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One Day Closer: A Mother's Quest to Bring Her Kidnapped Daughter Home
On the day my daughter Amanda Lindhout was kidnapped in Somalia, my life changed forever. This is the story of how, for 460 days, I fought to save her and bring her home.
“This book is impossible to put down . As inspiring as it is bone-chilling, this is an incredible story of hope and joy, grit and gumption by a determined mother who will stop at nothing to save her daughter.” —Jann Arden, singer-songwriter and bestselling author of Falling Backwards
“ A gripping, mother’s-eye view of Amanda Lindhout’s kidnapping ordeal...For any parent who has ever worried about, advocated for, and deeply loved a child, Lorinda Stewart’s honest, lion-hearted account will leave you both stunned and uplifted.” —Sara Corbett, coauthor of A House in the Sky
On August 23, 2008, Amanda Lindhout was kidnapped outside Mogadishu in Somalia. The kidnappers’ demand was pay millions or Amanda would be killed. For the next 460 days, Amanda’s mother, Lorinda Stewart, did everything in her power to get her daughter back alive.
A brave, small-town mother with no experience in hostage negotiations, Lorinda was called upon by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to be the lead communicator with “Adam”—the Somali man who identified himself as the English-speaking negotiator for Amanda’s kidnappers. In a secret “war room” in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Lorinda joined forces with federal officers and began answering calls from Adam, establishing a fragile rapport of trust with the man who held her daughter’s fate in his hands. She learned how to demand POLs (proofs of life) from Amanda’s hostage takers and even how to react to “bad calls”—getting through them despite having to listen to her daughter’s desperate cries for help and fearing Amanda was being abused and tortured.
What was supposed to be a short negotiation stretched on, and weeks became months. As negotiations broke down, Lorinda found herself increasingly on her own. But she never gave up hope, even when the phone calls became more traumatic. Faced with the terrible possibility of her daughter’s death, Lorinda decided to bring in a private security company and raise money from donors to support the cause of bringing Amanda home. But would it be enough?
One Day Closer is the true story of one mother’s heroic perseverance in the face of despair, and of the hope and healing to be found beyond trauma. It is also, above all, a tribute to the extraordinary power of a mother’s love.
“This book is impossible to put down . As inspiring as it is bone-chilling, this is an incredible story of hope and joy, grit and gumption by a determined mother who will stop at nothing to save her daughter.” —Jann Arden, singer-songwriter and bestselling author of Falling Backwards
“ A gripping, mother’s-eye view of Amanda Lindhout’s kidnapping ordeal...For any parent who has ever worried about, advocated for, and deeply loved a child, Lorinda Stewart’s honest, lion-hearted account will leave you both stunned and uplifted.” —Sara Corbett, coauthor of A House in the Sky
On August 23, 2008, Amanda Lindhout was kidnapped outside Mogadishu in Somalia. The kidnappers’ demand was pay millions or Amanda would be killed. For the next 460 days, Amanda’s mother, Lorinda Stewart, did everything in her power to get her daughter back alive.
A brave, small-town mother with no experience in hostage negotiations, Lorinda was called upon by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to be the lead communicator with “Adam”—the Somali man who identified himself as the English-speaking negotiator for Amanda’s kidnappers. In a secret “war room” in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Lorinda joined forces with federal officers and began answering calls from Adam, establishing a fragile rapport of trust with the man who held her daughter’s fate in his hands. She learned how to demand POLs (proofs of life) from Amanda’s hostage takers and even how to react to “bad calls”—getting through them despite having to listen to her daughter’s desperate cries for help and fearing Amanda was being abused and tortured.
What was supposed to be a short negotiation stretched on, and weeks became months. As negotiations broke down, Lorinda found herself increasingly on her own. But she never gave up hope, even when the phone calls became more traumatic. Faced with the terrible possibility of her daughter’s death, Lorinda decided to bring in a private security company and raise money from donors to support the cause of bringing Amanda home. But would it be enough?
One Day Closer is the true story of one mother’s heroic perseverance in the face of despair, and of the hope and healing to be found beyond trauma. It is also, above all, a tribute to the extraordinary power of a mother’s love.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published October 17, 2017
22 people are currently reading
1013 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
March 17, 2025
3.5 Stars
I have reread A House in the Sky so many times because I can't get enough of that memoir. Just recently I discovered that Lindhout's mother also wrote a book from her perspective. The writing wasn't as good but it certainly had some emotional moments. It's hard to turn phone calls and emails into a flowing narrative so the writing was limited by the format.
I have reread A House in the Sky so many times because I can't get enough of that memoir. Just recently I discovered that Lindhout's mother also wrote a book from her perspective. The writing wasn't as good but it certainly had some emotional moments. It's hard to turn phone calls and emails into a flowing narrative so the writing was limited by the format.
November 14, 2017
Even though I know the whole story already, I couldn’t put the book down. I had read Amanda’s memoir, A House in The Sky, earlier in the year and Nigel’s, The Price of Life, and I still can’t believe the horrors everyone experienced. I found his memoir easier to understand and follow than The Price of Life. The story is beautifully written with details of the kidnapping, Lorinda’s past and uplifting messages of love. Must read for sure.
December 30, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, but know that it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. One Day Closer is the story of Amanda Lindhout's kidnapping in Somalia from her mom's point of view, and her role in getting Amanda freed. I'd read Amanda's book maybe last year or earlier, and so was curious to read her mom's book. I found it so interesting to read about how she was trained as a negotiator and was amazed at the extent to which she was actively involved in the negotiations. She did so much! It was amazing, and of course heart-wrenching at times, especially when she relayed conversations with Amanda while in captivity. It was also hard to read about how the Canadian government failed them in so many ways, even though I know that the government can't pay ransoms for kidnappings, it was still hard to read about the how and why and the inaction, trying to imagine myself in that situation.
November 18, 2017
I've never read A HOUSE IN THE SKY, Amanda Lindhout's memoir of being kidnapped in Somalia, but many people have told me over the years that it's one of the most powerful books they've ever read. Now her mother, Lorinda Stewart, has published her account of being the chief negotiator for her daughter's release, and I found the book incredibly moving. Even without a great deal of knowledge about what Amanda went through, Lorinda's experience is incredibly moving; you're with her as she frantically tries to figure out what's happened to her daughter; you're with her as she tries to navigate the frustrating bureaucracy of how to respond; and you're with her as she pleads desperately with the kidnappers. With hostage taking (and all the ethical dilemmas it raises) not going away any time soon, the book tackles some difficult social issues, but always roots it in a personal journey that is incredibly powerful.
October 30, 2017
This book exceeded my expectations. It was chosen as a book group read and I wasn't sure but read it in 3 days. It is very well written and the author does a good job of communicating her emotions of being the mother of a daughter kidnapped and held in Somalia for 460 days. You get a very good idea of what it was like including what it took to get her daughter back. I really recommend this book.
January 20, 2019
I enjoyed this book. I read Amanda Lindhout’s “A House in the Sky” years ago, and remember being thoroughly engrossed in her story, and not being able to put it down. I didn’t have the exact experience reading Lorinda’s story, but it was so very interesting to learn of the other story - her arduous journey working to free Amanda. A story of dedication, persistence and love. I am awed by the courage and strength of both of these incredible women.
January 17, 2018
I would give it 4.5 stars. Very interesting, especially if you read A House in the Sky.
July 15, 2018
One Day Closer is the account of Lorinda Stewart to get her daughter Amanda Lindhout home after she was abducted by Somali kidnappers. I read Sara Corbett’s account of Amanda’s story which is an honest telling of a women who willfully put herself and others in harm’s way without regard for consequences. Did she ever earn a living as a journalist? She called herself one and then she went to a place where she thought there would be no competition for stories (deemed too dangerous and unstable by everyone) so she could have a big story without spending any time putting in the training and legwork to earn that place. In the first chapter of her book Lorinda turns that reality into her daughters “Willingly risked her life to capture the front line stories she felt our complacent world needed to know” which is absolutely not what I came away with from Amanda’s story. In the first chapter as she’s trying to say what a sacrificing reporter Amanda was she’s also saying how Amanda would return home to earn money so she could travel again apparently not realizing that if you are employed your news service actually pays you to travel. From the first chapter I gathered that the raw honesty of Amanda’s story would now be covered by the pink tones of a mother’s vision. And I thought ‘what a loss.’
There are several things that raise questions in my mind, She talks about wanting to be of service but no mention of any time she actually had followed through on that. This gave me the idea that this is an unreliable narrator. She talks about the RCMP as if they had to retreat to their offices to throw together a plan to help recover Amanda instead of implementing one of several plans I would assume they have ready to go. It’s not like this hasn’t happened before. Another negotiator enters the field, hired, apparently by the Brennan family. Her understanding of how that disrupt negotiations is nil. She writes “My daughter, a Canadian citizen, is kidnapped and has been held for eleven months, and God knows what other calamities are taking happening, but the House of Commons is on holiday?” So apparently this is a person who has no idea how her government works. Like Nigel Brennan’s family she seems to have no understanding that although this is a tragedy for her, life continues on for everyone else, even those assigned to work for Amanda’s release. They have their own lives. It’s unrealistic to expect them to spend the rest of their lives on your tragedy.
I found the biggest defect in this book to be about the money. The kidnapping was from the get go all about money, never anything else. Who donated the money, who raised it, who got parts of it, how and when was any of it repaid. Does any money raised by the aftermath of this tragedy go back to the people who donated it in the first place. The whole thing was about the money and this book falls short by not detailing it.
No one deserves to be raped and tortured.
There are several things that raise questions in my mind, She talks about wanting to be of service but no mention of any time she actually had followed through on that. This gave me the idea that this is an unreliable narrator. She talks about the RCMP as if they had to retreat to their offices to throw together a plan to help recover Amanda instead of implementing one of several plans I would assume they have ready to go. It’s not like this hasn’t happened before. Another negotiator enters the field, hired, apparently by the Brennan family. Her understanding of how that disrupt negotiations is nil. She writes “My daughter, a Canadian citizen, is kidnapped and has been held for eleven months, and God knows what other calamities are taking happening, but the House of Commons is on holiday?” So apparently this is a person who has no idea how her government works. Like Nigel Brennan’s family she seems to have no understanding that although this is a tragedy for her, life continues on for everyone else, even those assigned to work for Amanda’s release. They have their own lives. It’s unrealistic to expect them to spend the rest of their lives on your tragedy.
I found the biggest defect in this book to be about the money. The kidnapping was from the get go all about money, never anything else. Who donated the money, who raised it, who got parts of it, how and when was any of it repaid. Does any money raised by the aftermath of this tragedy go back to the people who donated it in the first place. The whole thing was about the money and this book falls short by not detailing it.
No one deserves to be raped and tortured.
December 21, 2017
I read A House in the Sky a couple of years ago and enjoyed it immensely. It frightened the daylights out of me.
One Day Closer is the mother's point of view of what happened during the time her daughter Amanda Lindquist was held captive in Somalia for 460 days. I am really glad that the mom documented her experience as negotiator for daughter, because a normal person has no clue what goes on in a terrible situation like this. It was a real eye opener.
I found the first 150 pages a bit of a struggle to get through. I felt there was too much detail, but I now realize this must have been done on purpose by the author so that we could get a feel of the terrible tension, anxiety, and unknowing she was going through. I certainly felt it!
I became a little disappointed towards the end of the book, as the mom was being a little vague about the financial details (money donated by family, friends, and good Samaritans) which left me feeling a little uneasy. It doesn't really matter, because all that was important is that Amanda and Nigel were able to finally go home. I also felt disappointed in the RCMP, as I have heard other stories in recent years of serious mistakes being made in investigations. I also was very disheartened by the actions/non actions of the Canadian Government as well. We are only receiving one point of view in this matter, however, so I guess I will have to keep that in mind.
I can't even imagine the horrors that Amanda and Nigel went through, and the longstanding psychological damage that has affected Lorinda, Amanda, Nigel, Jon, and many other family members and friends. It is unfortunate that some family and friend relationships did not survive once Amanda returned home.
I also am aware of the story of Adam (or Adan or Ali Omar Ader) and how he acted as though he were the victim in this whole kidnapping after it was all over and about the recent court battle. Unreal story!
Amanda has returned to Afghanistan, which shocked me. Sometimes I thought that she had a secret death wish while I was reading this book. I sure hope not, especially after what everyone has done to help her and her family. I have many unanswered questions, in particular about what happened to the financing and whether or not the profit from both Amanda and Lorinda's books are going towards paying family members back; or whether they are using the money now for more adventures and travel . This is a story that I will never forget.
One Day Closer is the mother's point of view of what happened during the time her daughter Amanda Lindquist was held captive in Somalia for 460 days. I am really glad that the mom documented her experience as negotiator for daughter, because a normal person has no clue what goes on in a terrible situation like this. It was a real eye opener.
I found the first 150 pages a bit of a struggle to get through. I felt there was too much detail, but I now realize this must have been done on purpose by the author so that we could get a feel of the terrible tension, anxiety, and unknowing she was going through. I certainly felt it!
I became a little disappointed towards the end of the book, as the mom was being a little vague about the financial details (money donated by family, friends, and good Samaritans) which left me feeling a little uneasy. It doesn't really matter, because all that was important is that Amanda and Nigel were able to finally go home. I also felt disappointed in the RCMP, as I have heard other stories in recent years of serious mistakes being made in investigations. I also was very disheartened by the actions/non actions of the Canadian Government as well. We are only receiving one point of view in this matter, however, so I guess I will have to keep that in mind.
I can't even imagine the horrors that Amanda and Nigel went through, and the longstanding psychological damage that has affected Lorinda, Amanda, Nigel, Jon, and many other family members and friends. It is unfortunate that some family and friend relationships did not survive once Amanda returned home.
I also am aware of the story of Adam (or Adan or Ali Omar Ader) and how he acted as though he were the victim in this whole kidnapping after it was all over and about the recent court battle. Unreal story!
Amanda has returned to Afghanistan, which shocked me. Sometimes I thought that she had a secret death wish while I was reading this book. I sure hope not, especially after what everyone has done to help her and her family. I have many unanswered questions, in particular about what happened to the financing and whether or not the profit from both Amanda and Lorinda's books are going towards paying family members back; or whether they are using the money now for more adventures and travel . This is a story that I will never forget.
April 6, 2020
I can understand the trauma the families went through but struggle to have sympathy at times. Even knowing how dangerous Somalia was, Amanda still traveled to the country to try and start a career as a journalist. Somalia is a country that barely has a government and one that doesn’t have many laws. Nobody deserves to be kidnapped or hurt but that's the possibility when you travel to dangerous countries especially where women are not treated as equal. Amanda loved to travel and was even kidnapped a previous time when traveling in Iraq!
I didn't care for how the mother wrote the book. I felt she used all positive language to describe her daughter as brave, smart and strong. But Nigel, who was also kidnapped, was described as weak and despondent. She complained that people felt that Amanda brought this on herself and about people who wouldn't donate to the ransom fund without a tax receipt. She lamented this showed the character of people who equated money to a human life. But the whole book was about money and ransom amounts where the mom regularly talked with the hostage takers. In the end, after more than a year, Nigel and Amanda were released due to strangers donating money to the ransom fund.
Definitely a sad story. In my opinion though, it was written in a self righteous and judgmental way.
I didn't care for how the mother wrote the book. I felt she used all positive language to describe her daughter as brave, smart and strong. But Nigel, who was also kidnapped, was described as weak and despondent. She complained that people felt that Amanda brought this on herself and about people who wouldn't donate to the ransom fund without a tax receipt. She lamented this showed the character of people who equated money to a human life. But the whole book was about money and ransom amounts where the mom regularly talked with the hostage takers. In the end, after more than a year, Nigel and Amanda were released due to strangers donating money to the ransom fund.
Definitely a sad story. In my opinion though, it was written in a self righteous and judgmental way.
June 5, 2018
This book is amazing and a beautiful story about a mothers quest to find her daughter. She is the most unlikely hero who turns out to be the best hero of all.
July 5, 2018
Lorinda Stewart is the mother of Amanda Lindhout, the Canadian journalist who was kidnapped and held hostage by a group of Somalians for over a year. Stewart worked with Canadian government officials, the RCMP... and she herself was placed into the role of negotiator throughout the ordeal.
Stewart provides a detailed account of her fears, her rage and her tireless efforts to bring her daughter home. Working alongside RCMP officials she came to realize she is stronger and more determined than she imagined.
It's hard for the reader to begin to understand the trauma that Lindhout endured at the hands of her captors... as much as it is difficult to appreciate the trauma that Stewart lived through with the constant fear and worry about her daughter.
I read Lindhout's book before reading her mother's book--- the two together tell quite a horrific story of a most difficult, painful and traumatic life experience. These two women are strong and resilient. They survived a time many of us could not imagine... I think the reader will put the book away and move on... but I don't know how Stewart or Lindhout will ever put this completely behind them. They are examples of true survivors... and demonstrate the power of love, forgiveness and resiliency.
Stewart provides a detailed account of her fears, her rage and her tireless efforts to bring her daughter home. Working alongside RCMP officials she came to realize she is stronger and more determined than she imagined.
It's hard for the reader to begin to understand the trauma that Lindhout endured at the hands of her captors... as much as it is difficult to appreciate the trauma that Stewart lived through with the constant fear and worry about her daughter.
I read Lindhout's book before reading her mother's book--- the two together tell quite a horrific story of a most difficult, painful and traumatic life experience. These two women are strong and resilient. They survived a time many of us could not imagine... I think the reader will put the book away and move on... but I don't know how Stewart or Lindhout will ever put this completely behind them. They are examples of true survivors... and demonstrate the power of love, forgiveness and resiliency.
January 17, 2019
The only thing that would make this book better would be if it were merged with Amanda’s so that we could follow both sides of the story as they are happening. It has been a few years since I read “A House In The Sky” so my memory failed me a few times.
I also read Amanda’s book when I was pregnant with my first son, therefore not yet a mother myself. While I could then try to imagine the family’s heart break, the feeling that I felt reading Lorinda’s account (now as a mother myself) was incomparable. I felt so many emotions, unable to grasp how she felt as a parent.
More than anything I felt so angry. Angry with her kidnappers for their feeling of entitlement and skewed perception of Canadians’ wealth. Angry with the individuals who showed no compassion for Amanda when she returned. Most of all, angry with our government for how they failed Amanda and her family. I understand that they have protocols in place and that they are unable to pay ransoms. However, so much time was unnecessarily wasted and so many misunderstandings could have been avoided if they had better communicated with the SLOC. And then they gave up.
My heart breaks for everything this family endured, and for the pain they face every day that they continue to recover.
I also read Amanda’s book when I was pregnant with my first son, therefore not yet a mother myself. While I could then try to imagine the family’s heart break, the feeling that I felt reading Lorinda’s account (now as a mother myself) was incomparable. I felt so many emotions, unable to grasp how she felt as a parent.
More than anything I felt so angry. Angry with her kidnappers for their feeling of entitlement and skewed perception of Canadians’ wealth. Angry with the individuals who showed no compassion for Amanda when she returned. Most of all, angry with our government for how they failed Amanda and her family. I understand that they have protocols in place and that they are unable to pay ransoms. However, so much time was unnecessarily wasted and so many misunderstandings could have been avoided if they had better communicated with the SLOC. And then they gave up.
My heart breaks for everything this family endured, and for the pain they face every day that they continue to recover.
October 18, 2019
This week I read #onedaycloser by #lorindastweart whose daughter Amanda was a Canadian journalist kidnapped in Somalia.
I really felt connected with this book as Amanda lived in Calgary and Canmore so the the recount felt real. Despite not being a mother, I found I could really connect with Lorinda’s experience through her writing and felt empathy for her as a mother whose daughter was in danger.
Coolest part of this book? After Amanda is released by the kidnappers who were holding her hostage she flew to Nairobi to safety and her family before coming back to Canada and stayed at the #agakhanhospital in Nairobi which was organized by the His Highness the Aga Khan. This was so cool to learn as a #ismaili.
I can’t wait to read #ahouseinthesky next as it is a memoir by Amanda in her experience. Stay tuned for that review soon! Highly recommend this suspenseful and emotional read!
I really felt connected with this book as Amanda lived in Calgary and Canmore so the the recount felt real. Despite not being a mother, I found I could really connect with Lorinda’s experience through her writing and felt empathy for her as a mother whose daughter was in danger.
Coolest part of this book? After Amanda is released by the kidnappers who were holding her hostage she flew to Nairobi to safety and her family before coming back to Canada and stayed at the #agakhanhospital in Nairobi which was organized by the His Highness the Aga Khan. This was so cool to learn as a #ismaili.
I can’t wait to read #ahouseinthesky next as it is a memoir by Amanda in her experience. Stay tuned for that review soon! Highly recommend this suspenseful and emotional read!
April 1, 2018
This is an INCREDIBLE true story about a mother's love and commitment to rescuing her daughter from a kidnapping. So well written and inspiring. I highly recommend you read her daughter's book first "A House in the Sky"- a very well written story about the perseverance of the human spirit and immense courage. By reading Amanda's book first, I had some insight into the main players in her kidnapping and geographical references as well as timeline. Both books are incredibly suspenseful and emotionally difficult reads, but so well written. I hope both Amanda and Lorinda will continue to write throughout their lives, they both have so much to offer.
June 20, 2023
I was really looking forward to reading this book! I’m on page 5 and, there are so many spelling mistakes that it makes it hard to get past. Plus, I find that for someone who risked her life many times over to travel to dangerous places with no proper training and wanting to return is like a horror movie where they always go in the basement. Bad stuff happens in the basement. She went in the dark basement and l, that’s a risk you take when you do this line of “adventure”. It gets a solid 60%. I’m glad she came back by one but hopefully this is a lesson learned. You’re not bulletproof. Make stupid decisions, you get stupid results.
November 6, 2023
This book is the mother's perspective on the Amanda Lindhout kidnapping that occurred in Somalia in 2008. Have not yet read Amanda's book, so was not overly familiar with the story going in. For some reason, perhaps reading about all her complaints and frustrations working to get her daughter back, I began midway through to lose a bit of the sympathy I had started off with. Complaining about the RCMP's lack of progress, complaining about how some family members wouldn't donate towards a ransom going into the hands of criminals...She spoke about having so much gratitude, but the way it was written didn't exhibit this. Maybe this book just wasn't for me.
December 12, 2017
This book is an amazing story about the lengths that a mother will go to, to care for her daughter. It was such a page turner right from the beginning. Lorinda Stewart is a fantastic writer and kept my interest from the very first page. As soon as I was done the book, I wanted to go back to page 1 and read it again. The emotions that were felt throughout this ordeal were expressed so graciously and honestly and I really felt like I got to know Amanda and Lorinda personally by reading their story.
February 23, 2018
Having just finished Amanda's book, I was curious to read about the kidnapping from her mother's perspective. Wow, I can only begin to imagine what Lorinda went through, trying to negotiate for her daughter's life, the stresses and strains as each hope fails, the keeping secrets and avoiding the media so the kidnappers wouldn't think they were a rich family and demand a higher ransom.
I can't help feeling that both Lorinda and Amanda were let down by the Canadian Government once they went as far as they could without any resolution.
I can't help feeling that both Lorinda and Amanda were let down by the Canadian Government once they went as far as they could without any resolution.
March 27, 2018
If you have not yet picked up Lorinda Stewart’s book “One Day Closer”, please do!
When I started it, I could not put it down, even though I was familiar with the event and I knew the outcome, it was a riveting description of the lengths to which this amazing mother went to in order to safely bring her daughter home from captivity in Somalia. Lorinda you are one of the most amazingly strong women We have ever had the privilege of meeting. You are a true inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing your story with the world.
When I started it, I could not put it down, even though I was familiar with the event and I knew the outcome, it was a riveting description of the lengths to which this amazing mother went to in order to safely bring her daughter home from captivity in Somalia. Lorinda you are one of the most amazingly strong women We have ever had the privilege of meeting. You are a true inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing your story with the world.
July 13, 2018
Excellent!!!! Having read Amanda Lindhout's account (House in the Sky) of her experience as a hostage for 460 days in Somalia, it was very interesting to read her Mother's recollection of this traumatic event for her perspective. I could barely put the book down. It is not only well written, but the author's sincerity, love, compassion and honesty shines through every page. Both stories are of very strong, courageous women who have suffered, survived and now share a message of love, forgiveness and hope for our very troubled world.
October 29, 2019
This excellent companion memoir to A House in the Sky is well-worth reading.
As awful as Amanda Lindhout's experience clearly was, her mother's story is just as compelling and heart-wrenching. I was especially horrified to read about how terribly the Canadian government handled the situation - through shuffling Stewart's support network for seemingly no reason and eventually shutting it down over cost concerns to outright lying to Amanda's parents and arguably putting her life at risk.
Worth picking up, but read A House in the Sky first.
As awful as Amanda Lindhout's experience clearly was, her mother's story is just as compelling and heart-wrenching. I was especially horrified to read about how terribly the Canadian government handled the situation - through shuffling Stewart's support network for seemingly no reason and eventually shutting it down over cost concerns to outright lying to Amanda's parents and arguably putting her life at risk.
Worth picking up, but read A House in the Sky first.
October 19, 2023
This a well written book, giving the reader a full view of how it affected everyone involved, and the limits of the governments and police forces.
This is the third book I have read in regards to Amanda’s and Nigel’s kidnapping, each written from a different perspectives by people actually involved in it all. This one touched me as a mother, who could’ve been in her position.
My recommendation would be read all three, “A House in the Sky” by Amanda, “Price of a Life” by Nigel and this one, if you want the full picture.
This is the third book I have read in regards to Amanda’s and Nigel’s kidnapping, each written from a different perspectives by people actually involved in it all. This one touched me as a mother, who could’ve been in her position.
My recommendation would be read all three, “A House in the Sky” by Amanda, “Price of a Life” by Nigel and this one, if you want the full picture.
March 3, 2025
Oh man. I had read her daughter’s book years ago (A House in the Sky) but this is from her mom’s perspective. I can only imagine how awful the feeling of helplessness her mom had and how terrifying the whole ordeal was.
Definitely does not cast a great light on the methods the Canadian Government uses to have hostages released that’s for sure. This family was definitely let down.
If you have read Amanda’s book, this is an interesting follow up. If you haven’t read A house in the Sky- read it.
Definitely does not cast a great light on the methods the Canadian Government uses to have hostages released that’s for sure. This family was definitely let down.
If you have read Amanda’s book, this is an interesting follow up. If you haven’t read A house in the Sky- read it.
December 5, 2017
This was a heart-wrenching, incredible true story written by a strong and amazingly courageous woman! I could not put it down. Lorinda writes from the heart not only of her horrendous experience in negotiating with kidnappers for her daughter's life and freedom, but also of her relationships with her family and friends. She is articulate, honest, forgiving and extremely insightful! I highly recommend this book!
December 14, 2017
First off my favorite book is A house in the Sky so I knew that I had to read this book.
I really liked seeing how everything was from the mothers perspective. A mothers love is so precious and even though I knew what happened with the original story I still found myself counting down the days. The mother stopped at nothing until her daughter was home even when others seemed to give up on her. Highly recommend!!
I really liked seeing how everything was from the mothers perspective. A mothers love is so precious and even though I knew what happened with the original story I still found myself counting down the days. The mother stopped at nothing until her daughter was home even when others seemed to give up on her. Highly recommend!!
January 12, 2018
When I read Amanda’s book I couldn’t stop thinking about it so I had to read her mom’s. She went through emotional turmoil and I found the story heart wrenching. I understand why the government can’t pay ransoms but it was frustrating to read about them more or less abandoning this family when they didn’t make progress and Lorinda’s disappointment upon realizing what more she could have done had she not put complete faith into the Canadian government. Overall, an incredibly inspiring story
November 6, 2017
I found the first 150 pages a struggle to get through, but I found the remainder of the book a page turner. I thought Lorinda did a good job presenting an objective view of her past, and how she handled the situation. The epilogue was quite "real" and honest. An incredible story and a painful journey for a family to go through.
February 4, 2018
Just amazing. The patience, love and persistence this mother had...wow, we should all be so lucky in the mother department! I loved this author's daughter's book (A House in the Sky)...one of my favourites actually, so it was incredible to read her mother's experience of the same account. Incredible.
April 12, 2018
A few years ago, I met Amanda at a book signing for Housed in the Sky and was stunned to hear of her ordeal in captivity and how even afterward, she approached the world with forgiveness. It was very interesting to read her mother's book and learn what families of kidnapping victims go through. I am amazed by the strength of these 2 women. Excellent read, highly recommend.
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