A Twisted Faith: A Minister's Obsession and the Murder That Destroyed a Church by Gregg Olsen

Oct 30, 2012 Esteban del Mal rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Those interested in the Coen Brothers, Rasputin, and the Pacific Northwest in the 1990s.

Recommended to Esteban by: I saw the story on the tv

Shelves: up-jumped-the-devil, jesus-take-the-wheel, non-fiction, library-loan

When I was in my early twenties, I dated an attractive young woman who had had a nervous breakdown a few years prior wherein she had pounded on her neighbors' doors in the wee hours of the morning proclaiming herself Satan. I don't know what happened in the intervening years until the point at which I met her, other than she had been ushered away to some facility for a while, but by the time we dated the only remaining trace of her very specific mania was a penchant for wearing black clothing. H...more When I was in my early twenties, I dated an attractive young woman who had had a nervous breakdown a few years prior wherein she had pounded on her neighbors' doors in the wee hours of the morning proclaiming herself Satan. I don't know what happened in the intervening years until the point at which I met her, other than she had been ushered away to some facility for a while, but by the time we dated the only remaining trace of her very specific mania was a penchant for wearing black clothing. However, I held out hope, as young men desperate to get laid do, that her mental state was such that I could bed her with little effort. After all, what's the damaged, frail psyche of a young woman weighed against my preternatural compulsion to ejaculate little Estebans everywhere?

Well, you'll probably be relieved to learn that she was an annoying prude and I never got anywhere. I can't win for losing. If there is a devil, I imagine him being just like that: a luring foil, appealing to the most urgent of one's instincts only to glory in seeing them go unsatisfied, constantly reorienting himself to the disposition at hand. A morphing, nihilistic cipher. Which means the devil has a lot in common with the man at the center of this true crime story, Nick Hachney. A fat, silver tongued, evangelical Christian, he met a young woman while attending some Jesus college, and the two married. He took a job as a youth pastor and marriage counselor, the latter for which he had no qualifications, at a small fundamentalist church where prophecy and demon possession were the norm. Soon thereafter, as he became solely interested in the wives of parishioners, his marriage counseling devolved into one-on-one counseling. He seduced one woman, then, finding his own wife a liability, murdered her on the day after Christmas, the holiest of days to the observant Christian, ostensibly honoring a prophecy shared with him by his mistress who was celebrated as having some sort of hotline to God, but really only because he wanted to be free to seduce another woman, then another (the mother of his dead wife, no less), and then another. Two of these mistresses even became aware of one another.

But God knew about and sanctioned the good times, no worries.

In the meantime, the murder of his wife received only the most cursory of scrutiny from the authorities because he's a pastor and pastors, it is widely believed, don't smother their wives, then burn their corpses in their bedrooms and try to make it look like an accident. I'd say that's a fair assumption if you're Joe Sixpack, but not a very fair assumption if you're a criminal investigator. But what do I, Joe Sixpack, know about anything? I don't even think God makes people speak in tongues (aside: I encourage you to witness this phenomenon firsthand, if you haven't already) or issues instructions for the murder of specific people. But Nick did, maybe even still does, who knows? He's got some time to think about it because his first mistress ratted him out to the cops and now he's in prison for the murder of his wife. Although one of the mistresses saw fit to become his next, and current, wife, murder conviction be damned, because that is, apparently, what God wants.

Fuck dating Satan. If you want to get laid, become a preacher. (less)

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Jan 31, 2010 Robin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: narrative-nonfiction

If you are looking for an Ann Rule read-a-like or book that reads like a suspense novel, then look no further. Gregg Olsen is an underrated author who has written both true-crime (Starvation Heights is also excellent) and suspense/thrillers. This is what I hope is his breakout book because it deserves to be picked up by anyone who likes a fascinating story about faith and love gone wrong.

Nick Hacheney was a charismatic preacher for a small church on Bainbridge Island in Washington who burned do...more

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Jul 23, 2010 Hava rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christianity, depressing-books, nonfiction-books, murderers, psychopaths

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Have you ever watched a 20/20 or Dateline special, where the focus is on a group of victims and who the producers of the show think is the killer? It's a voyeuristic experience, like you're peeking into someone's life and seeing all of their dirty laundry aired.

Well, this is the book form of that same experience. There are three ministers for a Christian church: One who is fairly nice, but has his own problems, and is as naïve as all get out. One who is more of a salesman/businessman than a mini...more Have you ever watched a 20/20 or Dateline special, where the focus is on a group of victims and who the producers of the show think is the killer? It's a voyeuristic experience, like you're peeking into someone's life and seeing all of their dirty laundry aired.

Well, this is the book form of that same experience. There are three ministers for a Christian church: One who is fairly nice, but has his own problems, and is as naïve as all get out. One who is more of a salesman/businessman than a minister, is hard-nosed and difficult to get along with, but not actually a bad guy. Then the last one who is sexual pervert who thinks that the solution to ANY problem is to sleep with the woman who has the problem. Seriously. Can't quit drugs? Sleep with me! Struggling in your marriage with your husband? Sleep with me! Miss your daughter who is dead (because I killed her but you don't know that) - sleep with me! All problems equal one solution - have sex with me!

The naïve minister, when he finally sees the light and realizes that one of his ministers is a sexual predator, sits down with the list of all of the members of his church and calls every female on that list. He simply asks them if they'd ever had an uncomfortable situation with the sexual predator minister - if he had ever made an advance, or hit on them, or whatever. Out of the entire congregation, only one said no, that never happened. Yeah - one. The book doesn't say, but I'm guessing that this female was 92 and in a wheelchair, because if you had two legs, boobs, and were breathing, you were hit on by this guy.

Anyway, the book was hard for me to read for several reasons:

It was depressing because the guy was a slimebag (he had multiple relationships going at all times, and he killed his wife so he could continue this pattern with impunity).

There were a LOT of people in this book who were stupidly naïve ("This guy's wife just died, he should be in mourning but instead he's hitting on me...It must just be the way that he deals with grief." What?!?!)

There were more than a few people who apparently have a direct line to God, and are constantly giving The Word, where they tell everyone else what God wants or is thinking. One of the ladies gave The Word that her husband was going to die in a car crash, and no one seemed bothered by this. She, of course, didn't tell her husband about this revelation, but she told a bunch of other people. She told her children, matter-of-factly, that their father was going to die, so don't get too attached to him.

People, are you listening to this stuff?! How could this possibly be normal? And apparently this God guy is mixed up, because he keeps giving revelations to the sexual predator to have sex with different women and to tell every one of them that God has said that they are The One that God has sent to this minister in order to help him now that he's single. Every one of them are special and chosen to do this. Yikes.

I've read several polygamy books, and in a way, this book reminded me of that. You have a male who is using religion to get sex from a lot of different women. In one of the polygamy books that I read, I remember that the narrator was saying that the men were to receive revelations when they were supposed to take a young girl to be their (13th) wife, and that apparently God kept getting his wires crossed because he would give 15 men a revelation to take the same (cute, young, fun) girl to be their wife, whereas an older, not-so-pretty lady was completely ignored by God. Amazing how that happens.

So in short, if you like 20/20 or Dateline, then this book will up your alley. But for me, it left me with a slimy feeling, and it certainly wasn't helpful for the Christian cause.(less)

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May 15, 2013 Alison Whiteman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It was a hot sweltering week at Christian Youth Fellowship camp just outside Colorado Springs, the now mecca of sprawling evangelical churches to rival that of America's tasteless and tacky strip malls. I managed to narrowly escape the deceitful hands of a camp counselor four years my senior. Actually I didn't escape him entirely because of my numerous unexplained falls. He always appeared out of nowhere to cradle me with his athletic and toned 18-year-old arms. I was a scrawny 14-year-old girl...more It was a hot sweltering week at Christian Youth Fellowship camp just outside Colorado Springs, the now mecca of sprawling evangelical churches to rival that of America's tasteless and tacky strip malls. I managed to narrowly escape the deceitful hands of a camp counselor four years my senior. Actually I didn't escape him entirely because of my numerous unexplained falls. He always appeared out of nowhere to cradle me with his athletic and toned 18-year-old arms. I was a scrawny 14-year-old girl in braces with frizzy hair who was voted "best dressed camper."

After too many falls, a team decided to send me home and advise my parents to have me tested for a brain tumor. I did not have a brain tumor. This was not some Godly based medical intervention under the guise of a probable tumor to save me from this man. No clouds parted, no trumpets sounded and God did not speak to me in my sleep. Thank goodness for a geographical separation.

After years of sending letters back and forth to one another, he finally revealed his true intentions. He sent me a letter in this twisted "I've groomed you for five years" creepy way that read, "now that you are a young woman, I want to deepen the level of our correspondence." There was more dribble about discussing our dreams, goals and his desire to have a family.

I read this while sitting in the hallway of my dormitory at The University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. Thankfully he was in Chicago. Thankfully he decided not to become a minister but worse, he became a professor. Oh what glorious joy he must have with a fresh batch of young vulnerable women arriving each year to stare at him and absorb his love of American literature and his toned arms. Hemingway, the philandering manly man is his favorite author of course.

I called him in the late 1990s much to his surprise. He had to go to a meeting. I am not one to suffer fools so I said, "I bet you have a lot of meetings. I bet meetings are a great excuse to end painful conversations. By the way, I was told you had interest in more than one girl several years younger than you during your volunteer work as a camp counselor."

The clouds parted on this grey Pacific Northwest day when I confronted him. I am lying. Clouds rarely part in this part of the nation. Olsen's book is yet another story of how everything can go wrong when religion and churches meet. People falling to the floor and the release of demons is drama no one truly needs.

The sordid relationships in his novel are not surprising to me, only the murder. Olsen is undoubtedly a talented writer. I don't normally read true crime but I could not stop reading this book. I have had nothing but bad experiences in organized religious settings. I often wonder if churches are built so one can find God after fleeing the building flinging one's arms in blessed relief. (less)

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Jan 28, 2013 Thomas Holbrook rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review of: A Twisted Faith: a Minister’s Obsession and the Murder That Destroyed a Church (1st ed.) by Gregg Olsen, St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. 2010 by Gregg Olsen. 304 pages. [Jan. ‘13]

There is much good about the way the Protestant, Revivalist faith Traditions “do” church. In those traditions, the individual is responsible for his/her relationship to God and for how that relationship is expressed in life. If, however, a person uses the freedom of such a tradition...more Review of: A Twisted Faith: a Minister’s Obsession and the Murder That Destroyed a Church (1st ed.) by Gregg Olsen, St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. 2010 by Gregg Olsen. 304 pages. [Jan. ‘13]

There is much good about the way the Protestant, Revivalist faith Traditions “do” church. In those traditions, the individual is responsible for his/her relationship to God and for how that relationship is expressed in life. If, however, a person uses the freedom of such a tradition to assert that “God has commanded” certain things to happen, it is also the responsibility of those in that tradition to challenge the validity of those commands. If the “prophet” (person claiming her/his words are from God) has a strong personality or speaks long or loud enough (or is sufficiently manipulative) such challenges can be quieted with devastating results. Nick Hacheney possessed such personality traits and the folks of Christ Community Church in Bremerton, Washington, suffered the results. How such devastation occurred is the focus of this frighteningly authentic, often raw, book by an experienced True Crime author.
Nick Hacheney married the beautiful, reserved Dawn Tienhaara shortly after they met while attending Bible College. His enthusiasm and passion soon landed him a position as Youth Pastor of Christ Community. Within a short time of taking that post, he made a deep connection with a “prophetess,” Sandy Glass, in that fellowship. The “prophecies” these two “received” were frequent and vague but were accepted with open hearts by most of the congregants. When Dawn died in a house fire on December 26, 1997, the church rushed to support their Youth Pastor. Within a month of this tragedy, Nick was sexually involved with a married member of that Church. By the end of the year, the number would grow to include 3 others, including Dawn’s Mother. When his behavior was eventually questioned, 2 years later, it was discovered that Pastor Nick had been “inappropriate” (to varying degrees) with every female (except one) in the church he then served. By the time he was convicted of Dawn’s murder, two church fellowships were in ruin as a direct result of his actions.
This book is very well written from the point of view toward exposing the perils of sick religion, unchallenged “pronouncements” in that context and a culture that requires women to unquestioningly be at the service of, and submitted to, the men “in authority over them.” Mr. Olsen also does an excellent job of portraying how declaring that one speaks for God can be powerful weapon in the hands of unscrupulous users (which has ALWAYS been the case). Had any of the women found the power, or had been empowered, to speak their own truth-to-power, much of the destruction they suffered would not have occurred and it is possible the death of Dawn Hacheney would have been averted. It is when they do begin to speak their Truth that the destruction ends.
The story does not glorify a crime or a criminal. The majority of it is focused on the peripheral players who were as victimized almost as much as was Dawn. The language is frequently graphic and the description of the crime scene, including the victim, is detailed.
When any abuse, especially sexual abuse, occurs in any setting, it is tragic. When the abuse occurs within the context of a trusted community (religious group, civic organization, sports teams, etc.) it cause all such groups to be suspect. Hopefully, the more such crimes are exposed, the more power everyone will have to speak up when something seems “not right” rather than remain silent for fear of being wrong. The cost of silence when there is harm being done is paid in human suffering. The cost of questioning suspected abuse and being wrong is an apology. The tally sheet seems to be obvious. (less)

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May 31, 2011 Katherine Coble rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Olsen does a good job of writing respectfully about religious people--a skill often found wanting in modern authorship.

Unfortunately this just isnt that gripping a story. It basically boils down to The Anatomy Of A Church Split With A Murder Thrown In. Aside from the "murder" part, for a 41 year old woman like me who grew up in church and Christian school, the whole church politics/cliques/legalist bullies thing is about as normal and unremarkable as a lightswitch. A sad commentary to be sure, b...more

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Jan 01, 2011 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
For some reason, this particular true story just blindsided me. I simply had a hard time believing that the women used by a narcissistic, sociopathic, probably borderline personality, individual who passed himself off as a man of God, failed to heed any of the many red flags they all saw in their relationships with him. I suppose that the fact that their religious community was rather insulated by location (Bainbridge Island, WA) and not having healthy relationships with many men in their lives...more
For some reason, this particular true story just blindsided me. I simply had a hard time believing that the women used by a narcissistic, sociopathic, probably borderline personality, individual who passed himself off as a man of God, failed to heed any of the many red flags they all saw in their relationships with him. I suppose that the fact that their religious community was rather insulated by location (Bainbridge Island, WA) and not having healthy relationships with many men in their lives contributed to their blindness. These women, and some men, all seemed to lack a purpose in life and were looking for their church to provide it for them. It does not work that way in any religious or spiritual community. This is how people end up drinking cyanide-laced Kool-Aid as in the case of Jim Jones, or refusing to see the evidence of the young man in this story murdering his wife to further his own sexual agenda with many women, including his mother-in-law. All he had to tell them was that God spoke to him; and they fell back with their clothing off. One woman was so caught up in her own delusion, that she claimed the Angel Gabriel was speaking to her, in addition to God, telling her that her husband and the young pastor's wife were both going to die. She even told her small children this.... God? This is pure, unadulterated evil based upon wishful thinking, lost hopes and dreams, perhaps mental illness as to a "higher calling". If that higher calling involves taking the lives of others, or doing emotional harm, it surely isn't a divine voice (God) speaking to a person. People need to be grounded enough to question everything, and to KNOW that if a person or a "voice" is asking one to perform a harmful, cruel, unjust action, then that voice does not belong to anything divine. Some things truly are black or white. I cannot believe how naive these people were. It scares the hell out of me to think that this is no doubt, a story that is repeated daily somewhere around the world.(less)

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Aug 11, 2012 Michelle Robinson rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, mystery-thriller

This book is well written and would be a great read for someone that loves to read true crime, as I once did years ago.

I felt so bad as I read this book. It reminded me of how people will take one person's true faith and twist it into something ugly and despicable. Something to make one feel ashamed, dirty and ugly. I don't think there is anything wrong with faith, by itself, but this book is a testament to what happens to vulnerable people who fall into blindly following other people and not th...more

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Jan 31, 2011 Jill rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography

I like this author, he writes well but his subject in this true crime novel is so maddening that it is hard to give the book any stars in the ratings. I hated the characters........when you hate the characters, it is hard to like the book.
I am not conversant with the religion of fundamental Christians but any church (in this case, more of a cult than a mainstream denomination) that espouses the dogma described in this book cannot be spiritual.........get whatever you want, run up your credit car...more

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May 11, 2013 Alisi rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, enormous-letdown, horribly-ending, meh, nonfiction, true-crime

The writing in this book was more than drab and boring. I wanted more of a, I don't know, true crime novel than a blow-by-blow description of all the women he slept with.

Truly. He spent a tiny bit on the actual murder and everything from then on is about the women he was sleeping with. We didn't any kind of perspective on the murderer other than he was rushed to the hospital as an infant. There's no details on his early life.

It's boring.

What is worse is the fact that the author (as I said) onl...more

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Jul 10, 2010 Wes rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What's truly frightening about this book is how easily this Church leader
dove into a life of spiritual depravity; one of greed, sex, and murder while claiming to be following God and capable of leading a Church.

Perhaps even more frightening is that these people listened to this guy and allowed him to lead them and talk them into joining this pastor's sinful lifestyle. They thought they were following God, when it's obvious that none of them were. Not one of them had the intellect or spirituality...more

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May 08, 2010 frogfairie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a true crime book focused more on the bizarre behaviors of those involved rather than the trial itself. Although I would have liked more information on the trial it was an interesting read. I carried the book with me everywhere until finishing.

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Mar 06, 2013 big hiker 2 rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

1)I am still literally rolling on the floor laughing at people's stupidity. Those women were all f@@@@ idiots, so it's hard to feel sorry for them. OMG when I read how many of them were maxing out their credit cards because God wanted them to be happy I couldn't really believe it. How gullible are people??!!!!

2)The only person I felt for was Dawn, who was such a great wife and deserved somebody to love her back with just as much dedication. Unfortunately, she died without having known the love o...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Erika rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: compulsive-non-fiction, true-crime, religion

Very well written story about a murder that took place in a church congegation. A youth pastor who has multiple affairs with women in the church, kills his wife then covers it up with arson. He nearly got away with it. Olsen does an excellent job of bringing the people alive, I couldn't help but wanting to know more about them. What is perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the story, is how utterly and incredibly duped all those people were. There are times where I stopped reading and shook my...more

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Mar 26, 2011 Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoy Gregg Olsen and his writing style, and although I've gotten out of the true crime genre for the most part, I liked this books. For me, true crime that reads like a novel, with interesting characters, is what brings the awfulness home, and this book does just that. In addition, it is set in the Pacific Northwest, specifically Bremerton and Bainbridge Island, two places I am familiar with. The minister in question does not, from his pictures, look like anyone who could be sexually desirabl...more

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Apr 17, 2010 Marianne Stehr rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am not a reader of true crime, but I am a fan of Gregg Olsen, so I thought I would read this one. I enjoyed the book (if that is the right words for reading a book that captures this youth pastor's disgusting behaviors) but remembered why true crime is not my thing: 1. I don't mind as much when I know the author made up a work of fiction that is disturbing and 2. I am not a fan of foreshadowing, since a true crime book has a definite end that is known to most people before you even pick up the...more

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Jun 12, 2010 Moe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: true-crime

The author did a great job putting this twisted story together. There is so much detail, yet it all flows smoothly through the story. Perfect title - it fit's the story perfectly.

There's a lot of wickedness going on in this church using God's name & twisting the Words of the bible around to justify adultry and murder.

The story begins with power struggles between pastors; pastor Nick twisting God's word & convincing women to have sex with him after the death of his wife. A prophetess pre...more

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Apr 20, 2011 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: true-crime

As usual, the peripheral characters are most compelling in the great majority of true crime accounts. How a pudgy, unattractive young man was able to manipulate so many women (including his mother-in-law) into sleeping with him is baffling, until you realize that they belonged to a church which encouraged members to give credence to certain prophets' wild claims about messages from God. The kicker, of course, is that the book starts out with the death of his young wife. You can fill in the rest....more

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Jun 06, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: true-crime-mystery

First let me begin my review by letting you know that I am not a religious person. Sixteen years of Catholic education has left me a bit jaded, to say the least. Therefore, as I read Gregg Olsen’s latest true crime novel A Twisted Faith I was stunned not only at the depravity of the main character, Nick Hacheney, but also his ability to brainwash and control a plethora of seemingly intelligent individuals. I use the word individuals because I think that Nick’s control was not limited to the wome...more First let me begin my review by letting you know that I am not a religious person. Sixteen years of Catholic education has left me a bit jaded, to say the least. Therefore, as I read Gregg Olsen’s latest true crime novel A Twisted Faith I was stunned not only at the depravity of the main character, Nick Hacheney, but also his ability to brainwash and control a plethora of seemingly intelligent individuals. I use the word individuals because I think that Nick’s control was not limited to the women he victimized. So many people wanted to believe that this man had a direct line to God himself that they all failed to recognize the sociopath and predator that he truly was.
When Nick Hacheney’s beautiful wife Dawn was tragically killed in a fire in the couples home on December 26, 1997 the members of Christ Community Church rallied around their youth pastor in a show of undying support. Although not everyone was a fan of the young pastor they all had to admit that he didn’t deserve the fate that God had just handed him. Reservations about Hacheney and his inappropriate behavior towards some of the female congregants were dismissed. His behavior was viewed as that of a man in severe emotional pain who was in dire need of comfort. Yet the comfort Nick sought was not just emotional, but physical as well. Within a week of his wife’s passing Nick Hacheney had manipulated at least three of the women from Christ Community Church into sexual relationships. Some of these women acted willingly while others felt they had no choice because God had told Nick this was how he would get over the loss of his wife. The women believed they were doing God’s will. It would take years before one woman, nearly destroyed by the betrayal she committed, would move from Nick’s grasp and face the truth of what really happened. Her need to come forward would lead to Nick’s downfall and finally the truth surrounding his wife’s death would be told.
As I read this book I was utterly disgusted. Not at the writing. Gregg Olsen does an excellent job telling this story. He is thorough in his reporting of the facts and it is obvious that he gleaned his information directly from those who lived it. He was even able to interview Nick Hacheney himself for this book. It was Nick Hacheney who disgusted me. First off, this is not a good-looking man. He was overweight and balding, although even in his younger days he was not very appealing. How could this total loser convince so many women to either fall in love with him or sleep with him? The answer is: he brainwashed them. Pure and simple. He preyed upon their faith and belief in God to manipulate them into doing whatever it was that he wanted. I found it impossible to believe that these women were that naive, but it is much easier to judge a situation for what it truly is when looking from the outside in. It probably didn’t help that Christ Community Church was acting more like a cult than a legitimate place of worship. This is due to the fact that it was being run by an egomaniac who actually thought he was an “apostle” of God. In my opinion he was just a con man looking also to prey upon people for power and monetary gain, as opposed to Nick Hacheney who wanted physical dominance over those he controlled. What angered me the most about the book was that everything Hacheney did he blamed on “God’s will.” The man never once has ever taken any responsibility for his actions. Whenever he was caught in a lie or compromising position he claimed that his behavior was dictated directly by God and out of his control. The truly ludicrous part is that everyone around him accepted that answer and allowed him to continue his depraved and immoral life without interruption. Could Dawn Hacheney have been saved? I don’t know, but I do think that it took way too long for the wheels of justice to catch up to her murderer.
One of the reasons I like to read true crime is that I enjoy reading about the pathology of those who will stop at nothing, even murder to get what they want. I enjoy complicated stories full of sordid details about seemingly normal people. A Twisted Faith definitely fits that bill. The details of this story are absolutely mind-boggling and are almost impossible to believe. Yet if you go to Gregg Olsen’s website you can read guest blogs and comments from those who lived this real life drama. Another reason I enjoy true crime is that I love reading about the investigation and trial that finally bring justice to the victims. This is the only area where I am disappointed. Traditionally Gregg Olsen focuses his books on the events and the characters, often stopping his story at the point when the accused is finally apprehended. I would have liked to read more about the second investigation into Dawn Hacheney’s death and the trial that finally put her husband behind bars. I definitely recommend A Twisted Faith to anyone who loves true crime. Gregg Olsen does an excellent job out outline this complicated story for his readers. It is absolutely a book you need to read in order to believe!
(less)

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Dec 30, 2012 Catherine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book takes place on Bainbridge Island and Bremerton and I was surprised to know people and places in it. My husband bought it for me after the story was shown on Dateline. Although fascinating to read about this local story, I thought the writing style was tedious and repetitive and felt lazy, as if the author limited the story to what he knew without doing the research to find a full story.

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Sep 24, 2011 Georgiann Hennelly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A very well written story about a murder that took place in a churchs congregation.A young pastor who has multiple affairs with women in the church, kills his wife than tries to cover it up with a fire. He almost gets away with it. Olsen does a fantastic job of bring his characters to life. What is the fascinating is how duped the people where by the pastor. How anyone could believe that that is what god wanted.

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Nov 09, 2011 Madison rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't normally read a lot of non-fiction but I had to read this one because Gregg is a local author whom I have met and its a local story about a pastor on Bainbridge Island and the untimely/suspicious death of his wife. Honestly, most of this book made me sick to my stomach but in that this is so grossly-fascinating-i-must-keep-reading kind of way.

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Sep 12, 2012 Leanne Music-messer added it · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book. I will admit it makes me sad to know a man can do so much harm in the name of God. How all of those women were so naive to get involved in a sexual relationship with their pastor I'll never understand. He used his position of power to manipulate and abuse members of his congregation. Evil people really do live among us.

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Jul 25, 2011 Guna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, faith

This book is about "a minister;s obsession and the murder that destroyed a church." We need to be less credulous, and be careful that our needs and wants do not lead us into trouble. Even pastors are not exempt from this. This was an absorbing true crime book, giving us various points of view.

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Mar 24, 2013 Sawiggins.wordpress.com rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fascinating story and very well told. Not a deep analysis, but certainly exposes the damage that can be done by clergy without conscience. Read more at: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.

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May 21, 2011 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: one-night-stands, i-bought-this, kindle, true-crime

Confirmation of the fact that religious zealots are nuts. Minister with an angel wife is fucking around with a dozen other religious women and he kills the wife, and it just gets weirder and weirder. Why do I read these? To make myself feel like my background is relatively normal? LOL

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Feb 11, 2013 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It never ceases to amaze me that so many people can be so blinded by a man professing to be of God telling them God wants them to... Fill in the blank: commit that adultery, buy that car, but those jewels. God wants you to have what you want when you want it, right? Unbelievable, and yet it happens over and over again.

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Jul 03, 2011 Tala Clark rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Just finished this book and found it to be an easy read. The subject matter was alittle hard to swallow at times, but that isn't the author's doing. The fact that this is a true story is what made me waver on the rating, but Olsen does a good job retelling it.

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Dec 30, 2010 Burl rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This tragic tale, brilliantly told, is another example of Olsen's literary talent, investigative skills, and heartfelt human empathy. Here is a true crime writer at the top of his form. Excellent in all respects.

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Aug 16, 2012 Doti rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A dear friend used to say, 'there's all the difference in the world between faith and foolishness.' He was right, and this is about foolishness, born of ignorance, blind trust and skewed faith. A sad story, but an interesting one.

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title link	preview: A Twisted Faith: A Minister's Obsession and the Murder That Destroyed a Church
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7942892-a-twisted-faith?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317790237l/7942892.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7942892-a-twisted-faith?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]A Twisted Faith: A Minister's Obsession and the Murder That Destroyed a Church by Gregg Olsen[/url]

A Twisted Faith: A Minister's Obsession and the Murder That Destroyed a Church

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