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  • Seductive Poison

  • A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the Peoples Temple
  • Written by: Deborah Layton
  • Narrated by: Kathe Mazur, Deborah Layton
  • Length: 15 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (19 ratings)

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Seductive Poison

Written by: Deborah Layton
Narrated by: Kathe Mazur, Deborah Layton
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Publisher's Summary

Told by a former high-level member of the Peoples Temple and Jonestown survivor, Seductive Poison is the "truly unforgettable" (Kirkus Reviews) story of how one woman was seduced by one of the most notorious cults in recent memory and how she found her way back to sanity. 

From Waco to Heaven's Gate, the late 20th century saw its share of cult tragedies. But none was quite so dramatic or compelling as the Jonestown massacre of 1978, in which the Reverend Jim Jones and 913 of his disciples perished. Deborah Layton had been a member of the Peoples Temple for seven years when she departed for Jonestown, Guyana, the promised land nestled deep in the South American jungle. 

When she arrived, however, Layton saw that something was seriously wrong. Jones constantly spoke of a revolutionary mass suicide, and Layton knew only too well that he had enough control over the minds of the Jonestown residents to carry it out. But her pleas for help - and her sworn affidavit to the US government - fell on skeptical ears. 

In this very personal account, Layton opens up the shadowy world of cults and shows how anyone can fall under their spell. Seductive Poison is both an unflinching historical document and a riveting story of intrigue, power, and murder.

©1999 Deborah Layton (P)2013 Random House Audio

What the critics say

"A suspenseful tale of escape that reads like a satisfying thriller, Layton's account is the most important personal testimony to emerge from the Jonestown tragedy." (The Chicago Tribune)

"A fascinating account of a debacle that continues to resonate." (Entertainment Weekly)

 "Shattering." (The Boston Globe)

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Riveting

This book kept me enthralled from beginning to end.
Most documentaries on the subject of Jonestown are clinical and impersonal. This was her story of how she was lured in and how the blinders fell away.
During her escape I could feel her paranoia. It was palpable and almost contagious.
Kudos to her and all people that have escaped from cults.
A must listen to all that want to know more about Jonestown or cultist mindsets.

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Why isn't there a Movie

Such an important story for today. I assumed Jim Jones was a doomsday Christian cult leader. Never realized he was actually a Socialist Utopian. This is why history is so important because it can show the recurring patterns of human behavior
that aren't just a result of a given culture but rather largely due to our human nature itself. If we knew enough history than alarm bells should go off in our heads when ever anyone believes they can point their finger at others for all the problems of the world and that they can make the world such a better place if they got the chance. It truly warps the mind when someone begins to perceive the world in this manner. There are multiple millions of people today walking around with this kind of warped perception who will undoubtedly bring hell on earth if ever given the chance.

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An Eye Opening Look Inside The Peoples Temple

A fascinating book, and the narrator lived up to the story she was telling. Very informative and never a dull moment.

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