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Stranger Abduction
Inspired by an Arizona 'Cold Case' - On a sunny Sunday afternoon, a mother and her 14-year old daughter walk three miles to a country store for cigarettes and ice cream...a walk often taken by family members. They arrive at the store, trade pleasantries with the owners and a few customers, and leave in a jolly mood, finger-painting ice cream on each other's faces... They never make it home! The Cochise County Sheriff believes there has been a stranger abduction. This fictional account offers an optional view about what could have occurred on that Sunday afternoon. It's a thriller!
154 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2015
12 people want to read
About the author
Billy Ray Chitwood
21 books83 followers- Graduate of Lycoming College (Williamsport, PA) - BA English
- Actor in film, stage, television
- Honorably and proudly served in the United States Navy
- Taught school (Advanced Writing)
- Worked in Sales and Marketing for major textbook publishers
- Owned and ran a business
- Author of 14 books, with one more in the oven
- Recently moved from The Sea of Cortez with wife, Julie Anne, and 'George' (a Bengal cat with some serious attitude). Now live in the bluegrass rolling hills of Kentucky.
-Writing is therapy for the soul.
- Actor in film, stage, television
- Honorably and proudly served in the United States Navy
- Taught school (Advanced Writing)
- Worked in Sales and Marketing for major textbook publishers
- Owned and ran a business
- Author of 14 books, with one more in the oven
- Recently moved from The Sea of Cortez with wife, Julie Anne, and 'George' (a Bengal cat with some serious attitude). Now live in the bluegrass rolling hills of Kentucky.
-Writing is therapy for the soul.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 12, 2017
*Thank you to the author Billy Ray Chitwood for my free copy of 'Stranger Abduction' for which I have given an honest & unbiased review*
What makes this story so interesting is that it's based on true events, and actually took place some 5 miles from where the author lived at the time. The year was 1993 when a mother and her 14 year old daughter went missing. They'd walked to their local store one Sunday afternoon and after exchanging pleasantries with other customers and the store owners, they left the store but never made it home.
Though this is fact based, the author has woven a fictional version of the case with an alternative ending. In real life the case remains unsolved.
Deputy Sheriff Jack Keifer takes charge of the case, but despite all his efforts, he's getting nowhere. However, he believes they were abducted by those dealing in the vile trade of human trafficking and taken to Mexico. The case never leaves him, he thinks about it constantly. Eventually through sheer perseverance, he gets the breakthrough that he's dreamed about, but other than that I won't give anything away.
Though it's a grim tale, we are also shown a more loving and human side in this story too, as the mother and daughter are from a large loving family. Jack's love life also features to lighten the mood.
The author tells his story in a down to earth, raw, and gritty manner, which actually suits the subject matter particularly well. Not a tale you'll forget anytime soon.
What makes this story so interesting is that it's based on true events, and actually took place some 5 miles from where the author lived at the time. The year was 1993 when a mother and her 14 year old daughter went missing. They'd walked to their local store one Sunday afternoon and after exchanging pleasantries with other customers and the store owners, they left the store but never made it home.
Though this is fact based, the author has woven a fictional version of the case with an alternative ending. In real life the case remains unsolved.
Deputy Sheriff Jack Keifer takes charge of the case, but despite all his efforts, he's getting nowhere. However, he believes they were abducted by those dealing in the vile trade of human trafficking and taken to Mexico. The case never leaves him, he thinks about it constantly. Eventually through sheer perseverance, he gets the breakthrough that he's dreamed about, but other than that I won't give anything away.
Though it's a grim tale, we are also shown a more loving and human side in this story too, as the mother and daughter are from a large loving family. Jack's love life also features to lighten the mood.
The author tells his story in a down to earth, raw, and gritty manner, which actually suits the subject matter particularly well. Not a tale you'll forget anytime soon.
November 7, 2015
Based on a real case of a mother and daughter disappearance (which was never solved), Billy Ray Chitwood's latest novel is a darkly-imagined story of exploitation and violence South of the Border. As is usual with Chitwood's books, the descriptions are spare, the pace is fast, and the characters drawn with a few deft strokes of the pen. Human and romantic elements lighten what could otherwise be a grim tale, but in the hands of this writer makes for a gripping narrative.
February 14, 2018
“Stranger Abduction” is a well-written novel based on an actual event. A mother and daughter walk from their home to a store in Arizona and never make it back. Mr. Chitwood gives a very viable and chilling account as to what might have happened next. Doris and Deena find themselves thrown into the human trafficking trade, while the Deputy Jack Kiefer never gives up on finding them. The details and characters kept this a page turning book as well as the side story with the Deputy. This is a glimpse into an evil that is going on around us as “products” (a label used for Doris and Deena) are being drugged and used for other’s gratification or service. I highly recommend this book, because even with a dark subject matter there are always heroes.
February 10, 2016
***STRANGER ABDUCTION is a powerful read***
Author Billy Ray Chitwood has firsthand knowledge of a mother and daughter team who were abducted, never to be found.
How does he know this?
He lived near the site of their disappearance when it happened—in the Sulphur Springs Valley area of Arizona. Although inspired by actual events, Stranger Abduction is a work of fiction, but I believe the author’s connection to this part of the country informs his writing. A riveting and grim storyline is tempered with his compassionate voice for the plight of the victims.
Humanity, loss, and hope are enduring themes and make for a powerful read.
Author Billy Ray Chitwood has firsthand knowledge of a mother and daughter team who were abducted, never to be found.
How does he know this?
He lived near the site of their disappearance when it happened—in the Sulphur Springs Valley area of Arizona. Although inspired by actual events, Stranger Abduction is a work of fiction, but I believe the author’s connection to this part of the country informs his writing. A riveting and grim storyline is tempered with his compassionate voice for the plight of the victims.
Humanity, loss, and hope are enduring themes and make for a powerful read.
June 2, 2016
This is an interesting read. As readers are introduced to a large family including seventeen children who belong to Papa Jim and Mama Doris Paulson, they are also taken along on an incredible journey. When Doris and her daughter Deena are abducted and taken to Mexico the incredible story begins. Deputy Jack Keifer is not going to give up on this case, even if it takes years to solve. Readers will love this adventure and find the story rings with the truth. Things like this happen all the time. The author does a great job showing what happens and readers will find themselves hanging on for the ending.
May 19, 2018
Can you imagine anything more frightening than a mother and daughter disappearing from a quiet rural road? That's exactly the tale that Billy Ray Chitwood relates in Stranger Abduction. This is a fictitious account of an actual event. A mother and daughter are walking home from the store, happy and eating ice cream when evil pounces. The way the author wove this tale around all the characters involved is gripping. I discovered many sub-plots in this book and sometimes that doesn't work. But, in this book, it worked perfectly and I had no trouble following along. This is a chilling, well-written story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, break your heart and then mend it slowly but surely. A great read!
November 26, 2017
A chilling and frightening account of a mother and daughter abduction. I appreciated that the author spared the reader of any details as to how they were treated sexually and physically. They are kept in a drugged state which affects their memory, ability to try to escape, and communicate with one another. I never lost interest in the book which was a page turner.
The role of the sheriff and his own personal struggles and successes are nicely woven in without distracting from the abduction. Well edited.
The role of the sheriff and his own personal struggles and successes are nicely woven in without distracting from the abduction. Well edited.
December 21, 2015
A harrowing tale about the abduction of mother and daughter, based on true events.
The prologue between two 'businessmen' agreeing a 'trade' regarding the delivery of 'products' lets you know immediately just who the women will have to deal with. Gripping seems almost the wrong word for the novel, due to its real life relevance. Some chapters give insight into the victims, others tell the story from a more distant perspective, which for me contrasted really well how the personal experience is compared to the 'story' of an abduction.
Fortunately, in this fictionalised account, there is much that lightens the tone and helps the novel to steer clear of formula and predictability. A well composed book that stayed with me long after I put it down.
The prologue between two 'businessmen' agreeing a 'trade' regarding the delivery of 'products' lets you know immediately just who the women will have to deal with. Gripping seems almost the wrong word for the novel, due to its real life relevance. Some chapters give insight into the victims, others tell the story from a more distant perspective, which for me contrasted really well how the personal experience is compared to the 'story' of an abduction.
Fortunately, in this fictionalised account, there is much that lightens the tone and helps the novel to steer clear of formula and predictability. A well composed book that stayed with me long after I put it down.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews