rory's review

I would suggest you read "Prophet of Blood" by Ben Bradley Jr. & co-author. I read this book first and its what got me interested in Irene's bio. I was SHOCKED at how she barely mentioned the fact that she was in a bizarre FLDS cult run by a bunch of brother (3 who were certified lunatics, 2 who believed they were god's voice on earth (in mormon speak "the one mighty and strong") and the remainder who followed their brother's as god's very own prophet) This book will give you the entire surreal and bloody story behind the LeBaron's brother's cults and the over 20 murders Evril LeBaron ordered his followers and wives to carry out - including the murder of his own rival prophet brother Joel (Who Irene followed as a prophet). Irene Spencer's bio was interesting but you only realize how very much she neglected to detail (maybe from embarrassment at following such a bunch of lunatics most of her life??) after reading the story behind the LeBaron Cult. I still can't understand how she managed to underplay this major factor in her book.

She's writing another book to be out next year I think that does go into the murders. I would like to have read a little more about her transition into the rest of the world. That must be such a shock. I did think it was interesting when she explained to her son's school counselor why he wasn't mentally challenged and how he truly had never seen a fire hydrant or Mickey Mouse. As with Escape, I was really wanted to hear about how the children adjusted to school and the outside world. It must be awfully overwhelming.

That's interesting news that she is going to release a book that focuses more on the murders and bizarre religious sect she and her family were involved in. It makes sense too because at the end of this book she actually states that she had written extensively about Ervil (her husband's brother who ran his own sect and ordered the murder of his own brothers, among many others) and the havoc he caused her family, but she realized that Ervil (and his actions) were comprising most of the book. That it was becoming Ervil's story - not hers so "she ripped out all of the pages about Ervil" and began rewriting the book.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Irene probably did write most of the book on her own. Earlier I stated it was hard to believe a woman with her limited education would be able to produce a narrative like this without any further education. But later in life she did go on to take college courses - particularly in creative writing.

I would be even more interested in her next book considering what I've read about the LeBaron brother's cults so far - it will probably be the first and only insider account ever produced about life inside the sect.

You can read more about it here: http://www.irenespencerbooks.c... and even e-mail her. It really would have been too much to get it all in one book. I don't see how she kept her sense of humor, much less her sanity. Have you read "His Favorite Wife"? That's next on my list. It's written by Susan, another of Verlan's wives. It'd be interesting to see it all from her point of view as well.