What do you think?
Rate this book
Dragged Into the Light
As Seen on VICE TV's “The Devil You Know” Season 2
Ohio housewife Sherry Shriner grew to prominence as a social media cult leader, flourishing in the era of conspiracy theories and the 9/11 Truther movement.
She preached the virtues of mysterious orgone energy and Christian prayer as defensive shields against the forces of darkness, including:
- Lucifer and his demons;
- reptilian shapeshifters masquerading as human elites;
- the New World Order;
- cell phone towers;
- even hostile UFOs that flamed out over her home, visible only as shooting stars.
Amazingly, she built a coterie of passionate devotees. The more outrageous the lie, the more fervent their belief.
In 2017, she told follower Steven Mineo that his girlfriend, Barbara Rogers, was a witch who would kill him. A month later, Steven was dead, and Barbara was in jail charged with his murder.
Steven’s death proved Sherry’s divinity to her followers, but in reality, he was just the latest casualty in a string of online trolling attacks that had left an earlier believer dead of suicide and still more cast into the outer darkness of cyberspace.
Journalist Tony Russo follows Sherry Shriner’s cult, digs into its bizarre beliefs, and reports on the shredded lives and reputations surrounding an otherwise-nondescript woman who transformed herself into a web-based evangelist.
The incredible story is documented in dogged reporting, surviving internet chats and transcripts, and voluminous police records.
Ohio housewife Sherry Shriner grew to prominence as a social media cult leader, flourishing in the era of conspiracy theories and the 9/11 Truther movement.
She preached the virtues of mysterious orgone energy and Christian prayer as defensive shields against the forces of darkness, including:
- Lucifer and his demons;
- reptilian shapeshifters masquerading as human elites;
- the New World Order;
- cell phone towers;
- even hostile UFOs that flamed out over her home, visible only as shooting stars.
Amazingly, she built a coterie of passionate devotees. The more outrageous the lie, the more fervent their belief.
In 2017, she told follower Steven Mineo that his girlfriend, Barbara Rogers, was a witch who would kill him. A month later, Steven was dead, and Barbara was in jail charged with his murder.
Steven’s death proved Sherry’s divinity to her followers, but in reality, he was just the latest casualty in a string of online trolling attacks that had left an earlier believer dead of suicide and still more cast into the outer darkness of cyberspace.
Journalist Tony Russo follows Sherry Shriner’s cult, digs into its bizarre beliefs, and reports on the shredded lives and reputations surrounding an otherwise-nondescript woman who transformed herself into a web-based evangelist.
The incredible story is documented in dogged reporting, surviving internet chats and transcripts, and voluminous police records.
Audiobook
First published May 25, 2021
15 people are currently reading
578 people want to read
About the author
Tony Russo
3 books14 followersTelling compelling stories about ordinary people has been Tony Russo's specialty for the entirety of his journalism career. Whether profiling artists, community leaders, or combat veterans, he has a knack for helping people connect to personal stories.
After nearly 20 years covering news and writing features for local outlets, Tony moved into independent journalism, telling stories about how small events affected the larger culture.
In addition to writing about the craft beer revolution, Tony wrote and hosted "This Is War" a narrative podcast documenting the personal stories of combat veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His most recent work, Dragged Into the Light: Truthers, Reptilians, Super Soldiers, and Death Inside an Online Cult looks into how one nondescript woman was able to tap into the rising paranoia that birthed the conspiracy theory culture.
Tony lives on Maryland's Eastern Shore with his wife and the only of his four daughters who has yet to move out. Together they keep their dog and cats comfortable.
After nearly 20 years covering news and writing features for local outlets, Tony moved into independent journalism, telling stories about how small events affected the larger culture.
In addition to writing about the craft beer revolution, Tony wrote and hosted "This Is War" a narrative podcast documenting the personal stories of combat veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His most recent work, Dragged Into the Light: Truthers, Reptilians, Super Soldiers, and Death Inside an Online Cult looks into how one nondescript woman was able to tap into the rising paranoia that birthed the conspiracy theory culture.
Tony lives on Maryland's Eastern Shore with his wife and the only of his four daughters who has yet to move out. Together they keep their dog and cats comfortable.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 1, 2023
3.5 "bonkers, crackers, quackers" stars !!
The Jeez Louise Award of 2022
Thanx to Netgalley, the author and IPBA for an ecopy. This was released May 2021. I am providing my honest review.
Holy Shite ! This was a most interesting read about a murder, a suicide, ruined lives, internet prophets and Truthers with a whole host of conspiracy theories including reptilians, demons, orgies, end of times, orgone, clones, etc etc. The fringiest of the Evangelicals and the chaos that has ensued under all of our noses....the main focus is on Sherry Shriner and her disparate disciples.
I was absolutely hooked from the get go. I liked the podcast feel and the quick paced action. The prose was crisp and clear and I went along for this most interesting yet horrific ride. There is not an iota of neutrality in this telling as the author makes his feelings and interpretations clearly known to the reader.
What prevented this from achieving 4 star or even 4.5 star status was that I really wish he had consulted clearly with a psychological expert in this area as I found the author's armchair theories on the motivations of these people quite lacklustre and at times inaccurate....
All in all this scared the bejezus out of me and made for some riveting reading !
The Jeez Louise Award of 2022
Thanx to Netgalley, the author and IPBA for an ecopy. This was released May 2021. I am providing my honest review.
Holy Shite ! This was a most interesting read about a murder, a suicide, ruined lives, internet prophets and Truthers with a whole host of conspiracy theories including reptilians, demons, orgies, end of times, orgone, clones, etc etc. The fringiest of the Evangelicals and the chaos that has ensued under all of our noses....the main focus is on Sherry Shriner and her disparate disciples.
I was absolutely hooked from the get go. I liked the podcast feel and the quick paced action. The prose was crisp and clear and I went along for this most interesting yet horrific ride. There is not an iota of neutrality in this telling as the author makes his feelings and interpretations clearly known to the reader.
What prevented this from achieving 4 star or even 4.5 star status was that I really wish he had consulted clearly with a psychological expert in this area as I found the author's armchair theories on the motivations of these people quite lacklustre and at times inaccurate....
All in all this scared the bejezus out of me and made for some riveting reading !
June 2, 2021
Okay, I admit: I read the book 'Dragged Into the Light' by Tony Russo in two and a half days. It is a hair-raising, tizzy, cliff-hanging journalistic exploration of the pseudo-religious online cult by Sherry Shriner. The mix of Christianity, New World Order, reptilians aka vampires aka clones allowed an Ohio housewife to thrive on others' vulnerability for decades. Sherry Shriner supported the people's beliefs in the world's imminent end. Of course, Sherry was the supreme commander of the orgone army. Any competitor for a throne was outcasted and ostracized.
In his book, Tony Russo tries to summarize the available information about Sherry and her followers. How do people simultaneously combine our reality and the world of conspiracy theories? What happens when the unreal world crumbles? Who is responsible for the lives lost because of the cult? Such and many similar questions scream for an answer from the book's pages. Some are answered, some are not.
Compelling in its vividness, the book, nevertheless, is marked by explicit sensationalism. Every heading, it seems, jumped straight from the yellow pages, thus neutralizing the hard work behind the research. I couldn't put the book away, yet, I kept wondering when the objective analysis would begin. Psychologists, social psychologists, or scientists whose specialty is religious sects; where is their viewpoint? That's the book's main flaw. The author feels sympathy toward the victims. He explored psychological depths beyond his journalistic competence and, predictably, can't present insightful commentary.
Unless there is a list of helplines at the end of the book (or a TV show), I can't fully believe in a creator's compassion.
I can't recommend the book to people with mental health problems and those with a high level of empathy. The repetitive descriptions of the dangers the Shrinerites believe in can be unnerving. I experienced that. I had nightmares two nights in a row.
Summarizing my controversial attitude toward Tony Russo's book, I would still recommend it to a mass reader as an eye-opening look behind the curtain of 'religion.'
As I googled orgone, I found a Facebook post with a call to collect money. The world's end is approaching, so Satan sent snakes to the UK, and the English orgone warriors needed help. It's still happening. Right now. Behind the closed doors.
In his book, Tony Russo tries to summarize the available information about Sherry and her followers. How do people simultaneously combine our reality and the world of conspiracy theories? What happens when the unreal world crumbles? Who is responsible for the lives lost because of the cult? Such and many similar questions scream for an answer from the book's pages. Some are answered, some are not.
Compelling in its vividness, the book, nevertheless, is marked by explicit sensationalism. Every heading, it seems, jumped straight from the yellow pages, thus neutralizing the hard work behind the research. I couldn't put the book away, yet, I kept wondering when the objective analysis would begin. Psychologists, social psychologists, or scientists whose specialty is religious sects; where is their viewpoint? That's the book's main flaw. The author feels sympathy toward the victims. He explored psychological depths beyond his journalistic competence and, predictably, can't present insightful commentary.
Unless there is a list of helplines at the end of the book (or a TV show), I can't fully believe in a creator's compassion.
I can't recommend the book to people with mental health problems and those with a high level of empathy. The repetitive descriptions of the dangers the Shrinerites believe in can be unnerving. I experienced that. I had nightmares two nights in a row.
Summarizing my controversial attitude toward Tony Russo's book, I would still recommend it to a mass reader as an eye-opening look behind the curtain of 'religion.'
As I googled orgone, I found a Facebook post with a call to collect money. The world's end is approaching, so Satan sent snakes to the UK, and the English orgone warriors needed help. It's still happening. Right now. Behind the closed doors.
May 27, 2021
I have never heard of this Sherry Shriner or really the "truther" Christian movement. I was shocked, amazed, and wonderstruck that anyone would believe the things that Sherry Shriner said.
The author made a great point about trying to imagine believing in the things that these people believe (reptilians, super soldiers, the new world order) and then imagine finding out they aren't real.
SO I applaud the author of trying to verify and ALWAYS giving them the opportunity to explore all the areas of belief or disbelief.
I don't know if Steven was murdered or had an assisted suicide. I think that the author does a great job in seeing the distress that Steven was going through and letting the reader decide for themselves.
This book, I wanted to laugh, but its too sad. I remember the author stating, just think of all of the fear and anger that goes into believing CONSTANTLY that you are under attack.
This book is a must read for anyone interested in further study of "truthers".
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC for this honest review.
The author made a great point about trying to imagine believing in the things that these people believe (reptilians, super soldiers, the new world order) and then imagine finding out they aren't real.
SO I applaud the author of trying to verify and ALWAYS giving them the opportunity to explore all the areas of belief or disbelief.
I don't know if Steven was murdered or had an assisted suicide. I think that the author does a great job in seeing the distress that Steven was going through and letting the reader decide for themselves.
This book, I wanted to laugh, but its too sad. I remember the author stating, just think of all of the fear and anger that goes into believing CONSTANTLY that you are under attack.
This book is a must read for anyone interested in further study of "truthers".
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC for this honest review.
June 6, 2021
Amazing true-crime story
Fascinating, scary, and hard to put down. This well-researched book will keep you turning the pages to find out not just what happened, but why.
Fascinating, scary, and hard to put down. This well-researched book will keep you turning the pages to find out not just what happened, but why.
April 16, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Secant Publishing for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book was great. I am fascinated by cults and lost a friend to the Qanon conspiracy theory, so this story hit home. I thought it was well researched and well told. The subject matter was a bit disturbing, but it always is when you're reading true crime. I had never heard of Sherry Shriner before this, but I've been looking into her and she's a fascinating person. Crazy as h*ll, but fascinating none the less.
The whole story was a wild ride. Highly recommended quick read here. Great for anyone who's interested in cults and conspiracy theories.
The audio was great. Four enthusiastic stars.
This book was great. I am fascinated by cults and lost a friend to the Qanon conspiracy theory, so this story hit home. I thought it was well researched and well told. The subject matter was a bit disturbing, but it always is when you're reading true crime. I had never heard of Sherry Shriner before this, but I've been looking into her and she's a fascinating person. Crazy as h*ll, but fascinating none the less.
The whole story was a wild ride. Highly recommended quick read here. Great for anyone who's interested in cults and conspiracy theories.
The audio was great. Four enthusiastic stars.
September 10, 2021
Dragged into the Light is a true crime book in which journalist Tony Rosso delves into the parinoid and manipulative world of the Shrinanites, who followed leader Sherry Shriner, and looks at a suicide and a murder linked to the online cult.
At first glance Shrinenites are bizarre. They believe that there is a plan by aliens, who are lizards, to take over the earth. These aliens are bombarding those chosen by God to defend the earth, with evil energies which can only be combatted by doing exactly what Sherry tells you and placing orgone (essentially resin ornaments) around places and people under attack. What's more the lizards have already taken over some prominent people and their plan is underway.
So far, so wacky, but while people with these beliefs are low hanging fruit for even the most hopeless of armchair comedians Rosso uncovers a story which is pitiable more than anything else. What Rosso firmly does is place the outcomes of the cult, within a cultural context of the crumbling American empire, and the death of the public service ideal. By doing this he makes the scared, isolated lives the cult members live much more a symptom of the modern worlds lack of connection, community and shared values, rather than the punchline of a joke.
While I am sure that some people will always want to laugh at these people - because hey, if we took it seriously we might feel compelled to actually do something about the problems that which are at the genesis of these weird beliefs - Rosso makes the effort to get to know them, to understand who they are and why they fell for Sherry Shriner, daughter of God. Read more here https://true-crime-fiction.com/my-rev...
At first glance Shrinenites are bizarre. They believe that there is a plan by aliens, who are lizards, to take over the earth. These aliens are bombarding those chosen by God to defend the earth, with evil energies which can only be combatted by doing exactly what Sherry tells you and placing orgone (essentially resin ornaments) around places and people under attack. What's more the lizards have already taken over some prominent people and their plan is underway.
So far, so wacky, but while people with these beliefs are low hanging fruit for even the most hopeless of armchair comedians Rosso uncovers a story which is pitiable more than anything else. What Rosso firmly does is place the outcomes of the cult, within a cultural context of the crumbling American empire, and the death of the public service ideal. By doing this he makes the scared, isolated lives the cult members live much more a symptom of the modern worlds lack of connection, community and shared values, rather than the punchline of a joke.
While I am sure that some people will always want to laugh at these people - because hey, if we took it seriously we might feel compelled to actually do something about the problems that which are at the genesis of these weird beliefs - Rosso makes the effort to get to know them, to understand who they are and why they fell for Sherry Shriner, daughter of God. Read more here https://true-crime-fiction.com/my-rev...
July 2, 2021
This is a book that is hard to wrap your head around. It's not hard to read, if fact Tony's writing style is very enjoyable, but the subject matter is a different thing. Is there just one reality? What if there were do overs. What if suddenly your reality was yanked out from under you? These are just some of the questions that come to mind after reading this book. Because I couldn't wrap my mind around this being non-fiction, I created my own reality and told myself it was fiction. It was way more palatable that way, I highly recommend it and this book.
April 25, 2022
“Once we’ve decided to believe in something it takes much more energy to unbelieve it then it does to take that belief a little further.”
I listened to this book on audio narrated by the author and I really liked hearing him tell the story he had written. This was such a twisty, mind boggling story about a cult that mixed evangelism, mysticism, conspiracy theories, and ultra right politics to make for an amalgamation of a movement that was bound to end poorly one way or another. The author made sure to acknowledge these people were taken advantage of by Sherry Shriner, but also acknowledged it’s hard not to pass judgment on them for the truly out of this world (sometimes literally) beliefs that they all whole heartedly believed. With a clear and concise timeline of events that are clearly very well researched the author lays out everything that happened. I listened to this in 2 sittings because I enjoyed it so much.
*a copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I listened to this book on audio narrated by the author and I really liked hearing him tell the story he had written. This was such a twisty, mind boggling story about a cult that mixed evangelism, mysticism, conspiracy theories, and ultra right politics to make for an amalgamation of a movement that was bound to end poorly one way or another. The author made sure to acknowledge these people were taken advantage of by Sherry Shriner, but also acknowledged it’s hard not to pass judgment on them for the truly out of this world (sometimes literally) beliefs that they all whole heartedly believed. With a clear and concise timeline of events that are clearly very well researched the author lays out everything that happened. I listened to this in 2 sittings because I enjoyed it so much.
*a copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
March 30, 2022
Fascinating look inside Sherry Shriner's cult. Shiner was famous among her followers for her bizarre prophecies and speeches regarding reptilian shapeshifters, the New World Order, and other terrifying "end-days" events. Russo did a great job digging into the details of some of the defectors of Shriner's cult - in particular, two former Shriner believers who ended up dead. Suicide? Murder? Who would be the murderer?
Russo also digs into the motivations, mental impressions, and contradictory beliefs of the Shrinerites. I appreciated how he tried to put himself in their shoes and spell out their reasoning to people like me who simply can't understand how someone could plausibly believe the ludicrous things Shriner claimed. Most books about cults simply tell the story of the cults, but Russo's journalism bridges the gap.
While the narration was generally average, I couldn't stop listening to this book to find out whether these Shrinerites would ever see the *actual* truth.
Thanks to NetGalley and Secant Publishing for a free advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
Russo also digs into the motivations, mental impressions, and contradictory beliefs of the Shrinerites. I appreciated how he tried to put himself in their shoes and spell out their reasoning to people like me who simply can't understand how someone could plausibly believe the ludicrous things Shriner claimed. Most books about cults simply tell the story of the cults, but Russo's journalism bridges the gap.
While the narration was generally average, I couldn't stop listening to this book to find out whether these Shrinerites would ever see the *actual* truth.
Thanks to NetGalley and Secant Publishing for a free advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2022
Dragged Into the Light by Tony Russo, made top of my list in bizarre true crime book books. The book centers on Sherry Shiner, a self-made prophet with an internet cult following. The account, both extremely tragic yet intriguing, recounts Shriner actions and mentality with what goes through the minds of individuals who seek to control the lives of others, and well as the needs of some others, to control their lives.
Enter Truthers, Reptilians - Shape Shifting Lizard-like Aliens, Super Soldiers, and Special Pucks to ward off evil and battle the aliens - mix it with conspiracy theories and murder, and you have the makings of Dragged Into the Light.
Tony Russo narrates the book, however, his voice is like a reporter, and the audiobook's feel is more like a podcast than an audiobook. The narrator's voice while not unpleasant, but is basically monotone.
Recommended for those who enjoy conspiracy theories with religious tones.
3 Stars ⭐⭐⭐
My thanks to NetGalley, Secant Publishing, and Tony Russo for the opportunity to listen to an AAC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Enter Truthers, Reptilians - Shape Shifting Lizard-like Aliens, Super Soldiers, and Special Pucks to ward off evil and battle the aliens - mix it with conspiracy theories and murder, and you have the makings of Dragged Into the Light.
Tony Russo narrates the book, however, his voice is like a reporter, and the audiobook's feel is more like a podcast than an audiobook. The narrator's voice while not unpleasant, but is basically monotone.
Recommended for those who enjoy conspiracy theories with religious tones.
3 Stars ⭐⭐⭐
My thanks to NetGalley, Secant Publishing, and Tony Russo for the opportunity to listen to an AAC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Read
June 10, 2021Tony Russo’s true crime book Dragged Into the Light offers an investigative look into the world of a conspiracy theory cult. In it, he digs into the lives of a few key followers, offering them up almost as case studies for why people find themselves drawn to conspiracy theories and wrapped up in the cult-like world that goes along with them. The beliefs held by the people in this book appear to be extreme, but now having read this book, I can see that the paranoia and fear that drives someone to espouse this kind of theory is actually quite prevalent. This book prompts me to further examine society at large and the power structures in place that are shifting and receiving pressure from previously oppressed groups, giving cult leaders opportunity to capitalize on people’s fears and take advantage of those who feel the balance of their world shifting and are looking for someone to blame. Believing that reptilians run the government is not a far cry from declaring that a particular political leader is “pure evil” because their political views differ from yours, that the reason you are struggling financially comes down to one key figure in public office, that a pandemic affecting your business is a scam directed specifically at you.
Dragged Into the Light is not an academic book that delves into answers to all of the big questions that this topic prompts - it has more of a journalism feel of “here’s a super interesting and wild story” - but given the recent prominence of conspiracy theories in the forefront of national headlines, if you’re looking for some individual stories to provide detail to go along with the broader story and examination of the movement (as well as a compassionate telling of those stories that goes beyond the sensational headline-grabbers that you can easily google), I would recommend this book.
Dragged Into the Light is not an academic book that delves into answers to all of the big questions that this topic prompts - it has more of a journalism feel of “here’s a super interesting and wild story” - but given the recent prominence of conspiracy theories in the forefront of national headlines, if you’re looking for some individual stories to provide detail to go along with the broader story and examination of the movement (as well as a compassionate telling of those stories that goes beyond the sensational headline-grabbers that you can easily google), I would recommend this book.
June 12, 2021
"The truth doesn't exist anymore. Everyone lives in heir own realities. The trick is simply finding a reality that best suits you."
In this book, journalist Tony Russo gives us a detailed account of the diabolical cult called the Alien-Reptile Cult, led by Sherry Shriner, an Ohio housewife who passed away on January 2021. She was a conspiracy theorist who had a lot of devotees where some of them believe that they are Angels in the Flesh and orgone warriors.
I have not heard of this cult until I came across this book. It was an eye-opening one for sure and the first chapter which begins with the death of one of her followers - Steven Mineo - was really intense.
So, the followers believe that they are orgone warriors and army of God preparing themselves for the War of Armageddon. They are constantly fighting against the evil of the world including satan, his demons, New World Order, the government who are actually alien reptilian shapeshifters, and other beliefs which left me flabbergasted.
I think this was a really well-researched book with a wealth of interesting information. I appreciate that there were pics too! However, I find that the writing to be rather repetitive. The first few chapters could have been shorter or condensed into one bigger chapter. The information tend to overlap, hence I feel that I kept reading the same thing over and over.
In a nutshell, despite the repetitiveness of some of the content, this was still an informative read if you have zero idea about this cult.
Pub. Date: May 25th, 2021
**Thank you IBPA, author Tony Russo, and NetGalley for this gifted copy to read and review.***
In this book, journalist Tony Russo gives us a detailed account of the diabolical cult called the Alien-Reptile Cult, led by Sherry Shriner, an Ohio housewife who passed away on January 2021. She was a conspiracy theorist who had a lot of devotees where some of them believe that they are Angels in the Flesh and orgone warriors.
I have not heard of this cult until I came across this book. It was an eye-opening one for sure and the first chapter which begins with the death of one of her followers - Steven Mineo - was really intense.
So, the followers believe that they are orgone warriors and army of God preparing themselves for the War of Armageddon. They are constantly fighting against the evil of the world including satan, his demons, New World Order, the government who are actually alien reptilian shapeshifters, and other beliefs which left me flabbergasted.
I think this was a really well-researched book with a wealth of interesting information. I appreciate that there were pics too! However, I find that the writing to be rather repetitive. The first few chapters could have been shorter or condensed into one bigger chapter. The information tend to overlap, hence I feel that I kept reading the same thing over and over.
In a nutshell, despite the repetitiveness of some of the content, this was still an informative read if you have zero idea about this cult.
Pub. Date: May 25th, 2021
**Thank you IBPA, author Tony Russo, and NetGalley for this gifted copy to read and review.***
April 20, 2022
Did I mean to binge listen to this book until I was done? Nope, but like all good dumpster fires I couldn't stop.
At the beginning Russo asks us to not criticize the beliefs of the subjects of the book, but instead to understand that they live in a completely reality to the one that you and I exist in. The problem with that is you can hear it in his tone throughout a certain level of vitriol for having to give any kind of credit to these beliefs. I don't fault him for that, I feel the same way.
This stories told in this book are tragic in that way that makes you desperate to know more. How do people find themselves in a reality where reptiles inhabit human skin, resin with copper in it will cure disease and stop demons, and midwestern housewives are God's chosen profits? How does that lead the most devout believers to lose their way and their lives?
Evil does exist in the world, but unfortunately it's not as biblical as the people in this book want it to be. Their vulnerability and willingness to follow people like Sherry Shriner makes them victims, but the hate that they spew in the name of "truth" just adds to the evil in the world. It's just terrifying to know that this "counterculture" has only grown and found more power since the time of Shriner.
Tony Russo is a podcaster and the audiobook listens like one. It took me a minute to get used to his tone, and it was honestly hard to listen to the segments when he was reading quoted statements. This would have worked better for me as either a podcast with the audio from the subjects and interviews or in the book format. Russo just came across winey and nasaley. Although I guess anytime I've ever heard a truther speak it's been in that same tone...
Solidly fascinating book, couldn't stop listening.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook for my honest review!
At the beginning Russo asks us to not criticize the beliefs of the subjects of the book, but instead to understand that they live in a completely reality to the one that you and I exist in. The problem with that is you can hear it in his tone throughout a certain level of vitriol for having to give any kind of credit to these beliefs. I don't fault him for that, I feel the same way.
This stories told in this book are tragic in that way that makes you desperate to know more. How do people find themselves in a reality where reptiles inhabit human skin, resin with copper in it will cure disease and stop demons, and midwestern housewives are God's chosen profits? How does that lead the most devout believers to lose their way and their lives?
Evil does exist in the world, but unfortunately it's not as biblical as the people in this book want it to be. Their vulnerability and willingness to follow people like Sherry Shriner makes them victims, but the hate that they spew in the name of "truth" just adds to the evil in the world. It's just terrifying to know that this "counterculture" has only grown and found more power since the time of Shriner.
Tony Russo is a podcaster and the audiobook listens like one. It took me a minute to get used to his tone, and it was honestly hard to listen to the segments when he was reading quoted statements. This would have worked better for me as either a podcast with the audio from the subjects and interviews or in the book format. Russo just came across winey and nasaley. Although I guess anytime I've ever heard a truther speak it's been in that same tone...
Solidly fascinating book, couldn't stop listening.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook for my honest review!
June 7, 2021
This review is for an ARC received through NetGalley.
Until I came upon this book I had never heard of Sherry Shriner or any of the events depicted within it. It was a very interesting true crime story and helped to give some incite into how deeply engaged in all the conspiracy theories and pseudo versions of religion too many people have become nowadays, helping to explain all the problems with anti-vaxxers and the insurrectionists of 1/6.
The verbiage itself was pretty solid and mostly moved the narrative along at a nice rate. The book had the makings of a great true crime story, but unfortunately some writing choices held it back from being great. The story starts out intriguingly, playing out the beginnings of the two biggest victims in the story, but just as it begins to get to the nitty-gritty, suddenly the narrative swings to background on Shriner, feeling like something was left out or it was just plunked down in the wrong place. The books remains a bit shaky for awhile with sections not feeling like they're playing out organically for a few chapters before its course is set right again.
On top of that, the author diverges from relaying the tale to discuss his feelings or his beliefs as to what happened. In a couple of parts, he even goes into his own background and younger days, things that really have no place in this kind of book. Instead, this true crime novel devolves into feeling too much like the transcript of a podcast. This is not the first recent true crime book I've found this happening in, and it's not a good trend. The best true crime books have a certain footprint or cadence to them. This book strayed too much from that style for my liking. 3.5/5*
Until I came upon this book I had never heard of Sherry Shriner or any of the events depicted within it. It was a very interesting true crime story and helped to give some incite into how deeply engaged in all the conspiracy theories and pseudo versions of religion too many people have become nowadays, helping to explain all the problems with anti-vaxxers and the insurrectionists of 1/6.
The verbiage itself was pretty solid and mostly moved the narrative along at a nice rate. The book had the makings of a great true crime story, but unfortunately some writing choices held it back from being great. The story starts out intriguingly, playing out the beginnings of the two biggest victims in the story, but just as it begins to get to the nitty-gritty, suddenly the narrative swings to background on Shriner, feeling like something was left out or it was just plunked down in the wrong place. The books remains a bit shaky for awhile with sections not feeling like they're playing out organically for a few chapters before its course is set right again.
On top of that, the author diverges from relaying the tale to discuss his feelings or his beliefs as to what happened. In a couple of parts, he even goes into his own background and younger days, things that really have no place in this kind of book. Instead, this true crime novel devolves into feeling too much like the transcript of a podcast. This is not the first recent true crime book I've found this happening in, and it's not a good trend. The best true crime books have a certain footprint or cadence to them. This book strayed too much from that style for my liking. 3.5/5*
June 30, 2021
I don’t know where to start with this - it is a bit of a mess but not fault to the author - I had to google to make sure this was legit - I was like huh I thought This was a true story …. It is just such a mess and so far out there - including the numerous reports and conversations is confusing because it is so messy and the time line kind of bounces a bit. If you are interested in the inner working and minds of people who believe in very bizarre “alternative reality” based conspiracy then this may interest you but I would take the cliff notes version because this is just to much nonsense and ignorance for me - I have zero patience for this and just wanted to know what happened and have it be over! It took me two weeks to read because it both bored and exhausted my mind! I do not have anything against the author or the writhing style - my review is no fault of the author it is just the subjects and the stupidity of it all my mind couldn’t and I just felt I was wasting my time reading the nonsense in the conversations etc - to me I would like the to the point this happened and here is what we can learn and why to be concerned - I didn’t need the numerous examples of the craziness (I said the author did not).
He did do a great job of explaining why it is important to try to understand these people / thinkers and the risk of those who believe such things can pose in large numbers or when they feel they are pressured or targeted (the capital being taken over brought to you by similar conspiracy type thinkers ..) and why we should take it seriously because it is a growing think group which to me is terrifying!
Overall it just wasn’t for me
He did do a great job of explaining why it is important to try to understand these people / thinkers and the risk of those who believe such things can pose in large numbers or when they feel they are pressured or targeted (the capital being taken over brought to you by similar conspiracy type thinkers ..) and why we should take it seriously because it is a growing think group which to me is terrifying!
Overall it just wasn’t for me
Read
April 5, 2022Sherrie Shriner was an Internet call leader. Her and her followers believed that not only were aliens here but that they were replacing movie stars and politicians with the reptile Shapeshifter‘s. She claim to be the sister of Jesus and said she remembered playing with Jesus and Satan when they were little long before time began and her followers believed all of it. When a member named Marianne said she saw another members wife Shapeshifting on the streets of Manhattan, He was kicked out of the cult and ostracized. With something tragic would happen to one of their members Sherry Shriner would plane to have prophesies that or at the very least knew it was going to happen. So when a member name Steven wife posted a pic of beef tartar, Sherry immediately said she was a blood sucking Shapeshifter and of course they were ostracize it made fun of told they were going to hell and when Stephen was shot dead by his wife, Sherry claimed to have prophesied it. There is way more to this interesting true crime book then just what I have put above. The things in this book is mine blowing it made me shake my head and wonder where did these people come from? It affirms the old outage truth is stranger than fiction. I enjoyed learning about this coat and highly recommend this book. I found the author was just as positive on his beliefs as the cult members were on theme’s, Put the last future chapters of the book when he wraps it up gave me a whole new respect for the author. I loved it you’re a true crime fan or a fan of the strange and weird you will love this story. I was given this book by net galley and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Please forgive all grammatical or punctuation errors , I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are my own.
July 30, 2021
The writing is good and engaging. The content is just strange, though. I'm not sure what I expected, but I was totally unfamiliar with this story before I dived into the book. And the characters - or I should say their beliefs - are strange. Yet, as the author points out, "everyone thinks they have a good reason for doing what they do or believing what they believe." And that's true here.
The book's story centers around Sherry Shriner, an internet preacher and rural Ohio housewife spreading hate, paranoia and doomsday prophecy. Her followers dedicate their lives to pleasing her and trying to protect themselves from reptilian rulers. Several people (Kelly, Steve) began to disagree with her, and their change of heart led to tragic results.
While the author is thorough and did plenty of research to make sense of the stories he tells, his personal commentary throughout the book is annoying. It felt like I was reading a transcript of a podcast, not a book.
Also, I would have probably enjoyed the book more if I knew about the story beforehand.
Trigger warning: abuse, violence, suicide, cult
The book's story centers around Sherry Shriner, an internet preacher and rural Ohio housewife spreading hate, paranoia and doomsday prophecy. Her followers dedicate their lives to pleasing her and trying to protect themselves from reptilian rulers. Several people (Kelly, Steve) began to disagree with her, and their change of heart led to tragic results.
While the author is thorough and did plenty of research to make sense of the stories he tells, his personal commentary throughout the book is annoying. It felt like I was reading a transcript of a podcast, not a book.
Also, I would have probably enjoyed the book more if I knew about the story beforehand.
Trigger warning: abuse, violence, suicide, cult
April 26, 2022
This is a true crime story that the author researched and narrated. Therefore, I am going to be sensitive. This did not work for me.
I had the audiobook and would suggest employing a professional narrator. I didn't realize until now Russo read his book. I did note the fit was not there.
The book read more like a paper than a story. There were places I could see note cards being moved around. There is an incredible amount of profanity.
The story itself is creepy, it's psychologically targeting people who I suspect are not stable mentally, and the leader herself was quite manipulative which is why there is a book. I would like to understand the need for this to be in print.
Thank you NetGalley for accepting my request to read and review Dragged Into the Light.
I had the audiobook and would suggest employing a professional narrator. I didn't realize until now Russo read his book. I did note the fit was not there.
The book read more like a paper than a story. There were places I could see note cards being moved around. There is an incredible amount of profanity.
The story itself is creepy, it's psychologically targeting people who I suspect are not stable mentally, and the leader herself was quite manipulative which is why there is a book. I would like to understand the need for this to be in print.
Thank you NetGalley for accepting my request to read and review Dragged Into the Light.
June 10, 2021
This book is a deep dive into conspiracy theorist/cult leader Sherry Shriner and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of two of her followers. Although I was not familiar with Shriner prior to learning about this book. this book brings so much light to the intense impact falling doing the conspiracy theory or religious cult rabbit hole brings to the lives of those in the rabbit hole and their family and friends. It was a perfect blend of true crime and a look at the thought patterns of those hooked into conspiracies and cults.
September 8, 2021
I found this book very interesting. I have heard things in passing about people who believed the elite were replaced by reptiles but had never learned enough about it to put it all together. I was enthralled for most of the book just absorbing all this absurd information but sometimes got lost with all the people involved in the chaos.
I found myself feeling a little defensive at the generalized statements the author made about Christians as I myself identify as a Christian and feel very uncomfortable being grouped with the people mentioned in this book as they don't follow some of the very basic things I would associate with followers of Jesus. I also found some of the generalized statements about religion in general and the correlation to the events that happened on January 6, 2021 are a precarious reach in some cases.
As far as the structure of the book, I think true crime readers will love it for the most part though the middle of the book strays a bit away from the main case in an attempt to describe how the suspect and victim have arrived to the mental state they are in at the time of the case. I almost feel like this could have been two companion books.
All that being said, I did enjoy reading this book and learning about new things, even as scary as they might be.
*I received this book for free via NetGalley in exhange for my honest review*
I found myself feeling a little defensive at the generalized statements the author made about Christians as I myself identify as a Christian and feel very uncomfortable being grouped with the people mentioned in this book as they don't follow some of the very basic things I would associate with followers of Jesus. I also found some of the generalized statements about religion in general and the correlation to the events that happened on January 6, 2021 are a precarious reach in some cases.
As far as the structure of the book, I think true crime readers will love it for the most part though the middle of the book strays a bit away from the main case in an attempt to describe how the suspect and victim have arrived to the mental state they are in at the time of the case. I almost feel like this could have been two companion books.
All that being said, I did enjoy reading this book and learning about new things, even as scary as they might be.
*I received this book for free via NetGalley in exhange for my honest review*
August 15, 2021
Thank you Goodreads giveaway for giving me an ebook. Wow! I didn’t know anything about Sherry Shriner until reading this book. It amazes and saddens me that so many followers of hers believed in this conspiracy theory.
February 1, 2022
4 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary
An investigation into and contemporaneous report on the effects of a bizarre internet cult and the individual lives it ruins.
Review
I’m not particularly interested in cults. I have a general sense of how one could get caught up in one, and the damage they often do to individual lives and to society. But I have to admit that author Tony Russo does an excellent job of bring this one particular cult to life – or perhaps not the cult itself, but some of the cultists and what becomes of them.
As Russo himself admits, it’s not a cult in the traditional sense – it has no physical locus and the leader is a somewhat shadowy background figure with cloudy motives – but it has rituals, goals, select membership, and an inner elite. And, of course, it damages almost everyone who comes near it.
In this case, the cult is organized around an internet figure who repackages old bullshit in new wrappingI for a new internet delivery system. It’s obviously, vividly, vehemently bullshit, but any time she’s called on it, the cult’s leader doubles down on it and forces a confrontation – believe my obvious lies or be ostracized. And it works.
It’s impossible, reading this book just after 2021 ended, not to think of another, higher profile figure who spewed bullshit and doubled down on it. If nothing else, the book helps answer the nagging question of, “Yes, they stick with him, but why?” These are the same tactics, just with a more gothic message – demons and lizard people and magic rays – to go with the more familiar stuff of pedophile rings and government conspiracies.
The cult leader of this book builds on existing credulity and finds fertile ground in religion. When you’ve already accepted angels as real, demons aren’t a big stretch. When you have a source document with such a rich history and so many internal contradictions, it’s not hard to make new stories out of old cloth. What’s disturbing is that it’s so easy to get people to believe them and so hard to get them to stop.
Russo does a nice job of bringing his story along, focused on individuals who get caught up in the cult and mostly don’t ever really get free. He has apparently excellent, contemporary access to his sources and is able to report what happens to them first hand. The main flaw in the book, unfortunately, is that he doesn’t distinguish clearly between what is first hand and what is reconstructed or imagine. The other weakness in the book is that it uses a dramatic death as a climax it doesn’t need. The story of the cult is itself fascinating – and its political parallels frightening – and a cloudy murder could have been more side note than crisis.
Worth reading both in itself and for its insights into why people are so willing to believe the obvious falsehoods of shameless, immoral liars.
Summary
An investigation into and contemporaneous report on the effects of a bizarre internet cult and the individual lives it ruins.
Review
I’m not particularly interested in cults. I have a general sense of how one could get caught up in one, and the damage they often do to individual lives and to society. But I have to admit that author Tony Russo does an excellent job of bring this one particular cult to life – or perhaps not the cult itself, but some of the cultists and what becomes of them.
As Russo himself admits, it’s not a cult in the traditional sense – it has no physical locus and the leader is a somewhat shadowy background figure with cloudy motives – but it has rituals, goals, select membership, and an inner elite. And, of course, it damages almost everyone who comes near it.
In this case, the cult is organized around an internet figure who repackages old bullshit in new wrappingI for a new internet delivery system. It’s obviously, vividly, vehemently bullshit, but any time she’s called on it, the cult’s leader doubles down on it and forces a confrontation – believe my obvious lies or be ostracized. And it works.
It’s impossible, reading this book just after 2021 ended, not to think of another, higher profile figure who spewed bullshit and doubled down on it. If nothing else, the book helps answer the nagging question of, “Yes, they stick with him, but why?” These are the same tactics, just with a more gothic message – demons and lizard people and magic rays – to go with the more familiar stuff of pedophile rings and government conspiracies.
The cult leader of this book builds on existing credulity and finds fertile ground in religion. When you’ve already accepted angels as real, demons aren’t a big stretch. When you have a source document with such a rich history and so many internal contradictions, it’s not hard to make new stories out of old cloth. What’s disturbing is that it’s so easy to get people to believe them and so hard to get them to stop.
Russo does a nice job of bringing his story along, focused on individuals who get caught up in the cult and mostly don’t ever really get free. He has apparently excellent, contemporary access to his sources and is able to report what happens to them first hand. The main flaw in the book, unfortunately, is that he doesn’t distinguish clearly between what is first hand and what is reconstructed or imagine. The other weakness in the book is that it uses a dramatic death as a climax it doesn’t need. The story of the cult is itself fascinating – and its political parallels frightening – and a cloudy murder could have been more side note than crisis.
Worth reading both in itself and for its insights into why people are so willing to believe the obvious falsehoods of shameless, immoral liars.
June 9, 2022
Dragged into the Light. Wow, I love true crime and crazy. This has that as well as internet trolling, obsessed followers of a zealot/troll/marketer. I’m always amazed when masses of people will believe in someone out of fear and invest their money, time, and, yes, sometimes their lives for the cause. The author/narrator is a podcaster so I think it’s funny when he does the “voices” of the petty trolling people. Interesting story. Thank you @netgalley and @secantpub for the awarding me the opportunity to review this audiobook.
June 15, 2021
Sorry, I just couldn't get into this book. I tried reading it twice and it just did not hold my interest enough to want to continue reading.
April 12, 2022
Author: Tony Russo
Genre: True Crime, Non-fiction, Religion & Spirituality (cult)
Published: 02 March 2022
Version: Audiobook, narrated by the author.
Content warnings: cults, murder, suicide, mentions of pedophilia
Rating: 3 / 5 stars
Dragged Into the Light is about the cult leader and false prophet, Sherry Shriner, who attracted thousands with conspiracy theories about the New World Order, shape shifting reptilian overlords who are Lucifer’s demons, and end times Bible prophecy. Sherry played on the fears of her members, and convinced them that using Orgone would save people’s lives (like placing Orgone around a football stadium prevented everyone in the stadium from dying when the power went out). Unfortunately, people also lost their lives due to the cult.
I was drawn toward this book because I had recently heard of Sherry Shriner on the podcast “The Opportunist”, hosted by Hannah Smith. I decided I wanted to see if Tony Russo had found other information about Shriner, and he did provide more. I think in total listening to both the podcast and book gave me a more well rounded idea of who Shriner was, and just how deep her influence went. Russo had personal accounts from different people than Smith had, which was good to hear. Russo focused his investigation on the people who had fallen out of Shriner’s good graces, and whether or not they still believed Shriner’s teachings after she ostracized them, and the other cult members ridiculed them.
If you’re interested in cults, true crime, and mind control, I think you could like this book. But I would recommend reading instead of listening.
My one complaint about listening to the audiobook is that Russo quoted many people in his writings, including reading comments off Facebook posts, but unlike traditional audiobook narrators who change their voice per character, Russo didn’t change his voice at all. It got very confusing who was talking to whom in these Facebook posts and text messages because he didn’t change his voice or say who was talking. It was also confusing when he was changing from quoting someone to when he was just narrating his own words about Shriner.
Thank you Netgalley for access to the audiobook.
Genre: True Crime, Non-fiction, Religion & Spirituality (cult)
Published: 02 March 2022
Version: Audiobook, narrated by the author.
Content warnings: cults, murder, suicide, mentions of pedophilia
Rating: 3 / 5 stars
Dragged Into the Light is about the cult leader and false prophet, Sherry Shriner, who attracted thousands with conspiracy theories about the New World Order, shape shifting reptilian overlords who are Lucifer’s demons, and end times Bible prophecy. Sherry played on the fears of her members, and convinced them that using Orgone would save people’s lives (like placing Orgone around a football stadium prevented everyone in the stadium from dying when the power went out). Unfortunately, people also lost their lives due to the cult.
I was drawn toward this book because I had recently heard of Sherry Shriner on the podcast “The Opportunist”, hosted by Hannah Smith. I decided I wanted to see if Tony Russo had found other information about Shriner, and he did provide more. I think in total listening to both the podcast and book gave me a more well rounded idea of who Shriner was, and just how deep her influence went. Russo had personal accounts from different people than Smith had, which was good to hear. Russo focused his investigation on the people who had fallen out of Shriner’s good graces, and whether or not they still believed Shriner’s teachings after she ostracized them, and the other cult members ridiculed them.
If you’re interested in cults, true crime, and mind control, I think you could like this book. But I would recommend reading instead of listening.
My one complaint about listening to the audiobook is that Russo quoted many people in his writings, including reading comments off Facebook posts, but unlike traditional audiobook narrators who change their voice per character, Russo didn’t change his voice at all. It got very confusing who was talking to whom in these Facebook posts and text messages because he didn’t change his voice or say who was talking. It was also confusing when he was changing from quoting someone to when he was just narrating his own words about Shriner.
Thank you Netgalley for access to the audiobook.
May 6, 2023
This might be one of the scariest books I've ever read, and the reason for that is because it actually happened. Dragged Into the Light follows Sherry Shriner and the cult of conspiracy theorists she created down a rabbit hole of insane propaganda which turns out to be an terrifyingly interesting story.
I had heard of Sherry Shriner and the lizard-people cult in the years before her death, as I'm sure many have without directly knowing or caring to know the woman behind it or how deep of a mess this seemingly simple and ignorable corner of the internet really turned out to be. The story of Shriner's cult involves murders and suicides, but it's also a really fascinating look at human ideology and how easily people can fall into these things. One woman with a webcam has the ability to start a near-global war and maybe that should scare people more than they realize. The idea of anyone following this for-profit false prophet might seem asinine to most people, but it could and should be argued that every religion is just like this one.
I think this is an absolutely fascinating read with so much more depth than I think even the author expected. I thought it was written very professionally, and while it may be tempting to make fun or insult this cult, I didn't feel like there was ever any intention of that. Instead, I felt a high degree of sympathy for the lives that were ruined as a result of something so bizarre and unnecessary. It's definitely pitiable in that regard, but this was so much deeper of a dive into how a cult like this one could gain so much traction, and how easily controlled and manipulated people can become when they find something in their lives they feel they can latch onto.
This is terrifying because it's real, and while I'm sympathetic to the lives that were lost and ruined as a result, the rabbit hole this story falls into is worth a very thorough examination. Their beliefs aside, the human psyche in regards to these kinds of cults deserves a closer look.
Thanks to Tony Russo and Secant Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review, it was very much appreciated.
I had heard of Sherry Shriner and the lizard-people cult in the years before her death, as I'm sure many have without directly knowing or caring to know the woman behind it or how deep of a mess this seemingly simple and ignorable corner of the internet really turned out to be. The story of Shriner's cult involves murders and suicides, but it's also a really fascinating look at human ideology and how easily people can fall into these things. One woman with a webcam has the ability to start a near-global war and maybe that should scare people more than they realize. The idea of anyone following this for-profit false prophet might seem asinine to most people, but it could and should be argued that every religion is just like this one.
I think this is an absolutely fascinating read with so much more depth than I think even the author expected. I thought it was written very professionally, and while it may be tempting to make fun or insult this cult, I didn't feel like there was ever any intention of that. Instead, I felt a high degree of sympathy for the lives that were ruined as a result of something so bizarre and unnecessary. It's definitely pitiable in that regard, but this was so much deeper of a dive into how a cult like this one could gain so much traction, and how easily controlled and manipulated people can become when they find something in their lives they feel they can latch onto.
This is terrifying because it's real, and while I'm sympathetic to the lives that were lost and ruined as a result, the rabbit hole this story falls into is worth a very thorough examination. Their beliefs aside, the human psyche in regards to these kinds of cults deserves a closer look.
Thanks to Tony Russo and Secant Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review, it was very much appreciated.
August 25, 2021
For fans of shows like Dateline, 48 hours, and 20/20. This mystery is both haunting and convoluted.
Sherry Shriner, a rural Ohio housewife, expounds on NWO and alt-right Christian beliefs to create a thriving and dangerous orgone based for-profit cult.
While nonfiction investigative journalism, this book reads like a mix between mystery fiction and science fiction with a twinge of fantasy thrown in for good measure. At times, I had to reread sections to decipher the utter ridiculousness of this cult. And I constantly questioned how people came to be overtaken by this nonsense. Yet they were. And they didn’t believe it half-heartedly. Sherry’s followers were fully given to these beliefs and fought to defend them at any cost.
The author primarily focuses his investigation on several cult members that fall out of Sherry’s good graces. The consequences of landing on the outside of Sherry’s circle ranged between abuse and death. Many questions go unanswered even after Russo’s investigation, and much is unknown about Sherry.
Honestly, I considered not finishing this book. The world is heavy right now. So many ongoing conspiracy theories. So much animosity. To me, reading this book compounded our current reality.
While this book was not an enjoyable read for me, the fault isn’t the author’s. The author’s primary goal is to reveal how wholeheartedly people can be convinced to believe the unbelievable. His warnings and conclusions related to the Shrinerites are on point. With that currently happening all around society, that message needs to be heard. But it is also incredibly dour.
“Throughout this entire inquiry I struggled with Sherry’s power, but watching her hordes and the excommunicated do battle over her word, it occurred to me that Sherry’s power didn’t rest with her. It rested in her followers’ commitment to self-deception.”
Thank you to Tony Russo and Secant Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.
Sherry Shriner, a rural Ohio housewife, expounds on NWO and alt-right Christian beliefs to create a thriving and dangerous orgone based for-profit cult.
While nonfiction investigative journalism, this book reads like a mix between mystery fiction and science fiction with a twinge of fantasy thrown in for good measure. At times, I had to reread sections to decipher the utter ridiculousness of this cult. And I constantly questioned how people came to be overtaken by this nonsense. Yet they were. And they didn’t believe it half-heartedly. Sherry’s followers were fully given to these beliefs and fought to defend them at any cost.
The author primarily focuses his investigation on several cult members that fall out of Sherry’s good graces. The consequences of landing on the outside of Sherry’s circle ranged between abuse and death. Many questions go unanswered even after Russo’s investigation, and much is unknown about Sherry.
Honestly, I considered not finishing this book. The world is heavy right now. So many ongoing conspiracy theories. So much animosity. To me, reading this book compounded our current reality.
While this book was not an enjoyable read for me, the fault isn’t the author’s. The author’s primary goal is to reveal how wholeheartedly people can be convinced to believe the unbelievable. His warnings and conclusions related to the Shrinerites are on point. With that currently happening all around society, that message needs to be heard. But it is also incredibly dour.
“Throughout this entire inquiry I struggled with Sherry’s power, but watching her hordes and the excommunicated do battle over her word, it occurred to me that Sherry’s power didn’t rest with her. It rested in her followers’ commitment to self-deception.”
Thank you to Tony Russo and Secant Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.
May 1, 2022
This book is the first time I’m hearing about Sherry Shriner, a conspiracy theorist, who managed to amass thousands of listeners for her crackpot radio show and convince at least some of them to subscribe to her sci-fi, crazytown brand of Christianity, in which Lucifer-following reptilian aliens are disguised as humans and running the U.S. government. In her defense, I, too, was a big fan of V: The Final Battle back in the 80s. Of course, I was also ten.
In the age of birthers, truthers, MAGAs, QAnon-ers, Pizzagaters, or whatever, there’s no reason that an unoriginal, pathetic, pathological liar like Sherry should stand out. But given that at least two of her followers ended up dead under suspicious circumstances after being exiled from her group, her story stands out a bit more than that of the average nut job.
The author did a pretty good job of trying to humanize some of these fanatics, showing them as people suffering from more than just gullibility and delusion. So I do feel some guilt at using words like “nut job” and “crack pot.” But just a little.
Mostly, I just think it’s sad that there are people like Sherry Shriner out there preying on weak, susceptible people, looking for meaning in their lives, and even sadder that there are SO MANY people desperate enough to give charlatans like her a platform.
Thanks to #netgalley and #kindleedition for this #arc of #draggedintothelight in exchange for an honest review.
In the age of birthers, truthers, MAGAs, QAnon-ers, Pizzagaters, or whatever, there’s no reason that an unoriginal, pathetic, pathological liar like Sherry should stand out. But given that at least two of her followers ended up dead under suspicious circumstances after being exiled from her group, her story stands out a bit more than that of the average nut job.
The author did a pretty good job of trying to humanize some of these fanatics, showing them as people suffering from more than just gullibility and delusion. So I do feel some guilt at using words like “nut job” and “crack pot.” But just a little.
Mostly, I just think it’s sad that there are people like Sherry Shriner out there preying on weak, susceptible people, looking for meaning in their lives, and even sadder that there are SO MANY people desperate enough to give charlatans like her a platform.
Thanks to #netgalley and #kindleedition for this #arc of #draggedintothelight in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2022
"Dragged Into the Night" reads like fiction, yet it's true. How an Ohio housewife managed to convince her followers that she was a prophet, an alien tracker and a social media influencer still boggles the mind. Tony Russo is an expert on Sherry Shriner, her followers and the death of more than one devotee. He's followed this case since Steven Mineo was murdered in 2017. He's discussed the cases in a documentary series, a book and an audiobook.
You can hear it in Russo's voice that he still finds the facts disturbing -- and sad. How could one person convince so many that a special puck could ward off evil and repel aliens? Russo delves into her powers of persuasion over people who just wanted to believe in something, anything, to ease their powerlessness and give them a sense of control over their lives.
Yes, Mineo's girlfriend Barbara Rogers allegedly pulled the trigger, but the young man had long been a victim. Shriner killed his soul with her internet "ministry" that turned against him. As Russo shows through his investigative reporting and writing, Shriner had an evil eye and heart ready to pierce those who spoke against her.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for my opinion.
You can hear it in Russo's voice that he still finds the facts disturbing -- and sad. How could one person convince so many that a special puck could ward off evil and repel aliens? Russo delves into her powers of persuasion over people who just wanted to believe in something, anything, to ease their powerlessness and give them a sense of control over their lives.
Yes, Mineo's girlfriend Barbara Rogers allegedly pulled the trigger, but the young man had long been a victim. Shriner killed his soul with her internet "ministry" that turned against him. As Russo shows through his investigative reporting and writing, Shriner had an evil eye and heart ready to pierce those who spoke against her.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for my opinion.
April 23, 2022
This is a true crime account. Steve Mineo lives with his “wife” in the Poconos. Mineo ends up dead at the hands of his wife, Barbara. However, why this happened is a strange tale indeed. If this was fiction it would be unbelievable. Steve and Barbara, especially Steve, was a follower of a woman named Sherry Shriner. Sherry Shriner was an internet cult leader. She believed that modern traditional Christian religion had been taken over by the devil and that she and her followers were fighting what were basically shape-shifting lizard aliens that would possess people, political leaders for example. Sherry expected total unquestioning loyalty. Steve Mineo gave her that.
I would have been fascinated by this story, if it had been a bland recitation of the facts. Tony Russo does a good job of covering the story, as well as giving us background. The author also speculates about what exactly it is about cults, conspiracy theories that attract certain people. I don’t know if I agree with him. He doesn’t present evidence to support his suppositions. Regardless of this, I found the account fascinating and tragic. Sherry Shriner left many victims in her wake.
thanks to netgalley for ARC
For true crime enthusiasts, I recommend this book. 3 stars.
I would have been fascinated by this story, if it had been a bland recitation of the facts. Tony Russo does a good job of covering the story, as well as giving us background. The author also speculates about what exactly it is about cults, conspiracy theories that attract certain people. I don’t know if I agree with him. He doesn’t present evidence to support his suppositions. Regardless of this, I found the account fascinating and tragic. Sherry Shriner left many victims in her wake.
thanks to netgalley for ARC
For true crime enthusiasts, I recommend this book. 3 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews