He got them when they were most vulnerable, when they were down and out, poor and alone and in trouble. He was kind to them when they needed kindness. He took their trust, and then robbed them of everything else. They don’t dare betray that trust.
The Girl from Jonestown is one gripping and heartbreaking read, based on the true story of the Jonestown cult, one of the darkest chapters in American history
I love reading books based on true stories and this one was absolutely fascinating. I was not very familiar with all the details regarding The Peoples Temple Agricultural Project in Guyana run by Jim Jones. Followers drank the laced KOOL aid and over 900 people died
Zoe is a journalist who lost her husband and child and she is back to Guyana. She can't help but hear the cries at night and when she meets Lucy, one of the followers and she sees the terror in her eyes, Zoe is determined to infiltrate in the cult and help everyone
This is one powerful and unputdownable novel about a woman's brave attempt to save people who were promised paradise and found only lies
I don't want to reveal much in case you haven't read the book or aren't familiar with the events that happened in 1978 in Guyana. I can only say READ IT. The author did an incredible job researching and portraying the terrible events with such grace and compassion
Definitely one book I recommend with all my heart
.

When it comes to books based on religious groups or cults I’m all in. This one is inspired by real life events - Jonestown The Peoples Temple Agricultural Project was a cult run by Jim Jones. The author really dealt with the topic superbly. Her level of research really showed and she dealt with the atrocities that took place there in the delicate way that was needed. It was a slow burn to begin with but I think that was the point to really hit it home to you from the first word. Really well written to the point I was watching it unfold in my head when it came to describing the jungle, the animals, the people and the scene back then. I loved Zoe as a character. If she believes in something she goes after it. It’s a thought provoking read that really makes you think how many of us turn a blind eye to things that we shouldn’t while others go above and beyond. If religious groups are something you are interested in this one is a great read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to listen to #TheGirlFromJonestown

DNF @30%

Can we say over-dramatic much?
I requested this because I loved her memoir so much and thought I would enjoy her fiction writing as well. I also figured that since she grew up in Guyana, that her writing about Jonestown would be stellar. I was wrong.
I didn't care about the characters [especially the MC, who I found to be whiny and obnoxious and determined to be a "savior" for those she deemed beneath her], the story was so over-dramatic that it is a wonder I didn't sprain my eyes from rolling them so hard and I kept finding reasons to NOT read this. That was the final straw. I am done. What a ginormous disappointment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Chilling. Captivating. Based on a true story.
It is the 1970's - the aftermath of the 1960's civil rights movement, antiwar protests. Many Americans felt disillusioned - especially the black community. Jim Jones, self proclaimed reverend, founded the community of Jonestown in Guyana.
A freelance journalist, Zoe, is approached by a member of Jonestown - desperate to get a message to her mother in America. Begging for help. Intrigued, Zoe isn't sure she can just walk away.
The more she learns, the more Zoe feels the draw to save this woman, the other women but certainly the children. How far will she go? Will she become a member of the community?

I really enjoyed this book and found it an informative read. I recall that I once worked with a woman from Guyana and had never bothered to look the country up on the map, but now I discovered that it is on the Caribbean shore of South America. The descriptions of the location are colourful and evocative so that reading conveyed a strong and vivid sense of place.
The main character, Zoe Quint, has returned home after a period of world travel to escape a personal tragedy, so she sees her homeland with fresh eyes. The secretive new settlement of Jonestown, deep in the jungle, is the subject of local conjecture and fascination. When Zoe meets one of its members while shopping in town, her interest is piqued, especially as the woman attempts to communicate with her and it appears that she is not a willing participant. This woman clearly feels that not all in the community can be trusted, and Zoe has to discover who she can trust, as well as how she can help.
The Jamestown Massacre is well documented, and this is a fascinating fictionalised story based on what happened there. It is historic, but also a thriller, and a very human tale. Zoe puts herself in danger when she uses her status as a renowned freelance journalist to gain access to this community. There's suspense aplenty and the pace is well maintained. The Girl from Jonestown is an interesting and exciting story which I very much enjoyed.

The Girl from Jonestown by Sharon Maas is a historical fiction thriller. It is based on true events of the Jonestown Cult of the 1970’s. Now I had never heard of this but when I read the book blurb I was very interested in finding out more. Well what can I say about this book that will actually do it justice. From the start this book just hooked me right in. For the first few chapters the pace was quite slow but it actually suited the story and the more I read the more I was loving this book. We are told most of the story through the eyes of Zoe a journalist and Lucy who is a member of the cult. I loved both of these characters and the way they came across in the book. This is a difficult read at times but one which I found hard to put down. I highly recommend this book .5 ⭐️

As soon as I read the title of this novel, I knew I needed to read this. I’m a big true crime consumer and I have read a lot about the tragedy of Jonestown. The Girl From Jonestown by Sharon Maas is based on the true events of Jonestown. Jim Jones was the leader of the cult who convinced 900+ followers to drink laced cool aid.

This is a poignant story that was difficult to put down. It is very well written and clearly researched. I love the author took the time to share this tragedy with grace and didn’t make light of it.

This is a story of courage. It had me thinking long after I’d finished reading. I enjoyed this quite a bit. The writing is captivating and Sharon Maas is a talented author. If you enjoy historical fiction this

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the review copy and the spot on the tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, when Sharon Maas is writing about her home country of Guyana her writing really comes alive. Several of her latest books have been set in Europe during World War Two and although they were good stories, at times I felt there was a little disconnect between the author and the subject matter but The Girl from Jonestown returns to a familiar setting for the author and you can tell how much despite the horrors of the subject matter that she did enjoy writing this story and that she was on familiar territory and was confident with her subject matter and knew she could so the story justice

Guyana is a South American country that I had known virtually nothing about until I started reading books by this talented author. But you instantly feel at home in this tropical setting thanks to the vivid descriptions and brilliant use of imagery that help both the setting and the plot jump off the pages. The heat, the jungle, the primitive conditions, the unusual animals and the strange goings on all combine alongside the main thread of the plot to make for a very heightened, tense read that at times is very dark given the subject matter but it’s one that sucks you in little by little.

The book is based on a true story but of course the author has created her own characters and used some liberties in her retelling of the events that led to a mass suicide of over 900 people at the Jonestown compound deep in the Guyanan jungle. I didn’t know anything about this prior to starting this book. Before I delved too deep into the story I did some googling just to get some background information on what actually happened and why and it helped me with regard how to Sharon Maas wrote the story.

It’s September 1978 and Lucy Sparks is secretly writing an account of her time at Jonestown which is led by Jim Jones. To outsiders it’s a paradise providing shelter from the ravages of the world but dig a little deeper and all is not as it seems and the residents who are more like inmates are certainly not happy. Yet they can’t express this because the repercussions don’t bare thinking about. They were promised a paradise but instead they found themselves trapped in a world of rules and regulations and brainwashing. But Lucy can see through everyone especially Jim and his second in command Moira and she knows that the White Night is coming and what will occur on this night will be horrific and life changing. Lucy needs help to escape but who will believe her? Will she be reunited with her family?

There are chapters from Lucy’s point of view which recount her time in the camp and detail the point she is at now and these are informative and do push the story forward but to be honest despite Lucy’s situation as a character she didn’t capture my attention fully. Yes, what she was experiencing was awful and Jim Jones had a persona of someone doing good for the world and saving the ostracised in society from the evils they were enduring but really he was a cult leader who controlled, possessed and dominated people for his own power and pleasure. But it’s the other main female character Zoe Quint who I was fully engrossed in from the first moment we encounter her. I presume she is some relative to the Quint family that have featured in the author’s previous books but I’d have to go back and do a little digging to find out as specifics allude me at this time. But I thought Zoe was a fantastically written character from beginning to end and I couldn’t get enough of the chapters where she featured and her role become more dominant the further the story progressed.

Zoe returns to Guyana after having spent several years travelling the world following a great tragedy in her life which is slowly revealed to the reader. She wants to go back to nature, to peace and quiet and to wholesome things and hopefully get back to writing properly and publish a book about her travels. She had been a journalist for a national newspaper so she is always on the lookout for a story. She is inquisitive and like a dog with a bone when she gets her teeth into something. Once she gets a sniff of something untoward she is on the case and never rests on her laurels until she gets to the bottom of things. She needs to wash away the sorrow and soothe the wounds that refuse to heal and by travelling deep into the jungle where her Aunt and Uncle live she feels she will be away from all distractions and the hole that is deep in her heart may start to close. But as she lies in the hut in the farm grounds, each night she hears strange noises carried on the wind from upriver. She soon learns it’s an American settlement and the people in Jonestown are supposedly there because they want to be. When by pure chance she meets Lucy for a brief moment in the local shop, Lucy expresses her feelings in a rushed manner but Zoe certainly gets the message and she is determined to find out more about what goes behind the high fences that surround the settlement. Lucy wants out but can Zoe help her?

The settlement is a dark force that has coercion and manipulation at its centre and the evil is quickly gathering and intensifying and Lucy is determined to write an expose. The doors are shut in her face when she approaches the settlement but Zoe is strong and determined and she will fight for those downtrodden and oppressed. She asks the tough questions and tries to right so many wrongs but will it prove too much? Zoe and the reader are taken on a dark and dangerous yet exhilarating path and despite getting closer to Rex Bennett at the American embassy it’s like she is on a solo mission that by only completing herself will victory win out. Zoe knows in order to get to the heart of the story and to try and help Lucy and so many others, she needs to get to the centre of Jonestown and that is Jim Jones himself. She literally enters the lion’s den but in doing so is she just putting her own life in peril? Maybe there is no way to stop the forces at work which are gathering momentum the more paranoia regarding governments and the outside world that sets in.

The last quarter or so of the book moved along at a cracking pace. It was really edge of your seat stuff with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing right until the very last minute. The themes are murky and sombre with murder, massacre and mental manipulation at their core but at the same time there are elements of hope that shine through also. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed The Girl from Jonestown. To be honest I thought it was going to be really really heavy going and that it would plod along. Instead it was the opposite. Whilst reading this the book underwent a title change and the new title is definitely more apt. Sharon Maas has written an eye opening, shocking and gripping read that becomes very hard to put down.

I was sucked in by Jim Jones and Jonestown. Stories like this always bring mixed feelings of anger, frustration, disbelief, and sadness. Also, while I understand that this book is just inspired by and not an entire account of what happened, it was a good way to learn more about a topic I had vague knowledge of. Just be warned, the story is chilling and does have some triggers around death and pregnancy loss.

I liked Zoe Quint as a character, but I wasn’t convinced by her story. It may be biased by the fact that I didn’t find her as interesting as the main Jonestown story. However, while I felt like she was full of heart and I did have empathy toward her situation, some of the things she did just didn’t fit. Still, the plot line that follows Zoe did mean that The Girl From Jonestown was a more unique story than if it just rehashed the Jonestown massacre.that this book is just inspired by and not an entire account of what happened, it was a good way to learn more about a topic I had vague knowledge of. Just be warned, the story is chilling and does have some triggers around death and pregnancy loss.

I liked Zoe Quint as a character, but I wasn’t convinced by her story. It may be biased by the fact that I didn’t find her as interesting as the main Jonestown story. However, while I felt like she was full of heart and I did have empathy toward her situation, some of the things she did just didn’t fit. Still, the plot line that follows Zoe did mean that The Girl From Jonestown was a more unique story than if it just rehashed the Jonestown massacre.

Zoe is a journalist who has returned to Guyana after traveling the globe trying to escape a tragedy from her past. As she is staying with her aunt and uncle, there are weird noises at night and she comes to find out that the group called Jonestown is next door and many people are wondering what is going on, but don't want to intrude as this is a live and let live situation.

What I wanted more in this book was more moments from Lucy's point of view from within Jonestown. Without spoiling, there were definitely a lot of moments in the back quarter of the book that took place within Jonestown, but I would have loved more in the build up before Zoe arrives on property. This was my only criticism of the book - I wanted more!

I loved that while reading this book, I kept wondering where fact and fiction where and what was historical truth. This book also made me want to read more, whether it be fiction or non fiction around Jonestown and that is always a positive feeling when I finish a historical fiction book.

Brilliant, page-turner set against the terrible events of Jonestown, Guyana. Sharon Maas's writing has an excellent sense of place, excellent characterisations; and this book is well worth reading, even if you don't know about Jim Jones and his cult.

Would highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC

I have always been intrigued by the things that happened at Jonestown but, never read anything (non fiction or fiction) on it. Thank you to Bookouture and Sharon for the review copy!

We’ve all heard the stories, Jim Jones, Kool Aid laced with poison, a cult but, I’ve never heard the tales of people being held hostage. And even though this book was fiction, it was based on truth. This story felt real, it felt raw and it felt true.

It was an easy read, it kept me on the edge-eagerly pressing the button on my kindle to flip the page. You could truly feel the emotions of the story, the anticipation and the sadness, the cruelty. It was such a gut wrenching tragedy that didn’t have to happen. Yet, it did. So many things in this world happen and we ask afterwards, “Why?”

I enjoyed this read and I think if you enjoy historical fiction or even suspense, you’ll enjoy this as well. I’m giving it four stars! Really wonderful writing!

Sometimes you hear some news on TV and not always pay too much attention, other times it seems that we concentrate on more frivolous stuff. And I feel like I’ve been missing so much for not paying attention to the real stories that needed more awareness like the cult that happened in Jonestown.
For decades we heard stories of these horrible cults and became it all happened behind closed doors, nobody knew what actually happened there , some even put it under the stigma of dramatic or pure imagination, which was proved later how wrong that was.
True crime documentaries are being made for a reason if you are willing to watch and understand in my opinion.
This is definitely not an easy story to read. It’s a mix of historical fiction with lots of real events moments and downright horror type of twists.
Yes, it’s predictable, but to get to that last chapter it takes a lot of on and off reading because for as wonderfully written as it is, so are the edges of that twisting knife when you think of all of those people that had to live those moments in their lives.

#netgalley #thegirlfromjonestown It took me a couple of chapters before I could get into this book but boy I am I glad I persisted. Once I got into it the pages turned themselves, I think the story is a little dark but that is what makes it brilliant. And I didn't realise until I finished it that it is based on a true story. A fantastic historical fiction book. 5/5 stars

I loved this book. I've never read such masterly crafted historical fiction. I know the story of Jim Jones and Jonestown and have watched a documentary of it, which was extremely beneficial (but not necessarily a prerequisite) to reading this novel. The author takes so many true facts and intertwines them seamlessly into Zoe's story. Not too often does a fictional book affect my heart and mind like this one did!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

I just reviewed the girl from Jonestown (formally a home for the lost) by Sharon Maas and here is my review.

Zoe had enough of the roaming and decided for some peace and quiet at the home of her aunt and uncle. That peace was to be short-lived when a petrified woman leaves her a note saying… HELP!!! Then: Mom. Followed by a number.

After the loss of her husband and their unborn child, Zoe traveled around writing her stories as a freelance journalist. Once she arrives at her aunt and uncle's house, she is confronted by the realities of a commune so barbaric she can’t ignore what is happening there.
Jim Jones has his followers quaking in their boots and a very real threat looming over them all.
After trying to get help from the government makes things worse for the girl who handed her the note, Zoe will stop at nothing to free the people trapped there before it's too late but in her quest to right the wrongs she may just put her faith in the wrong person and that may be the last thing she ever does.
I had no idea this was based on true events until after I was done reading it and now I want to know everything about Jim Jones. This book was very well researched and the story told by the author is one I will never forget.
Zoe was totally relatable and I loved her instantly. So smart and determined even after such loss. I loved watching her unfold the truth and heal herself in the process. Do not even get me started on Lucy. She is a firecracker and a half and i think even if Zoe hadn’t come to help she still would have found her way out. I loved the settings for the book, especially the parts in the jungle. I didn’t think I was going to enjoy this book half as much as I did. Once I was about 4 chapters in I couldn’t put it down.
The pace was fantastic and the writing was so superb I literally could feel the bats flapping at my feet.
Best historical fiction I have read in a long time. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fiction based on true events and is a fan of historical fiction in general. You will not be sorry.
5 stars!! Thank you netgalley and bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm not sure how much is known here in the Netherlands about the Jonestown massacre of 1978. I learned of it during a course at university about modern religious movements. I was studying Religious Studies at the time and have always been interested in modern adaptations of existing religions. So when publisher Bookouture approached me to read and review The Girl From Jonestown, all I could do was say yes!

So what is the book about?

First, let me make clear that The Girl From Jonestown is a work of fiction. Yes, it is based upon a true story, but most of its characters are fictional. Zoe Quint is the main character, the heroine. She is a Guyanese journalist, who is staying with her aunt and uncle at a farm close to the Jonestown site.
After hearing stories about the people of Jonestown, the religious group The People's Temple, and after running into two of them in the local store, Zoe is intrigued, obsessed even. It's not only for a scoop, but also because one of the people she meets in the store makes known that she is in danger, that she needs help, that her name is Lucy and that someone should tell her mother. But not the American Embassy, because there are spies everywhere!
Zoe is torn between doing the right thing and trying to keep herself from becoming paranoid. She believes she needs the help of American officials, because what can she do all by herself? But Zoe is stronger than she thinks she is!

I really have to stop here, or I'd give away way too much of this thrilling story. Everyone who knows about Jonestown knows how that story ends: in mass suicide. But what about Zoe? Will she be able to help Lucy? You better read this book yourself to find out! It is written in a very readable style, turning it into a real page turner towards the end.

I do tend to get a bit nervous around historical fiction with a true story at its heart. Especially a relatively recent one like Jonestown, even though it's more than 40 years ago already! I must admit I have never read anything by Sharon Maas before, but upon reading she is Guyanese herself, a sense of calm came over me. Who is better equiped to tell this story than someone who was actually in the country during the real events! And I have to say, Maas certainly did not let me down.

Of course she had to add some components to the story that weren't part of the real Jonestown massacre. A book needs love, drama and yes, grief. Why? To make sure the reader can relate to the characters, but also to turn it from a history book into a novel. I don't know enough about the real events to say what exactly is and isn't based on the true story. For instance, in The Girl From Jonestown the true villain is Moira, but I can't seem to locate her in history. Is this part of the story made up? And if so, what was Maas' reasons for adding another villain next to the clearly unstable Reverend Jim Jones, after whom Jonestown was named? So Maas, when you read this, please let us know!

All in all, I really liked this book. I devoured it and it still has me thinking about it. Thinking about how easily influenced people are and how big the reach of someone like Jim Jones could be today using social media. Let's hope something like the Jonestown massacre will never happen again!

I’m not sure whether I’ve been living under a rock for the last forty-odd years but I knew nothing about the Jonestown cult and the horrific things that went on there so when I read the synopsis for The Girl From Jonestown by Sharon Maas, I knew I needed to find out what had happened.

Inspired by actual events, Sharon Maas sympathetically retells the story of how the cult came about and what happened in the following few years. To say I was shocked to the core was an understatement. Few things shock me these days, but The Girl From Jonestown made me shudder and recoil and really just wonder how and why!

Our protagonist, Zoe, was determined to find out all about the noises she hears in the night. Other people just wanted to brush everything under the carpet and let people get on with their lives, regardless of right and wrong. I know this is true of people and places everywhere in the world, but looking the other way doesn’t always mean it’s the right thing to do.

Sharon Maas captures the entire story and tragic events brilliantly and with compassion. I was compelled to read as fast as my daily life would allow to discover an ending I sort of realised was going to happen, but not what happened to every character.

If you’ve got a strong stomach and you enjoy historical fiction based on facts, then I urge you to read The Girl From Jonestown. It’s a story that everyone should be aware of.

I am lucky enough to be a part of Books on Tour for this book, so thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Girl From Jonestown by Sharon Maas.

A story based on something that happened years gone by
But shouldn't be forgotten, though it can make you cry.
A dramatic and heartbreaking read that takes you there
And puts you in the drama, ensuring you share.

A tragedy takes Zoe Quint back home
After years away during which she'd chance to roam.
She never anticipated what her return would reveal
As a lying cult leader has secrets he's trying to conceal.

Told through events and a journal from the past
This is a story that in your memory will last.
It is full of twists and turns as more is discovered
But can the folks there be saved and recovered?

With manipulation, danger and suspense
This is a story that is always tense.
So sad to realise so many events revealed are true
A moving story, though full of possible triggers, too.

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review

The Girl From Jonestown was one of those books I went into not knowing much about, but ended up being blown away by. Wow. I was hooked in quickly and finished in one day. The last few chapters had me all stressed out trying to read faster to find out what happens! Author Sharon Maas has beautiful descriptive writing that draws the reader in with all her details. You can vividly imagine the story, even the bugs and bats unfortunately! I really enjoyed this book and so happy is exceeded my initially expectations. Now I want to read more about the true events at Jonestown.

Zoe arrives At Parrot Creek Farm for a short stay with her Aunt Ada. Staying in the jungle with all the creatures feels normal to Zoe after all her travels abroad. All she wants is a little time to work on her book, heal from her heartbreak, and decide her future. The first night Zoe is woken by bats trying to get into the netting surrounding her cot, but then hears a loud speaker with a mans voice. She can’t quit make out all the words he’s saying but it sounds like he’s preaching. In the morning she asks Aunt Ada and learns that just beyond the marsh is Jonestown, a whole community of people. In town Zoe runs into a young girl who looks frightened and begs Zoe to help her. She passes her a note and asks her not to call the authorities but to call her mother. Zoe learns the group came to Guyana to live free from the government but word is that the people are trapped, held hostage, and resembles a cult more then a loving community. Zoe becomes obsessed with “Peoples Temple” and will stop at nothing to find out more information for an article she’d like to write. She can’t stop picturing the terror in Lucy’s eyes and wants to help however she can however her aunt and uncle have asked her to mind her own business. This is not her battle to fight and soon the governor will go to Jonestown to see for himself.
Unfortunately Zoe can’t leave well alone and starts using her contacts from the newspaper she works for to investigate the Peoples Temple leader Jim Jones. Some articles speak of “communal living” while others talk about White Night. Jones is like a God to these people and they have everything planned for a mass suicide if the government decides to come invade their community. They would rather die then conform. The question Zoe has is Lucy right and these people being kept against their will, or is this really a self-reliant community of like minded people? Against everyone’s advice Zoe accepts an invitation to spend the day in Jonestown and she’s hoping to find out the truth, but also to find Lucy and help her escape.
When Zoe steps through the locked gates and hears them close behind her she feels fear and excitement, these feelings will quickly change to pure terror……