Slonim Woods 9

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A stunning firsthand account reveals the creation of a modern cult under conman Larry Ray and the devastating costs faced by his daughter's college roommates. In September 2010, Talia Ray, a sophomore at Sarah Lawrence College, invited her father, freshly released from prison after a bitter custody dispute, to stay with her and her roommates. No one objected. Larry Ray moved into the communal house, Slonim Woods 9, and over the year, through numerous counseling sessions and "family meetings," he manipulated his daughter's friends into believing he could help them "achieve clarity." Eventually, they relocated to a small Manhattan apartment, where Ray's control escalated through blackmail, extortion, and ritualized humiliation. Daniel Barban Levin, one of the original residents, fell into Ray's web after receiving guidance during a breakup. After enduring two years of psychological, physical, and sexual abuse, Daniel found the strength to escape and reclaim his life. In April 2019, a New York magazine cover story exposed Ray's crimes, leading to his indictment in February 2020 on charges including extortion and sex trafficking. This brave and lyrical memoir chronicles Daniel's journey from campus life to the grip of a megalomaniac, revealing how a group of friends was led into a cult unnoticed.