This riveting inside story of the intense search for the Salt Lake City teenager who was kidnapped from her bed reveals never-before-told details of the largest investigation in Utah state history. Paced like a thriller, this true account moves between the parallel stories of the searchers and the abductor. The firsthand account of Tom Smart, Elizabeth's uncle and one-time suspect, reveals the details of the flawed police investigation, the media's manipulation of the family, and the eyewitness account of nine-year-old Mary Katherine Smart that went largely ignored by investigators. New research is presented on the family background of disturbed street preacher Brian David Mitchell, who kidnapped Elizabeth as part of a bizarre polygamous plot. Also examined is the critical role of the media, revealing the essential part played by John Walsh and others in facilitating Elizabeth's safe return, and the manipulative influence of Fox News and Bill O'Reilly. Going beyond a mere eyewitness account, the book includes information culled from interviews with more than 150 people involved in the search and investigation, notes from family meetings, and memos from law enforcement officials.
In Plain Sight
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Despite the sensational subtitle, readers who have followed the kidnapping and eventual safe return of Utah teenager Elizabeth Smart won't glean any "startling" truths from this account, coauthored by one of the drama's prime players. But most will find the detailed account of police missteps disturbing and saddening. Smart's traumatic imprisonment riveted much of the country for nine months, from her abduction from her bedroom until the discovery that she was the veiled young woman accompanying a bizarre street preacher named Brian David Mitchell. Tom Smart, an uncle who came unfairly under suspicion and who devoted countless hours to exploring every lead, and journalist Benson craft a coherent narrative interweaving the official investigation with a reconstruction of Mitchell's movements; the numerous missed opportunities to locate Elizabeth and her captors make for agonizing reading. Tom Smart settles some scores: Fox News' Bill O'Reilly and Marc Klaas, the father of a murdered child, come across as journalistically unscrupulous. But Smart is also forthright about his own mistakes. While this is an interesting alternate perspective to that provided by Elizabeth's parents in 2003's Bringing Elizabeth Home, the compelling story still awaits a definitive telling. 8 pages of color photos.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"A compelling account of Elizabeth's ordeal...replete with never-before-told details that only an insider could know." -- John Hughes, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and former editor of the Christian Science Monitor
"A fascinating look at...riveting case which shows how the police, media, and society interact in a high-profile crime case." -- Dr. Henry C. Lee, author, Cracking More Cases, and leading forensic scientist in the O.J. Simpson, JonBenet Ramsey, and Elizabeth Smart investigations
"An important book that does far more than just chronicle the facts of [this] electrifying, terrifying child abduction case..." -- Ernie Allen, president and CEO, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
"An insightful and harrowing memoir…This book of behind-the-scene dramas reads like a true crime novel." -- Terry Tempest Williams, author, Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place
"Provides the only new information about the case in months." -- The Salt Lake Tribune
"Through the eyes of Tom Smart, we are finally inside a story that none of us will ever forget. Amazing." -- Nancy Grace, anchor of Court TV
"A fascinating look at...riveting case which shows how the police, media, and society interact in a high-profile crime case." -- Dr. Henry C. Lee, author, Cracking More Cases, and leading forensic scientist in the O.J. Simpson, JonBenet Ramsey, and Elizabeth Smart investigations
"An important book that does far more than just chronicle the facts of [this] electrifying, terrifying child abduction case..." -- Ernie Allen, president and CEO, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
"An insightful and harrowing memoir…This book of behind-the-scene dramas reads like a true crime novel." -- Terry Tempest Williams, author, Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place
"Provides the only new information about the case in months." -- The Salt Lake Tribune
"Through the eyes of Tom Smart, we are finally inside a story that none of us will ever forget. Amazing." -- Nancy Grace, anchor of Court TV
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Let me start off by saying that I have a 15 yr old daughter, and that this is every parent's nightmare... I picked up this book, generally aware with the fact that Elizabeth Smart was abducted and eventually found alive. Other than that, I didn't know much.
"In Plain Sight" (380 pages) is written by and from Tom Smart's perspective, the oldest brother of Ed Smart (Elizabeth's dad). It doesn't necessarily make for an easy read. Tom Smart comes across as a heavy-bearing guy with an healthy ego, even if all he has in mind is the best for everyone and wants nothing more than the safe return of Elizabeth. The first half of the book covers the first 10 days or so of Elizabeth's abduction, and is not compelling, as much as we all feel for the family. The book really takes of in the second half, when the weeks and months fly by. Even though the author makes clear he has not interviewed Elizabeth for the book, we do get a good sense of what her captors and Elizabeth were doing, drifting in Salt Lake and near San Diego.
The Salt Lake City Police Department does not come across well in this account, being referred to at one point as the "Keystone Cops", as it eventually steadfastly focuses on Richard Ricci, who is arrested and eventually dies while in prison of a ruptured aneurysm, while all along the true abductors remain shockingly "in plain sight" around SLC and later in San Diego. "America's Most Wanted" John Walsh, instead, gets very positive write-up, and for good reason.
The latter part of the book is most riveting, up to the eventual confrontation with the abductors and Elizabeth in suburban SLC. Even then it looked like things might go wrong, but when the author describes Ed Smart being reunited with Elizabeth at the police station, I admit I had tears running down my face. My prayers are with Elizabeth, that she can find a "normal" life as she grows older, after having suffered such a terrible ordeal.
This book is riveting, shocking, and highly recommended.
"In Plain Sight" (380 pages) is written by and from Tom Smart's perspective, the oldest brother of Ed Smart (Elizabeth's dad). It doesn't necessarily make for an easy read. Tom Smart comes across as a heavy-bearing guy with an healthy ego, even if all he has in mind is the best for everyone and wants nothing more than the safe return of Elizabeth. The first half of the book covers the first 10 days or so of Elizabeth's abduction, and is not compelling, as much as we all feel for the family. The book really takes of in the second half, when the weeks and months fly by. Even though the author makes clear he has not interviewed Elizabeth for the book, we do get a good sense of what her captors and Elizabeth were doing, drifting in Salt Lake and near San Diego.
The Salt Lake City Police Department does not come across well in this account, being referred to at one point as the "Keystone Cops", as it eventually steadfastly focuses on Richard Ricci, who is arrested and eventually dies while in prison of a ruptured aneurysm, while all along the true abductors remain shockingly "in plain sight" around SLC and later in San Diego. "America's Most Wanted" John Walsh, instead, gets very positive write-up, and for good reason.
The latter part of the book is most riveting, up to the eventual confrontation with the abductors and Elizabeth in suburban SLC. Even then it looked like things might go wrong, but when the author describes Ed Smart being reunited with Elizabeth at the police station, I admit I had tears running down my face. My prayers are with Elizabeth, that she can find a "normal" life as she grows older, after having suffered such a terrible ordeal.
This book is riveting, shocking, and highly recommended.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Bettyraines
Format:Hardcover
I have read all the books on the Elizabeth Smart case and this is buy far the best. Contrary to what some people have said, this book does not violate Elizabeth's privacy.There is really no new information on her in it. In fact, the book focuses on the investigations and the mistakes made by police in going after Richard Ricci long after Mary Katherine had said that it wasn't him. It gives many new details on the case that were not available in news reports or the other books. I attended a book signing given by the authors and Mr. Smart said that the LAPD had requested that he donated copies of the book so their officers could read it and benefit from the mistakes of the SLPD. If this book can help police departments in saving another missing child, it will be well worth it. Another thing that I liked about the book is that it gave a lot of background on the kidnappers and their twisted reasons for doing what they did.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Reader W
Format:Hardcover
In Plain Sight, by Tom Smart (Elizabeth Smart's Uncle) & Lee Benson, is a fast-paced, heart-pounding account of the search for kidnapped Elizabeth Smart. Although I, and the nation, knew how this story ended; I found myself holding my breath in anticipation as I turned the pages. This is the behind the scenes story of the search for Elizabeth. It is not yellow-journalism; it is a respectful tale written with love for Elizabeth that is as pertinent in information as it is engrossing. It should be required reading for all law-enforcement. The near-misses in finding Elizabeth sooner, false stories about the Smart family and the lack of cooperation between the police and FBI left me distraught. Tom Smart is as honest with the readers about his own foibles and anguish as one could be. I've read the other reviews that seem to say this book was a gratuitous effort. I disagree. I think that it is a thank you letter to the thousands of people who helped to find Elizabeth and to those like me who followed the story and cried at the news that this little girl was found alive. Those who let their own egos overule the fate of a little girl must look in the mirror at themselves everyday and live with that. The brave heroes in this story, like John Walsh, can feel proud and deserve to be lauded. Much can be learned from this all too real tale. It seems to me that if Tom Smart and his family had not been so persistent then Elizabeth may not have returned. I walk away from reading In Plain Sight realizing that blind-faith in the authorities will not bring a loved-one's fate to light. This book clearly promotes being proactive. Aside from that, it is an extremely good book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Very enlightening account of what was going on with the smart family while Elizabeth was being held captive-they never gave up!
Published 6 days ago by nkckathy
3.0 out of 5 stars
This tells the family's ordeal more than Elizabeth's ordeal.
This is a well written, very detailed account of the extended family's reactions to Elizabeth Smart's abduction, especially from the viewpoint of her uncle Tom Smart. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mady
1.0 out of 5 stars
Self-Serving and One-Sided
I read this book because I was interested in hearing the details of the investigation and how they lead up to finally finding Elizabeth alive. Read more
Published on January 18, 2011 by Avid Reader
3.0 out of 5 stars
Alot of insight into behind the scenes of the case
I am about half way through this book. As of now, i find that the book is a little bit dull. The author who is Elizabeth's uncle, seems to go on alot about himself and the... Read more
Published on June 3, 2010 by charmed7278
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good description of a crime investigation from the inside
I'm a private investigator and I often work with families who have been touched by a serious crime. The public usually hears about investigations from the police side of things,... Read more
Published on November 28, 2009 by Pamela Beason
3.0 out of 5 stars
the startling truth behind the elizabeth investigation
i enjoyed this book but thought elizabeth was being taken advantage of by her parents and uncle.she should of been kept in seclusion and not been subject to the public. Read more
Published on August 4, 2007 by Victoria L. Bollinger
2.0 out of 5 stars
Very disappointed in this one.
I read this book and I almost feel like it was a serious waste of my time. Tom Smart (uncle of Elizabeth Smart) seems like he is trying to take the stage in this account. Read more
Published on May 13, 2007 by L. F. Marshall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Read, Read ,Read!
The first time I Read this, I felt like Tom Smart was talking to me Everyday. I'ts so cool, I think the book should tell about everyone else but pervert and pervet Jr. Read more
Published on June 12, 2006 by Fannie Flagg
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting but her parents book is a little easier to read
I was completly stuck on the Elizabeth Smart case when it was all unfolding. I was graduating high school at the time and couldnt imagine with all the dreams I had having them all... Read more
Published on January 27, 2006 by Book Worm
4.0 out of 5 stars
--Compelling--
IN PLAIN SIGHT is the story of the investigation to locate Elizabeth Smart, the teenage girl who was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City. Read more
Published on December 16, 2005 by Judith Miller
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 16
books:
See all 16 books this book cites
- Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith on page 74, and page 279
- Embraced by the Light by Betty J. Eadie on page 75, and page 78
- Tears of Rage - From Grieving Father to Crusader for Justice: The Untold Story of the Adam Walsh Case by John Walsh on page 240
- Most Wanted by Margret Pierce on page 163
- Called to Serve by Colonel James 'Bo' Gritz on page 77
See all 16 books this book cites
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