In the Spring of 1993, federal agents raided the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. A 51-day standoff ensued. Known as the Waco Siege, it has become a founding myth of the extreme wing of American conservatism, invoked by militiamen, gun rights advocates, and the alt-right.The leader of the evangelical sect, an extreme form of Seventh-Day Adventism, was David Koresh. Born Vernon Howell, he was a preacher, interpreter of the Bible, and obsessed with the coming of the Apocalypse. A charismatic but highly volatile man, he was a former victim of sexual abuse who himself became a sexual predator on a large scale, exploiting many of the women in his compound.Koresh is Stephan Talty's extraordinary, meticulous narration of the events that led up to the Waco Siege. Drawing on new sources, FBI negotiation tapes, and interviews with family and friends, this definitive biography explores how Koresh grew from a young man to a cult leader, and investigates why the siege has become an enduring symbol for radical opponents of the democratic state.
Talty Stephan Book order
Stephan Talty is a New York Times bestselling author renowned for his compelling narrative nonfiction. He excels at bringing to life extraordinary individuals and pivotal historical moments through vivid storytelling. Talty's work often explores themes of human resilience and daring acts during critical junctures. Drawing on extensive journalistic experience, his writing immerses readers in suspenseful, fact-based accounts.






- 2023
- 2020
The Good Assassin
- 320 pages
- 12 hours of reading
New in paperback - The thrilling true story of an Israel spy's epic journey to bring the notorious Butcher of Latvia to justice. A page-turner to rival anything by John le Carre, this real-life tale of espionage will leave readers on the edge of their seats.
- 2019
Saving Bravo
- 336 pages
- 12 hours of reading
The untold story of the most important rescue mission not just of the Vietnam War, but the entire Cold War: one American aviator, who knew our most important secrets, crashed behind enemy lines and was sought by the entire North Vietnamese and Russian military machines. One Navy SEAL and his Vietnamese partner had to sneak past them all to save him.
- 2018
SAVING BRAVO THE GREATEST RESCUE MISSION
- 313 pages
- 11 hours of reading
At the height of the Vietnam War, Lt. Colonel Gene Hambleton's memory was filled with highly classified information that the Soviets and North Vietnamese badly want. When Hambleton was shot down in the midst of North Vietnam's Easter Offensive, US forces placed the entire war on hold to save a single man hiding amongst 30,000 enemy troops and tanks. After other missions fail, Navy SEAL Thomas Norris and his Vietnamese guide, Nguyen Van Kiet, volunteer to go in on foot. Talty describes the riveting story of one of the greatest rescue missions in the history of the Special Forces. -- adapted from jacket
- 2014
Hangman (Absalom Kearney 2)
- 377 pages
- 14 hours of reading
Detective Absalom Kearney returns in this chilling, compelling standout crime thriller for fans of Tana French, Dennis Lehane and Jo Nesbo
- 2013
Agent Garbo
- 336 pages
- 12 hours of reading
-The book presses ever forward down a path of historical marvels and astonishing facts. The effect is like a master class that's accessible to anyone, and Agent Garbo often reads as though it were written in a single, perfect draft.---The Atlantic Before
- 2013
A compelling, standout crime thriller for fans of Jo Nesbo, Tana French and Dennis Lehane.
- 2008
Empire of Blue Water
- 336 pages
- 12 hours of reading
The real Pirates of the Caribbean -- a swashbuckling slice of history that thrillingly re-creates the den of iniquity that was the pirates' HQ, Port Royal in Jamaica, and its bloody demise.