The Family

Anne Hamilton-Byrne ran a doomsday cult in Australia. She also effectively stole numerous children, bringing them up as if her own, but with great cruelty. Eventually, the cult was broken up, but she and her accomplices escaped real justice. 'The Cult That Stole Children' is an account of her (moderate) downfall, especially from the perspective of the children eventually released to live their own lives. But it doesn't tell us much about the cult's teachings and the mindset of those who joined it,or the full extent of its social reach (a key factor in its long-term survival). As such, it feels like only part of the story; but it's still a shocking yet fascinating part.