Cave Mountain: A Disappearance and a Reckoning in the Ozarks

This book grew out of an article published in Harper‘s magazine titled “Who Walks Always Beside You?: A Disappearance in Arkansas.” Having read both, I would recommend the article over the book. Personally, I don’t think there was enough material to warrant a close to 304 page book. As a result, “Cave Mountain” is not nearly as engaging as most true crime books. I found it disturbing that the author befriended Mark Harris, the man who set into motion the murder of a three year old girl when he was the 17-year-old prophet of a religious cult, and that he appears to believe his account over that of her mother, who was clearly a victim herself. After Mark Harris alleged that the girl’s mother was the one in control, and was show more the one who sanctioned her murder, the author chose not to follow up with her, even though it was the first time in the history of this 47-year-old crime that such allegations had been made. The author also discounts the recollections of the law-enforcement officer who arrested Mark Harris, about his behavior that day, though he’s clearly a credible source. This would’ve been a much better book, had it been written by someone with journalistic integrity. show less