Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story

by Allyn Atadero, Arlyn Atadero

Discover the bombshell cold case that rocked the state of Colorado for five years and changed the way many viewed their world forever. On October 2nd, 1999, 3 year-old Jaryd Atadero vanished on a group hike in the Comanche Peak Wilderness. As hours turned into days, and days into months, Jaryd’s father Allyn goes through hell and high water to combat nightmarish circumstances hindering the search, threatening the very core of his existence — circumstances which would bring most ordinary people to the breaking point and beyond. Sound like fiction? It isn’t. And it’s only the very tip of the iceberg. But underlying the tragedy is an insurmountable hope that can only come from above, and a sustaining love that redefines what it means to be a follower of Christ in the throes of losing the most precious thing on earth to a parent. “ When the Son Sets” lets you step into the heart and soul of Allyn and his family as they struggle to come to grips with a mystery that remains unsolved to this day . . . Including the real police reports and letters from those involved in the search. You get an unfiltered look at how emotionally exhausting it is to lose a child. How did Jaryd vanish? Who (or what) took him? The book will leave you with more questions than answers, but with a heightened sense of the reality we live in. This is the most emotionally challenging book I have ever read. There were parts that left me feeling drained, and others that left me downright angry. If I had been in Allyn’s shoes when he had to confront some of the situations he was faced with, I’d still be on probation… Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. Despite the tragic nature of the story, the grating frustrations faced by the Atadero family and those who fought for them, there is a strong inspirational foundation that will leave you strengthened in the end. Zebulon Rogers

Genres: True Crime, Crime, Nonfiction

391 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2017

Reviews

[Shana · Rating 3 out of 5]

THREE AND A HALF STARS. I have heard Allyn Atadero on several true crime podcasts so I was interested to read this book. It is a sad and strange story and I finished the book with more questions than answers about what happened to Jaryd. Much of it is Allyn's personal story about losing his son coupled with his investigation into what might have happened to him. It did take me some time to get into this book and I found the second half a faster read then the first half. I would recommend it to people who are interested in Jaryd's disappearance.

[Danette Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart Breaking

First I am so saddened by the lose of your beautiful son.
Your book was hard to read and I cannot imagine going through this nightmare of all nightmares.
I am appalled that our supposed paid officials can be such idiots and so heartless. You were far kinder than I would have been.
I read a lot also about people who go missing and the thing that got me was his pants inside out. I am sure you have read those theories and it is very unsettling to say the least.
I hope you have found some sort of peace in this journey of life.

[lisa lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad Story Beautifully Written

I picked this book as I was intrigued with the haunting story of Jayrd in the Missing 411 documentary, and I share the same Christian faith as the family.. The book, a collaboration between Jayrd's Dad and Uncle, proved a very emotional, and highly insightful read - filled with more facts and details than what was, understandably, presented in the documentary. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject of mysterious disappearances and the ways we can learn to prevent them in the future by remembering that anything can happen to Any one at anytime.

[Terry Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Heartwrenching

This is an incredibly well told story of a father's heartbreaking ordeal of the search for his missing three year old son. He bares his heart and soul in the way only a grieving parent can. My sincere sympathy to the Atadero family. I will never again hike on a trail without thinking of his precious son.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Very heartfelt

Jaryd was such a cute boy so sad that the people that took him on the trail didn’t watch him as he was only 3 years old. So sad for his father, who writes about may or could of happened. I honestly can say there seemed to be many roadblocks into finding Jaryd which is suspicious. Many blessings and prayers to The Atadero family

[Emma Brierley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devastating

My heart truly goes out to you . I cannot imagine the pain and sorrow you have felt every day since you kissed your beautiful boy for the last time x You have lived through my worst nightmare x

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved hearing the father's point of view after having followed this case for years. It is truly heart-breaking that the family never got the answers. This is one of those mysteries that can keep you awake late at night just wondering why?!

[Lexy Marston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t started this book yet, but growing up with Allyn as my PE teacher and hearing about this story from him in class and beginning my obsession into true crime and wanting all the answers out of cold cases. I have to support with a 5 star and will edit after I’ve finished the book

[David McCurdie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read

Trsgic story, somewhat repetitive but overall very emotional, and mysterious. I would reccomend to anyone intersted in true crime books

[Beth A. George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

This book is interesting especially if you like mysteries and cold cases however it’s obvious it was not written by an experienced author.

[Rachel Billingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poor family, sending hugs x

[Katie Bownds · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Father's Love

For readability I would give this book 3 stars. This book was a little hard to follow because there were so many people involved. There were minor editing issues, such as typos and missed spaces. At some points it is an overload of information. Normally this would drive me crazy, but when you really read the words, this is a letter to Jaryd from his father. While Allyn tried hard to establish a timeline of events, it becomes clear that from the moment he was told his son was missing he never stopped searching.

My heart broke when Allyn talked about the scenarios of what may have happened to Jaryd. I was familiar with this story through Reddit and also Missing 4-1-1, but it becomes a very different story reading Jaryd's daddy's words. I pray that one day he gets the answers he has been searching for.

[CarynJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so very sorry you had to go through this. I can't imagine. God bless you and your family. I thought the Sheriff and his "deputy" were disgusting. I cannot imagine treating a man who has lost his 3 year old son as rotten as they did this man. I hope it gets out how you were lied to, dismissed, and treated bad in general. I also can't imagine what they hell that woman who said someone should be watching the little boy was thinking. What the heck is wrong with people out that way? Thank you for sharing you experience, one I never want to go through.

[sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sad story, I couldn’t put it down.

[Hannah]

I can't in good conscience give this book a bad review or low rating. I was already familiar with this case, so it wasn't necessary for me to trudge through it for the facts, when, in my opinion, the writing just isn't good. It came off as cheesy.
But, it doesn't deserve the low rating based on that. Because it is a fascinating anf tragic story that people need to know about. So yeah, if you're interested in this case, or missing person cases in general, definitely give it a read.