A very important book, a very frightening criminal activity and the urgency for parents and social services to be more involved in the lives of children cannot be understated.

This story had me from the beginning, but please know it isn't an easy read. While heavily researched and put together well, it's still so mind boggling that the system missed Elsa all along the way. Truly a horrific individual that so easily manipulated not only the American system, but also the Mexican system, the people of both nations, and the most vulnerable of all, poor young pregnant mothers. The more I read, the more I wanted justice, which Roger Rodriguez explains in the very beginning of the book is hard to find. This book has duel roles, one, telling us all about Elsa and her level of cruelty that is just absolutely mind boggling to get our heads wrapped around, but also why and how she was able to weave herself in and out of a system that she took advantage of, and why justice seemed out of reach. Even more so, the true victims of her power, and how they are trying to recover in the aftermath of this path of destruction is hard to take. It's just so unfair. Even with all of the 'witnesses' or 'informants' of how the steps unfolded, and yet no one was able to step in and stop this. Like Roger said, the system catches those at the tail end. There is no system yet to dig in to how this began and how to stop it. Absolutely heartbreakingly tragic!!!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

I had never heard about Elsa Cuellar(woman who pretended to be a pastor, lawyer & midwife but really was a child trafficker). This was so well researched (and often confusing at times with the timelines all over the place), but still an interesting read. I think the reason I wasn’t as hooked to it, was because she only got charged for tampering with government records AND NOTHING for trafficking and abusing children because there was not enough evidence because the kids were all brainwashed thinking she was their mother. It is sickening how this psychopath got away with so much. It’s not really a true crime book all the way through, it is a lot of information in general and less about the actual story.

3.5/5 Church Pastor, Child Trafficker is a look into America's most notorious child trafficker, Elsa Cuellar. This book is focused primarily on attempting to identify what social aspects may contribute to human trafficking. It seems well researched, but the actual writing felt a bit all over the place and was hard to follow at times. The content itself is raw and tragic. You can't help but wish it was all false. I recommend this if you are interested in true crime but be warned it's not an easy read. Thank you to Rowman & Littlefield for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Church Pastor, Child Trafficker had me interested from the second I laid eyes on the title. As a true crime fan, I needed to read about this church leader who was using their position as a cover up for their heinous crimes. Although the story is interesting, as well as horrifying, I did find the book hard to get through.

At times I felt Rodriguez was more trying to prove his extreme commitment to the research than conveying the ultimate story.

Thank you Rowman & Littlefield and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am shocked and appalled that despite being a true crime aficionado, I hadn’t heard of Elsa Cuellar until now. Because the depths of this woman’s crimes…and remember this is just the stuff we know about.

But I do feel like this book is lacking somewhat. I wish I could give more solid criticism, but it feels like the book just ends with nothing solid about it. Though at the same time, as a true crime aficionado, I know that real crime is different from the fictional kind. In fiction, everything is wrapped up neatly: we know who did it, why, and the scale and scope of the crimes. In fiction, we also know the exact number of crimes the perpetrator committed and the exact number of victims.

The same is not true when it comes to real world crimes, where even with well-known serial killers like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacey, we’re still not sure of the exact number of their victims or, in some cases, the identities of said victims.

That said, I still didn’t like it. I’d like to see how other writers approach the Elsa Cuellar case.

This book was very well researched and very well written. The subject of the book was Elsa Cuellar, who professed to be a pastor, midwife and attorney. In real life, she was a monster who trafficked and abused children. Although many knew what she was capable of, she was never charged, as she was always able to elude the law. Eventually she was charged with 22 counts of tampering with government papers. There were many, many counts of child trafficking and child abuse but there was never enough evidence. Many of the children could have testified but they were brainwashed.

Elsa gave the word evil new meaning. She was abominable. She was ruthless. And what she did to young mothers was unconscionable. And she did all of her heinousness in the name of Jesus. I got through this book but it was not easy. The horrors were difficult to stomach. Nevertheless, I thought the author did a fabulous job of bringing this story out. I highly recommend it. I gave it five stars.

3 1/2 stars, easily could have been four stars but the timeline was often confusing. It was still an interesting read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in true crime.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC

WOW what a ride! This was so heartbreaking!

For anyone wanting to understand human trafficking this is a great read! Will tear at your heart strings!
Lots of trigger warnings!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read and review

This was an absolute challenge to read because of the subject matter. It broke my heart multiple times. Elsa Cuellar is either a criminal mastermind or this is fake. I know it’s real but it’s almost unimaginable. For those interested in understating another angle and approach to human trafficking - this is a powerful read. It’s a read that’ll help educate to understand warning signs and to listen.