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White Hot Hate: A True Story of Domestic Terrorism in America’s Heartland
For fans of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, the thrilling true story of a would-be terrorist attack against a Kansas farming town’s immigrant community, and the FBI informant who exposed it.
In the spring of 2016, as immigration debates rocked the United States, three men in a militia group known as the Crusaders grew aggravated over one Kansas town’s growing Somali community. They decided that complaining about their new neighbors and threatening them directly wasn’t enough. The men plotted to bomb a mosque, aiming to kill hundreds and inspire other attacks against Muslims in America. But they would wait until after the presidential election so that their actions wouldn’t hurt Donald Trump’s chances of winning.
An FBI informant befriended the three men, acting as law enforcement’s eyes and ears for eight months. His secretly taped conversations with the militia were pivotal in obstructing their plans and were a linchpin in the resulting trial and convictions for conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction.
White Hot Hate tells the riveting true story of an averted case of domestic terrorism in one of the most remote towns in the U.S., not far from the infamous town where Capote’s In Cold Blood was set. In the gripping details of this foiled scheme, the chilling, immediate threat of domestic terrorism—and racist anxiety in America— is writ large.
In the spring of 2016, as immigration debates rocked the United States, three men in a militia group known as the Crusaders grew aggravated over one Kansas town’s growing Somali community. They decided that complaining about their new neighbors and threatening them directly wasn’t enough. The men plotted to bomb a mosque, aiming to kill hundreds and inspire other attacks against Muslims in America. But they would wait until after the presidential election so that their actions wouldn’t hurt Donald Trump’s chances of winning.
An FBI informant befriended the three men, acting as law enforcement’s eyes and ears for eight months. His secretly taped conversations with the militia were pivotal in obstructing their plans and were a linchpin in the resulting trial and convictions for conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction.
White Hot Hate tells the riveting true story of an averted case of domestic terrorism in one of the most remote towns in the U.S., not far from the infamous town where Capote’s In Cold Blood was set. In the gripping details of this foiled scheme, the chilling, immediate threat of domestic terrorism—and racist anxiety in America— is writ large.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published November 9, 2021
About the author
Dick Lehr
25 books99 followersDick Lehr is a professor of journalism at Boston University. From 1985 to 2003, he was a reporter at the Boston Globe, where he was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in investigative reporting and won numerous regional and national journalism awards. He served as the Globe's legal affairs reporter, magazine and feature writer, and as a longtime member of the newspaper's investigative reporting unit, the Spotlight Team. Before that, Lehr, who is also an attorney, was a reporter at The Hartford Courant.
Lehr is the author of The Fence: A Police Cover-up Along Boston's Racial Divide, a non-fiction narrative about the worst known case of police brutality in Boston, which was an Edgar Award finalist for best non-fiction. He is coauthor of the New York Times bestseller and Edgar Award winner Black Mass: Whitey Bulger, the FBI and a Devil's Deal, and its sequel, Whitey: The Life of America's Most Notorious Mob Boss.
Lehr was a John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University in 1991-1992. He lives outside Boston with his wife and four children.
Lehr is the author of The Fence: A Police Cover-up Along Boston's Racial Divide, a non-fiction narrative about the worst known case of police brutality in Boston, which was an Edgar Award finalist for best non-fiction. He is coauthor of the New York Times bestseller and Edgar Award winner Black Mass: Whitey Bulger, the FBI and a Devil's Deal, and its sequel, Whitey: The Life of America's Most Notorious Mob Boss.
Lehr was a John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University in 1991-1992. He lives outside Boston with his wife and four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
December 17, 2021
This true story all starts with a cookout. Danny Day’s buddy said that he was having a little get-together for pro-gun Christians, and that sounded right up Dan’s alley. However, when he got there, he was introduced to men who were pro-gun but definitely not pro-gun-safety, and who were “Trump Christians”, not “Jesus Christians”.
While Dan is with this group of men, talk starts to turn towards people of the Muslim faith, specifically a large Somali population in Garden City, Kansas. It is not loving talk. The Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando had just happened, and the anti-Islamic rhetoric is in full swing. (I don’t think they cared about the gay community, they just cared that a Muslim was the shooter.)
As Dan sits through this cookout-turned-white-supremacy-meeting, he starts to realize that these people are serious about their hatred, and very serious about causing harm to the town’s Muslim population. Long story short, he becomes an informant for the FBI, and begins recording his conversations with these men.
I don’t think most people know that many small Midwestern towns have relatively large refugee populations. Garden City was once a predominantly white town, but the low cost of living and availability of jobs at meatpacking plants brought refugees and immigrants from all over. By the time Trump is starting his run for president, the town’s people of color are now the majority.
Most people are fine with this, but there is this group who have a major problem with the Somali population, and Muslims in general. They see themselves as Crusaders, on a mission for Jesus. They hype each other up, harass people of color in town, stalk the store where people shop for African merchandise and even talk freely about the desire to kill Muslim children.
For almost a year, Dan attended meetings, joined militia groups and gathered all the information he could. As long as he pretended to have the same fervent hate as everyone else, and he didn’t entrap anyone, he was golden - these are his friends. Well, they WERE his friends, until he got a good look at their hearts.
Once Trump came on the political scene, it really put this group into action … they wanted to do something big. Something to inspire others across the country. Something Trump would approve of. These men revered men like Alex Jones. They wanted a religious war, and they were going to start with bombing the two mosques and if possible, any apartment buildings in town that rent to Somalis.
They were waiting until Trump was elected so they wouldn’t hurt his chances, but they spent their time gathering munitions and learning about explosives. Soon, another FBI informant named “Brian” is brought in as the Muslim-hating explosives expert willing to trade explosives for meth. Along with Dan, they gather enough evidence to thwart this plot. They were successful, as you know if you remember this happening, and they saved hundreds of lives with their bravery and integrity.
This book goes through that first informal cookout, then through all the meetings and things that were said in them. It goes through the FBI’s entire investigation, and everything that leads up to the arrests. Then it goes through their trials and how each member of the group ended up (one was also found with child porn - the cherry on top of the pile of shit.)
It’s horrifyingly fascinating to read actual things these men talk about. I think they really did believe that they were making their country better and making God proud. You see these types at Trump rallies, you see them in YouTube videos taken by people of color being harassed, and all you can see in their eyes is anger. HATE. Rage. This book even talks about the insurrection on January 6; these were just three men taken down. How many more are there? (Turns out the “Q-Anon Shaman” wasn’t the first to blame his actions on Trump’s speeches - these guys tried that too. And also failed.)
This book is great. There is no commentary outside of the author’s opening note. These are all the actual recordings, texts, etc., that were gathered by Dan and used as evidence in court. There are also pictures of all involved, along with pictures of important locations and events.
My only complaint is that it’s very long (kind of like my review? 😬) … I don’t mind a long book, but this was wordy and some things could have been left out without changing the impact of the story. I’m giving this 4.5 stars, rounded down for that and a bit of dryness, but make no mistake - I highly recommend this true crime story as a frank and up-close look at racism in America.
(Thank you to Mariner Books, Dick Lehr and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
While Dan is with this group of men, talk starts to turn towards people of the Muslim faith, specifically a large Somali population in Garden City, Kansas. It is not loving talk. The Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando had just happened, and the anti-Islamic rhetoric is in full swing. (I don’t think they cared about the gay community, they just cared that a Muslim was the shooter.)
As Dan sits through this cookout-turned-white-supremacy-meeting, he starts to realize that these people are serious about their hatred, and very serious about causing harm to the town’s Muslim population. Long story short, he becomes an informant for the FBI, and begins recording his conversations with these men.
I don’t think most people know that many small Midwestern towns have relatively large refugee populations. Garden City was once a predominantly white town, but the low cost of living and availability of jobs at meatpacking plants brought refugees and immigrants from all over. By the time Trump is starting his run for president, the town’s people of color are now the majority.
Most people are fine with this, but there is this group who have a major problem with the Somali population, and Muslims in general. They see themselves as Crusaders, on a mission for Jesus. They hype each other up, harass people of color in town, stalk the store where people shop for African merchandise and even talk freely about the desire to kill Muslim children.
For almost a year, Dan attended meetings, joined militia groups and gathered all the information he could. As long as he pretended to have the same fervent hate as everyone else, and he didn’t entrap anyone, he was golden - these are his friends. Well, they WERE his friends, until he got a good look at their hearts.
Once Trump came on the political scene, it really put this group into action … they wanted to do something big. Something to inspire others across the country. Something Trump would approve of. These men revered men like Alex Jones. They wanted a religious war, and they were going to start with bombing the two mosques and if possible, any apartment buildings in town that rent to Somalis.
They were waiting until Trump was elected so they wouldn’t hurt his chances, but they spent their time gathering munitions and learning about explosives. Soon, another FBI informant named “Brian” is brought in as the Muslim-hating explosives expert willing to trade explosives for meth. Along with Dan, they gather enough evidence to thwart this plot. They were successful, as you know if you remember this happening, and they saved hundreds of lives with their bravery and integrity.
This book goes through that first informal cookout, then through all the meetings and things that were said in them. It goes through the FBI’s entire investigation, and everything that leads up to the arrests. Then it goes through their trials and how each member of the group ended up (one was also found with child porn - the cherry on top of the pile of shit.)
It’s horrifyingly fascinating to read actual things these men talk about. I think they really did believe that they were making their country better and making God proud. You see these types at Trump rallies, you see them in YouTube videos taken by people of color being harassed, and all you can see in their eyes is anger. HATE. Rage. This book even talks about the insurrection on January 6; these were just three men taken down. How many more are there? (Turns out the “Q-Anon Shaman” wasn’t the first to blame his actions on Trump’s speeches - these guys tried that too. And also failed.)
This book is great. There is no commentary outside of the author’s opening note. These are all the actual recordings, texts, etc., that were gathered by Dan and used as evidence in court. There are also pictures of all involved, along with pictures of important locations and events.
My only complaint is that it’s very long (kind of like my review? 😬) … I don’t mind a long book, but this was wordy and some things could have been left out without changing the impact of the story. I’m giving this 4.5 stars, rounded down for that and a bit of dryness, but make no mistake - I highly recommend this true crime story as a frank and up-close look at racism in America.
(Thank you to Mariner Books, Dick Lehr and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
August 16, 2021
I have an alternative title for this book. "Morons in Motion". It's the story of three guys (the morons), who are infected with an incredible hatred of people who are not like them. In this case, the Somali residents of a small Kansas town. They band together and join a local "militia" group. Together the three wind themselves up, reinforcing each others prejudices and hatreds, until they decide that, in the name of "patriotism" something has to be done. They decide what better way to become famous (infamous?) than to use a bomb to blow up Somali men, women, and children.
The book is told through the use of an undercover citizen who infiltrates the Morons and keeps the FBI abreast of their plans. Thank goodness for this citizen, or else who knows what may have happened.
The planning of the Morons would be comical, if it was not so dangerous. Talk about leaving a trail of bread crumbs to be followed, these guys couldn't hide their intentions at all.
The book leads one to ponder on the "militias" currently operating in the United States. To me, it seems to be a bunch of unhappy white guys, disappointed that they have not "made it big". Rather than try to improve themselves through education, work, etc., they decide it is much easier to blame "others" for their plight. The "others" being blacks, latinos, any foreigners, bankers, educated people, or basically anyone not like them. I guess these people have always been amongst us, take Archie Bunker for one. The difference today is that they have social media to connect with each other, and to ramp up and reinforce their prejudices. It's frightening, the collective power they develop amongst themselves. All under the guise of patriotism and freedom.
We have been fortunate that most of these groups are incompetent, and can't seem to get out of their own way. We're very fortunate that there are brave citizens, like the main character of this book, to help our law enforcement take these losers down before they act.
I really enjoyed this book. I know these militias are out there, but it was refreshing to read how utterly stupid they can be. Let's hope that continues to be the case.
The book is told through the use of an undercover citizen who infiltrates the Morons and keeps the FBI abreast of their plans. Thank goodness for this citizen, or else who knows what may have happened.
The planning of the Morons would be comical, if it was not so dangerous. Talk about leaving a trail of bread crumbs to be followed, these guys couldn't hide their intentions at all.
The book leads one to ponder on the "militias" currently operating in the United States. To me, it seems to be a bunch of unhappy white guys, disappointed that they have not "made it big". Rather than try to improve themselves through education, work, etc., they decide it is much easier to blame "others" for their plight. The "others" being blacks, latinos, any foreigners, bankers, educated people, or basically anyone not like them. I guess these people have always been amongst us, take Archie Bunker for one. The difference today is that they have social media to connect with each other, and to ramp up and reinforce their prejudices. It's frightening, the collective power they develop amongst themselves. All under the guise of patriotism and freedom.
We have been fortunate that most of these groups are incompetent, and can't seem to get out of their own way. We're very fortunate that there are brave citizens, like the main character of this book, to help our law enforcement take these losers down before they act.
I really enjoyed this book. I know these militias are out there, but it was refreshing to read how utterly stupid they can be. Let's hope that continues to be the case.
July 1, 2021
My review is going to be in sections.
The first 30% of this book, I could NOT put it down. I was so intrigued on what was happening, how the town of Garden CIty Kansas got many Somali refugees, and being introduced to the main players of the terrorism plot, how they got involved etc.
It was riveting. I loved that the author took the time to give background information on the main players and included some of the intended victims to make a more human story.
From 30% to 90% of the book completed was a big mess of meetings, guns, talk, explosives, guns, meetings, meetings, meetings.
I felt that it got very repetitious and needed to be edited.
The last 10% of the book was another almost overview of everything that had happened and the judgments against the terrorists.
Overall the book had a great subject but was bogged down in too many meetings, details that were irrelevant, and bit characters that ultimately played no role in the story.
Thanks to netgalley and to the publisher for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for this honest review.
The first 30% of this book, I could NOT put it down. I was so intrigued on what was happening, how the town of Garden CIty Kansas got many Somali refugees, and being introduced to the main players of the terrorism plot, how they got involved etc.
It was riveting. I loved that the author took the time to give background information on the main players and included some of the intended victims to make a more human story.
From 30% to 90% of the book completed was a big mess of meetings, guns, talk, explosives, guns, meetings, meetings, meetings.
I felt that it got very repetitious and needed to be edited.
The last 10% of the book was another almost overview of everything that had happened and the judgments against the terrorists.
Overall the book had a great subject but was bogged down in too many meetings, details that were irrelevant, and bit characters that ultimately played no role in the story.
Thanks to netgalley and to the publisher for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for this honest review.
July 15, 2022
Much like the color beige this book is good but I never gave it a second thought. It doesn't delve into why a group of repulsive cretins plotted to massacre members of the local Somali community but rather to tell how they set about formulating their plans. That's not a criticism as much as information that I think is useful to know before reading the book.
I think the issue for me is that the villains of the piece were uninteresting. You can only read the term cockroaches to describe the Somalis so many times before you want to tell the author that you get the point. And while the book itself is well written and the pace is good I think 10% could have been eliminated or abbreviated for its betterment.
Odd tangent for me: As a fan of the musical group The Crusaders I was really bothered that that's the name these scumbags chose for their cabal. Fortunately the memory didn't linger.
I think the issue for me is that the villains of the piece were uninteresting. You can only read the term cockroaches to describe the Somalis so many times before you want to tell the author that you get the point. And while the book itself is well written and the pace is good I think 10% could have been eliminated or abbreviated for its betterment.
Odd tangent for me: As a fan of the musical group The Crusaders I was really bothered that that's the name these scumbags chose for their cabal. Fortunately the memory didn't linger.
June 9, 2023
Bring in the firing squad for ALL domestic terrorists.
April 2, 2024
I read this book for book club since we were reading about our state. This is the home grown national terrorist group that went against a Somali group that lived in a certain part of Kansas. They planned on bombing certain areas of town including a apartment building all in the name of being a true american and fighting against Muslims in America. Very interesting read that I wouldn't have picked up if it wasn't for book club.
November 9, 2021
We always think of terrorists as being those nasty people from somewhere foreign; not our own home-grown kind. Notwithstanding, the USA seems to have a growing number of violent militia groups with members of the white supremacist breed; "hate, violence and exterminate," their tag lines. You no doubt witnessed such behavior before, during and in the aftermath of the failed Donald J. Trump re-election campaign of November 2020. In this story, White Hot Hate by Dick Lehr, you will bump into such in monstrous, literal reality. This is NOT fiction, folks.
Lehr delineates such a horrrific story that will take you aback in traumatic shock. Dan Day, the great man of courage hero, becomes an unwitting informant among the Kansas Security Force (KSP), Crusaders on behalf of the FBI. The build from "only talk" to action over the months was captured on multiple lengthy recordings of Zello phone conversations and in-person confabs on a specialized recording device. These were firsthand inner sanctum talks to which Day was privy.
As the four-man insider group of KSP, (Dan Day being one of the four) laid their wicked plans to decimate the Somalis Refugee community in Garden City, the talk often became volitale and full of foul language. Day's heart was often in his throat not to give himself away, but also for wisdom to know how to cool the heat. The inclusion of such language comes from all those hours of taped evidence of raw conversations, not only of their plans but of the non-fiction epitaphs of hatred which constantly spewed forth from the men's souls and pores.
The old adage, "Truth is often stranger than fiction" rings really clearly in this report.
It was an exceedingly stressful operation for a non-professional undercover man who also had to overcome fallout such as sleepless nights and if he did get to sleep, nightmares. The stress, the secrecy and so on, on his family, who thankfully, did support him, and see him through, took its toll as well. Dan Day is one of those people who were born and placed into a position for "just such a time as this," I believe. He was equal to the task as he plunged, neck-deep or more, into militia extremism.
Thank God for such people! It's great to know there are still such counter-balances yet. However, I'd say, we'd do well to be aware of such undercurrents and maybe even pray against such evilness on our own homefronts.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
September 2021
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by the publisher.
Lehr delineates such a horrrific story that will take you aback in traumatic shock. Dan Day, the great man of courage hero, becomes an unwitting informant among the Kansas Security Force (KSP), Crusaders on behalf of the FBI. The build from "only talk" to action over the months was captured on multiple lengthy recordings of Zello phone conversations and in-person confabs on a specialized recording device. These were firsthand inner sanctum talks to which Day was privy.
As the four-man insider group of KSP, (Dan Day being one of the four) laid their wicked plans to decimate the Somalis Refugee community in Garden City, the talk often became volitale and full of foul language. Day's heart was often in his throat not to give himself away, but also for wisdom to know how to cool the heat. The inclusion of such language comes from all those hours of taped evidence of raw conversations, not only of their plans but of the non-fiction epitaphs of hatred which constantly spewed forth from the men's souls and pores.
The old adage, "Truth is often stranger than fiction" rings really clearly in this report.
It was an exceedingly stressful operation for a non-professional undercover man who also had to overcome fallout such as sleepless nights and if he did get to sleep, nightmares. The stress, the secrecy and so on, on his family, who thankfully, did support him, and see him through, took its toll as well. Dan Day is one of those people who were born and placed into a position for "just such a time as this," I believe. He was equal to the task as he plunged, neck-deep or more, into militia extremism.
Thank God for such people! It's great to know there are still such counter-balances yet. However, I'd say, we'd do well to be aware of such undercurrents and maybe even pray against such evilness on our own homefronts.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
September 2021
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by the publisher.
January 11, 2022
My plan was to skim this book for tidbits about my husband's hometown in Southwest Kansas, where this true story of domestic terrorism took place in 2016. But I quickly got sucked into the detailed and suspenseful story about how the plot to kill hundreds of Somali refugee immigrants by bombing the apartment complex where they live, was planned and foiled, plus the stories of the main characters (the three ill-informed racists who probably still consider themselves crusading patriots) and a local yokel who went from half-hearted militia member to all-in informant for the FBI, at great personal risk and little overt gain, unless you count the satisfaction of saving many lives. The story also turned out to be more timely than expected, given the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection (these terrorists would have been there) and the continuing presence of the former president who shamelessly eggs on violent guys with his racist anti-Muslim rhetoric. I did find it comforting to know that the FBI foiled this plot (and no doubt others) and interesting to see what that involves, the danger, uncertainty and anxiety involved. Because I know the area well, I caught little errors - Wright, Ks. (pop 160) does not have a school, contrary to a throw-away line in the book designed to add local color. (The small Catholic school, which my husband attended, is long closed.) And it's "cattle feedlot" not "cattle feed" to describe a place where cattle are fattened before slaughter. (My brother-in-law works at one.) I also was familiar with the mother of the most odious of the three bombers - a pleasant-looking woman who sang in the tiny church choir during the many Christmas Eve masses I attended. (My husband's sister babysat the odious bomber when he was a kid.) It was a reminder that these alarming plots are being planned right under our noses, a threat to us all but particularly to minorities and immigrants, and we need to remain vigilant.
July 17, 2021
White Hot Hate is the story of Dan Day, an average Joe turned FBI informant and eventual hero after accidentally infiltrating a dangerous militia known as the Kansas Security Force.
This is also the story of how many people set out to embrace the Muslim people in their midst, and how a community was formed between two different cultures in a small southern town, thanks to Adan Keynan, Benjamin Anderson, John Birky, Ifrah Hamed, and Halima Farah.
Immediately after the Pulse Nightclub massacre, a group of three men- Patrick Stein, Curtis Allen, Gavin Wright- began planning a deadly retaliation on all Muslims and any associates, with Dan Day taping conversations and participating in order to help convict the three men that wanted to “eradicate” all Muslim people.
Dick Lehr’s writing is smooth, beautiful, and despite how difficult it would be to chronicle the many moving parts of this story, he does a remarkable job making it an extremely interesting and easy to follow non-fiction read. This is not for the faint of heart; while there are severa chapters that will give your heart hope, there’s also a lot of ugliness and so much hatred. It was gut-wrenching to read some of the passages about Stein, Allen, and Green’s plans for the Muslim community. I highly recommend White Hot Hate as it seems to be a fair and very well-written account of three men with far too much hatred and bigotry in their hearts- but also the heroes that community needed.
Thanks to NetGalley and HMH Books for this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is also the story of how many people set out to embrace the Muslim people in their midst, and how a community was formed between two different cultures in a small southern town, thanks to Adan Keynan, Benjamin Anderson, John Birky, Ifrah Hamed, and Halima Farah.
Immediately after the Pulse Nightclub massacre, a group of three men- Patrick Stein, Curtis Allen, Gavin Wright- began planning a deadly retaliation on all Muslims and any associates, with Dan Day taping conversations and participating in order to help convict the three men that wanted to “eradicate” all Muslim people.
Dick Lehr’s writing is smooth, beautiful, and despite how difficult it would be to chronicle the many moving parts of this story, he does a remarkable job making it an extremely interesting and easy to follow non-fiction read. This is not for the faint of heart; while there are severa chapters that will give your heart hope, there’s also a lot of ugliness and so much hatred. It was gut-wrenching to read some of the passages about Stein, Allen, and Green’s plans for the Muslim community. I highly recommend White Hot Hate as it seems to be a fair and very well-written account of three men with far too much hatred and bigotry in their hearts- but also the heroes that community needed.
Thanks to NetGalley and HMH Books for this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 22, 2022
This is a very timely book. Since 2001 we have been focused on international terrorism, and while we say 9/11 Never Forget - I really didn't see much on the 20th Anniversary. I often thought that we really shouldn't forget the Oklahoma City Bombing either - which was done by "regular" Americans. Earlier this year I went to the OKC Bombing Museum (highly recommend) and one of the things that really struck me is part of the reason for domestic terrorism is racism and distrust of the government in which we are in a tinderbox. The events in White Hot Hate occurred in 2016, but have been kept rather low key. Dan Day is an average low middle class guy that ends up becoming an FBI informant and foils a plot to kill hundreds of Somalians living in Garden City, Kansas. I really connected the hate of Somalians spoken by those that Day worked with to that of Representative Ilhan Omar.
For audio readers please note that two Kansas communities' names were mispronounced.
Salina is not Sa-lean-ess but is pronounced Sa-line-a by locals
El Dorado is not El Dor-ah-doe but is pronounced El Dor-A-Doe by locals
For audio readers please note that two Kansas communities' names were mispronounced.
Salina is not Sa-lean-ess but is pronounced Sa-line-a by locals
El Dorado is not El Dor-ah-doe but is pronounced El Dor-A-Doe by locals
February 24, 2022
It’s not often real-life stories have clear cut heroes and villains. This is one of those books unless you are a crazy conspiracy theorist who wants to take down the government and everyone who looks different.
Dan Day was a normal guy who got invited to a picnic. This picnic led to an FBI interview and Dan becoming an FBI informant. He did so because he felt it was the right thing to do for his country. He wasn’t getting out of trouble or being enticed in any way. He just felt it was the right thing.
The right thing was infiltrating a small group of small-minded morons who wanted to kill as many Somalis in their area of Kansas as possible. Why? They thought they could start a new American Revolution.
Dick Lehr meticulously walks through the entire story and makes it an entertaining read. He reports a few things and tie them to the words of Donald Trump on a few occasions. I personally don’t feel any of these idiots needed Trump to get where they were going. If you are too politically sensitive to read anything which invokes his name (or doesn’t go out of their way to completely condemn him) then you may have issues. The story is the story, though, and this is a good one.
Dan Day was a normal guy who got invited to a picnic. This picnic led to an FBI interview and Dan becoming an FBI informant. He did so because he felt it was the right thing to do for his country. He wasn’t getting out of trouble or being enticed in any way. He just felt it was the right thing.
The right thing was infiltrating a small group of small-minded morons who wanted to kill as many Somalis in their area of Kansas as possible. Why? They thought they could start a new American Revolution.
Dick Lehr meticulously walks through the entire story and makes it an entertaining read. He reports a few things and tie them to the words of Donald Trump on a few occasions. I personally don’t feel any of these idiots needed Trump to get where they were going. If you are too politically sensitive to read anything which invokes his name (or doesn’t go out of their way to completely condemn him) then you may have issues. The story is the story, though, and this is a good one.
January 3, 2023
What a book to read for the first in 2023!! TRUE STORY... How did this happen in the sweet little sunflower fly over state of Kansas? Anyone relative of the state or region would enjoy this due to probably knowing the locations and that it also happened in small towns, just like the ones we live in. Writing was face paced it at times it was hard for me to believe this actually happened. Crazy terrorism is so close to home.
April 26, 2023
Not really what I'd call "thrilling." I found it too detailed and repetitive. (Do I really need to know everyone's order at McDonald's? Do you really need to remind me of the name and owner of the store multiple times?) The author did do a good job providing the facts and the background as to how one "average" man in Kansas was able to infiltrate a racist group in his community, saving hundreds of Somali immigrants from becoming victims of domestic terrorism.
September 26, 2023
I got like 90% of the way through the audiobook and hated everything about it. This was so boring and repetitive. I think it could have been a great long article but in order to make it into a book they kept way more detail than was necessary. There were like 20 meetings that could have been summarized into a single summary paragraph but instead constituted multiple chapters. I couldn't even get through the arrests and initial questioning because it was basically a transcript of the event.
June 30, 2022
This book gives me hope for humanity and at least some people doing the right thing. An interesting look at domestic terrorism.
January 22, 2023
When the events of this book occurred I lived in Wichita. Vaguely remember hearing about this but not distressed as I was about the state of the nation at that time. It was a time in which ignorance is not bliss. Now living farther west and more familiar with the terrain I am reminded of the power of prejudices turning to hate very quickly and that is what makes this book powerful for me. Dan Day is a brave man and thankful for his courage to do what he did.
January 29, 2024
Compellingly told account of a truly scary American story.
November 21, 2022
As averse to non-fiction as I often am, I really enjoyed this. At times I almost forgot this was a true story written by a journalist rather than a thriller. Equal parts relevant, informative, and entertaining
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January 1, 2024Read like a transcript
June 22, 2021
If you're a fan of true crime books, this will hold your attention through the very end. A riveting story of a good man turned FBI informant when he discovers a plot to kill Somali refugees in his small Kansas town.
I'd read about this town previously and how there had been such an influx of refugees to work there. And it seems a small minority of residents didn't like the changes in their population. The book meticulously follows their meetings and plans to bomb the apartment buildings where the refugees reside. There is plenty of detail in the telling of this story but it doesn't bog down at all and you'll find yourself eagerly turning pages to see how it resolves.
I'd read about this town previously and how there had been such an influx of refugees to work there. And it seems a small minority of residents didn't like the changes in their population. The book meticulously follows their meetings and plans to bomb the apartment buildings where the refugees reside. There is plenty of detail in the telling of this story but it doesn't bog down at all and you'll find yourself eagerly turning pages to see how it resolves.
December 30, 2021
A riveting look inside rural hate and domestic terrorism. Based on actual first hand recordings and testimony, this follows the actual plot in the words of its conspirators, as opposed to a lot of the academic non-fiction. Because it follows bumbling idiots, at times it drags; real life does not have convenient plot twists.
April 2, 2022
After reading books on the precarious political times we live in, I find it helpful to read a case study like this – a specific incident or community that is a microcosm of the times, especially on the dangerous partisan divide in the US. This change in perspective always broadens my understanding of “what’s happening here?” (The best I’ve read in this category is Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right by Arlie Russell Hochschild, 2016.) So I took White Hot Hate off the new nonfiction bookshelf at the library.
It’s interesting, but not engrossing. It’s thorough, but not enlightening. By page 100 or so it became tedious. I find three reasons for my reaction.
(1) Lehr did much research which he outlines in the Author’s Note, especially transcripts of sworn testimony and hundreds of hours of undercover recordings. Unfortunately his narrative becomes a tedious one-after-the-other recitation of facts from these sources. We read pages of redundant dialogue from the men’s covert meetings (redundant partly because the men were so redundant in their rants and “planning”). Yet Lehr never offers ideas about what so radicalized these men that they came close to killing hundreds of Somalis. What does the “White Hot Hate” of these men tell us about similar domestic terrorist groups in the US?
Also, by the time we get to the dramatic culmination of the investigation – the FBI’s hastily rescheduled takedown due to a fluke police action -- we feel none of the tension and apprehension of all involved – no shock of “OMG, what do we do NOW?” “How do we protect persons X and Y from being murdered?” “Can we stop this before hundreds of Somalis are killed?” The nearly fatal mistake in the revised takedown plan is caught by the undercover agent, not the exhausted FBI agents. It would have been disastrous, but that close-call terror is not conveyed to us: just the words that is happened. I’m not asking for overdramatized scenes, just ones that convey what the people are feeling and experiencing. I sense that Lehr is a competent journalist, but not a skilled writer.
(2) Lehr cites interviews he conducted with the principals involved: the undercover agent and his family, the FBI agents, leaders of the Somali community, members of the judiciary, etc. (the three convicted men refused to be interviewed). But we never get a close sense of what the experience was for them and how it affected their lives. How did the agent’s wife and son deal with the daily fear of losing him? We’re told by Lehr, but we don’t hear them tell us. How did the FBI agents make the difficult decisions about conducting the risky investigation? We’re told, but we never hear from them how they balanced many variables and hoped their decisions saved instead of jeopardized lives.
(3) Lehr rarely puts this incident in the broader context of the disturbing rise of domestic terrorism in the US: a wasted opportunity. White Hot Hate could have been more of a contribution. As it is, it reads like true crime, I’m sorry to say.
It’s interesting, but not engrossing. It’s thorough, but not enlightening. By page 100 or so it became tedious. I find three reasons for my reaction.
(1) Lehr did much research which he outlines in the Author’s Note, especially transcripts of sworn testimony and hundreds of hours of undercover recordings. Unfortunately his narrative becomes a tedious one-after-the-other recitation of facts from these sources. We read pages of redundant dialogue from the men’s covert meetings (redundant partly because the men were so redundant in their rants and “planning”). Yet Lehr never offers ideas about what so radicalized these men that they came close to killing hundreds of Somalis. What does the “White Hot Hate” of these men tell us about similar domestic terrorist groups in the US?
Also, by the time we get to the dramatic culmination of the investigation – the FBI’s hastily rescheduled takedown due to a fluke police action -- we feel none of the tension and apprehension of all involved – no shock of “OMG, what do we do NOW?” “How do we protect persons X and Y from being murdered?” “Can we stop this before hundreds of Somalis are killed?” The nearly fatal mistake in the revised takedown plan is caught by the undercover agent, not the exhausted FBI agents. It would have been disastrous, but that close-call terror is not conveyed to us: just the words that is happened. I’m not asking for overdramatized scenes, just ones that convey what the people are feeling and experiencing. I sense that Lehr is a competent journalist, but not a skilled writer.
(2) Lehr cites interviews he conducted with the principals involved: the undercover agent and his family, the FBI agents, leaders of the Somali community, members of the judiciary, etc. (the three convicted men refused to be interviewed). But we never get a close sense of what the experience was for them and how it affected their lives. How did the agent’s wife and son deal with the daily fear of losing him? We’re told by Lehr, but we don’t hear them tell us. How did the FBI agents make the difficult decisions about conducting the risky investigation? We’re told, but we never hear from them how they balanced many variables and hoped their decisions saved instead of jeopardized lives.
(3) Lehr rarely puts this incident in the broader context of the disturbing rise of domestic terrorism in the US: a wasted opportunity. White Hot Hate could have been more of a contribution. As it is, it reads like true crime, I’m sorry to say.
December 19, 2021
White Hot Hate tells an important, deeply-researched narrative nonfiction account of one man's difficult undercover work and a deeply troubling segment of the USA.
This story would have made a great article in The New Yorker or The Atlantic, but the author has "squeezed" it into a tediously long and somewhat repetitious 500-page story about a brave citizen, who agreed to become an FBI source.
This is still an important story, and if it had been edited better, it would have made for a great read.
This story would have made a great article in The New Yorker or The Atlantic, but the author has "squeezed" it into a tediously long and somewhat repetitious 500-page story about a brave citizen, who agreed to become an FBI source.
This is still an important story, and if it had been edited better, it would have made for a great read.
September 30, 2021
Many thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! This is a fantastic true crime book. Lehr does an amazing job telling the chain of events, providing enough backstory, and keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. This is probably going to be a top 5 non-fiction book this year. The topic is highly important in today’s world and Lehr made it extremely engrossing.
December 23, 2021
2.5 much of the material for said book comes from written transcripts and taped recordings, which unfortunately reads as such
good luck
good luck
October 5, 2021
White Hot Hate by Dick Lehr is a fascinating yet disturbing look at the ever growing presence of domestic terrorism through the lens of one foiled plot of mass murder and destruction.
One of the strengths of the book for me was the way Lehr introduced us to the various people, especially the citizen who served as an informant, but also the other would-be terrorists and some of those who were their intended victims. Once this foundation is established we move into the planning and almost endless meetings. While some may find this section repetitive or unnecessary it serves several functions. One is that it eliminates those who side with the terrorists from claiming that things were omitted that might have shown them in a better light. Second, it highlights that this was not a quick, almost spur of the moment thing that these people came up with in a moment of anger (aside from the fact these types of people are so full of hate that they are always angry). Third, I think that looking at how this particular group of guys went about planning their attack might register with a reader about an acquaintance or family member's recent activities that could be for similar reasons Hopefully if that happens the reader will intervene in some way, both for the sake of the intended victims and their friend or family member. Finally, seeing and hearing the extent and depth of hatred that drives people like this offers some insight into how we might be able to change the course of someone we know who is becoming radicalized under the guise of patriotism.
I wasn't bothered by the brief recap of the trial and sentencing, this was about, for me, the attempted crime, not the courtroom aspects. If you read true crime for the courtroom scenes and not the crimes themselves, then you may be a little disappointed.
I would recommend this to both true crime readers as well as those who are curious about the how and why people can be so consumed by hate that they will throw reason out the window and believe total nonsense.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
One of the strengths of the book for me was the way Lehr introduced us to the various people, especially the citizen who served as an informant, but also the other would-be terrorists and some of those who were their intended victims. Once this foundation is established we move into the planning and almost endless meetings. While some may find this section repetitive or unnecessary it serves several functions. One is that it eliminates those who side with the terrorists from claiming that things were omitted that might have shown them in a better light. Second, it highlights that this was not a quick, almost spur of the moment thing that these people came up with in a moment of anger (aside from the fact these types of people are so full of hate that they are always angry). Third, I think that looking at how this particular group of guys went about planning their attack might register with a reader about an acquaintance or family member's recent activities that could be for similar reasons Hopefully if that happens the reader will intervene in some way, both for the sake of the intended victims and their friend or family member. Finally, seeing and hearing the extent and depth of hatred that drives people like this offers some insight into how we might be able to change the course of someone we know who is becoming radicalized under the guise of patriotism.
I wasn't bothered by the brief recap of the trial and sentencing, this was about, for me, the attempted crime, not the courtroom aspects. If you read true crime for the courtroom scenes and not the crimes themselves, then you may be a little disappointed.
I would recommend this to both true crime readers as well as those who are curious about the how and why people can be so consumed by hate that they will throw reason out the window and believe total nonsense.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
November 21, 2021
Dick Lehr’s White Hot Hate is a testament to “doing the right thing.” Dan Day is a law-abiding Midwesterner who believes in his right to bear arms and that a small government is a good government, but he in no way buys into the racism and Islamophobia of the far-right. When he becomes an informant for the FBI he’s taken it upon himself to do his patriotic duty and inform on a group of extremists in Garden City, Kansas set on attacking a group of Somali refugees.
The book excels in many ways, as a piece of true crime and a sociological investigation into American politics. Lehr achieves this through researched details and a focus on context. A writer could easily jot down the timeline of actions, but the focus of this White Hot Hate is the WHY? What is happening in the United States that creates this climate of anger and suspicion? Lehr connects these actions to other crimes and extremist groups to show how widespread this hate is in our nation.
The presidential election was heating up in early 2016 and anti-immigrant rhetoric, especially against Muslims, was being heard from many candidates but Donald Trump was the loudest. And for many of these men and women, he was the opposite of the Democrat currently in the White House. Trump and the extremists he irresponsibly endorsed brought this hate to the forefront of conversations all over the dark corners of the internet.
Hulu has even turned the story into a documentary that is currently streaming. Check out the trailer.
My only criticism is that parts of the book become a bit repetitious as Day follows the routine of meeting with the milia members and then with his handlers… back and forth…
White Hot Hate is a book that covers so much ground about right-wing xenophobia in its 400 pages. An objective view of radicalization… and the small community of Somali refugees who are almost victims of this hate.
4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mariner Books, and the author for an advanced copy for review.
The book excels in many ways, as a piece of true crime and a sociological investigation into American politics. Lehr achieves this through researched details and a focus on context. A writer could easily jot down the timeline of actions, but the focus of this White Hot Hate is the WHY? What is happening in the United States that creates this climate of anger and suspicion? Lehr connects these actions to other crimes and extremist groups to show how widespread this hate is in our nation.
The presidential election was heating up in early 2016 and anti-immigrant rhetoric, especially against Muslims, was being heard from many candidates but Donald Trump was the loudest. And for many of these men and women, he was the opposite of the Democrat currently in the White House. Trump and the extremists he irresponsibly endorsed brought this hate to the forefront of conversations all over the dark corners of the internet.
Hulu has even turned the story into a documentary that is currently streaming. Check out the trailer.
My only criticism is that parts of the book become a bit repetitious as Day follows the routine of meeting with the milia members and then with his handlers… back and forth…
White Hot Hate is a book that covers so much ground about right-wing xenophobia in its 400 pages. An objective view of radicalization… and the small community of Somali refugees who are almost victims of this hate.
4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mariner Books, and the author for an advanced copy for review.
April 12, 2023
3.5 stars
White Hot Hate is a true crime book that utilizes recordings, interviews, and court documents to tell the story of a small rural militia’s plot to kill Muslim refugees. The campaign and election of Donald Trump added fuel to the fire of hatred among a group of gun-toting, self-proclaimed patriots. And an unlikely, everyday man pairs up with the FBI to stop the plot and save Somali refugees.
Dick Lehr begins the book by providing context on national events and then dives into the the story. He also sets up the narrative with enough details for readers to have a solid frame of reference to refer back to for the rest of the book. For example, Lehr explains how a small town in the middle of nowhere Kansas attracted a significant Somali refugee population (meatpacking plants).
I found White Hot Hate to be an easy read that held my attention from beginning to end. I would not go as far as to call White Hot Hate super compelling. Lehr writes a straight-forward narrative without commentary on the people, place, or events. He is faithful to the source documents and provides an unbiased account. I appreciated his dedication to providing a neutral portrayal that did not glamorize violence, hate, or the terrorists.
Despite owning a physical copy, I ended up reading White Hot Hate on audio. The narrators did a decent job, but I did feel like it was not necessary to have two of them and that they could have made the audio more exciting with additional inflections, tones, etc.
For me, there was a big component I hoped White Hot Hate would cover that was not included. As someone who does not share the opinions of the book’s subjects, I wished the narrative had explored more of the psychological aspects of those involved. Lehr did not provide readers with an understanding of where or how the men’s hatred originated. This felt like a vital component of the story was skipped over. Despite all the details about plotting and planning, I was left grasping to comprehend the story’s very foundation. In addition, I would have been interested in learning more about the experience of being an FBI informant. Although Lehr included how being an FBI informant weighed on Dan Day, other details were absent.
Overall, White Hot Hate is a solid true crime novel that highlights that the biggest terrorist threat to America is white supremacists and bigotry. I recommend this piece of narrative nonfiction, especially if you do not have firsthand knowledge of rural life and how domestic terrorist threats arise.
White Hot Hate is a true crime book that utilizes recordings, interviews, and court documents to tell the story of a small rural militia’s plot to kill Muslim refugees. The campaign and election of Donald Trump added fuel to the fire of hatred among a group of gun-toting, self-proclaimed patriots. And an unlikely, everyday man pairs up with the FBI to stop the plot and save Somali refugees.
Dick Lehr begins the book by providing context on national events and then dives into the the story. He also sets up the narrative with enough details for readers to have a solid frame of reference to refer back to for the rest of the book. For example, Lehr explains how a small town in the middle of nowhere Kansas attracted a significant Somali refugee population (meatpacking plants).
I found White Hot Hate to be an easy read that held my attention from beginning to end. I would not go as far as to call White Hot Hate super compelling. Lehr writes a straight-forward narrative without commentary on the people, place, or events. He is faithful to the source documents and provides an unbiased account. I appreciated his dedication to providing a neutral portrayal that did not glamorize violence, hate, or the terrorists.
Despite owning a physical copy, I ended up reading White Hot Hate on audio. The narrators did a decent job, but I did feel like it was not necessary to have two of them and that they could have made the audio more exciting with additional inflections, tones, etc.
For me, there was a big component I hoped White Hot Hate would cover that was not included. As someone who does not share the opinions of the book’s subjects, I wished the narrative had explored more of the psychological aspects of those involved. Lehr did not provide readers with an understanding of where or how the men’s hatred originated. This felt like a vital component of the story was skipped over. Despite all the details about plotting and planning, I was left grasping to comprehend the story’s very foundation. In addition, I would have been interested in learning more about the experience of being an FBI informant. Although Lehr included how being an FBI informant weighed on Dan Day, other details were absent.
Overall, White Hot Hate is a solid true crime novel that highlights that the biggest terrorist threat to America is white supremacists and bigotry. I recommend this piece of narrative nonfiction, especially if you do not have firsthand knowledge of rural life and how domestic terrorist threats arise.
July 18, 2024
This is a deep dive into the undercover operation that brought three would be terrorists to trial before they could pull off a mass murder. The whole operation hinged on one guy who happened to be at the right spot at the right time to get hooked up to the FBI. The book tells the story in straightforward chronological order of how the conspirators became more radicalized and more determined to kill as many of their immigrant neighbors as possible over the course of several months.
The pacing was very well done, and that's what saves this book from a two star review. It's a very straightforward account of a four person terrorist cell and the FBI's work through the informant to give the terrorists enough rope to hang themselves but hold them back from actually getting the tools and technology to build a big bomb while keeping the informant safe.
The author had a fantastic opportunity to draw larger conclusions about the sociopolitical landscape in America driving people towards extremism, the history of extremism, and draw parallels and contrasts with other extremists. Only a few sentences in the whole book addressed these issues, which is regrettable.
This book's subject is vitally important and timely in the US, and could have become something so much bigger and more important than "yet another true crime book", but it doesn't rise to the occasion. It was well written, well researched and there's no flaws for the book as it is - but I'm disappointed because it's scope is so timid.
I listened to the audibook via Overdrive from my local library.
Reading Level: easy adult
Romance: No
Smut: No
Violence: No
TW: pervasive racist language, sexist language
The pacing was very well done, and that's what saves this book from a two star review. It's a very straightforward account of a four person terrorist cell and the FBI's work through the informant to give the terrorists enough rope to hang themselves but hold them back from actually getting the tools and technology to build a big bomb while keeping the informant safe.
The author had a fantastic opportunity to draw larger conclusions about the sociopolitical landscape in America driving people towards extremism, the history of extremism, and draw parallels and contrasts with other extremists. Only a few sentences in the whole book addressed these issues, which is regrettable.
This book's subject is vitally important and timely in the US, and could have become something so much bigger and more important than "yet another true crime book", but it doesn't rise to the occasion. It was well written, well researched and there's no flaws for the book as it is - but I'm disappointed because it's scope is so timid.
I listened to the audibook via Overdrive from my local library.
Reading Level: easy adult
Romance: No
Smut: No
Violence: No
TW: pervasive racist language, sexist language
July 8, 2023
A propulsive and horrific true story about a 2016 white-supremacist plot in SW Kansas to bomb a local mosque and some apartment buildings where Somali immigrants had offended these "patriots" by trying to work hard and build new lives for themselves and maybe even contribute to the community. (At the trial, one of the plotters' public defenders argued that, given what Trump was spewing daily, it was unfair to convict these guys for plotting to murder people they demeaned as "cockroaches." Didn't work--the jury was out for a mere six hours.) Lehr tells this story mostly through the eyes of Dan Day, a pro-gun Christian conservative local who was so appalled by the bigotry and ridiculous leaps of logic spewed by a Three Percenter neighbor that he approached the FBI, which, at least from this telling, did little more than encourage his fundamentally decent impulses (at one poignant moment, he worries about the morality of deceiving even his murderous hate-spewing conspirators, until his son adduces the Biblical parallel of Rahab to console him, which he later brings up in court). There are also a tantalizing few glimpses inside the Somali community, which remains very much on the outside of the narrative. Also, oddly, a few antique comparisons and similes, my favorite being when something is likened to "a Steve McQueen car chase," which I get, but, you know...Bullitt came out in 1968. Still, I read pretty much the entire 365 pp in a day, so that underscores how compelling Lehr's storytelling is.
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