Title: Porter Brothers’ Tragedy: The Untold Story
Authors: Glenn Porter and Steven W. Porter
Publisher: Austin Macauley
ISBN: 978-1685624712
Pages: 532
Genre: Non-Fiction / True Crime
Reviewed by: Lily Amanda

Read Book Review

In this unvarnished memoir, co-authors and brothers, Glenn Porter and Steven W. Porter, unveil a heartrending true story marked by a grim rendering of betrayal, manipulation and cruelty.

Glenn and Steven Porter had big dreams ahead of them. Both in their twenties and with little knowledge of the outside world, they started jobs working at the Marchands’ home-based board games, owned by a wealthy couple who had two lovely daughters. The two brothers decide to pursue the two young women in what was expected to turn into a life tale of romance – but instead, takes an unlikely turn.

With the constant interference of the Marchands’ over their lives, Glenn and Steven quit their jobs, a move which would upend their lives and shatter their dreams. With the Marchands’ daughters labeling them as runaways, running from the commitment of marriage and their powerful parents detesting the brothers’ act of fleeing believing it would taint the family image, a state manhunt was launched that would lead to their being blacklisting statewide. The family’s connections and ties in the state of Maine would see Glenn and Steven’s lives take a dark turn as threats, false accusations and intimidation take center stage in their lives. In what felt like a game of dice with no end in sight, readers will have to read the whole story to find out the ending of this harrowing story.

Accessible and eye-opening, Porter Brothers’ Tragedy: The Untold Story paints a sad portrait of how wealth and influence can be used to leverage the power of the state and potentially ruin lives. The two authors are unflinchingly honest on every ordeal they went through for over twenty years under the inhuman actions of this family.  Across, fresh dialogue and remarkable wordplay shines revealing the emotions and despair that the siblings felt during this period. Readers will empathize with the two even as they admire their unfaltering bond which is not only admirable but appreciable as well. Indeed, this is a richly textured non-fiction piece that tells of a gripping story and one not to be missed.