Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family

Jim, Margaret, and Mary

Given Donald’s ongoing difficulties, both the Galvin daughters and their parents were relieved when Jim and Kathy began to invite the younger siblings over for weekends at their home: “[Jim] took Mary and Margaret to the movies and ice-skating and swimming, and skiing […], and riding on the Manitou Incline […] where he had a job” (99). When Margaret was five, however, Jim began molesting her. For years, Margaret didn't recognize the behavior as abusive and kept quiet about it even when Mary—by then dealing with Jim’s predations herself—asked. Further confusing matters for both sisters was the fact that Brian had sexually abused them at an even younger age.

Meanwhile, Jim’s mental state continued to deteriorate; his abuse of Kathy grew more frequent, and he seemed to have less control over his outbursts.

John, Brian, and Michael

In 1971, the Galvins’ third son, John, married his girlfriend Nancy, whom he met while studying music at the University of Colorado. The experience of introducing Nancy to his family made John realize just how badly the situation had deteriorated: “Donald talking to the devil in the garbage can or pacing and fidgeting and prattling on, they saw Mimi at her worst, trying to control the eight children who remained at home while denying, at least outwardly, that anything was wrong at all” (102-103).