The author spent a lot of time on this case and did loads of research, which is appreciated, whether warranted or not. However, it was a slow-moving, somewhat repetitive story that read like an attorney instead of an author told it, and a few times I wanted to say, "I object!" It didn't have the flow of a lot of other true crime. Forgivable, for sure, if it had moved along better. The author is scathing in her telling, and it feels more like an essay or a long closing argument than a chronology of the events. She's very hard on the Mormon faith, which we know has a sordid history and fringe elements, like most other religions on Earth. She described the perpetrators as practicing a "cult". The author spends quite a bit of effort pointing out Mormon law and history as having led the Daybells to their killing spree. These three people, Lori, Chad, and Alex, all had severe personality disorders. Suppose they had been born in another area, or to another religion. In that case, we'd blame something else for their actions, whether it's a different religious fringe, a non-Mormon cult, videogame players, heavy metal listeners, or knitters. They were sociopaths. They were always going to manipulate people, likely to a similar end. Lori and Chad are family annihilators -- bottom line. The history of Mormonism was irrelevant to me and a lot of the judgment by the author felt biased and skewed. I'd have appreciated a more objective telling of the events and less history of religion.

✨Audiobook Review✨

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Speed: 2.0x

I’m speechless and absolutely heartbroken.

This audiobook tells the devastating story of the loss of Charles Vallow, Tammy Daybell, Tylee Vallow, and J.J. Vallow, along with the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux, all at the hands of Lori Vallow, Alex Cox, and Chad Daybell. Vallow, Cox, and Daybell were LDS doomsday preppers, convinced it was their duty from God to usher in the new millennium. Vallow and Daybell denied family members information regarding Tylee and J.J.’s disappearance for months until police were able to locate both children’s remains on the Daybell estate. Readers are taken on a bizarre and twisted narrative of Vallow and Daybell’s religious views, the police investigation, and their court trial.

Highlights:
⭐️ Background content. Hellis provided a well-thought-out and detailed background on Mormonism and the LDS religion. I personally appreciated this because I have no knowledge of this religion, and it helped me understand where Vallow and Daybell’s delusions stemmed from.
⭐️ Writing flow. Everything flowed nicely, and it was easy to follow along. In some true crime cases, all the details can get convoluted, and the reader/listener can get lost, but that wasn’t the case here.
⭐️ Neutrality. Hellis was neutral in her writing, as was Reid in her narration. Neither the writer nor the narrator influenced the retelling of the events leading up to the crime or the trial afterward; the facts speak for themselves.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

💗 My thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to the victims, their families, and friends. There is no sentence severe enough for what has been lost

True crime, with a major focus on the LDS church.

If you’re familiar with this case then you know it does follow Mormonism and it is insightful but it got to be just too much. I didn’t need the entire history lesson so I didn’t follow along as much during that part. I wanted more about Chad and Lori, it seemed like they only took up about 30% of the book the rest being about LDS.

Title: Children of Darkness and Light” Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell
and the Story of a Murderous faith
Author: Lori Hellis
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Aimee Reid
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: non-Fiction, True Crime
Pub Date: September 24, 2024
My Rating: 3.3 Stars
Pages: 320

As a non-Mormon, I have always been fascinated with the LDS Church – in fact, faith and religion of friends and neighbors has always interested me.
We lived in Illinois when my daughters were young and our next door neighbors were Mormon. My six-year old was best friends with their little girl. Christy. Since my daughter attending church and Sunday school classes she too was curious and would come home from playing with Christy and have questions was customs and I wasn’t always able to answer - this creating my curiosity.

I read [book: Educated] which is a memoir by author Tara Westover published in 2018. Ms. Westover tells of her struggles growing up a female raised in a survivalist Mormon family. Story is entitled “Educated” as she had such a desire of being educated and being able to attend college.
Not sure how much that has to do with this story only I satisfy my curiosity by reading.

This story starts with back ground information of how the Mormon Church originated.
Author Lori Hellis, is a retired criminal lawyer, she began to follow the case of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell and their religion beliefs. As her research continued it gave her a better understand the circumstances that resulted in the deaths of the children. .
I am a big thriller fan used to twists and turns. Although the first part of this story was necessary in setting up the story it did drag a bit for me.
The story is truly sad.
I know the LDS church does not want to be associated with any cults but there are some things that have me worried..
Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for granting me this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 24, 2024.