R.E. Chatterton
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R.E. Chatterton
A Memoir of Faith, Control, and Freedom
by R.E. Chatterton
Raised to obey. Conditioned to never question. One woman's journey from unquestioning faith to hard-won freedom.
Good Slave is the raw, honest memoir of R.E. Chatterton, who was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and spent years striving to be the "perfect" believer. Through devastating loss, religious control, family estrangement, addiction, and ultimately self-discovery, she learned that finding her own voice would cost her almost everything—but give her the life she never thought possible.
What if the greatest prison had no walls?
From the outside, Rachel was exactly what everyone hoped she would be—a faithful Jehovah's Witness, an obedient daughter, and a "good slave" to God.
Inside, she was learning to silence her own thoughts.
In this deeply personal memoir, R.E. Chatterton shares the extraordinary journey of growing up in a high-control religion where questioning authority was dangerous, perfection was expected, and love often felt conditional. After surviving a childhood car accident that nearly took her life, years of pioneering, a failed marriage, shunning, alcoholism, devastating loss, and the painful unraveling of everything she believed to be true, she was forced to ask one terrifying question:
Who am I if I'm no longer who they told me to be?
Told with honesty, humor, heartbreak, and hope, Good Slave is not simply a story about leaving a religion. It is a story about reclaiming identity, healing from indoctrination, rebuilding a life from the ground up, and discovering that freedom often begins with a single question.
Whether you've experienced religious trauma, survived a controlling environment, or simply fought to become the person you were meant to be, this memoir is a reminder that your story doesn't end where someone else's expectations begin.
Sometimes the bravest act of faith is learning to think for yourself.
“An emotional must read especially for anyone who has left a high control religious organization, or someone deconstructing their faith, and choosing to live their truth. As the wife of someone who was raised as a Jehovah's Witness, and who spent 10 years as a as Jehovah's Witness myself, I can attest this book is spot on and exposes what it's like being raised "in the truth." It gives insight into the emotional turmoil leaving and choosing to live for yourself and can bring for so many. Very well written!”
Wil & Paula Sanders, Amazon 5-star review
“A brilliant look into the realities of growing up inside a restrictive, highly organized religion. But it's so much more than that—it's a deeply relatable journey through childhood trauma, pain, and ultimate perspective. The writing style beautifully pulls you in and walks you step-by-step through how our early lives affect our future selves. Highly recommended for anyone, whether you're interested in religion or simply looking for a powerful story on overcoming life's highs and lows.”
David Netzer (TuPaco), Amazon 5-star review
“An honest, relatable account of untangling oneself from a high control religion. R.E. Chatterton writes with courage and grit, as she finds her voice and relays her story. Whether processing your own story, or seeking the perspective of an ex-Jehovah's Witness, this book will aid others who are reflecting/finding their own voices. R.E. Chatterton's unique voice sheds light on the pain of religious trauma and on the unexpected moments of joy that come through healing.”
Carrie, Amazon 5-star review
Appalachian writer telling stories rooted in truth.
R.E. Chatterton is an author, storyteller, and creative producer based in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Her debut book, Good Slave, is a raw, fragmented memoir about faith, control, survival, and the long journey toward owning her voice. She is also the creator of The Briar Glen Mysteries, a forthcoming adult Appalachian noir series centered on cold cases, buried secrets, and a mountain town that does not want the truth found. Through Lou Dog Studio, she is building a home for books, music, film concepts, and immersive storytelling experiences. She writes from home with a dog at her feet, the Blue Ridge outside her window, and far more stories waiting to be told.