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Invisible Chains: Shawn Hornbeck And The Kidnapping Case That Shook The Nation
"Why didn't he escape when he could have?... The Stockholm Syndrome thing, I don't buy it."--Bill O'Reilly
In March 2007, two boys were found in the home of Michael J. Devlin, a "nice enough guy" who managed a pizza parlor in Kirkwood, Missouri. One boy had been kidnapped four days earlier. The other, Shawn Hornbeck, had been missing for four years. How and why did this fifteen-year old, whose face appeared on thousands of milk cartons and "Have You Seen Me?" posters, stay with his abductor in plain view for four years, only an hour from his family home?
From journalist Kristina Sauerlein comes this riveting story of the American kidnapping that startled the nation and catapulted the chilling reality of Stockholm Syndrome into the spotlight. Shawn had many opportunities to ask for help: he was left alone in his kidnapper's apartment many times, and had phone and Internet access. But he never tried to escape. This is the first time the full story has been told.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 20, 2008
In 2002, 11 year old Shawn Hornbeck was kidnapped just half a mile from his home. For four and a half years, he was held captive by his kidnapper, who passed him off as his son and lived with him in an apartment within a hour's drive of Shawn's home. Shawn had internet access, and a cell phone. He had friends, went out, once even called the police about a stolen bike. A few times, people even told Shawn he looked like pictures of him they saw on television or posters, but he denied it. The kidnapper was finally caught when he kidnapped another young boy, and the case became a media sensation, the facts being so bizarre. As the book puts it, "the curious nature of the case fascinated the public."
Nonetheless, although the book has a fascinating subject, it is far less interesting than one would hope. It is poorly written, full of cliches, atrocious alliteration and purple prose. Samples: pedophilic perversion, monster man, violent vices, lascivious lair, looming lunatic. I could, unfortunately go on at much greater length, but you get the point. The bottom line is: good subject, bad book.
Nonetheless, although the book has a fascinating subject, it is far less interesting than one would hope. It is poorly written, full of cliches, atrocious alliteration and purple prose. Samples: pedophilic perversion, monster man, violent vices, lascivious lair, looming lunatic. I could, unfortunately go on at much greater length, but you get the point. The bottom line is: good subject, bad book.
May 26, 2016
On October 6, 2002, in Richwoods, Missouri, 11 year-old Shawn Hornbeck was enjoying a day of freedom. Riding his lime-green bike around town doing typical pre-teen things, until he was abducted by ‘the monster man’, Michael J. Devlin. Devlin kept Shawn captive for the next 4 years and 3 months, until he kidnapped a second boy, Ben Ownby on January 8, 2007. On January 12, 2007 both boys were rescued by police. Then the questions began, why didn’t Shawn try to escape? This book answers those questions.
Shawn had freedom, he wasn’t tied up 24/7, he had a bike, a cell phone, access to the internet, and friends in the community. He spent holidays at his friends homes. He even had a girlfriend. Why did he never try to leave? The title of this book says it all Invisible Chains.
First you need to ignore Bill O’Reilly’s idiotic comment:
Shawn didn’t like his circumstances, he was doing what he had to do to survive. This is explained in the book.
While most of the information about the boys, the abductions, and their families is taken from news reports and interviews with family friends, Ms. Sauerwein was able to personally interview child psychologists and others with experience in this field. She took this information and somehow made it readable for the layperson. The result is an informative book about the why’s of a crime as opposed to just, this happened, the police followed these leads, and this person went to prison.
There is not much information about the boys recovery. I imagine the author is respecting their privacy. Which gives her another boost in my book. Curiosity takes second place to compassion.
Shawn had freedom, he wasn’t tied up 24/7, he had a bike, a cell phone, access to the internet, and friends in the community. He spent holidays at his friends homes. He even had a girlfriend. Why did he never try to leave? The title of this book says it all Invisible Chains.
First you need to ignore Bill O’Reilly’s idiotic comment:
The situation here, for this kid, looks to me to be a lot more fun than what he had under his old parents. He didn’t have to go to school, he could run around and do whatever he wanted…. And I think, when it all comes down, what’s gonna happen is, there was an element here that this kid liked about his circumstances.”
Bill O’Reilly, The O’Reilly Factor
Shawn didn’t like his circumstances, he was doing what he had to do to survive. This is explained in the book.
While most of the information about the boys, the abductions, and their families is taken from news reports and interviews with family friends, Ms. Sauerwein was able to personally interview child psychologists and others with experience in this field. She took this information and somehow made it readable for the layperson. The result is an informative book about the why’s of a crime as opposed to just, this happened, the police followed these leads, and this person went to prison.
There is not much information about the boys recovery. I imagine the author is respecting their privacy. Which gives her another boost in my book. Curiosity takes second place to compassion.
May 25, 2021
I vaguely remember this case happening, because while it occurred in my own state, it was on the other side of the state. It's a well-told story, though the author sometimes pontificates a little, adding more emotion and social commentary than I'm accustomed to from many true-crime writers.
June 25, 2009
this book mainly reviews the case of Shawn Hornbeck, who was kidnapped and found 4 years later after another boy was kidnapped in Missouri by the same kidnapper. I remember when Shawn was found after four years and how excited everyone was so when I picked up this book I expected it to be more about his life, how he was doing, and to have personal interviews with him or something. Instead, it was cobbled-together accounts from newspapers, magazines and from people who knew Shawn and Ben, the other kidnapped boy and Michael Duvlin, their kidnapper. If I wanted that, I would have read the newspapers. It wasn't much I hadn't learned from online sources, in fact the author used online sources a lot. Overall it was disappointing and shoddy.
May 9, 2013
The tale of this young man is very interesting, however this book is not well written or researched. The only information the author uses about the case is taken from newspaper articles and interviews. There is nothing from the victim or his family directly.
September 4, 2025
This book hits hard. As someone who’s followed child abduction cases over the years, Shawn Hornbeck’s story always haunted me—but Kristina Sauerwein dives even deeper into the layers of fear, trauma, and the disturbing silence that surrounded this case for years.
The writing is journalistic and clear, focusing on the facts without sensationalising the horror. What struck me most was how Sauerwein captures not just the abduction, but the long-term emotional imprisonment—the invisible chains—that held Shawn captive even after his rescue. It’s a reminder that survival doesn’t always mean freedom.
It’s a tough read at times, especially if you’re a parent or work in mental health (guilty on both counts), but it’s an important one. A heartbreaking and eye-opening look at resilience, community, and the failures that allow evil to hide in plain sight.
The writing is journalistic and clear, focusing on the facts without sensationalising the horror. What struck me most was how Sauerwein captures not just the abduction, but the long-term emotional imprisonment—the invisible chains—that held Shawn captive even after his rescue. It’s a reminder that survival doesn’t always mean freedom.
It’s a tough read at times, especially if you’re a parent or work in mental health (guilty on both counts), but it’s an important one. A heartbreaking and eye-opening look at resilience, community, and the failures that allow evil to hide in plain sight.
October 21, 2018
This is an increible story that looks beyond the surface of what the public knows about this terrible crime. Why did Shawn Hornbeck stay with his abductor? You’ll understand after reading this book. The author focuses on every angle of the crime and the effect it had on multiple people. This kept me reading, because I so very much wanted to reach the end, when the boys are rescued. But we find that isn’t really the end at all.
March 8, 2019
I picked this book up because I remembered hearing about the case. The author is a journalist who did a very good job of giving background information and psychological information. She was thorough in order to give the reader insight into the abductor's mind and help the reader to understand how someone could be kidnapped and still live in plain sight. I found the story interesting.
June 23, 2022
This book is an interesting subject that occurred in our state. It is a Missouri Miracle. However, the author focused more on repeating herself and giving long histories of the experts and areas than she did about the families or investigators. The author took a well-known case and did a little digging on professors versus the actual case.
February 13, 2025
I believe this is a good accounting of this amazing story. I did notice some redundant content and perhaps a bit too much psychology for my taste.
I think that probably one reason that I did not rate it higher than 3 stars is the fact that the factual story itself is mostly what intrigues me, and not so much the writing behind this story as presented in the book.
I think that probably one reason that I did not rate it higher than 3 stars is the fact that the factual story itself is mostly what intrigues me, and not so much the writing behind this story as presented in the book.
May 18, 2019
This book is not written well. There is so much duplication of unnecessary descriptions and information. Probably the best chapter is the one in which the boys were found. The story itself was an interesting topic.
February 5, 2020
Should have been an interesting story but it was just....boring. A kidnapping case shouldn't be boring.
September 15, 2021
No inside perspective of the story made this read just like a long newspaper article. The chapters were twice as long as they needed to be to get the point across. Too much filler.
September 16, 2021
A captivating story but the writing was contrived and poor.
June 1, 2023
This is an interesting kidnapping case. I feel so bad for the child. I’m glad he was found alive.
November 7, 2025
Shawn’s story is a miracle today the least and heartbreaking. However I felt the book had a lot of “filler”. In fact I found myself skimming pages through out due to lack of relevant information.
October 1, 2018
I have to admit that my fascination with this story and my connection to the incidents and places portrayed in it stem from being a resident of Kirkwood, Missouri. The story of Shawn Hornbeck is gripping to anyone, but imagine driving your toddler to preschool every day for two years past the apartment where Shawn was held. Imagine eating at the Imo's pizza parlor that the abductor managed. Imagine knowing one of the police officers interviewed in the book.
I think this is a very good treatment of Shawn's story. The author's obvious familiarity with the setting, her descriptions of the town and the people, give this book an authentic ring that I expected to be missing. Although I'm no pyschologist, the explanations of how something like this could happen felt understandable, and true. There was just enough delving into the Stockholm Syndrome and other kidnapping techniques that I finally felt like I "got it". I expected to freak out when the details of the abductions and torture were discussed, but the author did such a professional job of handling the sensitive issues that it was surprising how it only made me cringe. In other words, our minds and imaginations have already "gone there" in this story, and she didn't need to spell out the details in a sensationalistic way. And she knew that.
It's hard for someone outside our community to understand what it felt like to be here when the events surrounding this story unfolded. The author did a great job of capturing the emotions, especially the mitigated joy and unfounded feeling of conspiracy that we all felt.
I think this is a very good treatment of Shawn's story. The author's obvious familiarity with the setting, her descriptions of the town and the people, give this book an authentic ring that I expected to be missing. Although I'm no pyschologist, the explanations of how something like this could happen felt understandable, and true. There was just enough delving into the Stockholm Syndrome and other kidnapping techniques that I finally felt like I "got it". I expected to freak out when the details of the abductions and torture were discussed, but the author did such a professional job of handling the sensitive issues that it was surprising how it only made me cringe. In other words, our minds and imaginations have already "gone there" in this story, and she didn't need to spell out the details in a sensationalistic way. And she knew that.
It's hard for someone outside our community to understand what it felt like to be here when the events surrounding this story unfolded. The author did a great job of capturing the emotions, especially the mitigated joy and unfounded feeling of conspiracy that we all felt.
June 25, 2009
As I spend quite a bit of time reading technical works and other non-fiction for work, this isn't generally the kind of book I read in my leisure time. However, I found this book to be well written and informed. I thought Kristina did a very good job of telling the story, including pertinent details regarding what happened, without invading the lives and privacy of the victims. She illustrated how crimes of this sort create a shockwave of victimization, starting with the boys who were kidnapped, engulfing their families and washing over the hundreds and thousands of people involved in searching for, reporting on, and praying for the victims. The eventual capture of the "monster man" and how it was accomplished is covered completely enough for the average person to understand how it happened. There were expert citations regarding the psychological aspects of the victims and their abductor. This is a book I will recommend to a few people I know who are interested in this sort of thing, but not something I’d give my mother for Christmas. Thanks for the excellent recounting of this horrible deed, Kristina.
November 4, 2016
This story is so upsetting, but something we to hear so we can process what has happened to innocent people so we can prevent this from happening. Sauerwein had a personal connection to this case since she lived in the same town as Shawn (the boy in the story) therefore she was able to see and experience the feelings that had come after this terrible event. She covered this case well, and included details of the story, how the criminal got caught, and explained why/how the criminal picked Shawn. Those details can be used to put up more protection and for kids to observe their surrounding more. She also explained what different mental effects there were on Shawn and his abductor, and Shawn could continue to live the way he had. I wouldn't recommend for someone under the age of 12 to read this, but because the words and how Sauerwein wrote this would be confusing and not at the level of comprehension for someone younger. I do this it's important to tell the story for awareness but just verbally.
November 26, 2020
Compelling
As .was reading this book it triggered memories of my own traumatic childhood of physical and sexual abuse. That's where I can relate with both Shawn and Ben. I am glad Shawn and Ben made it home. I do want to slap some of the neighbors who revealed they heard a child moaning in pain , or it sounded like a dog had just been kicked, but didn't report it to the police. Or slap the officers who didn't report the deplorable living condition Shawn was living in or for not recognizing the boy. The author did well on the part about Shawn and Ben, but spent an incredible amount of time describing Rich lands, and also Munchausen syndrome by proxy. If I wanted to major in psychology I would have done so when in college. The author really didn't tell us more than what we already knew from reading the newspaper. I do have to confess when my family and I drove to VA from CO in 2004, I said they should stop looking because that boy is dead. Thank God they never gave up hope.
As .was reading this book it triggered memories of my own traumatic childhood of physical and sexual abuse. That's where I can relate with both Shawn and Ben. I am glad Shawn and Ben made it home. I do want to slap some of the neighbors who revealed they heard a child moaning in pain , or it sounded like a dog had just been kicked, but didn't report it to the police. Or slap the officers who didn't report the deplorable living condition Shawn was living in or for not recognizing the boy. The author did well on the part about Shawn and Ben, but spent an incredible amount of time describing Rich lands, and also Munchausen syndrome by proxy. If I wanted to major in psychology I would have done so when in college. The author really didn't tell us more than what we already knew from reading the newspaper. I do have to confess when my family and I drove to VA from CO in 2004, I said they should stop looking because that boy is dead. Thank God they never gave up hope.
June 25, 2009
This is the strange story of two kidnapped boys in Missouri, and why the first victim stayed in captivity for years, only a few miles from where his parents were desperately searching for him. I was a little afraid to read this, afraid it might be too graphic and disturbing for a grandmother of grandsons to read. But the author does a good job of telling the story without being too explicit. (I did have to skip two paragraphs, but that's not bad. . . . . ) Although she quotes various experts, it is still a fast, non-technical, interesting read.
January 4, 2016
Provides a lot of information about the case and the mentality behind kidnapping and kidnap victims. Felt that too often author went off track to discuss possibilities for why Shawn didn't try to escape with no real information about his case to back it up. Understandably there is a lot that is still unknown because he was a minor and many details weren't released to the public. It dragged on in a few places with the author attempting to add details or feelings that had no real basis behind them.
October 20, 2016
I liked this book. I think the author did a good job researching/following the story. I can't believe how Devlin was able to keep Shawn right out in the open the way that he did. I definitely think that some officers dropped the ball when it came to finding him. If Shawn would have been "noticed" earlier it definitely would have saved a lot of heartache. At least he's home now though. I don't, really, have any complaints about how the story was written.
October 20, 2013
This was a hard book to read, as a parent. I live in MO and was familiar with both kidnappings and the arrest of Devlin and recovery of both boys.
It did take awhile to get going in the book. Some material seems to repeat multiple times unnecessarily. However, if you are interested in learning more about the kidnappings, its a good read.
It did take awhile to get going in the book. Some material seems to repeat multiple times unnecessarily. However, if you are interested in learning more about the kidnappings, its a good read.
October 23, 2014
Not what I expected. This book was more of an observation rather than the story or details of what happened. It was filled with a lot of doctor's opinions and comparisons, etc. I don't REGRET reading it but I wouldn't recommend it. You can probably find a more detailed account of the story on Wikipedia.
July 4, 2009
Disturbing true story. Thankfully not salacious. Sort of a rehash of news articles. Creepy pizza guy abducts two boys. Yuck. I was hoping for more psychological profiling of the kidnapper/pedophile. Why did I read this? I guess because I have two boys...
February 27, 2011
Very disappointing read. This book is poorly written and very little information was presented that was not published in the newspapers. I'm very glad the boys were found but this book was about twice as long as it needed to be for what was covered.
January 8, 2020
I really knew nothing about this case other than nightly news in the past. Shawn is a brave young man; his incident could be part of any of our life stories simply by an innocent “wrong place wrong time” moments.
June 25, 2009
Based on a true story, I found this book to be informative but perhaps a bit biased. It was difficult for me to decide if the author was telling the whole truth.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews