When the three Ohio women were released from their captivity, I was reminded of another woman who had grown up as a prisoner and forced to bear her captor's children, Jaycee Dugard. This book is subtitled "The Untold Story," but that simply isn't true. It is almost entirely gleaned from newspaper and print magazines, and court documents, and almost all of it is about the Garridos, NOT Jaycee. If the author managed to score a personal interview with anyone involved, it was impossible to discern.There is value in this material - who WERE Phillip and Nancy Garrido? Why was this convicted kidnapper and rapist free to harm another human being (was going to say another woman, but at 11, Jaycee was scarcely that)? How did he morph from a seemingly normal young man into a MONSTER - and what is the story with the zombie wife, who married him while he was in Leavenworth and has been kicked-dog-loyal to him ever since? This book addresses some, if not all of those issues. However, in some places it becomes tedious and info-dump-y in the extreme.And of what most people want to know - what was JAYCEE thinking, feeling - at the time she was abducted, during her years in that backyard, and since that time? Well, she's written her own autobiography, and she tells her story exceedingly well. THIS is not that book. The book was not quite what I expected. What I was hoping to read was a story about how Jaycee coped and grew while in captivity. I wanted to see her strength and understand how she stayed postive and raised two such wonderful daughters. What I found was a book entirely about Phillip Garrido. While I apprecated the discussion about the failures of the system that doomed Jaycee to 18 years with that man. I hadn't purchased the book to learn everything there was to learn about him.
What do You think about Shattered Innocence (2011)?
It was Interesting and Sad to see how are Judicial System plays out.. Very Very Sad
—Roger
This story was sad, heartbreaking, and wonderful all at the same time!
—Nido
Glad she shared her story and how she became who she is today.
—Patriciak01
Sparked my interest in true crime. Fascinating.
—pamela
