I've read twice but it has been years. After reading the first time I threw it away because it gave me bad vibes. Couldn't help myself (years later) so I ordered again. Still shocking but mostly interesting to re-read. One reviewer said that he wished there was more description of the actual murders....why? Why would you want to go further into the disgusting mindsets? I "saw" plenty just by reading what is there. Book well written.
Great book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
As I first began to read this book, I wasn't sure I'd be able to stomach it, but Edward Humes has written a superb book on Adolfo Constanzo and his "cult". Constanzo, a Cuban-American born in a family where their religion routinely sacrificed animals, was raised to believe he had special powers. In the 1980s, Constanzo moved to Mexico, and read fortunes and performed "cleansings" which involved animal sacrifices to help his clients achieve fame, wealth and protection. Constanzo had some people believing in his magic so strongly that they actually thought they'd be invisible to police and impervious to bullets. As successful as he was, Constanzo wanted more power and money, and turned his energies to drug smuggling. Constanzo became more sadistic and delusional, and justified human sacrifice in order to provide shelter from harm (as well as remove competition), but it didn't stop at murder - he wanted to torture, rape and dismember in the name of his religion. Sadly, 15 victims were found buried near the shed where the rituals occurred, one of whom was American student Mark Kilroy. There's a lot of background on each of his followers, the culture and people of Matamoras, and the Santeria and Palo Mayombe religions. There's also interesting information on Mexican law enforcement and corruption, and the distrust between their agencies and US agencies. I would highly recommend this book.
FREAKIN SCARY AND TRUE!!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
I am from the area where this happened, and i remember seeing this on tv, when they unearthed all the bodies in the Ranch of Santa Elena. To this day, i dont think i've seen a scarier true story of mass murder than this. when i read this book, it literally blew my mind!! i am not easily scared, and this book is scarier than any movie out there. the book covers the early life and up bringing of the cult leader and how he rose to power using magic, and eventually capturing the young blonde spring breaker who was partying in mexico, tortured and killed him along with many many others. i believe it was over 40 bodies that were found, well, peices of them. you really need to read this. it will get you hooked!!
Entretaining
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
Nice book, once you read you don't want to stop, but it needs more description of how the people die, and to enjoy or not enjoy , those descriptions.
Buried Secrets
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
This is a surperb book, I've read it twice and found it so good I went back for thirds! This book covers this religious sacrifices and durg deals made by the charismatic cult leader Adolfo de Jesus Constanzo, a Miami-born ex-altar boy who's love for power and money cause him to form his cult. The religion in which they practice is Santeria, which includes animal sacrifces and in the end, human sacrifices. I highly recomend this book :)
A concise, exploratory tale of witchcraft and drugs.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
The book concerns the Matamoros cult of Adolfo de Jesus Constanzo, the mechanics of how it came to be, and the inevitable end of the participants. The work is extremely well written and factual, with a "nervy" tone creeping up every now and then to make you shiver. The murder of Mark Kilroy is covered sympathetically, without being overly "patriotic". Rare interviews with Constanzo's relatives from other sources have also been included, as well as copious and detailed footnotes. This title is hard to find, but well worth the time and money if you have a curiosity about Santeria and Afro-Carribean religions.
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