Saving Grace: The True Story of a Mother-to-be, a Deranged Attacker, and an Unborn Child

by Sarah Brady, Patrick Crowley, Eric Deters

Nine months into her pregnancy, Sarah Brady receives a phone call out of the blue from another expectant mother named "Sarah Brody." The woman informs her they have both signed up for the same gift registry, and due to their similar names gifts meant for Brady have mistakenly been sent to Brody's address. What seems to be an amusing mix-up is, in fact, a deadly trap. When Brady stops by the woman's apartment to retrieve the gifts, she is instead confronted by a knife-wielding Kate Smith. Brady instinctively fights back, and the struggle for the knife becomes a fight to the death — leaving police to determine whether the attack was an act of self-defense or murder.

One of only three people in the United States to survive an attempted fetus theft, Sarah Brady tells her incredible story for the first time in Saving Grace.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published November 10, 2006

About the author

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I am aware that the true crime genre is not known as a source of great literature, I was really disappointed in this book. The publisher, Berkley Books (division of Penguin USA) ought to be ashamed to put out a book that appears not to have been edited at all.

Not only is the book repetitive, but at least half of it is speculation about the motive for this attack on Sarah Brady. The narrative is choppy, going back and forth between the histories of the people involved and the details of the actual crime itself.

One of the most shocking editing flaws I found in this book was that the authors used Wikipedia as a source when writing about repressed memory. Really? Wikipedia? The elementary students that visit the library where I work all know that Wikipedia is not a reliable source of information. The authors up the ante just a little, by citing a Seventeen magazine article on teen pregnancy (which, I might add, does nothing to further the story or explain motive).

Another odd thing I found about the book was that whenever Sarah Brady's stepson was mentioned, he was only ever referred to as "Scott's son". I can understand the family's desire to keep his name out of the public eye, but instead of awkwardly (sometimes coldly) referring to him exclusively as "Scott's son", why didn't the editor(s) suggest that he be called Andy, or Bryan, or whichever name the authors preferred? After all, they could use an asterisk behind "Andy", with the explanation "some names have been changed to protect the privacy of people involved". I'm pretty sure even Seventeen magazine does that.

If you are interested in Sarah Brady's story, or stories of fetal kidnapping in general, you may just as well read

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am sorry but I thought this book was so boring. Constantly the same things were repeated. Not much happened for this to fill a whole book. After the crime and accident occurred I already wondered what now? no court case, so what will this book be about next? well not much. It is interesting until page 90 then it gets boring. Sorry very badly written book. I did not like it but will give it 2 stars because of the first 70 pages (although even then i got annoyed by the way the author was constantly praising Sarah Brady) No I am going to give it just 1 star. It does not deserve anything more.Eva. what did you do to me recommending this crap. hahahahahaha.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

While my heart broke for Sarah and the experience she went through, this book did not keep my interest at all.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really is 3.5stars. Good writing style flowed through very easily.

[Reeny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the book in hopes that I would learn more about the crime than I did from tv. Not the case. I thought the writing style was repetitive and in my opinion, they just needed to write enough to fill a required number of pages. There was alot of medical and legal jargin that went on for page after page and it hardly seemed necessary. The true story was horrible, but it could have been told in just a few pages. I don't recommend this book.

[inaword · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story is tragic and horrifying and does deserve its own book, but not this one. This book was poorly written and repetitive to the point where even I noticed (when I usually don't until someone else mentions it first).

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

I find true crime interesting, so I thought I might enjoy this book. I couldn't have been more wrong. The writign is atrocious.

[Becky Klein · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story that took place in my hometown, but the book itself is terribly written. Luckily you can skim it to get the story.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel for Sarah Brady and those she loves - the story is a sad and in many ways amazing tale . It could have been told in a lot less words and without repeating the same thing over and over .

[Shanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of a courageous woman who survived an intense trauma. A very sad story.

[James Ahtone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Brady was a true hero. Katie Smith was a real villain. Sarah fought for life and her unborn baby's.

[Tanya T · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've seen the author of this book on many different talk shows talking about her whole ordeal which made me curious to read the book. Sarah Brady was 8 months pregnant when she was attacked by another woman who was faking her own pregnancy, in the struggle for her life and that of her unborn child, she killed the other woman in self defense. Only later did the story unravel that the woman, Katie Smith who was using a fake name simular to hers (Sarah Brody) was lying about being pregnant and lured Sarah Brady to her home for the intent to murder her and rip her unborn child from her womb.
Since i have seen Sarah Brady in numerous interviews on television, i really did not learn too much more by reading the book. Much of the story she tells in interviews is the same in the book. While i thought it was an okay book, i couldn't help but notice the annoying typos and hyphenated words that aren't supposed to be hyphenated,or repeated paragraphs in different chapters of the book.
In the epilogue of the book, Sarah talks about just wanting a normal life and not wanting people to invade her privacy or take pictures of her child. Totally understandable given the traumatic event she went thru but i can't help but think she's being a bit hypocritical when she says the only photos she allows to be seen of her baby are newborn photos,yet there are photos of her child in the book beyond the age of newborn. She's also been on various talk shows since the incident and brings her baby along on stage.Everytime a incident simular to what happened to her happens again, she is quick to be interviewed about her own ordeal all over again. I truely hope that she can move on and find peace, i just don't think she will if she keeps bringing attention back to herself with interviews after simular events happen around the world.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was by far one of the worst stories in a true crime book I've ever read. What happened to this woman is truly, truly heartbreaking and you wouldn't even think something like this could/would happen in this day and age. The woman who did this was pure evil and there is no other word to describe her.
I'm not going to give details although this is one of the few books where I can actually remember them because it would give the book away for the most part.
I'll just say it's definitely one of the saddest I've ever read and if you want a look at how depraved and evil people in this world can really be read this.
**I read this so long ago that I can't remember whether the writing was as atrocious as a lot of others are stating. I suppose it's possible but one also has to remember that Brady isn't an author by trade. She wrote this book because of what happened to her. She's not an Ann Rule or Gary King.
Usually is a book is written poorly I'll put that in my review and I didn't do that here so I'm willing to go out on a limb and say it was probably average. I'm sure the writing wasn't exceptional but then is any writing when you're reading true crime? I don't pick up a t.c. for exceptional writing - I pick it up to learn about a crime.

[Brittany · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel bad giving this book a bad review based on what Sarah Brady went through. I obviously feel bad for her real life situation, but this book was not well written. The first 12 pages felt like the authors were trying to get me to pity Sarah as she grew up poor; the majority of people do grow up that way. I also found in the first few chapters Sarah and Scott contradicted many views and morals they had on life. Every sentence seemed to change- it was pathetic to me. Some of the chapters repeated alot of stuff! I swear I was told the Covington description many times, and the Chapter called "Scene of the Crime" was just a replay of what already happened. I grew bored easily with this book. There was about 2 to 3 really good chapters, but that was it! And when the gave the autopsy report- that was relevant, but the 2 page description on how the heart works was not. We all learnt that in high school, it was a poor way to make the book bigger. I found the majority of the chapters to ramble on about insignificant crap just to fill up the pages! I am so glad I am done reading this book because it was getting painful to finish near the end!!! Very poorly written, which is sad because it could of been so much better!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is coauthored by my husband's cousin so I knew many of the details first hand. The reason I'm giving it three stars is two fold. The parts of the book Sarah wrote deserve 5 stars or more. They are articulate, thoughtful, vulnerable and touching. Eric Deters ruined it. He obviously only viewed it as an avenue for a quick buck. He is a terrible writer and a complete vulture.


I really hope Sarah writes again. All her.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very scary. It is sad to think that there are really people in the world that are this deranged. I am not much older than Sarah, but I am done having children. Thank God

The book is a must read.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a scary read as it gives an insight into how crazy some people really are. I thought it was well written, but possibly somewhat biased. Although I'm not sure I wouldn't be as well if I had been through what Sarah Brady had.

[Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book but Sad ..