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When an Angel Leaves Your Life
Kiplyn Davis was murdered on May 2nd, 1995. Her body has never been found. This book was written by her father, Richard Davis, nearly 30 years later. He writes about his family, Kiplyn's murder, and how it changed his life.
194 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 14, 2024
Richard Davis, Kiplyn’s father, is very vulnerable in this story. He talks about his weaknesses as a father & husband, and the growth in overcoming them to get where he is today.
If you live in Spanish Fork, Utah, you will have heard about Kiplyn’s abduction from Spanish Fork High School in the late 90’s, and have most likely followed the Davis families journey. This book answers questions I had and confirms our dispels rumors.
I read a first edition, so there were grammatical errors that were missed and some parts that didn’t flow. I would like to see the chapters have headings rather than just numbers. That way I would know what I was about to read. I love that the family is donating the proceeds for this book in Kiplyn’s name for a scholarship fund. My continued prayers are with the family for them to one day be able to find her body, being her home, and give her a proper burial.
If you live in Spanish Fork, Utah, you will have heard about Kiplyn’s abduction from Spanish Fork High School in the late 90’s, and have most likely followed the Davis families journey. This book answers questions I had and confirms our dispels rumors.
I read a first edition, so there were grammatical errors that were missed and some parts that didn’t flow. I would like to see the chapters have headings rather than just numbers. That way I would know what I was about to read. I love that the family is donating the proceeds for this book in Kiplyn’s name for a scholarship fund. My continued prayers are with the family for them to one day be able to find her body, being her home, and give her a proper burial.
August 1, 2024
When I met Richard Davis, we talked about writing and he mentioned that he is not a skilled at it, but that he was writing a book about his daughter, Kiplyn.
I didn’t know what had happened to Kiplyn at the time, but when I learned, I knew I would be there the day his book released so that I could read his tribute to her (especially since I knew how hard he had worked on it).
I, as a former newspaper editor, will never say this about another book in my life, but I was happy this book hadn’t been professionally edited or ghostwritten.
While I think a ghostwritten book about Kiplyn would be beautiful and would likely reach a much wider audience, there is IMMENSE value in hearing about her in her father’s exact words.
I felt like I was sitting right next to him hearing him speak about his daughter and the influence she had in making him the man he is today. I’ve never read anything like it and it added a level of meaningfulness that no amount of flowery prose could ever achieve.
I will say that the book is fairly niche in the sense that if you are not very familiar with Spanish Fork, Utah and have no knowledge of the LDS church, some parts won’t make much sense to you. It focuses heavily on spirituality/spiritual journey, which I think can be universally meaningful (as long as you don’t mind the LDS context).
But for members of the author’s community - particularly those who lived in Spanish Fork when Kiplyn disappeared- I think it could be a very healing and unifying book. I wasn’t even born then, and I still know the book will stay close to my heart.
I feel really honored to have been able to read this and I’ll forever be hoping for Kiplyn to be returned home.
Oh, and I’ll never forget my favorite Kiplynism: “I can’t think of anyone I would rather be than myself!”
I didn’t know what had happened to Kiplyn at the time, but when I learned, I knew I would be there the day his book released so that I could read his tribute to her (especially since I knew how hard he had worked on it).
I, as a former newspaper editor, will never say this about another book in my life, but I was happy this book hadn’t been professionally edited or ghostwritten.
While I think a ghostwritten book about Kiplyn would be beautiful and would likely reach a much wider audience, there is IMMENSE value in hearing about her in her father’s exact words.
I felt like I was sitting right next to him hearing him speak about his daughter and the influence she had in making him the man he is today. I’ve never read anything like it and it added a level of meaningfulness that no amount of flowery prose could ever achieve.
I will say that the book is fairly niche in the sense that if you are not very familiar with Spanish Fork, Utah and have no knowledge of the LDS church, some parts won’t make much sense to you. It focuses heavily on spirituality/spiritual journey, which I think can be universally meaningful (as long as you don’t mind the LDS context).
But for members of the author’s community - particularly those who lived in Spanish Fork when Kiplyn disappeared- I think it could be a very healing and unifying book. I wasn’t even born then, and I still know the book will stay close to my heart.
I feel really honored to have been able to read this and I’ll forever be hoping for Kiplyn to be returned home.
Oh, and I’ll never forget my favorite Kiplynism: “I can’t think of anyone I would rather be than myself!”
September 24, 2024
Richard Davis is not a writer, he is a heartbroken dad, who writes about his experience of his 15 year old daughter who disappeared from school in May of 1995. I went to school with Kiplyn and have follow this heartbreaking story for the past 29 years. This book is Richard's personal history of his life. He talks about his childhood, friends, profession, and religious life as well. Kiplyn's disappearance greatly changed the course of his life, and I love how he describes how he changed his life and turned to Jesus for help and support. His prayers of finding Kiplyn have not been answered, butI loved when he described an answer to pray after another disappointing day at court, and a refusal to tell them where Kiplyn is buried. The soft answer was, "Look what you were like 26 years ago. Look what you've accomplished since you had the desire to change. Look at all the blessings you have received and the truths that you have learned. Look at all the people that you have helped and all the people that have touched your life. Look at the promises I have given you if you will only endure." I think Richard's answer can be our answers too when we walk the path of hard things with the Savior by our side. I hope someday soon the Davis family can bring Kiplyn home and turn off their porch light that has burned so bright for 29 years.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews