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 19th 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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 Rebecca Musser (P)2013 Hachette Book Group
Biographies & Memoirs Christianity Religious Studies Women Marriage Mormon Cult Suspenseful Inspiring

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

What listeners say about The Witness Wore Red

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Enjoyable

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.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

riveting true story

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

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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a good FLDS storey

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.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Detailed, revealing and riveting

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

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic telling

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.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good book but a bit long winded

I found the story a bit long and laborious. I also found the narration quite difficult to listen too.

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Power in truth

What an incredible documentation of the courage and sacrifice of one woman to recognise the evil of the slavery and brainwashing she and those in her community lived under, Her daring escape and ultimate further determination to bring those responsible to some justice this side of heaven is inspiring. The heartbreaking realisation that human trafficking and sexual slavery are rampant in the 21st century in modern western countries and how little is done to counter it is sobering and shameful.
Anyone who values human rights and the protection of the vulnerable should listen to this. Rebecca’s ability to see through the manipulation and corruption of religious ideas to suppress others and then discover a true loving faith is hopeful for those that have been damaged in the name of religion st the hand of the evil.
Wow.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating story, unfortunate narration.

Unfortunately I couldn’t finish this book. The story was amazing, and kudos to the author for being brave enough to tell her tale.
However the Texan accent adopted by the narrator for one of the characters in the last half of the book was awful. It was so irritating that I couldn’t listen to 3 more hours of it and deleted the book.

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