Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming
Published by Anne Schwartz Books on April 29, 2025
ISBN: 0593480066
Genres: History, Non-Fiction
Format: Nonfiction
Goodreads

“Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid” has been part of pop culture vernacular for decades but does anyone remember to which horrific event this warning refers? Candace Fleming examines the facts and breaks down the myths, including the origin of erroneous Kool-Aid warning, in this clear-eyed account of the 1978 Jonestown Massacre, where more than 900 people died at the insistence of fringe group leader, Jim Jones.

Fleming examines every aspect of this true crime, from the pejorative use of the word ‘cult’ in describing The Peoples Temple, et al., to interviewing survivors about their personal reasons for joining the group and the impact it’s had on their lives. Fleming maintains that anyone could have been drawn in by the charismatic Jones, a white man who wanted to create a space where people of all colors and classes could work together to fight poverty and racism. She uses the narrative to demonstrate how at first, Jones used his power for good but eventually power, lust, and greed mixed with mental illness and paranoia led to Jones creating a destructive group closed off from the outside world in a jungle in Guyana. Dissatisfaction from within and inquiries from without led to California Congressman Leo Ryan visiting the Temple’s compound and setting off the tinderbox that became one of the worst mass killings outside of way in US history.

Fleming never sensationalizes this captivating story. A character index, plethora of photographs and other images, plus a robust bibliography help make this title accessible. Hand it to people who love true crimes or use it to explain groupthink. Highly recommended.

Review written and submitted by Melissa M. Orth, Richmond Middle High School, Richmond, ME