In Plain Sight: The Startling Truth Behind the Elizabeth Smart Investigation

In Plain Sight: The Startling Truth Behind the Elizabeth Smart Investigation

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The book primarily tells the story to the family's and the community's reaction to the kidnapping and their struggle to find Elizabeth and doesn't reveal much about Elizabeth's ordeal. I assume that this was done to protect Elizabeth's privacy and to encourage her healing rather than adding to her trauma. Perhaps in the future when Elizabeth is an adult she will share her memories and insights into her 9 month time as a religious captive. May 29, Stephanie rated it liked it.

Yet another reason to despise Bill O'Reilly Of course, the PD didn't come off that much better, although some of them tried. What a strange story, one of those made-for-Nancy-Grace ones with the blond-in-danger. Better ending than Jon Benet, for sure. Hopefully people learn from these things, like "oh we had an eyewitness, even though she is only 9 years ol Yet another reason to despise Bill O'Reilly And although she was right, another suspect who didn't really fit the description got into the spotlight of the PD's suspect focus and they never let up.

Until the guy died, and even then people didn't listen to the eyewitness. Oct 07, Raina rated it it was ok. All I heard throughout this book was "I'm not crazy", "See, I was right", "We're affluent", "The police messed up", etc. The intensity and excessive nature of the finger pointing, defending himself and deflecting blame was so much that it almost took away from the real point of the story.

I feel the story could have been conveyed in an equally informative matter without all the bashing and negativity. A well written book will help the reader see your point, when you continually have to point i All I heard throughout this book was "I'm not crazy", "See, I was right", "We're affluent", "The police messed up", etc. A well written book will help the reader see your point, when you continually have to point it out or remind them it seems shady in my opinion, as though the offer has something to hide You can't force your version of events onto a reader as right I feel like the "4 hour rule" should have been amended to include this book and any other publications because the lack of class and taste is doing the family no favors.

I gave this book a 2 as there was some interesting information in it and at times was an easy read. But mainly it was painful and aggravating. I hope he gets some help. Very detailed account of the search for Elizabeth Smart, written by her uncle, a newspaper photographer with a lot of media connections. A remarkable amount of effort and resources went into the search, and the well-connected and tight-knit family did all it could to keep the story in the news.

Documents several near-misses in finding Elizabeth, as well as the fate of suspects that turned out not to be involved. I was bothered by the fact that it took the author about pages to acknowledge th Very detailed account of the search for Elizabeth Smart, written by her uncle, a newspaper photographer with a lot of media connections. I was bothered by the fact that it took the author about pages to acknowledge that most missing children and their families don't get this kind of assistance and attention, especially if they are not white, blonde, and demonstrably angelic and pure.

Jan 21, Rachel rated it really liked it. I love the Smart family. What amazing, inspirational people. This book was written by Tom Smart, Elizabeth's uncle, who is also a veteran photojournalist. If I didn't already have massive respect for the Smarts, this wonderfully written book would have done it. I especially appreciated this very honest observation from Tom: However, I love the Smart family. However, kidnapping crosses all boundaries and all children deserve the same resources.

Feb 22, Genoa Yox rated it did not like it. Mar 11, Candice rated it did not like it. You win some, you lose some. Oct 24, Jenifer rated it really liked it. In reading a book like this, one must remember that this story is a first person memoir with all the angst, pitfalls and subjectivism that such a memoir contains. That being said, Tom Smart is a frank and likable narrator - a no-nonsense guy who fought for home, family and decency. He has let the reader into the inner sanctum of law enforcement, media and family with an honesty about "the good, the bad and the ugly".

So many individuals were invested and committed to this case, one should be cau In reading a book like this, one must remember that this story is a first person memoir with all the angst, pitfalls and subjectivism that such a memoir contains.

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Indeed I am sure that many lessons have been learned and procedures and policies updated to possibly avoid future pit-falls. Sometimes this book was so hard to read I had to put it down; other times, so gripping I couldn't put it down. It's interesting to compare and contrast the facts provided by Tom and the facts provided by Elizabeth in her own memoir. For one example, the media and even Tom report that Elizabeth was called "Augustine" during her captivity and Wanda called Hepsibuh, but in Elizabeth's memoir, she refers to herself being called "Hepsibuh ".

The two books together provide interesting insights into this bizarre case that, for reasons I won't articulate here, has me morbidly fascinated. Jan 11, Lisa rated it liked it Shelves: This book fills in the information about the investigation into Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping that her book, My Story, doesn't describe.

Tom Smart, Elizabeth's uncle, tells the story well from his first-person point of view. The only flaw in the book is Smart's tendency to go on too long, especially in the first third of the book, about his own experiences. He's trying to justify acting a little crazy due to sleep deprivation, the desire to find out what happened to Elizabeth, and the whipsawing This book fills in the information about the investigation into Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping that her book, My Story, doesn't describe.

He's trying to justify acting a little crazy due to sleep deprivation, the desire to find out what happened to Elizabeth, and the whipsawing the family took from the media and the police , but he could have told in a few paragraphs what he spent two or three chapters telling. Smart does a good job of refraining from telling the details of Elizabeth's story--he leaves that to her--while keeping the reader updated on her whereabouts and the broad outlines of her experience. He also helps the reader feel the frustration and tragedy of the several near-misses that, had they been successful, would have rescued Elizabeth sooner, as well as the machinations of some of the media and the incompetence of some members of the Salt Lake City police department.

This book was well done, but it was sad because of the tragic situation involved. Jun 25, Daniel Stern rated it it was ok. The SLCPD belongs in a criminal category for the obstruction of justice, not following up on relative's calls identifying Mitchell…. Tom Smart's story shows "me" how IF "America's Most Wanted" hadn't done their story and put out the photos of Mitchell, That's how the 2 couples who recognized Mitchell were able to call the police and identify his whereabouts to end this ordeal!

Elizabeth's story would have probably had a sad end; like so many other abducted children - never returning home. This book gives step-by-step details of "the miracle" of her rescue. No other book spells it out so well with photos and the details of what went on behind the scenes in the nine-month search for Elizabeth Smart. This book is the culmination of all the books with a total concentration on the rescue efforts.

So much would have been missing without this book, "In Plain Sight"! The tentacles that grip and intertwine "so many" over the loss of "one person" was again staggering as I read this story. This book is full of nuggets to help in other such cases. I can't say enough good about this book! Apr 13, Rich rated it it was amazing. I thought the book was well written thought repetitive and lengthy. With hindsight of the Elizabeth Smart abduction, law enforcement decision makers look quite foolish.

At the time, however, I suspect most were doing what they felt was most likely to produce results. The authors have done a good job of sharing what happened and thereby exposing some of the short I thought the book was well written thought repetitive and lengthy. The authors have done a good job of sharing what happened and thereby exposing some of the shortcomings now acknowledged in the investigation.

I gained additional respect and admiration for the Smart Family and the thousands of volunteers who gave time and money to assist in the search for Elizabeth. The story was a testimony to the value we place on human life and the willingness of so many to help a family in need. Oct 25, Cynthia Sillitoe rated it really liked it. I read this when it first came out and reread it after Elizabeth's book came out.

There are a lot of conflicting details. I know some would assume Elizabeth's version is right, but Tom Smart and Lee Benson are good journalists. I think they relied on what Elizabeth had told relatives about her ordeal and maybe some of that was inaccurate, but there are other things. One of the biggest is that when found, Elizabeth told the police her name was Augustine. That isn't in Elizabeth's book, but everyo I read this when it first came out and reread it after Elizabeth's book came out. That isn't in Elizabeth's book, but everyone else remembers it, and then later Elizabeth mentioned it in an interview after her book came out.

It's frustrating to not know what is true. Anyway, this book is an amazing behind the scenes look at what the family went through and how they dealt with it. Nov 04, Barb rated it really liked it. I decided to read this book because it was cheap on the Kindle, I suppose in anticipation of Elizabeth Smart's own book about her ordeal. It is by her uncle, who was considered a person of interest in Elizabeth's kidnapping.

He didn't tell Elizabeth's story, because he said that was her story to tell. But he did tell about some background in the case, and the investigation that followed. He expressed the family's frustration at the way many of the aspects of the case were handled, as well as the I decided to read this book because it was cheap on the Kindle, I suppose in anticipation of Elizabeth Smart's own book about her ordeal.

He expressed the family's frustration at the way many of the aspects of the case were handled, as well as their happiness in bringing Elizabeth home safely. I am now reading Elizabeth's new book, and I'm glad I had that background first.

Aug 24, Elise rated it it was ok Shelves: I believe that this book was more of a tease than anything else. The book primarily focuses on the family's search for Elizabeth and all of the challenges and heartbreaks they encountered throughout the search.

IN PLAIN SIGHT: The Startling Truth Behind the Elizabeth Smart Investigation

Granted, the story is humbling and terrifying. A missing child is every parent's worst nightmare; however, when I bought the book, I hoping to receive more insight into Elizabeth's experience and how she was able to keep hope alive and survive. Sorry Was expecting more Sorry Smart family, but Jaycee Dugard set the bar very high.

Dec 19, Louise Hartvigsen rated it really liked it. I read this while waiting to get the new Elizabeth Smart book from the Library. Written by her uncle, it is a thorough telling of what happened when Elizabeth was kidnapped, by her family, the police, the media.

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I followed the story closely as it unfolded I distinctly remember the day she was kidnapped and knew most of what was in the book, but I thought it was presented in a compelling way. Tom Smart was very intense during the months Elizabeth was missing and there were many strains on the f I read this while waiting to get the new Elizabeth Smart book from the Library. Tom Smart was very intense during the months Elizabeth was missing and there were many strains on the family, but what they did was remarkable.

The police don't look good in this account. Oct 15, David rated it liked it Shelves: It was interesting to see the insider, day-to-day perspective of this public case. It's important to keep in mind that this is only meant to tell one side of this many-sided story.

I also strongly recommend that anyone reading the book not stop before they read the epilogue. There are a few things that deserve the clarification that took place after the kidnapping was all over. At least some of them are addressed in the epilogue and they help put day-to-day perspective presented in the body into It was interesting to see the insider, day-to-day perspective of this public case. At least some of them are addressed in the epilogue and they help put day-to-day perspective presented in the body into better perspective.

I don't know if there are others that weren't covered but its conceivable. Dec 01, Megann Zeigler rated it really liked it. Please verify that you are not a robot. Would you also like to submit a review for this item? You already recently rated this item. Your rating has been recorded. Write a review Rate this item: Preview this item Preview this item.

Tom Smart ; Lee Benson Publisher: The largest investigation in Utah history was also one of its most flawed, as demonstrated in an inside look at the famous kidnapping case that examines the course of the search and the manipulative influence of the media on the outcome. Allow this favorite library to be seen by others Keep this favorite library private. Find a copy in the library Finding libraries that hold this item Case studies Named Person: Internet resource Document Type: Tom Smart ; Lee Benson Find more information about: Tom Smart Lee Benson.

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