When the Moon Turns to Blood
When the Moon Turns to Blood: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and a Story of Murder, Wild Faith, and End Times is a book written by Leah Sottile and published by Twelve Books.
Background[edit]
The title comes from the Book of Revelations during which the moon is prophesied to turn red like blood.[1] The book discusses the killings of Tylee Ryan and J. J. Vallow.[2] Sottile focuses on the extremist Mormon beliefs of the children's mother Lori Vallow and her lover Chad Daybell.[3] They were particularly fond of apocalyptic literature.[4] Vallow and Daybell were arrested in Hawaii after the children were found dead in Daybell's backyard in Idaho.[5]
Reception[edit]
The book was a 2023 Oregon Book Awards Finalist for the Frances Fuller Victor Award for General Nonfiction. John Dehlin, of the Mormon Stories Podcast, called it "a critical book for understanding 21st century Mormonism," and Courtney Eathorne wrote in Booklist that the book is an "exquisitely researched history of LDS and its fringe offshoots."[6] Ron Sylvester wrote in the Spokesman-Review that “Sottile uses the story, unthinkable to most parents, that a mom would participate in the killing of her own children, to weave together an unhealthy obsession, shared by a large swath of Americans that poisons both Christianity and conservative politics.”[1] The Publishers Weekly review says that Sottile's "attempts to impose broader significance will fall flat for many”.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Sylvester, Ron (July 3, 2022). "Northwest Passages Book Review: "When the Moon Turns to Blood: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and a Story of Murder, Wild Faith, and End Times" – Leah Sottile (Twelve)". The Spokesman-Review. Cowles Company. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Rich (August 2, 2022). "Killer Prophets? Leah Sottile's When the Moon Turns to Blood Examines Mormon Extremism at the Roots of Alleged Murders". Portland Mercury. Index Publishing. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
- ^ Mohr, Kylie (June 21, 2022). "When Extremism Hides in Plain Sight: Leah Sottile Investigates How an Idaho Couple's Embrace of Fringe Mormon Beliefs Led to Multiple Murder Charges in Her Debut Book, 'When the Moon Turns to blood.'". High Country News. ISSN 0191-5657. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ White, Rebecca (June 16, 2022). "In New Book Journalist Leah Sottile Explores Religious Extremism Behind Idaho Murders". Spokane Public Radio. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ Epperly, Emma; Luebbers, Julien A. (July 8, 2022). "Author of book on Daybell and Vallow: 'extremism could be sitting next to you'". Post Register. Adams Publishing Group. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ Eathorne, Courtney. "When the Moon Turns to Blood: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and a Story of Murder, Wild Faith, and End Times by Leah Sottile". Booklist. American Library Association. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
- ^ "When the Moon Turns to Blood: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and a Story of Murder, Wild Faith, and End Times by Leah Sottile". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz, LLC. May 31, 2022. ISSN 0000-0019. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.