Out of the Woods: A Girl, a Killer, and a Lifelong Struggle to Find the Way Home by Gregg Olsen

 

What true crime story would you like to read more about?

In 2005, the Groene family was murdered in their home in Idaho and the two youngest children, 8-year-old Shasta and 9-year-old Dylan were kidnapped.  Forty-eight days later, Shasta was saved when her kidnapper, Joseph Edward Duncan took her out to eat and the restaurant staff called authorities.  Where had she been during the forty-eight days?  What happened to her brother?  What happened to Shasta in the twenty years since her ordeal?

My thoughts on this book:

·       I remember being fascinated by this case when it happened twenty years ago, but I didn’t know anything about what had happened to Shasta since her rescue.

·       I read this in October for the Brenda Novak book club.  It was a very different type of selection for that book club as it was nonfiction true crime.  The book club had a fascinating interview with the author and is available on Facebook.

·       This is a horrifying true story that was very difficult to read at times.  Poor Shasta had to live it; therefore, I could at least read it and try to understand in order to honor her.

·       The story was told in a nonlinear fashion through Shasta’s eyes and trauma.

·       I was saddened on how adults failed Shasta in life before and after her kidnapping.  Afterwards, her remaining family seemed to care more about the money she had then on actually helping her with her problems.  No one wanted to hear the horror of what had happened to this poor young girl, and she had no one to talk to.

·       How can such evil exist in the world?  The book contained graphic detail of the murder of the Groene family and abuse of Shasta and Dylan.

·       Shasta had children young to try to have a family again.

·       I think everyone wants to believe that victims are rescued and live happily ever after, but this is often not the case.

·       Shasta had problems with drugs, legal troubles, and destructive relationships through her life.

·       As a teen, Shasta was sent for a few years to Vista at Dimple Dell Canyon for “help.”  She was manipulated to get money for the facility, and it did not help her at all.  It was yet another case of someone taking advantage of her.

Overall, Out of the Woods by Gregg Olsen was an important read for Shasta to finally have her story told.  It was also a very hard book to read and even harder knowing that this happened to someone.

Book Source:  Review copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!