[2] Aubert stated he did not want to "sensationalize" the story and enlisted Keller (a former professor of his) to analyze the group through a religious lens.

[4] The book is split into three parts, the first of which is a beginning section written by Aubert that recounts the facts and background details of the group that were then known.

Focusing on the theological rather than material aspects, it attempts to give an objective look at the beliefs of the group, which it places in the context of western esotericism.

[4] Keller argues that by committing mass suicide, the members ended the "material" existence of the OTS, but that in their theology "beings who belong to the spirit world cannot die".

[9] Anna Lietti, writing for Le Nouveau Quotidien, praised the book, saying its merit lay in Keller's willingness to confront the questions raised by the OTS affair.

Describing Keller as "treating [the OTS's texts] as documents as worthy of respect as the Bible" in his analysis, she said its "intellectual approach deserves to be applauded".

[1] La Tribune complimented the book as a "valuable tool" for those wishing to look into the organization, noting its appeal to those who wanted more information that was not otherwise available.

Huguenin criticized its theological positions as too sympathetic to the group, saying "how can we evaluate grace, recognize the chosen ones, when we refuse to consider evil, when we dismiss the devil?"

[6] Jean-Luc Chaumeil, a French specialist in neo-Templarism, disagreed with Keller's theories, asserting that the supposed OTS documents were not actually written by the group and were designed to manipulate investigators.

[9] A former member of the OTS described the book as "honestly analyzing" the group, and expressed that they wished it was more well known than the more surface-level literature popular with the media.