The Doomsday Mother - by John Glatt (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In The Doomsday Mother, bestselling true crime author John Glatt tells the twisted tale of Lori Vallow, accused of having her two children murdered to start a new life with her new husband, doomsday prepper Chad Daybell.

At first, the residents of Kauai Beach Resort took little notice of their new neighbors. The glamorous blonde and her tall husband fit the image of the ritzy gated community. The couple seemed to keep to themselves--until the police knocked on their door with a search warrant. Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell had fled to Hawaii in the midst of being investigated for the disappearance of Lori's children back in Idaho--Tylee and JJ--who hadn't been seen alive in five months.

For years, Lori Vallow had been devoted to her children and her Mormon faith. But when her path crossed with Chad Daybell, a religious zealot who taught his followers how to prepare for the end-times, the tumultuous relationship transformed her into someone unrecognizable. As authorities searched for Lori's children, they uncovered more suspicious deaths with links to both Lori and Chad, including the death of Lori's third and fourth husbands, her brother, and Chad's wife. In June 2020, the gruesome remains of JJ and Tylee were discovered on Chad's property, and the newlyweds were arrested and charged with murder. And in a shocking development, horrifying statements revealed that the couple's fanatical beliefs had convinced them the children had become zombies--a belief that may have led to their deaths.

Bestselling author and journalist John Glatt takes readers deeper into the devastating story of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell in an attempt to unravel the lethal relationship of this doomsday couple.

Review Quotes

"A white-knuckle page-turner...This definitive look at a case Glatt considers the most 'terrifying' of his decades of experience as a journalist is must reading for true crime fans." --Publishers Weekly (starred)

"In bestselling author John Glatt's capable hands, this tragic tale avoids hyperbole and emotionally provocative prose ... fascinating, gruesome and harrowing."--Bookreporter.com

Praise for Golden Boy:

"Piercing ... add this one to your beach bag." -People Magazine

"An in-depth look at an act that shocked the city's elite." -New York Post, "30 Best Books on Our Summer Reading List in 2021"

"True crime fans will find this a compelling read." --Booklist

"Glatt is a balanced narrator of this story; though it would be easy to dismiss Gilbert as a privileged man-child protected by wealth and connections, the author also examines how complicated mental illness diagnoses can be, even for people with access to doctors and treatments....A tragic character study at the intersection of wealth, privilege, and mental illness, told with empathy." -- Library Journal

"Glatt shares alarming revelations about the state of the mental health system, where psychiatrists are largely powerless to intervene even when they see serious psychological issues that could result in harm to the patient or others. This is must reading for true crime enthusiasts who prize depth over salaciousness." --Publishers Weekly

Praise for The Perfect Father:

"Glatt's expert coverage of the investigation is riveting...police procedural fans will enjoy." --Publishers Weekly

"[A] gripping read." --Library Journal

Praise for The Family Next Door:

"This chilling portrayal of abuse and secrecy may leave readers looking differently at their neighbors." --Publishers Weekly

"Thoroughly researched and thoroughly disturbing." --Booklist

About the Author

English-born JOHN GLATT is the author of more than twenty-five books including The Lost Girls and My Sweet Angel, and has over thirty years of experience as an investigative journalist in England and America. He has appeared on television and radio programs all over the world, including Dateline NBC, Fox News, ABC's 20/20, BBC World News, and A&E Biography.