The Family

'The Family is remarkably clear-sighted. The writers have a gift for temperate yet compelling prose that unflinchingly reveals the delusions and unreflective righteousness of much of what emerged from the counterculture. In this book, the best of what journalism should be — honest, unsentimental, incisive — is combined with the craft and storytelling skills of born writers.'

* Christos Tsiolkas *

'Harrowing but humane. An extraordinary story, impeccably researched.'

* Martin McKenzie-Murray *

'It's a remarkable [story]: hair-raising, unfathomable and deeply disturbing.'

* Irish Independent *

‘[A] compelling account of one of Australia’s most notorious cults … The authors trace the extraordinary life of a woman who operated "at the edges of human belief".’

* The Saturday Age *

'A powerful work of investigative journalism ... pieced together in exacting detail'

* Reading Matters *

'Everyone loves a good cult story. And they don't come much better. This is the gripping story behind one of the strangest, most fascinating episodes in Australian history.'

* GQ *

‘Perhaps the most sensational cult story out there, The Family does not disappoint with its examples of both a glittering charismatic leader and its downward spiral of abuse … This story is shocking at every turn except one: the cruelty. And the ultimate destruction of innocent lives.’

-- Joanna Hershon * Electric Literature *

'Immaculately researched ... This important book looks at how (and asks why) these abuses happened, defying the cult’s motto: "unseen, unheard, unknown".'

* Readin