Rating: 
Summary: Cults and Cover-ups
Review: It's interesting that several readers gave this very fine book only one star--that indicates to me that there is an emotional/religious bias that prevents a "believer" from seeing the truth. This horrific story boils down to a telling of the depths human beings can reach as they justify horrendous acts against others. It brings to mind Jim Jone's cult which thrived on persecution --and a psychology of being persecuted-- and cruelty. In both cultures, apostates were hounded. And in both, blame is directed elsewhere.
Denton's book is a true cautionary tale that should warn us all about blindly following a leader, be (s)he political or religious. The true antidote to such tragedies is to inculcate true values in our children: Think for yourselves, recognize brainwashing, and be ever so leery of any leader who tells you otherwise.
This is an example of confronting a historical event straight-on, and not sugar-coating or exonerating the perpetrators. We need more of this in American History, because out school textbooks tell only the sugar coated versions--so as to socialize children into believing that our country/religion/leaders, etc. can do not wrong.
Rating: 
Summary: Incredible historical event, but some bias is evident
Review: Ms. Denton writes about the Mountain Meadows Massacre with a great deal of passion and an incredible amount of detail. She does a nice job providing a historical preface, providing a backdrop of religious persecution endured by Mormons on their journey westward. However, this preface begins to blur into a seemingly evident bias against Mormons in general, and Joseph Smith and Brigham Young in particular.
The narrative is well written and the tension leading up to the massacre is described in gripping detail. Ms. Denton does a great job of using secondary resources to support her accounts of the massacre, but lacks a sufficient number of primary sources to convincingly make her argument that Brigham Young was directly involved. It seems that secondary sources that agree with her premise are used, while those that contradict her are ignored or casually cast off.
As it stands, this book is a chilling account of the largest civilian tragedy on American soil until the Oklahoma City bombings. However, in the end, Denton seems to have an axe to grind with Mormonism and that feeling overwhelms the very good account of the actual massacre.
Rating: 
Summary: Must had needed the money
Review: My, my, what a waste of my reading time. After much research on my own, I could've written a more detailed book myself...and probably more interesting.To many details left out or sugar coated. It seemed to me Sally read some other titles and pulled out items of interest to her and leafed together a book with a title that she knew would sell. Where was her editor? Shame on him or her.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, Brave History Hot as Today's Headlines
Review: Political thriller, historical drama, crime and coverup, love and hate, disaster and redemption--Sally Denton's fast-paced, beautifully written account of the Mountain Meadow Massacre has it all. For a century-and-a-half, the worst atrocity of its kind in American annals went so little or marginally written about that it was one of our history's dirty secrets. But now Denton, a nationally-honored author and investigative journalist, gives it the definitive book it deserves--an achievement all the more impressive because of the courage and wisdom it took in a woman who is herself a descendant of Mormon pioneers. Terrorism and religious fanaticism hardly began with Islamic radicals September 11, 2001. It's as American as apple pie and massacre in a lovely Utah meadow. No history is more relevant to understanding our world, our America. Don't miss this one!
Rating:
Summary: Bagley's Blood of the Prophets a Better Investment
Review: Sally Denton has written an eminently readable and interesting book about the Mountain Meadows massacre. She says this is the book she always knew she would write. Unfortunately for her, she didn't write it before Will Bagley released his utterly masterful "Blood of the Prophets" because Denton's book pales in comparison. She also makes numerous careless errors that can only be attributed to sloppiness. Since she only provides footnotes for her direct quotes, it's hard to check many of her facts, a situation that will only frustrate those who wish to continue this research. If your attention span is limited, if you only want a broad overview of the massacre, then Denton will probably satisfy you. But if you really want to know what happened at Mountain Meadows, invest in Will Bagley's book. It will reward you with a better understanding of the forces that led to this massacre, its cover-up, and the continuing denial of the LDS church.
Rating:
Summary: American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows, Septemb
Review: Sally Denton's book is a well written, incisive look at the Mountain Meadows massacre in southern Utah during a turbulent political time in our nation's history. Her research and documentation set the stage for the massacre within the context of historical figures and events. The reader can understand why the tragic massacre has not seen the light of day that so many scholars and citizens alike feel it deserves. A good read.
Rating:
Summary: SEPTEMBER 11, 1857
Review: SEPTEMBER 11, 1857
The book, "American Massacre" by Sally Denton is an excellent coverage of one of our country's most notable occurrences, worthy of recognition on a grand scale. To this day in Utah, the event has been avoided by the LDS like a "Hot Potato", Why?
During my 30+ years within the walls of the LDS church I did not hear mention of the massacred and blood atoned. I heard mostly about how members were persecuted by gentiles. In fact I knew little of the truth regarding the rich history of "Loving your neighbor" as Brigham so carefully taught at the pulpit.
"THIS IS LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is NECESSARY TO SPILL HIS BLOOD on the earth in order that he may be saved, SPILL IT..." (Sermon by Brigham Young, delivered in the Mormon Tabernacle, Feb. 8, 1857, printed in the Deseret News, Feb. 18, 1857; also reprinted in the Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, pp. 219-220)
Brigham Young also taught: "I know, when you hear my brethren telling about CUTTING PEOPLE OFF FROM THE EARTH, that you consider it is strong doctrine, but it is to SAVE them, not to destroy them.... (Sermon by Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,Vol. 4, pages 53-54; also published in the Deseret News, 1856, page 235)
Some have passed off such as a "myth", but as I am separating myself from Mormonism in search of truth, the substance of the foundation is unfolding.
Mountain Meadows Massacre was the largest wholesale murder of unarmed, innocent men, women and children (performed by Americans) in American History, unparalleled until the recent bombing of the Federal building.
The well orchestrated procedure was performed in a most brutal and unthinkable manner, utilizing a white flag to lure an injured, hungry and thirsty people into trusting the local Mormon Elders with their lives. Ultimately as one participant noted - the majority of the act took less than three minutes as he remembered glancing at his pocket watch. Afterwards the twisted bodies lay, embedded into the landscape as a testament to the reality of Young's despotism.
We broke down in tears as we read about the moment of realization for those poor people who faced the territory's priesthood wielding men... "doing their duty".
The Baker/Fauncher belongings and some of the children who survived, were dispersed among the "faithful", an investment to the foundation of a religion which even today, claims to be the one and only "true" church.
Sally has painstakingly shared the event in a clear, concise, well documented manner, establishing an important part of history to be presented openly to America. She strongly noted this book is based on historical fact. She lays a foundation showing the history leading up to and following the event, giving the reader an extremely clear picture of what really happened there.
Excellent documentary.
Eric Hoff
Rating:
Summary: Breezy, Journalistic, and . . .
Review: shallow. This is not a serious history book. It is thesis-driven exposé journalism at its least impressive and most unconvincing. Juanita Brooks remains the premier historian of the tragedy at Mountain Meadows.
Rating: 
Summary: General Pop History of a Tragic Event
Review: The Mountain Meadows Massacre should, and must, be a better know event in American history than it is currently. Between this book and the very good Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, the horrific events of September 11, 1857 will become better known. Sally Denton, in American Massacre (The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows, September 1857) tells a fast-paced story from as many viewpoints as she can. Importantly, she provides a thorough context in which to place the events. Most of the details are covered, albeit in a briefer manner, in Krakauer's book but in much larger context. Denton's book could have benefited from an examination of the effects of the massacre beyond the decade of its occurrence in order to show the ways in which the details have been covered up and obscured since that time by the Mormon Church and its state of Utah. An important look at a defining moment in American history.
Rating:
Summary: 35 pages of endnotes with sources
Review: The purpose of this review is to politely correct a misleading assertion made by another reviewer (review from 8/13/03). This reader claimed the book lacked footnotes. In reality, there are about 35 pages of endnotes (pp 245-279), and also a bibliography listing well over 200 sources including books, U.S. government documents, periodical and newspaper articles, LDS church documents, papers, diaries, manuscripts, and letters. Technically true, there aren't footnotes (it would indeed be nice to see the sources at the bottom of the page where they're referenced). However, prospective readers should know that the book provides an abundance of documentation for its claims. This is the first book I've read about Mountain Meadows, so I don't feel qualified to talk about whether or not Ms. Denton draws fair conclusions from her sources, or whether she makes use of the most appropriate sources. In conclusion, I recommend this book to other readers, as long as they know this book provides only one of several opposing viewpoints about this chapter in U.S. history.
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