Without a Prayer, Susan Ashline
Without a Prayer, Susan Ashline
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Without a Prayer
The Death of Lucas Leonard and How One Church Became a Cult

Author: Susan Ashline

Narrator: Hillary Huber

Unabridged: 13 hr 39 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 12/09/2019

Synopsis

Teenager Lucas Leonard made shocking admissions in front of the altar?he'd practiced witchcraft, conspired to murder his parents, and committed unspeakable crimes. The confessions earned him a brutal beating by a gang of angry church members, including his parents and sister. Lucas was brought to the hospital dead, awakening the sleepy community of Chadwicks, New York, to the horror that had been lurking next door. Nine members of Lucas' church would eventually find themselves facing murder-related charges. But how did they get to that point? And what made Lucas confess? The full story has never been tolduntil now. Emmy-nominated journalist Susan Ashline delves deep into the Leonard family history, the darkness within the Word of Life Christian Church, and what led Lucas, his family, and his community to that fateful night.

About Susan Ashline

Susan Ashline's journalism career spans more than twenty-five years and includes news reporting for most of the major television networks. She has covered everything from breaking news to politics. Her long-time role as a court correspondent sparked a deep interest in law and the judicial process. Susan has worked as a radio reporter, talk show host, television news anchor, magazine editor, website manager, and staff newspaper columnist for publishing juggernaut, Gannett. Her work has received major awards, including an Emmy nomination for a public broadcasting societal concerns program, a first place Associated Press award for general excellence in individual reporting, and a Gold Medal Award for Democrat and Chronicle online excellence. She graduated from Gloversville High School (New York), earned a BS in mass communications from the University of Massachusetts, and studied at the University of New Mexico and State University of New York.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Ashley

This is without a single doubt, the most disturbing and traumatizing book involving a religion turned cult that I have ever read. Word of warning, this book is not for the faint of heart, it is brutal and graphic and there are A LOT of potential triggers throughout. It feels weird giving such a book......more

Goodreads review by Dan

Susan Ashline's WITHOUT A PRAYER: THE DEATH OF LUCAS LEONARD AND HOW ONE CHURCH BECAME A CULT is a tough read, for more than one reason. Detailing the history of the Leonard family and their association with the Word of Life Christian Church, and the events that lead up to the torture and murder of......more

Goodreads review by Lori

This book was very compelling and well written, organized in sections about the histories of the various families and churches involved so it made it easy to really sink into the dynamics of this small group of people under the sway of not one but TWO cult leaders, father and daughter. I did think t......more

Goodreads review by Bookreporter.com

In October 2015, a vehicle arrived at an emergency room in central New York with a severely beaten young man inside. Lucas Leonard had died before he was brought to the hospital by family members and those in his church community. Hospital employees knew right away that something was off about the s......more

Goodreads review by Kristel

Without A Prayer by Susan Ashline deftly broadens the scope of the true crime genre, delving into the intricacies of how and why noble people can become criminals within the confines of a religious cult. Readers must maintain an open mind throughout the book, giving attention to detail, as the autho......more

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