I had the ✨privilege✨ of visiting Mount Carmel on a trip to Waco (thanks for bringing me, Kristy—I know you’ll see this 😂). Did you know it’s still an active cult? You’re allowed to see their chapel(?) that’s filled with posters about Branch Davidian history (they call it a museum, but it’s posters). They also have a traffic cone in front of the place “where the women and children were gassed.” I hate that so many people died in such a terrible way, no matter who did or did not cause it (if you’re looking for a definitive answer, you won’t find one in this book—it’s a shame so much evidence was destroyed).

I struggle to find words to describe what it was like visiting. It’s difficult not to physically feel uncomfortable and spooked while there. But it re-sparked an interest in this after reading the current Branch Davidians’ take on the FBI standoff. 

This book was thorough without being laborious, which is a difficult balance to strike with nonfiction like this. It was well-organized and IMO balanced and fair to both sides of this issue. I appreciate the post-stand off chapters and epilogue especially, which tie this tragic event to our present reality.

It won’t surprise me if this isn’t the only book I read about this, but it’s a solid first choice and I’m glad I picked it up!