Many thanks to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this behind-the-scenes look into Elizabeth Smart's disappearance - 4.5 stars rounded up!
Twenty years after Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped and subsequently rescued, Chris Thomas tells the story of how he managed the press, police, and Elizabeth's family to help bring her home. In alternating chapters, Chris tells about growing up in The Church of Latter-day Saints and how it prepared him to take on this task.
This was such an interesting read. If you are looking for details on Elizabeth's life while kidnapped or even her rescue, there are plenty of other books out there, including one written by Elizabeth. This book talks about all the public relations duties that Chris took on for the Smart family, to help them negotiate all this unchartered territory in a way that kept Elizabeth's story alive while allowing them to maintain some sort of private family life as well. Chris' own family had to take a backseat at this time, and you could feel the stress he was under. I loved the parts about Chris' childhood, especially the interactions with his veteran neighbor. It also gives a high-level look into his religion's ideals without being preachy or going into too much detail. Good life lessons here - everyone is going through something and our responses to them should reflect that.
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