*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!

I was very interested in reading the story behind Lori Vallow Daybell. I think this author really was able to provide details about her and her story that I had not yet heard on true crime shows and podcasts. Creepy lady!

Glatt follows up 2020's "The Perfect Father: The True Story of Chris Watts, His All-American Family, and a Shocking Murder" with another can't-put-it-down true crime offering with "The Doomsday Mother" about the currently unfolding story of Lori Vallow. Fans of crime podcasts like My Favorite Murder and True Crime Obsessed will enjoy it on audio, particularly the narrative style and fully-fleshed-out cast of characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for a audio review copy.

When Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell meet, they have long held alternate beliefs about souls and the coming of the end times. But together, they advance down the path of delusion, culminating in the murder of Lori’s children Tylee and JJ.

I knew of this case from fairly recent developments, when the bodies of the children were found last year, but through this book I learned that the murders had been decades in the making. The author follows Lori and Chad from their childhoods, tracing their respective travails until they finally meet at a conference and began making podcasts together about their loosely Mormonism-based beliefs. Through this exploration we get to know what kind of people they are, though I felt that I learned more about Lori than Chad.

The book is well-written and well-researched, giving us a decent level of detail without getting overly descriptive, which sometimes happens with true crime. For the most part the book does not get graphic, which is a plus as it might have otherwise been overwhelming in the audio format that I consumed it in. The author was able to use a plethora of sources, including the families of Lori and Chad, as well as the detectives who investigated the case, which immerses the reader in the story. And there’s plenty of bizarre details to make you question why people are so gullible.

However, I had a couple issues with this book. The major one is the ending – the case is not yet complete, with Lori and Chad still awaiting trial, which I felt left the reader without much closure, which is important in a book about such a heinous case. I also would have liked to learn more about what Lori and Chad’s cult believed and what led the pair to decide to have Tylee and JJ killed. Both of these are sometimes mentioned, but not discussed in any depth which I found odd considering the level of detail in the rest of the book. Finally, I would have liked to learn more about Tylee and JJ – but then I prefer more victim-centered true crime than is the norm in the genre.

I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Shaun Grindell. I thought his narration was decent but without much intonation, which may in part be due to the genre which calls for less performance than fiction. I didn’t have much of an opinion one way or another about his narration.

Overall, I recommend this book for those trying to learn more about this bizarre and heartrending case.

This was a genuinely disturbing book - not because it was overly graphic or written like a horror story or anything like that. It was just... it's so uncomfortable and heartbreaking to know there are people in the world who can do this to children - especially their OWN children.

The book was well researched and well presented, although at times some of the things discussed seem downright unbelievable.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not insinuating the author made things up to sell books. I'm saying that the real (and documented) actions of the people discussed in this book are wholly unbelievable. It's hard to imagine that people can become so nuts. And you have to wonder if they really WERE that crazy or if they just tried to use it as a means to justify their horrific actions.

Either way, this was a very interesting - though disturbing - novel of modern-day true crime. (That's another thing that made it so hard to read. This wasn't talking about 1800's London or even 1970's Los Angeles. This took place in the time of cell phones, Skype calls, and modern forensics.

It just goes to show that people haven't gotten any less crazy or less dangerous.

Great book all around if you don't mind looking into some of the most depraved depths of the disturbed mind.

I heard about this story back when the kids were missing. There is so much more to the story, as always but especially in this case. The amount of research that went in to this book of Lori and Chad's background is wild. If you're looking to deep dive in to a true crime story I would suggest this. Obviously a sad ending but it's a layered story that is very interesting

THIS BOOK WAS INSANE!!!!! These are my favorite types of audiobooks, because they feel like a true crime podcast. This was a story that I was not completely familiar with and it was just as disturbing as I thought it would be. If you are not familiar with this story and like to learn about criminal cases, then this is definitely something that you would enjoy. The narrators were really engaging and I flew through this audiobook!

Lori Vallow gave the impression to many she knew of being a devoted mother and wife, as well as a woman with a deep religious faith. When her two children went missing it appeared as though a community that barely knew them cared more about their safety and wearabouts than their mother, who was busy getting married, yet again, in Hawaii. With the world watching, the bodies of JJ and Tylee were found on the property belonging to Lori’s new husband, Chad Daybell, and it was also discovered that these two children were not the only apparent victims of Chad and Lori’s extreme religious beliefs, as they are accused of leaving many more bodies in their wake.

I consider myself to be rather knowledgeable about this case and its series of events, so I really liked that Glatt’s book contained things that I did not know, things both major and minor. I also liked how the novel is set up, focusing on the two major players individually, followed by their coming together and what came of Lori and Chad’s relationship. It is a very thorough, well-researched true crime novel.

I really enjoyed Shaun Grindell’s narration. I don’t often listen to audiobooks–sometimes it seems like a narrator can influence my opinions and feelings about characters and events–but being as this is a true crime novel that influence did not exist. Grindell does a great job bringing the events to life and drawing the reader/listener in. Overall I enjoyed listening to Grindell’s narration. 

I highly recommend The Doomsday Mother: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the End of an American Family to any fan of true crime. Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for gifting me an early recording, given in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.

John Glatt did it again! He writes amazing True Crime books that I just can not put down. I followed this case as it was happening and was excited when I saw that Mr. Glatt had written about it. This book did not disappoint. It was a quick, enjoyable read. This was one of those books that I just had to read "one more page" or you know finish the whole book in one day!

Being transfixed and dumbfounded by the story of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, I knew I had to read this one. I had followed this case fairly closely, but was surprised to find information I didn't know in this book. I was hoping that would be the case and was very pleased. A lot of background information on both Vallow and Daybell was covered in the beginning of the book. It didn't make their actions any more understandable, but I think we are all curious about how someone grows into a person capable of crimes like these. One of the best things about this book was how well it flowed while covering such a complicated case with many players. It was easy to follow and probably the best explanation of the case that I have come across.

The narrator was good, however, I did not loved this book. I have read/listened to many true crime books and this was one that I was desperate to finish, not because of interest but because i just wanted to be done with it. This case is not one of my "favorites," but I did decided to listen to this book just to know more about the case. I would recommend this book to someone that is really interested in this case, and I would definitely not hold my experience with this book against its author (would buy another book from them) or narrator.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (3 Stars)

Audiobook Review

Narration: it was okay. I found it a little hard to focus on some parts with how the narrator talks, I really had to focus so taking 1 star off for that.

This was an okay read! I’m a huge true crime fan. I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts. It’s one of my other hobbies. This is a case I know well from podcasts and YouTube. I followed this case in 2020/2021. It’a a wild and heartbreaking case. Cults, murders and end times.This book was well done in research! It covered a-lot, and I enjoyed learning a few new things of this case. I just wished the audiobook narrator was better and some parts were expanded a bit more on. Overall it was okay! I think some podcasts do a bit better of a job talking about this case.

Thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I didn't love this narrator and due to that I found it hard to follow along with the individuals and situations.

The Doomsday Mother: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the End of an American Family was a good read by John Glatt. This book tells the twisted tale of Lori Vallow, who is accused of having her two children murdered. This was to start a new life with her new husband, doomsday prepped Chad Daybell. Lori and Chad moved to a beach resort in Kauai, and they seemed to fit the image of the ritzy gate community. They fled to Hawaii while they were being investigated for the disappearance of her children back in Idaho. Neither child has been seen alive in five months. She had been devoted to her children and her Mormon faith for many years, until her path crossed with Chad’s. He taught her followers how to prepare for the end of times. During the investigation into the children’s death’s, they uncovered more suspicious deaths surrounding both Lori and Chad. These deaths include the death of Lori’s third and fourth husbands, her brother, and Chad’s wife. In June 2020, JJ and Tylee’s remains where discovered on Chad’s property and the newlywed’s were arrested and charged with murder. During investigations it was discovered that the couples beliefs had them convinced that the kids became zombies. This book was a good read into the true crime story of two doomsday preppers and just how far they would go to prepare.

This is a True Crime book. I found this book to be very interesting, but there was parts that I felt was repetitive. Some how I did not know anything about this case before reading this book. I have a kid that has autism, and It just upset me what happen to the kids in this book including the one that has autism. There was so much craziness going on in this book that I can even wrap my head around how anyone would do this or let this happen. This is just so sad. I did start off by listening to the audiobook from this book, but I did not like the narrator so I could not keep listening to the audiobook. I ended up reading this book on my kindle, and I enjoyed the kindle book of this book. I cannot say the audiobook was good. I was kindly provided an e-copy and e-audiobook of this book by the publisher or author (John Glatt) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Strong Casefile podcast vibes with the audiobook. True Crime fans will love this.
I listened to this as an audiobook (which is how I "read" all my non-fiction) from NetGalley. My first impression was that the narrator had a cadence and style much like the anonymous host of the Casefile podcast (which is also true crime). So it felt like the perfect fit of narrator for me.
I was so shocked that I hadn't heard of this case before. But I'm in Canada and maybe the lead up to the pandemic just overshadowed it? Glatt does a fantastic job of laying out all the players and details of these events in chronological order. The first couple of chapters I sometimes had difficulty keeping track of who everybody was, but
that problem disappeared as I got further into the story. The story/case is laid out clearly. I was so invested in what was going to happen next that I would tell my husband about it as we sat down to meals together. Themes include the Church of Latter Day Saints and Chad Daybell's going rogue (almost cult-like?) and how friends and family members supported (or enabled?) what happened in this case.
If you're at all into true crime you will love this book, even if - like me - you hadn't heard of this case before. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I reserve that for my all-time favourite reads, but this was a really great book!

Reviewing
The Doomsday Mother
By John Glatt

Readers will quickly be drawn into the three ring circuits of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell. With multiple marriages, deep religious roots, cult development, mysterious deaths, life insurance fraud, and ultimately the murder of incident children this horrific true crime novel may push some readers beyond their limits. While backstory is relevant Glatt can be a bit long winded significantly slowing the novel down. To date this case is pending trial, which in my opinion, makes the book feel premature and unfinished.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves true crime investigation but is not overly interested or concerned with court proceedings and final outcomes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Three stars for this horrific true crime novel that went to publication a bit to soon.

I did enjoy this but thought it was too slow paced for my liking. Also I like an ending to be all wrapped up so found this frustrating. Worth a listen though.

I've grown to appreciate the True Crime genre in the past few years - particularly over audio. I have listened to Glatt's work in the past, so I was looking forward to checking out his latest where he focuses on the quite strange and tragic case of Lori Vallow, her family, and Chad Daybell and his family. I do recall the initial story when the two children, Tylee and JJ being missing made national news. This book reveals far more detail and background than were ever included in those initial reports.

Glatt first focuses on Lori - going back to her childhood and recounting all five of her marriages. Not quite as much as detail is provided on Chad Daybell, though his career from gravedigger to apocalyptic author and publisher are recorded here. With large family sizes, Mormon cult-like fringe groups and a higher body count than I expected, this narrative nonfiction begins to take crazier and crazier turns feeling more and more like fiction!

I definitely could not stop listening to this one - in fact, I think I listened to the entire book in virtually one sitting! The British narrator seemed like a somewhat distracting choice, so while this wasn't my favorite performance, it still thoroughly hooked me. With the rest of the trial still upcoming, I was a bit surprised that this is already out. I would have thought that the story would be more complete post-trial... there are a lot of questions left hanging because of this... I hope that more answers are forthcoming and the author is planning on some sort of follow-up!

I read this based on a true story book without any prior knowledge of this case. I must have been living under a rock because this story made many appearances in the national news. The full completion of the cases this book covers are not over. I found the subject matter to be deplorable and very disturbing. This is a case where real life is more horrific than a fiction horror story.

The Doomsday Mother is based on the true story of Lori Vallow. Lori is accused of killing her two children to begin her life with Chad Daybell. Further accusations surround this strange couple-the death of his wife, the death of her brother, and the deaths of two of Lori’s four husbands. The couple raised suspicions when they went away on a vacation to Hawaii after giving strange reports of her missing children’s location. The question was how could a mother go on vacation while her children were missing? The answer is much worse than what was imagined.

I was intrigued by this heartless story as it really is as twisted as they come. I do think too much information was given in a short time and the ending felt rushed to me. I further feel this book could have waited for the final outcomes of the court cases as after hearing the details I hope for fair closures for the victims and their loving families.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in return for a honest review.