’t think so. These were not crimes of passion. They were cold and calculated murders of loved ones. Lori went through great pains to make sure people still thought her children were alive long after their deaths.

John Glatt does an AMAZING job at diving to the depths of the the monsters and victims that he covers in his books. This may have been the biggest exploration yet, and I think that is why because he, like myself, just needs to know why and how it got to the point that it did. John goes back to the childhood of each of our key players and extensively researched.

I look forward to the next case that John covers.


** Of course, there are trigger warnings all over this story, the main being child murder and desecration of remains. Others include child neglect/abuse; cult/cult-like situations and religious fanaticism

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* woah! what a wild ride, i've never heard of this case before and just wow, lots of info and a crazy case!