Customer Reviews

Scared Silent

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book hits close to home, literally. To have your daughter drive your grandson past the school where 15 minutes later a 13 year old boy is shot; to pick up that grandson less than a mile from that school at a day care center whose windows have been painted over, to stand outside your school and direct your students to hurry to their buses, loading one by one, to drive past shopping centers at night that have very few cars is to have experienced the terror the DC sniper laid on this area. Anyone living or visiting here has their own story.
Mildred Muhammad's story is more personal than any; and I have to admit when I first heard about this book the skeptic in me, thought; well, guess she is making some money off of this. But instead in the first few pages her sincerity shows through. She tells of her background meeting John and of their life together and his kidnapping of their children and her fight to get them back.
This account is a plea to others to act and protect themselves and the ones they love. The last 30 pages give addresses, telephone numbers and web sites for state coalitions against domestic violence. There are hints that help women who have been or are in abusive relationships
Her tale is one that young girls especially should read; how that man who starts out as an attentive suitor can become a controlling abuser, emotionally or physically. Throughout the book there are lessons and warnings, hopefully others can learn from this; although one can see how hard it is to leave such a relationship, when you want to try to save it and when your life is turned upside down and existence is made almost unbearable. Her bottom line becomes don't deal with someone you have to make excuses for.
The writing is in 1st person, in an easy to read style, as if Mildred is talking personally to you. I had to keep reading to make sense of what happened and how one person could do this to another, a community, a state. There are so many victims; this experience took away another bit of our innocence and naiveté of the world around us. Mildred Muhammad helps us all to understand.

SCARED SILENT is Mildred Muhammad's story of life with John Muhammad, the D.C. sniper. She had a strict upbringing and was taught to please her man and she tried very hard to do that. It was her constant prayer that she would be a good wife. He seemed to be okay, most of the time, until he returned from Desert Storm where he was stationed in Saudi Arabia, he came back a totally different man. Mildred felt as if she didn't know him, he seemed distant and he didn't care about her at all. He didn't hit her but he abused her mentally, causing her great distress. Mildred frequently felt as if no one cared what he was doing. There were things he did to insure that she would be devastated. When she attempted to get the police to help her, she was ignored. She had to do it all on her own and she began hiring private detectives to find out where he was. Yet, when he was suspected of being the D.C. sniper, the police wanted her to help them. Her thoughts were he was killing people randomly so that when he killed her, he wouldn't be suspected.

Mildred Muhammad has written an earth-shaking story of love, loss and horror. She knew she was right for being afraid of him and frequently, she wouldn't even leave the women's shelter where she was staying unless she was surrounded by the other women. This was a well-written heart-breaking story of one woman's trials with a mad man. She is indeed a very strong woman. I'm sure I would not have been able to overcome the way she did. And the best part is, she works to help other women who find themselves in abusive environments. She is truly a magnificent human being.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

I was in the DC area during the shootings. It was my first book tour so I was more focused on that than I was about a sniper on the loose. It was only after the whole story came out that I realized how lucky I was to get back to California alive. As a former victim of abuse, my heart goes out to Sister Mildred. When I saw her on Court TV and heard that she was writing a book about her experience I couldn't wait to read her story. I read the book in one night, and then had nightmares. Only another victim of abuse can fully understand why I reacted the way I did. This is one women's club NOBODY wants to belong to. I sincerely thank Zane for publishing Mildred's book and I hope that we will all reach out to Mildred and support her by reading her story. It was awesome!
Mary Monroe, New York Times Bestselling author of God Ain't Blind

Scared Silent by Mildred Muhammad

I am a native Washingtonian and as I read this book it brought back the terrifying feeling I had as I traveled from D.C. to my part time job in Arlington Virginia. Looking around at every white van that came by me. Hoping that I would never be in the gas station long enough to be shot at and killed. Everyday I prayed that no one I knew would be the DC Sniper's next victim. However, once I started reading Scared Silent I was immediately humbled by the courage that it had to have taken to be one with the DC Sniper and to take it a step further to know that you were really the intended victim. Mildred Muhammad paints the picture of the before and after life with first a loving husband and father. And, later a calculated killer who killed in cold blood with no remorse. This memoir is a book that everyone should read simply because we were all affected by it in some way. Not only that she tells a story of being victimized by a problem that we hear about everyday but often times can't relate to. I believe her story will help others understand what Domestic Violence looks like. Not just the physical but the mental portion of it that we can't see. Mrs. Muhammad has done a wonderful job in showing us how Wars can change people and even make them worse. This is a story of military deceit, mental health and domestic violence. But, it is also about a system that is not geared to hear our cries. She manages to humanize someone that everyone wanted to see dead. She reminds us that we were not the only victims here but she and her children along with Lee Boyd Malvo actually lived this terrifying ordeal. She allows you to go behind the scenes and feel some of the insanity and fear that she and her children lived with. While I will never excuse or forget what John Muhammad did I can certainly see how he lost his mind. Mildred Muhammad has done more than a good job in taking us on her horrifying journey with a mad man. However, she has also took us on a journey of self discovery, recovery and healing. I applaud her and her children for sharing a part of themselves with us. Ten Stars for you Mrs. Muhammad and your new husband for being man enough to stand by you as you told your family's story.




The Official DC Reviewer

I received this book on my day off at 10 a.m. By 10 p.m., I was done reading! Really easy, and informational read. I applaud Mildred for her courage and resilience.

The book gave such insight into the husband and his actions. Also, the wife was determine to save her children and herself from her husband that had stated clearly that he would take her life. I feel that she was truful thru out the book. I could sense the stress that she was experiencing.

Scared Silent keep me on the edge the whole time I read it. The things this woman went through no one should ever have to go through. Her husband was a maniac and his threats were deadly. I thought he would kill her as I read, but she got away from him. He was the one that shot all those people back east. I am happy that he is behind bars with his nephew and they will never get out. Powerful is not a strong enough word for this book. I had to really put it in perspective because there were times when she could have left but she stayed because of her children and the love she had for him. This is a good read for anyone. It will keep you on your toes.

I received the book in perfect condition and actually had a chance to speak with the author. She is pleasant to speak to and reading the book you actually feel her story.

Mildred is not who I thought she would be. I am guilty of contempt prior to investigation. I prejudged her based on the horrific actions of John. As it turns out, she is a strong woman who learns from life's lessons and continously strives to be the best person she can be. She is an excellent example of courage and integrity.

I finished this book in 2 days . I probably could have finished it in one day if I didnt have to go to work. The author is candid about her life with her husband.Her beautiful spirit is vivid as she takes the reader through her journey of discovering love, then betrayal, fear, and then courage. An excellent read for any person but one that I would highly recommend to women who are married to men who are serving or have served in the military.