Koresh: The True Story of David Koresh and The Tragedy at Waco by Stephan Talty

Koresh: The True Story of David Koresh and the Tragedy at Waco by Stephan Talty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 8 days

Pages - 464

Publisher - Head of Zeus

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Back Cover

"If you think you know what really happened at Waco and why, think again" Bob Kolker
In the Spring of 1993, federal agents raided the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. A 51 -day standoff ensued. Known as the Waco Seige, it has become a founding myth of the extreme wing of American conservatism, invoked by militiamen, gun rights advocates, and the alt-right. The leader of the evangelical sect, an extreme form of Seventh-Day Adventism, was David Koresh.

Koresh is Stephan Talty's extraordinary, meticulous narration of the events that led up to the Waco Massacre. Drawing on new sources, FBI negotiation tapes, and interviews with family and friends, this definitive biography explores how Koresh grew from a young man to a cult leader, and investigates why the siege has become an enduring symbol for radical opponents of the democratic state.

My Review

So I hadn't read or seen anything about Koresh, I had heard maybe a few passing references in crime programmes but just Waco in passing. This was my first real introduction to David Koresh aka Vernon Howell. The book takes us back to the early years, his mum, his birth and life up through to him getting involved in the cult and how he took over becoming David Koresh and everything that transpired after that.

So if you know the story, apparently there is a lot of misinformation about the siege, what happened, what the ATF and FBI did. This book gives verbatim accounts/tape transcriptions/recordings, the surveillance, how each team got involved, even the then President of America, Bill Clinton who was only a month in office at that point.

In Vernon's rise he abused underaged females and when he was deep into Waco and the leader he subjected many of the followers to abuse, violence, gaslighting, manipulation. There are so many dark themes/actions/happenings, so much done because he wielded a power over people, proclaimed messiah/leader. As he gained more followers and "visions" and heard the voice of God he became "more than a human" and his people treated him as such. Things got so dark I had to stop reading halfway through just to get a breather and read a different genre because it was horrific and heartbreaking and I knew it was just going to get darker.

It is mind blowing how one individual could influence and cause so much hurt/chaos/violence and even once Waco was over, more violence happened from different groups/causes/people against law enforcement/the government. I think psychologists would have a field day breaking down the behaviours and control of this individual and the impact he had on many who heard him preach. Like people didn't just give over their cash, sell up and go there, they allowed him to claim multiple wives even if they had a husband in the compound, their underage daughters. It is jaw dropping, even someone who got out, when they met him again even though they were enemies the person had a fondness and great love for him, like *GASP* it is wild, 4/5 for me. It is so interesting but heartbreaking, shocking, stomach turning, prepare yourself going into this one, it is dark.

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The Bertie Project by Alexander McCall Smith

The Bertie Project by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 4 days

Pages -

Publisher -

Source -

Blurb from Goodreads

Once more, we catch up with the delightful goings-on in the fictitious 44 Scotland Street from Alexander McCall Smith . . .

Bertie's respite from his overbearing mother, Irene, is over. She has returned from the middle-east, only to discover that her son has been exposed to the worst evils of cartoons, movies and Irn Bru, and her wrath falls upon her unfortunate husband, Stuart. Meanwhile, Bruce has fallen in love with someone other than himself; Big Lou wants to adopt her beloved Finlay; Matthew and Elspeth host the Duke of Johannesburg for supper and Bertie decides he wants to move out of Scotland Street altogether and live with his grandmother, Nicola.

Can Irene and Stuart's marriage survive? Will Bruce's newfound love last? And will Bertie really leave Scotland Street? Find out in the next instalment of this charming, beloved series.


My Review

So this is like book eleven in the series and normally I say you can read as a standalone but I think knowing the back stories does help for this one. For me, this isn't my favourite so far but it is still enjoyable. Bruce, narcissistic, pretty, lover of noone more than himself has a new lady and he is besotted so this is a turn up for the books and could this be Bruce's karma? Bertie is still long suffering with his mother Irene as is Stuart, his dad but has Stuart finally had enough?

We catch up with the goings on with our favourite and not so favourite characters as they go about their lives and have some dramas and blips as we go. Big Lou, I really like her and would love to see her get her happy ever after.

This book we do see a wee bit of revelations, comeuppance maybe, new characters, dramas as McCall gives us normal every dayisms with a bit of flare/comedy, 3/5.

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The Elephant Girl by Henriette Gyland

The Elephant Girl by Henriette Gyland
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read -

Pages - 400

Publisher - Choc Lit

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

Peek-a-boo I see you…
When five-year-old Helen Stephens witnesses her mother’s murder, her whole world comes crumbling down. Rejected by her extended family, Helen is handed over to child services and learns to trust no-one but herself. Twenty years later, her mother’s killer is let out of jail, and Helen swears vengeance.

Jason Moody runs a halfway house, desperate to distance himself from his father’s gangster dealings. But when Helen shows up on his doorstep, he decides to dig into her past, and risks upsetting some very dangerous people.

As Helen begins to question what really happened to her mother, Jason is determined to protect her. But Helen is getting too close to someone who’ll stop at nothing to keep the truth hidden …


My Review

Helen is five years old and has Epilepsy, Helen is the only "witness" to her mothers murder however she only has fragmented confused bits of memory. Now twenty years later Helen is a different person, estranged from her family and in India. When the family reaches out, only one thing could bring her home, her mums killer is out of jail and Helen wants revenge.

The book is a bit different, our main character has always been treated poorly due to her condition which has made her keep every one at arms length. Now faced with her past she will do what she has to to get revenge for her mum. She gets into a halfway house, amidst her mission she finds herself drawn to Jason, the guy who runs the house. Jason has some shady links to his past and Helen could find herself in more trouble than she expected.

The book has some shady characters, a few threads/themes and the thing I think that maes this one different is getting a character who lives with seizures. We see how she copes, what triggers her and in turn how she keeps herself away from others, relationships and how your path can start one way and end up on a very different road.

I liked it I didn't love it, it was interesting and had a few colourful characters, this was my first read by this author, I would read her again, 3/5.

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