Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World’ Most Notorious Diaries

by Rick Emerson

Overall: In Unmask Alice, journalist Rick Emerson delves into a series of diaries published beginning in the early 1970s. These purported to be the words of troubled teenagers, and they received a lot of attention. The most famous of the diaries (and we can quibble about whether these are the “most notorious” diaries in the world – I would say the hoax Hitler diaries are stiff competition) are Ask Alice, supposedly by a runaway teenage girl who died of a drug overdose, and Jay’s Journal, supposedly written by a boy who committed suicide after becoming involved in Satanic rituals. Behind these books, a shadowy woman named Beatrice Sparks lurks – someone who became a judge of one of America’s most prestigious literary awards, a wealthy and prolific author, and also, according to Emerson’s research, one of the most successful literary con artists ever.

Likes: Emerson did a lot of research, unearthing Sparks’ papers at the university she bequeathed them to and interviewing almost everyone he could run down connected with the diaries. The book moves quickly, with short chapters, but still provides enough context to show how the diaries both influenced and were shaped by popular culture. While he makes a convincing case that the Ask Alice diary is a complete fabrication, I was most moved by his description of the horrifying story behind Jay’s Journal.  A grieving mother, believing Sparks to be a compassionate person, brought her son’s journal to Sparks after his suicide, hoping it would help others. Sparks, from the evidence cited by Emerson, twisted it into a sensational early entry in the Satanic Panic scare that took hold of America in the late 70s and early 80s.

Dislikes: while I mostly enjoyed the sarcastic, cutting tone, at times it crossed the line into flippant. And while I appreciate that Emerson didn’t want to take the time to source what he believes to be common knowledge events, like conversations in the Nixon White House, I think it would have lent more credibility to the narrative. These are minor criticisms; if you are a true crime reader, I think you will enjoy this book.

FYI: Suicide is a major topic. Drug use, sexual abuse, child prostitution, and human trafficking. Description of the Satanic Panic and references to some famous serial killers, including Ted Bundy.