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Seductive Poison

A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the Peoples Temple

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Seductive Poison

By: Deborah Layton
Narrated by: Kathe Mazur, Deborah Layton
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About this listen

 Told by a former high-level member of the Peoples Temple and Jonestown survivor, Seductive Poison is the "truly unforgettable" (Kirkus Review) story of how one woman was seduced by one of the most notorious cults in recent memory and how she found her way back to sanity.

From Waco to Heaven's Gate, the past decade has seen its share of cult tragedies. But none has been quite so dramatic or compelling as the Jonestown massacre of 1978, in which the Reverend Jim Jones and 913 of his disciples perished. Deborah Layton had been a member of the Peoples Temple for seven years when she departed for Jonestown, Guyana, the promised land nestled deep in the South American jungle. When she arrived, however, Layton saw that something was seriously wrong. Jones constantly spoke of a revolutionary mass suicide, and Layton knew only too well that he had enough control over the minds of the Jonestown residents to carry it out. But her pleas for help--and her sworn affidavit to the U.S. government--fell on skeptical ears. In this very personal account, Layton opens up the shadowy world of cults and shows how anyone can fall under their spell. Seductive Poison is both an unflinching historical document and a riveting story of intrigue, power, and murder.


PRAISE:
"A suspenseful tale of escape that reads like a satisfying thriller, Layton's account is the most important personal testimony to emerge from the Jonestown tragedy." --The Chicago Tribune

"A fascinating account of a debacle that continues to resonate" --Entertainment Weekly

"Layton is scrupulous and honest... A terrific read... a page turner to rival the best spy thriller." --The Evening Standard UK

"Even teens unfamiliar with Jonestown will find this a powerful memoir." --Booklist

"A chilling account... Truly unforgettable" --Kirkus Review (starred review)

“Seductive Poison is an absolutely riveting story, told as memoir but with the pulse-pounding suspense of a murder mystery. I read Layton's account non-stop through the night, unable to let go, struck by the realization that this is not simply an account of a bygone tragedy. It has great relevance to many of the terrible events we see unfolding today, for this is a story about those who seek a better world and are then inextricably caught in a plan to end it. This is a universal tale about ideology gone awry.” --Amy Tan

“Cults are multiplying and growing in this country. Why do apparently normal people surrender in body and soul to a charismatic egomaniac? Deborah Layton knows. This haunting book, written with candor and passion reads like a thriller. I could not put it down.” --Isabel Allende

"Shattering." --The Boston Globe

"Vividly written and powerfully told." --Librarby Journal

"An emotionally articulate and gripping account." --The Nation
 Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Religious Studies

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All stars
Most relevant
Bought on audible. I was transfixed from the get go. A lesson for us all. So sad.

Haunting

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Truly harrowing in places. This account of Layton's experiences left me aghast at how easily we can be mislead and betray our friends and family.

Stunning!

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An incredibly powerful story descriptively told. I was transported into each scene and held my breath feeling the emotions, fear and dread of every word. The description of Deborah’s escape in particular had me on the edge of my seat, my heart was racing.

Powerful

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It's hard to review someone's personal experience. Overall I enjoyed the book as it gave a personal account of what the author experienced when she was a troubled teen, looking for help and was introduced to a church by her brother. I found the narrative slow to start but gripping later. What spoilt it a little for me was the introduction which tells the reader what happens at the end. Although I knew a little of the history this revealed a lot of details I didn't know. I would rather have read the memoir and then have a commentary filling in the details. Also there wasn't any attempt to analyse what happened, it is simply one person telling her story which I think made it more powerful for me.

Honest memoir

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This book is a very insightful and self-critical account of life in a sect. Also, despite its lenght, very involving.

Very insightful

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