Here, Krakauer shifts his focus from extremes of physical adventure to extremes of religious belief within the USA. At the core of his book is an appalling double murder committed by a pair of brothers, Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they were commanded to kill by God. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this "divinely inspired" crime, Krakauer constructs a multi-layered, bone-chilling narrative of polygamy, savage violence, and unyielding faith. Along the way he uncovers a shadowy offshoot of America's fastest growing religion, and raises provocative questions about the nature of religious belief. Weaving the story of the Lafferty brothers and their fanatical brethren witha clear-eyed look at Mormonism's violent past, Krakauer examines the underbelly of the United States' most successful home-grown faith, and findsa distinctly American brand of religious extremism. The result is vintage Krakauer, an utterly compelling work of non-fiction that illuminates anotherwise confounding realm of human behaviour.
