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When the Moon Turns to Blood: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and a Story of Murder, Wild Faith, and End Times Hardcover – June 21, 2022

by Leah Sottile (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 394 ratings
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WHEN THE MOON TURNS TO BLOOD examines the culture of end times paranoia and a trail of mysterious deaths surrounding former beauty queen Lori Vallow and her husband, grave digger turned doomsday novelist, Chad Daybell.

When police in Rexburg, Idaho perform a wellness check on seven J.J. Vallow and his sister, sixteen-year-old Tylee Ryan, both children are nowhere to be found. Their mother, Lori Vallow, gives a phony explanation, and when officers return the following day with a search warrant, she, too, is gone. As the police begin to close in, a larger web of mystery, murder, fanaticism and deceit begins to unravel.

Vallow’s case is sinuously complex. As investigators prod further, they find the accused Black Widow has an unusual number of bodies piling up around her.
 
WHEN THE MOON TURNS TO BLOOD tells a gripping story of extreme beliefs, snake oil prophets, and explores the question: if it feels like the world is ending, how are people supposed to act?
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  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Twelve
  4. Publication date
    June 21, 2022
  5. Dimensions
    6.4 x 1.4 x 9.3 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    153872135X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1538721353
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“In When the Moon Turns to Blood, [Sottile] uses the expertise she developed on projects such as the podcast Bundyland to turn one of the most sensational stories of the decade into a meditative look at how our surroundings influence us to the core.”

―Vanity Fair

"This book, wide in scope and remarkable for its timeliness, is a riveting account of the entire case (which is currently awaiting trial), including an exquisitely researched history of LDS and its fringe offshoots."―Booklist Starred Review

"WHEN THE MOON TURNS TO BLOOD is a harrowing and fascinating tale of apocalyptic obsession and murder. Leah Sottile leads us down every head-shaking twist and turn of the case, an expert guide to the dark tributaries of religious extremism that run closer to the American mainstream than we’d ever like to believe."―Jess Walter, American author of seven novels, including #1 New York Times bestseller Beautiful Ruins

“Through scrupulous reporting and a powerful narrative, Leah Sottile takes us into a dark world of dysfunctional families, perverted faith, false prophets and true psychopaths to show us that the human mind is the scariest realm of all. An important contribution to the literature of true crime.”―Mark Olshaker, coauthor of Mindhunter, The Killer Across the Table, and When a Killer Calls

“Leah Sottile’s brilliant, unnerving WHEN THE MOON TURNS TO BLOOD weaves the story of one family’s tragedy into an exploration of end-times radicalism that spans generations. It belongs on the short list of essential books about religious extremism and violence in the West.”―Shawn Vestal, Columnist at The Spokesman-Review and author of Godforsaken Idaho

“Leah Sottile makes chilling murders into a gripping cultural study.”

―Spokesman-Review

"Beyond a crime story, Sottile weaves a ripper of tale - chilling, haunting, cautionary too! - that unveils the dangerous desire for acceptance on the fringes, and amid uncertain times. Insanely researched in scope, uniquely intimate in feel, buckle-up for this brave voyage into a tangled storm of ambition, lust and extremism."―Geoff Gray, author of Skyjack

"Leah Sottile is the writer every journalist dreams of being: A crackerjack investigator who has a nose for the telling details everyone else misses, and a gifted writer who can craft a moving literary narrative. Most of all, WHEN THE MOON TURNS TO BLOOD is an important book whose real subject is far more than a simple, horrifying murder case: It is a gut-wrenching fable about our upside-down, gaslit times, and what it tells us about ourselves and our susceptibility to the unreality of authoritarian conspiracism is profoundly disturbing. Everyone should read it."―David Neiwert, journalist and author of Red Pill, Blue Pill and Alt-America

“From one of the finest chroniclers of the U.S. Northwest working today, this book hooked me from the first line. In propulsive prose, Leah Sottile unspools a harrowing story of faith, violence, and fear. WHEN THE MOON TURNS TO BLOOD is a timely and provocative page-turner, as resonant as it is engrossing. In Sottile’s hands, a true crime yarn becomes a lens for examining the most pernicious aspects of far-right extremism in America.”―Seyward Darby, author of Sisters in Hate

“Leah Sottile’s When the Moon Turns to Blood recounts a haunting true crime narrative about apocalyptic ways of thinking and a series of mysterious deaths that connected to them — and led investigators to a series of harrowing discoveries.”

―Inside Hook

“In the story of a former beauty queen and an apocalypse-obsessed fiction writer, their whirlwind romance, and their apparently murderous path, Sottile found a natural source for putting her reporting skills and dedication to tracking life on the West's fringes to the test.”

―Inlander

"I think it’s a critical book for understanding 21st century Mormonism. If there’s a Mormon Studies class held anywhere in the United States or the world, this is one of the books that needs to be added to the reading list. That’s how critical I think this book is."―Dr. John Dehlin, host of The Mormon Stories podcast

About the Author

Leah Sottile’s investigations, longform features, profiles, and essays have been published by the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Atavist, Outside, and the Atlantic, among others. She is host of the podcasts Two Minutes Past Nine, on BBC Radio 4, and Bundyville—which was nominated twice for a National Magazine Award. She lives in Oregon.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Twelve (June 21, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 153872135X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1538721353
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.4 x 9.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 394 ratings

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Leah Sottile

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Leah Sottile’s investigations, longform features, profiles, and essays have been published by the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Atavist, High Country News, Outside, and the Atlantic, among others. She is host of the podcasts Bundyville, Burn Wild and Two Minutes Past Nine. She lives in Oregon.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
394 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. Moreover, they appreciate its exhaustive research, with one customer highlighting its valuable information about indoctrination. Additionally, the narrative style receives positive feedback, with one customer noting how it provides context to the Vallow-Daybell murders, while another describes it as a riveting deep dive into murder.

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9 customers mention "Readability"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable to read, with one customer describing it as eye-opening.

"Enjoyed this book. Good writing syle" Read more

"...I did enjoy reading most of the history, interesting and easy to follow. But…...." Read more

"An Idaho jury wrote a postscript for this terrific and gripping book on May 12, 2023 when it found Lori Vallow guilty of murder. “..." Read more

"...in two sittings and how Sottile crafts the narrative is not only compelling, but lends a lens into the world of religious extremes and that which..." Read more

9 customers mention "Research quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's thorough research, with one customer highlighting its valuable information about indoctrination.

"Excellent background information on how these beliefs develop, similar to Krakauer's The Banner Over Heaven...." Read more

"This is a well written book, and provides a LOT of context about exactly where Lori’s religious beliefs started...." Read more

"...A troubling and important book for our radicalized times" Read more

"An insightful and logical explanation the radical outlier extension of the LDS religion that took advantage of people's ignorance and eagerness..." Read more

8 customers mention "Narrative style"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the narrative style of the book, with one review highlighting how it provides context to the Vallow-Daybell murders, while another describes it as a riveting deep dive into murder.

"...point the finger at Alex, but it provides considerable background information on the Mormon religion that helps give context to the culture that..." Read more

"...crafts the narrative is not only compelling, but lends a lens into the world of religious extremes and that which could lead people to perform..." Read more

"Great context to the Vallow-Daybell murders...." Read more

"I bought this book for a true life crime story and got way far more out of reading this book than I had bargained for regarding background on the..." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing style"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, with one noting its necessary lyricism.

"Enjoyed this book. Good writing syle" Read more

"This is a well written book, and provides a LOT of context about exactly where Lori’s religious beliefs started...." Read more

"...Her writing his punchy and pushes the narrative forward. A fantastic work about a horrific circumstance. A must read." Read more

"...Well written, well researched, just not a true crime book at all, in my view." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • B.R.K.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and well researched
    Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent background information on how these beliefs develop, similar to Krakauer's The Banner Over Heaven. Those promoting a religious agenda may not enjoy the author's exposure of past and present events and doctrines that promote racism, sexism, and extremism in the LDS church, but without this information it is impossible to understand how a previously devoted and faithful mother by all accounts, becomes a sexual infidel who hands over her children to murder in the name of her religious beliefs.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • lplynn
    4.0 out of 5 stars A More Objective Telling Of The Story Than "Doomsday Mother"
    Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Having read the book "Doomsday Mother" (another account of these murders) first, I was drawn to read this book to see if it (like Doomsday) also condemned Alex Cox as the actual murderer of the children. Not only does it not point the finger at Alex, but it provides considerable background information on the Mormon religion that helps give context to the culture that enabled the Daybells to operate as they did. The story does sometimes get a little disjointed, however, as the author seems to assume facts have been presented that have not. (For example, in discussing the daughter's absence, the author fails at first to mention that the alibi for her absence is that she is away at college, having gotten her GED at 16) One thing I particularly liked was the author's observation at the end of the book that ultimately it is peoples' terror (of not knowing) what happens when this life ends that makes them susceptible to "End Time" conspiracies.
    19 people found this helpful
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  • marie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed
    Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyed this book. Good writing syle
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  • MajorBaeb
    3.0 out of 5 stars Great education on LDS, less on Lori Vallow
    Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is a well written book, and provides a LOT of context about exactly where Lori’s religious beliefs started. This was quite the education on the history of the Church of Latter Day Saints, ‘prepping’ mentality, and those who believe the end of times is right around the corner, and is obviously well researched and presented in this book. There was a lot I didn’t know about LDS, and more I didn’t WANT to know about the fringe elements within the religion. I did enjoy reading most of the history, interesting and easy to follow. But….
    I really wanted more on Vallow-Daybell and her conspirator, Chad Daybell. While there were a few nuggets here and there I hadn’t learned before, this book was dominated by the history of the LDS, and that wasn’t what I was really looking for.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Nate Schweber
    4.0 out of 5 stars A troubling and important book
    Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    An Idaho jury wrote a postscript for this terrific and gripping book on May 12, 2023 when it found Lori Vallow guilty of murder. “When the Moon Turns to Blood” by superb journalist Leah Sottile tells far more than just the incredible and gruesome backstory of “Doomsday Mommy” conspiring to murder her two minor children and her fifth-husband’s wife (as well as — allegedly as of this writing — her fourth husband). Sottile gets inside the crisis of extremism tearing at the Western United States’ largest autochthonous religion. Sottile follows Vallow’s fearful immersion into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints-adjacent cult where apocalyptic visions are monetized, messianism is valorized, and the murders of inconvenient “zombies” are justified. A troubling and important book for our radicalized times
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Dan Falkner
    5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting deep dive into murder, cults, and the beliefs that can lead to terrible outcomes.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    If you're a fan of true crime podcasts or just like sitting home on a Friday and watching Dateline, there is no better book right now for you. I read this in two sittings and how Sottile crafts the narrative is not only compelling, but lends a lens into the world of religious extremes and that which could lead people to perform horrific acts. Unlike Dateline or any program that needs to tightly fit into an hour, the depth in research done for this book is clearly exhaustive.

    Sometimes in "true crime" writing, the writing itself can be a letdown. Not in this case. Unlike one of the main subjects of the book, Sottile crafts tight prose with necessary lyricism. Her writing his punchy and pushes the narrative forward.

    A fantastic work about a horrific circumstance. A must read.
    33 people found this helpful
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  • Robb Redman
    5.0 out of 5 stars S
    Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    An insightful and logical explanation the radical outlier extension of the LDS religion that took advantage of people's ignorance and eagerness for MORE information about the Second Coming and those "experts'" like Julie Rowe and Chad Daybell who took advantage of these followers like Melanie Gibb and Lori Vallow
    and resulted in unimaginable violence and senseless death of two children and spouses. A very well researched and resulting explanation of events.
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  • alex torromeo
    1.0 out of 5 stars It is almost 150 pages of filler and poorly written
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    The book is really poorly written. I followed the case as it broke and the trial that followed and this book is just horrible. The author is all over the place with the book and uses a lot of filler that just isn't necessary. If you cut out all of the added stuff that doesn't pertain to the case the book would be MAYBE 120 pages. It feels like the author didn't know how to stretch the book to over 200 pages so she included stuff that no one cares about, like Lori's father's 13 year legal battle with the IRS or the 10 page chapter on the book of Mormon
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Brent
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed learning about LDS
    Reviewed in Canada on July 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    In addition to learning about this case the author goes into detail on the LDS church as well which provides an important context.
    Report
  • Rachel W.
    3.0 out of 5 stars Too long, unnecessary info, needed a better editor
    Reviewed in Canada on April 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    *******SPOILER ALERT************

    I didn't think a book about the horrifying tale of the Vallow-Ryan-Daybell tragedy could be boring, but here we are.

    I'm a fast reader, and it took me a very long time to finish this book because it didn't hold my attention.
    While I appreciate that the author wanted to lay the groundwork for the story by talking about the Mormon church and history, there was way, way too much detail that had nothing to do with the actual Daybell story. I get what she was trying to do, but for a journalist, she was far from succinct.
    The book also suddenly goes on tangents and the plot leaps around. It's hard to follow.
    I've read many true crime books and this one was really off the mark in terms of keeping it fast paced, interesting, and sticking to the storyline.
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