Prophet's Prey by Sam Brower Published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA on September 13, 2011
Genres: Biography & Autobiography, Nonfiction, Historical, Religion / Cults, True Crime
Pages: 336
Format: Audiobook
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"A remarkable man on many levels, Sam Brower is the real deal. Readers are apt to find his firsthand account of bringing Warren Jeffs to justice both extremely disturbing and absolutely riveting."-Jon Krakauer, from the foreword
From the private investigator who cracked open the case that led to the arrest of Warren Jeffs, the maniacal prophet of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), comes the page-turning, horrifying story of how a rogue sect used sex, money, and power disguised under a favßade of religion to further criminal activities and a madman's vision.
Despite considerable press coverage and a lengthy trial, the full story has remained largely untold. Only one man can reveal the whole, astounding truth: Sam Brower, the private investigator who devoted years of his life to breaking open the secret practices of the FLDS and bringing Warren Jeffs and his inner circle to justice. In Prophet's Prey, Brower implicates Jeffs in his own words, bringing to light the contents of Jeffs's personal priesthood journal, discovered in a hidden underground vault, and revealing to readers the shocking inside world of FLDS members, whose trust he earned and who showed him the staggering truth of their lives.
Prophet's Prey offers the gripping, behind-the-scenes account of a bizarre world from the only man who knows the full story.
I will not start this review with, “I don’t know where to start.” I repeat, I will not start this review with, “I don’t know where to start.”
So let’s start with Prophet’s Prey by Sam Brower. For those unfamiliar with the story, it chronicles the pursuit of Warren Jeffs, leader of the FLDS church, and the years-long effort to bring him to justice. On paper, this should have been exactly the kind of book I would devour. High-control religion? Check. Abuse of authority? Check. The devastating consequences of unquestioned spiritual leadership? Unfortunately, also check.
Actually, let’s start with a sigh and an observation: this book reminds me of the kind of preacher who can’t make it to Genesis 1:1 without first telling three stories about why he’s exactly the preacher you need to hear. I like to call them “Third-Eye Blind preachers” because they seem completely unaware of how often every story somehow circles back to “I, I, I.”
And that’s the problem I kept running into here.
I understand that this is Brower’s story of his investigation. The legal maneuvering, investigative work, and behind-the-scenes details are often fascinating. In many ways, the book makes it clear that Brower is an exceptionally skilled private investigator and bounty hunter. I never once doubted his competence.
What I doubted was his ability to get out of his own way.
As someone who grew up in a religious environment where authority was rarely questioned and leaders were often treated as if they spoke directly for God, stories like this hit a little differently. That might be part of why I was so disappointed that Brower was so “I”-focused throughout the narrative.
The story of Warren Jeffs is horrifying. The stories of the people who lived under his control are heartbreaking. Families were separated. Women were exploited. Children were raised in a system designed to discourage questioning and reward obedience. These are the stories that stayed with me.
Or rather, these are the stories I longed to feel more closely connected to. I wanted my empathy and horror at their suffering to be met with a deeper dive into their experiences, drawing me further into their world and emotions.
Time and again, just as the narrative approached something emotionally powerful, the focus seemed to drift back toward the investigation itself and, more specifically, the investigator. Brower clearly wants readers to understand the challenges he faced, the risks he took, and the expertise he brought to the case. That’s fair. He earned his place in this story.
But there is a difference between being part of a story and becoming its center.
By the halfway point, I found myself less interested in what Brower thought about Brower and more interested in hearing from the people whose lives had been permanently altered by Warren Jeffs and the FLDS. Their experiences carried the emotional weight of the book. Their stories were the reason I kept turning pages.
And that’s what makes this review difficult. Because I don’t think this is a bad book. In fact, there were moments when I found it genuinely fascinating. The investigative details are often compelling, and Brower undeniably provides insights that few others could. If you’re interested in the mechanics of tracking a fugitive, navigating legal roadblocks, and building a case against a powerful figure, there’s plenty here to appreciate. I just kept wishing the author were a little less me-centric.
I fully understand that there are memoirs of victims’ stories, and I have read a good number of them. I understand this is the investigator’s viewpoint. But in the end, the book felt like a bit of an ego trip, and that angle just felt off to me.
CW / TW:
This piece contains references to:
Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual Assault, Pedophilia, Emotional Abuse, Physical Abuse, Animal Abuse, Death of a Parent, Medical Neglect, Incest
Recommended Age: 18+
