My Sister Is Missing: Bringing A Killer To Justice [Paperback]

Sherrie Gladden-Davis (Author), Brad Crawford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005

On October 1, 1991, Fran Gladden-Smith disappeared without a trace from her home in Princeton, New Jersey, and suspicion immediately turned to her new husband, John David Smith III. In a highly unusual move, the police allowed her family to be involved in the investigation — as long as they didn't interfere with law enforcement. Over the next several years, Fran's sister Sherrie Gladden-Davis played a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, tracking Smith and his activities across the United States. She could go where police couldn't — and she dedicated herself to helping authorities get the evidence they needed to unravel the mystery of her sister's disappearance. My Sister Is Missing is Sherrie Gladden-Davis's harrowing account of the search for her sister's killer, and the inspiring story of her extraordinary path to justice.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A chilling mystery of love, marriage, and the missing pieces to a puzzle." -- 20/20 Downtown

From the Author

Fran Gladden-Smith’s tragic story has been the focus of investigative reports by Hard Copy, 20/20 Downtown, Inside Edition, Cold Case Files, and Final Justice with Erin Brockovich. This compelling story is currently in development for an upcoming movie on the Lifetime Network.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Clerisy Press, Emmis Books (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578602017
• ISBN-13: 978-1578602018
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,042,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth Reading, February 25, 2006

By 

True Crime Reader (Flint, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Sister Is Missing: Bringing A Killer To Justice (Paperback)

This book is a very interesting chronicle and very well written saga of the murders of two women at the hands of their husband at the time, John David Smith. The book, written by one of the victims sister, chronicles the exhaustive search by the victim's family for the answers as to what happened to their beloved sister. It also details how that search ended up helping to resolve a cold case, from the 1970's, and eventually put the murderer into police custody. The book is fascinating since it is written so "un-like" many true crime novels which are often to full of courtroom drama and endless descriptions of the police involvement in the cases at hand. This book tells the day to day feelings and frustrations of the victims family, their quest to find answers, and somewhat ultimate justice for their sister. It is a "page turner" and well worth reading. UPDATE: As of the writing of my review Smith sits in an Ohio prison at the age of 54 while in his 4th year of a 15-life sentence. UPDATE #2: Sandra Anderson, the dog handler who assisted in the search for bodies in this case, pled guilty in 2004 in U.S. District Court in Detroit, MI to five felony charges (including obstruction of justice and making false statements to federal authorities) involving "planted" evidence cases in Oscoda, Bay City and Oakland County, MI in 1999 involving her cadaver dog Eagle. A two year prison term and financial restitution was paid to at least one (Lapeer) MI. county by Ms. Anderson.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!, March 21, 2005

By 

Michelle Taute (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: My Sister Is Missing: Bringing A Killer To Justice (Paperback)

This engaging story will send chills up your spine and renew your appreciation for your own loved ones. The author takes you through the search for her missing sister--from the initial shock to navigating the red-tape of the justice system. You'll come to admire her strength and tenacity while gaining a fascinating glimpse into her sister's life and suspicious disappearance.

I don't want to spoil the mystery, but as the story unfolds, you'll discover details that rival any suspense novel. The suspected killer's behavior is like a car wreck unfolding in slow motion--you won't be able to look away. Step into the world of this real-life, unsolved crime, and you'll soon find yourself repeating the unbelievable tale to everyone you know. It's better than any "ripped from the headlines" show on television.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who Needs 20/20? This Is Better!, April 29, 2005

By 

Susan Jackson (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: My Sister Is Missing: Bringing A Killer To Justice (Paperback)

I'm not usually a big fan of true-crime/mystery-type books, but this one pleasantly surprised (and intrigued) me! The book's plot may sound slightly familiar, as it has been featured on various TV news magazine shows -- including 20/20 -- but you'll never get such amazing detail and narrative quality from a one-hour TV show. In the book, you can really get into the tale and feel the emotions of someone searching for a lost family member -- and seeking justice for the person responsible. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery and a story you just can't put down.