The book received positive reviews, with praise for its analysis and the attitude of the author towards its subject matter; it was described as influential on later studies of the OTS.

Mayer was impressed by the actions of the Swiss police he interacted with in the investigation, and argues in the book that their "rigorous approach to the truth could teach lessons to more than one university researcher or journalist".

[2] They had planned to commit the mass suicides earlier, but delayed it due to the Waco siege, as they feared that it would not make enough of a statement so soon after a similar occurrence.

[10][11] In 1999 an abbreviated version of the book was published in the journal Nova Religio as ""Our Terrestrial Journey is Coming to an End": The Last Voyage of the Solar Temple", translated into English by Elijah Siegler.

Le Monde's Philippe Broussard described the book as the "first real reference work on the subject", and, while noting its short length, labeled it a "must-read.

[1] The book was favorably reviewed by sociologist Françoise Champion [fr], writing for the journal Archives de sciences sociales des religions.

[7] She described Mayer's attitude as benefiting the book, concerned both with his social responsibility as a researcher and with understanding the people and ideas of the group.