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Growing up, David Crow believed his Cherokee father was a war hero. He was actually a violent ex-con—and he turned his own son into an accomplice.

Spur Award Winner for Best Western First Nonfiction Book • Spur Award Finalist for Best Western Contemporary Nonfiction • IPPY Silver Award for Best Memoir • Next Generation Indie Award for Best Memoir (Overcoming Adversity) • International Book Award for Best True Crime • Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal, Nonfiction Drama

David and his three siblings grew up on the Navajo Indian Reservation idolizing their father, a self-taught Cherokee who dazzled them with stories of his World War II feats. But over time, David discovered the chilling truth: Thurston Crow was an ex-con and pathological liar whose twisted moral code justified cruelty, violence—even murder.

Using beatings and intimidation, Thurston forced him to carry out his criminal bidding. David’s mother, crippled by mental illness, was unable to protect him.

Through sheer determination, he carved out a life of his own, putting himself through college and building a successful career. When he finally found the courage to refuse his father’s demands, he unwittingly ignited a deadly plot of revenge.

David had only twenty-four hours to outsmart him—the brilliant, psychotic man who bragged that the three years he spent in the notorious San Quentin State Prison had been the easiest time of his life.

Raw, unflinching, and impossible to put down, The Pale-Faced Lie is a memoir of survival, resilience, and the staggering cost of escaping the grip of a dangerous parent.

“Both gut-wrenching and inspiring.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Empowering missive about the long shadow cast by an abusive parent.”—Publishers Weekly

“For fans of Tara Westover’s Educated, The Pale-Faced Lie . . . is a disturbing yet captivating memoir about how one man’s psychotic delusions can imprison an entire family.”—New York Journal of Books

From the Publisher

Dad understoon my frailties, insecurities, and fears. He had created them.Dad understoon my frailties, insecurities, and fears. He had created them.

You can't change your childhood, but you can let it go.You can't change your childhood, but you can let it go.

No tie is as strong as family, making it the hardest one to break.No tie is as strong as family, making it the hardest one to break.

Publishers Weekly, a truthful and empowering missive about the long shadow cast by an abusive parentPublishers Weekly, a truthful and empowering missive about the long shadow cast by an abusive parent

San Quentin mugshot of Thurston Crow, David Crow's fatherSan Quentin mugshot of Thurston Crow, David Crow's father

Captivating memoir of how one man's psychopathic delusions can imprison an entire familyCaptivating memoir of how one man's psychopathic delusions can imprison an entire family

From Anne Hillerman. A powerful testimony to the enduring strength of the human spirit.From Anne Hillerman. A powerful testimony to the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Kirkus. Cinematically gripping. Both gut-wrenching and inspiring.Kirkus. Cinematically gripping. Both gut-wrenching and inspiring.

From Jeff Guinn. I promise that you've never read a book quite like this one.From Jeff Guinn. I promise that you've never read a book quite like this one.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sandra Jonas Publishing
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 14, 2019
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 356 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0997487151
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0997487152
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.89 x 8.5 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #26,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #9 in Crime & Criminal Biographies #30 in Child Abuse (Books) #50 in Survival Biographies
Customer Reviews: 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (25,251) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });