The Witness Wore Red cover art

The Witness Wore Red

The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice

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The Witness Wore Red

By: Rebecca Musser, M. Bridget Cook
Narrated by: Rebecca Musser
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About this listen

 You've watched Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey, the top 5 true-crime docuseries on Netflix. Now discover the revealing memoir of one woman featured in the series who was forced into polygamous marriage and her brave struggle to protect others from the same fate.

Rebecca Musser grew up in fear, concealing her family's polygamous lifestyle from the "dangerous" outside world. Covered head-to-toe in strict, modest clothing, she received a rigorous education at Alta Academy, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' school headed by Warren Jeffs. Always seeking to be an obedient Priesthood girl, in her teens she became the nineteenth wife of her people's prophet: 85-year-old Rulon Jeffs, Warren's father. Finally sickened by the abuse she suffered and saw around her, she pulled off a daring escape and sought to build a new life and family.

The church, however, had a way of pulling her back in-and by 2007, Rebecca had no choice but to take the witness stand against the new prophet of the FLDS in order to protect her little sisters and other young girls from being forced to marry at shockingly young ages. The following year, Rebecca and the rest of the world watched as a team of Texas Rangers raided the Yearning for Zion Ranch, a stronghold of the FLDS. Rebecca's subsequent testimony would reveal the horrific secrets taking place behind closed doors of the temple, sending their leaders to prison for years, and Warren Jeffs for life.

The Witness Wore Red is a gripping account of one woman's struggle to escape the perverse embrace of religious fanaticism and sexual slavery, and a courageous story of hope and transformation. Christianity Women Marriage Mormon Suspenseful Inspiring Biography

Critic Reviews

"Compelling . . . the book speaks to the ways isolation, fear and secrecy can shelter insidious abuses until someone has the courage to step forward as a witness."—Kirkus Reviews
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I love FDLS, and other books and have read multiple books on the topic. The Witness Wore Red is one of the better books I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and couldn’t put it down. I enjoy how the writer goes into detail about Rebecca’s time in the FDLS, and was surprised that the book maintained my thorough interest during the closing chapters where I’m usually ready to put the book down as it loses its momentum, and I lose interest. It was fascinating from start to finish.
Honestly, only downside was the audio reading of the book, however it definitely wasn’t bad enough to not want to continue listening, and I don’t hold it against her in the slightest. In fact I got a giggle at the way Rebecca reads, and translates the Texan accent, as well as a few other moments throughout the book.

Enjoyable

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What did you like most about The Witness Wore Red?

the story

What did you like best about this story?

the fact that it was true

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

the narrator/author wasnt the best, cant expect too much as she is the author and isnt educated in the art of narration

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

riveting true story

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I love a good cult story and this personal account is beautifully and honestly told. Thank you to to author for being so open with her experience. I could not stop listening, despite being familiar with the current affairs surrounding the FLDS church I could not stop listening to this audiobook.

a good FLDS storey

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I couldn’t stop listening and don’t think I’ll read another book on the subject containing more detail!

Detailed, revealing and riveting

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Rebecca told her story with dignity. It was well written and made me want to read more. A lot of the time flds survivor books are jumpy and switch back and forth. I didn’t find this book did that.

Fantastic telling

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