Synopsis
The Order: Inside America’s Racist Underground by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt, originally published in 1989 as The Silent Brotherhood, is a chilling investigative true crime account that delves into the inner workings of one of the most dangerous radical-right hate groups to emerge in the United States since the Ku Klux Klan. The book meticulously chronicles the rise and fall of the white supremacist militia known as the Order, a group that cloaked its violent anti-government and racist ideology in a veneer of patriotism, religion, and family values. Drawing on extensive research and insider accounts, the authors expose how the Order attracted seemingly ordinary citizens, radicalized them with neo-Nazi rhetoric, and transformed them into criminals and assassins in pursuit of an Aryan homeland. The narrative is both a gripping crime story and a sobering examination of the extremist ideologies that fueled the group’s actions, offering a stark warning about the persistence of domestic terrorism in America.
The book centers on the Order’s charismatic and fanatical leader, Robert Jay Mathews, who founded the group in 1983 in the Pacific Northwest, a region that became a hub for white supremacist activity. Mathews, driven by a mix of paranoia, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, and a belief in an impending race war, sought to create a whites-only nation by destabilizing the U.S. government, which he and his followers viewed as controlled by Jewish elites and corrupted by multiculturalism. The Order drew inspiration from groups like the Aryan Nations and the Christian Identity movement, which preached racial purity and armed resistance. Flynn and Gerhardt detail how the group’s ideology resonated with a diverse array of recruits—disillusioned veterans, blue-collar workers, and even families—who were seduced by the promise of racial pride and a return to a mythologized “white Christian America.” The authors paint a vivid picture of the Order’s recruitment tactics, which combined propaganda, survivalist training camps, and a sense of camaraderie to radicalize its members, many of whom were initially unremarkable individuals with no prior criminal history.
The narrative traces the Order’s rapid escalation from ideological fervor to violent crime, as the group embarked on a series of audacious and increasingly deadly activities to fund its revolution. Flynn and Gerhardt meticulously recount the Order’s criminal enterprises, including bank robberies, armored car heists, and counterfeiting operations, which netted millions of dollars to finance their operations. The book’s most harrowing section details the 1984 assassination of Alan Berg, a outspoken Jewish radio talk-show host in Denver, whose murder shocked the nation and exposed the Order’s willingness to target civilians. The authors describe the meticulous planning behind Berg’s killing, carried out by members like David Lane, and the chilling indifference of the perpetrators, who saw it as a necessary strike against their perceived enemies. Through interviews, court records, and firsthand accounts, Flynn and Gerhardt reveal the internal dynamics of the group, including its rigid hierarchy, code of silence, and the paranoia that grew as law enforcement began to close in.
As the FBI and other agencies intensified their pursuit, the book captures the Order’s unraveling, marked by betrayals, arrests, and a dramatic standoff on Whidbey Island, where Mathews died in a fiery confrontation with federal agents in 1984. Flynn and Gerhardt explore the broader impact of the Order’s brief but destructive campaign, which not only left a trail of victims but also inspired future generations of white supremacists and militia movements. The authors reflect on the group’s legacy, noting how its rhetoric and tactics foreshadowed later acts of domestic terrorism, such as the Oklahoma City bombing. While the book primarily focuses on the chronological account of the Order’s crimes, it also grapples with the societal conditions—economic discontent, racial tensions, and distrust in government—that allowed such a group to flourish. The narrative avoids sensationalism, instead offering a measured yet unflinching look at the human cost of extremism, both for its victims and for the families of the perpetrators, many of whom were complicit or caught in the crossfire.
Ultimately, The Order: Inside America’s Racist Underground is a compelling and unsettling portrait of a dark chapter in American history. Flynn and Gerhardt, both seasoned journalists with deep ties to the Denver reporting scene where the Berg murder unfolded, bring a wealth of detail and insight to the story, grounding it in the lived experiences of those involved. The book’s strength lies in its ability to humanize the individuals within the Order without excusing their actions, showing how ordinary people can be drawn into extraordinary evil. With its recent reissue in 2024, tied to a major motion picture adaptation starring Jude Law, the book remains a timely and cautionary tale about the enduring threat of hate groups and the seductive pull of extremist ideologies in times of social unrest.