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Massacre at Waco, Texas: The Shocking True Story of Cult Leader David Koresh and the Branch Davidians
He loved God. He loved guns. He was the Evil Messiah. "I am Christ," said self-proclaimed Messiah David Koresh, to his followers. He promised them Heaven...instead, he took them to Hell....
254 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Clifford L. Linedecker
55 books29 followersClifford L. Linedecker is a former daily newspaper journalist with eighteen years experience on the Philadelphia Inquirer, Rochester (N.Y.) Times-Union, Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, and several other Indiana newspapers. He is an experienced investigative reporter who has covered police and the courts on each of the papers where he was employed. He is a former articles editor for National Features Syndicate in Chicago, and for "County Rambler" magazine. He is the author of numerous true crime titles, including The Man Who Killed Boys, Night Stalker, Killer Kids, Blood in the Sand, and Deadly White Female.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 19, 2018
Waco is a small city I visited once so far. Midpoint between Austin and Dallas, the city has some wonderful museums, such as the Dr. Pepper Museum and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. However, on February 28, 1993, there was a siege between the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Branch Davidian ranch at Mount Carmel, which was located nine miles outside of Waco, Texas. Initially there was a gun battle between ATF and Branch Davidian, wherein four agents and six followers of the Branch Davidian cult were killed. Fifty days later the AFT engaged a second attack and a fire destroyed the center and many, including women and children, were killed including David Koresh, who was the leader of the cult.
The AFT had initiated the siege because of allegations of sexual abuse to women and children. Koresh and his followers were also accused of stashing weapons. The AFT obtained a warrant to search the compound, but due to David Koresh’s reluctance to cooperate, the siege became violent. This book describes some of this siege and the events that lead up to it in more detail. The author also writes about David Koresh’s obsession with religion and power.
The AFT had initiated the siege because of allegations of sexual abuse to women and children. Koresh and his followers were also accused of stashing weapons. The AFT obtained a warrant to search the compound, but due to David Koresh’s reluctance to cooperate, the siege became violent. This book describes some of this siege and the events that lead up to it in more detail. The author also writes about David Koresh’s obsession with religion and power.
April 28, 2014
I thought it would be more about the FBI siege and ATF involvement, but over half the book is about Howell / Koresh, his religious delusions and pedophiliac tendencies. He isn't a person I want to read too much about.
I find the fact that grown adults fall for this kind of crap ( and allegedly in the name of God makes it worse!) so hard to understand and as a result, I did lose patience with this way before it got to the part I was actually interested in
It wasn't badly written but like a good many true crime books, something seemed not quite right.
I find the fact that grown adults fall for this kind of crap ( and allegedly in the name of God makes it worse!) so hard to understand and as a result, I did lose patience with this way before it got to the part I was actually interested in
It wasn't badly written but like a good many true crime books, something seemed not quite right.
August 27, 2012
Horrible event, horrible book.
January 21, 2016
I was in high school when this occurred so I didn't really know what went on until I read this book. I must say I was quite perturbed on why people believed that this guy was anything other then a rambling idiot.
I guess I will never understand why people go for this kind of bullshit are my fellow human beings truly that ignorant. Thinking that one man can rule the world??
My biggest dissatisfaction with the whole incident is they went in to get the leader out but they let him go back in!!!! I mean really!!! I firmly feel if they would not have done that those people would not have died. Plain and simple. Very depressing read. Yet another bang up job by our lovely government.
I guess I will never understand why people go for this kind of bullshit are my fellow human beings truly that ignorant. Thinking that one man can rule the world??
My biggest dissatisfaction with the whole incident is they went in to get the leader out but they let him go back in!!!! I mean really!!! I firmly feel if they would not have done that those people would not have died. Plain and simple. Very depressing read. Yet another bang up job by our lovely government.
April 29, 2020
For anyone born after 1993 this is all we really know when we think of Waco, Texas. Every since I was a kid I have just known that there was a massacre at Waco. As I got older I watched documentaries and read some quick facts about want happened, but now that I'm an adult I wanted to learn as much as I can about thoses 51 days.
This book covers a lot about David Koresh, his childhood, to adulthood, and the steps that he took to become the leader the Davidsons. You read a lot about his criminal history, his wives, and childern, abuse, and many more things that happened in that compound. There is not to much information about the FBI or ATF as most of the book went to going over Koresh and what lead to the 51 days and then massacre.
What I found most interesting is the differnt acconts on who took the first shot on day 1 or what both sides say happened to day 51 when the tanks came in and what really started the fire. This is a book that anyone intersted in what happened at Waco should read.
This book covers a lot about David Koresh, his childhood, to adulthood, and the steps that he took to become the leader the Davidsons. You read a lot about his criminal history, his wives, and childern, abuse, and many more things that happened in that compound. There is not to much information about the FBI or ATF as most of the book went to going over Koresh and what lead to the 51 days and then massacre.
What I found most interesting is the differnt acconts on who took the first shot on day 1 or what both sides say happened to day 51 when the tanks came in and what really started the fire. This is a book that anyone intersted in what happened at Waco should read.
March 26, 2020
The story of the small Seventh Day Adventist offshoot, founded by an egotistical, wannabe rock star who had a fetish for god, guns, music, and young girls.
A story too often frequent in religious America, but usually not to the extreme in this tale of manipulation, seclusion, paranoia and suicide.
A great read if you can tolerate depravity but support the attempt of a heroic response.
While Waco is considered a botched fail of an FBI plus ATF standoff with weaponized religious folk, there is some explanation within the pages of this book that tries to shine a light on what happened, what possibly could have happened.
A good book to have for any history of religion buff.
A story too often frequent in religious America, but usually not to the extreme in this tale of manipulation, seclusion, paranoia and suicide.
A great read if you can tolerate depravity but support the attempt of a heroic response.
While Waco is considered a botched fail of an FBI plus ATF standoff with weaponized religious folk, there is some explanation within the pages of this book that tries to shine a light on what happened, what possibly could have happened.
A good book to have for any history of religion buff.
August 2, 2017
Nicely written, very interesting read. It's was quite shocking to discover the ways Koresh played apart in communities I live in today.
The main thing I disliked about this book was how it focused almost entirely on Koresh. I was hoping to read more about the ATF, FBI, and local authorities' investigations. That being said, I still enjoyed this very much. It was still very interesting, very well written.
The main thing I disliked about this book was how it focused almost entirely on Koresh. I was hoping to read more about the ATF, FBI, and local authorities' investigations. That being said, I still enjoyed this very much. It was still very interesting, very well written.
Did Not Finish
May 3, 2020Well. Here’s the thing.
I hate absolutely hate not finishing a book. But with that being said. I couldn’t get into this. Cults fascinate me yes yes they do. But David Koresh was such a man slut and oddball I couldn’t get behind the rock n roll Jesus vibe this book gave off.
We can discuss anything all day long. But the minute we bring religion to every sentence I’m out. I’m sure this is an unpopular opinion but I can’t get behind reading 260 pages of what the next messiah was meant to do.
I hate absolutely hate not finishing a book. But with that being said. I couldn’t get into this. Cults fascinate me yes yes they do. But David Koresh was such a man slut and oddball I couldn’t get behind the rock n roll Jesus vibe this book gave off.
We can discuss anything all day long. But the minute we bring religion to every sentence I’m out. I’m sure this is an unpopular opinion but I can’t get behind reading 260 pages of what the next messiah was meant to do.
June 16, 2022
This is a bit of a weird one but it is one of the few books my dad has held onto over the years (should I be concerned?). I believe he bought it at an airport in Canada in the 90s. As far as crazy American cults go I only really knew about Jim Jones so this was an interesting read !
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September 23, 2010Massacre at Waco: The Shocking True Story of Cult Leader David Koresh and the Branch Davidians (St. Martin's True Crime Library) by Clifford L. Linedecker (1993)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews