Wolves Among Sheep - The True Story of Murder in a Jehovah's Witness Community, Author James Kostelniuk
February is “I love to read” month and to celebrate the Dawson Trail Dispatch is proud to announce the launch of a new monthly feature.
This column will showcase written work by published authors that live in the southeast. It is our goal to feature one locally written book per issue for a total of a dozen per year in a variety of genres.
If you are an author that has published a book, live in the southeast, and would like your work to be featured in this column, please send a copy of your book to the Dawson Trail Dispatch, Box 308, Richer, Manitoba R0E 1S0.
This month’s feature:
Wolves Among Sheep:
The True Story of Murder in a Jehovah’s Witness Community
Author James Kostelniuk
It is a rare occurrence when a published novel is used as a victim’s impact statement in a parole hearing, but that is exactly what will happen with this book in the middle of February.
In Wolves Among Sheep: The True Story of Murder in a Jehovah’s Witness Community, Kostelniuk relives the tragic events surrounding the murders of his ex-wife Kim Anderson, and their two children Lindsay (8) and Juri (10). The three were gunned down in their own home by Kim’s estranged husband Jeff Anderson.
The story begins in Manitoba, with RCMP on Kostelniuk’s doorstep informing him about the tragic incident that took place in Burnaby, BC on August 29, 1985. In his narration of the events leading up to the fatal event the author recalled his traumatic upbringing within the Jehovah Witness community that included strict beliefs and public shunnings. At his own children’s funeral he was forced to sit at the back of the church, and his name was deliberately excluded as a family member.
Determined to find out what lead up to the tragedy James and his new wife Marge eventually began corresponding with the murderer with hopes of find out why the tragedy occurred. However, instead of answers the couple sought they were dragged into a web of deceit as Anderson attempts to use them as pawns for an earlier parole.
I found this story heartbreaking on so many levels. James’ personal torment is evident as he fights to maintain contact with his children from Manitoba, while he struggles with his faith in general. A faith that is shattered when he discovers that the tragedy could have been prevented if Kim’s attempts to gain assistance from the Jehovah Witness’s in BC had not fallen on deaf ears.
In a story that is both riveting and disturbing, it is evident that writing Wolves Among Sheep: The True Story of Murder in a Jehovah’s Witness Community was part of James’ personal healing process, and a memorial to his children’s lives.
Kostelniuk now lives in Paradise Village with his second wife Marge.
