Under the Banner of Heaven
by Jon Krakauer
Pan $115
When the subject of religiously inspired bloodshed comes up, most people think of Islamic fundamentalism. But extremists exist in all religions. Some are home-grown corn-fed Americans. Under the Banner of Heaven is a gripping account of Mormon fundamentalists in the American heartland. At the core of this book is the true story of brothers Dan and Ron Lafferty, who murdered their sister-in-law and her 15-month-old daughter in 1984, and claimed God commanded them to do it. Jon Krakauer writes powerfully, without sensationalising. He also uses the case to analyse the psychology of those who embrace fundamentalism. Dan is now in a maximum-security prison. He has never repented his crimes, claiming he is an 'avenging angel' waiting to fulfil his destiny: to be the
one to identify Christ when he returns.