Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Boy Missing: The Search for Kyron Horman

Rate this book
On the last day he was seen, the boy with the toothy smile, crewcut and glasses posed in front of his science project, three cardboard walls with a diorama about the red-eyed tree frog. Seven-year-old Kyron Horman grinned for a photo taken by his stepmother. She said he walked to his second-grade classroom at Skyline Elementary School in Portland and turned to wave at her. Then he vanished. That Kyron disappeared from his school, the place where children are presumed to be safest, got the attention of parents around the world. The twists of the story – adultery, sexting, murder-for-hire – kept the story in the spotlight. On the tenth anniversary of Kyron’s disappearance, New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Morris tells for the first time the story of the investigation and the toll the boy’s disappearance took on his family, his community, and law enforcement. Based on three years of research and interviews with Kyron’s mother, Desiree Young, and others, Morris also examines what recourse families have as they wait for a loved one to be found, and how no-body cases can be prosecuted.

513 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 22, 2020

135 people are currently reading
424 people want to read

About the author

Rebecca Morris

76 books53 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
152 (45%)
4 stars
115 (34%)
3 stars
50 (14%)
2 stars
16 (4%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Kivalina Mauck.
377 reviews
July 6, 2020
Kyron

I am glad this book was written. I have seen so much more information that I had no idea about before. Kyron's Mom has to be the strongest mom. She is 1 amazing girl, I wish I had the honer to know her. No Mother should fight this fight. Terri needs to be ashamed for what she is doing. Some day she will hopefully tell someone.
107 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2020
I thought this book was very through. I enjoyed reading it. Of course I feel very sad for Desiree. I pray that this case gets resolved ant Terri is put away. Desiree is a very strong and courageous woman. I wanted to know the full story and feel that I got it.
5 reviews
June 3, 2020
AWESOME

This book was awesome I chose this rating cause I felt the book was well written and I have followed Kyrons case since day on.
111 reviews
August 30, 2021
Getting my money back

There’s nothing in here that’s not in the media. Did you even reach out to get court documents? Find additional information on your own? This thing is padded with pure crap I care nothing about and is irrelevant to the case. But you did call out the rags The Oregonian and Willy Week. But then they are OK by the end? I don’t care about the other cases. If I did I’d by a book on them. Very disappointed. Someone else needs to write a real investigative piece on this.
3 reviews
June 19, 2020
This is a well written book and I was surprised to find new information about this horrible tragedy. It clarified some misunderstandings I had from some of the news reporting which was very helpful. The author ties in other cases and the impact it had on Kyron's case, which was very interesting. It changed my position on the guilt of Terri, hopefully this will lead to some resolution. I look forward to more from this author.
384 reviews44 followers
August 18, 2020
I pray for Kyron to be found soon and for justice against whomever is guilty for his disappearance and his mother Desiree's suffering.

Tragic horror story for a beautiful child named Kyron, and his loving mother to suffer through for the last ten years.
Profile Image for Maria.
103 reviews2 followers
June 30, 2020
This book has facts about the case of Kyron missing. A boy who goes to school and never comes home.
A mother's worse nightmare. I hope one day there will be answers.
Profile Image for RhS.
276 reviews6 followers
October 3, 2023
In 2010, a bespectacled second grader disappeared from school in the midst of an open house science fair. Kyron Hormon has never been seen again. The boy’s fate remains both a mystery and an open wound for his community. While never arrested, popular opinion points the finger at the boy’s stepmother, Terri. No one is more convinced of Terri’s guilt than Kyron’s biological mother, Desiree. This is Desiree’s story as written by Rebecca Morris.

(If you haven’t watched Terri Hormon on Dr. Phil yet, go ahead and Google that interview. It’s not to be missed.)

Book Overview
* premise: “We think we know what she [Terri] did.” ~ Desiree
* proof: none
* tone: sensational
* majority of the content: irrelevant details + unrelated no body cases + the Caylee Anthony case (even though there was a body in that case so idk … you figure it out)
* author’s level of investigative journalism skills: blind allegiance to Desiree
* author’s level of credibility: On page 264, Assistant District Attorny Heidi Moawad is misprinted as Heidi Montag. You know. Heidi Montag! From The Hills. With all the plastic surgery.
* actual narrator sentence from page 369: “After the you-know-what hit the fan …”
* my recommendation: 2 1/2 stars

Now onto the nuts and bolts …

I’ll start with my most memorable response - in reading the book, my heart ached for Desiree. At times, her reasoning baffles me, and I question the ethics of some of her post-disappearance choices. But I believe she’s suffered tremendously, and I wouldn’t fare half as well in her shoes. The most powerful words in this book are the ones that describe Desiree’s pain. Her refusal to wipe Kyron’s handprint off the car window is the essence of grief itself. Somehow, some way, I wish her peace.

I also have kind words for the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. They avoided the ego pitfall and asked for help with the investigation right away. Also noteworthy, the MCSO stood their ground and kept the case file under wraps even when pressured to turn it over for Desiree’s civil case. I hope those records stay clean, secure, and unimpeachable.

The law enforcement community also deserves praise for their search efforts. Some will say too much time and money was spent on one little boy. In my opinion, the opposite is true. We should tax the rich and spend a few million on every missing child. Yes, every single one. Kill a Superbowl commercial or two and maybe find a child instead. So good job to the world on this one. At least we did one thing right.

Now we have to discuss Kyron’s family. This is where my goodwill trickles down to nothing.

Welcome to the 21st century when everyone is the star of their own reality show, at least in their own mind. (Did we just circle back to Heidi Montag?!) The adults in Kyron’s life made this tragedy about themselves.

For Kaine Horman, his son’s disappearance was an EVENT. Kaine hosts one public fundraiser after another. Come to Kyron’s Car Show! Celebrate Kyron’s birthday! Ladies, get your nails painted, and gents, check out the Mohawk station. Kaine moved “The Wall of Hope” to his gym so his fellow patrons couldn’t escape the bedraggled teddy bears and rumpled notes. That’s not presumptuous or intrusive at all, right?

To be fair, we can’t expect more from a man who adamantly never wanted children yet refused to grace the world with a vasectomy. We’re talking about a father who legitimately tried to GIVE his daughter (Kiara) with his current wife (Terri) away to his ex-wife (Desiree). What the hell, you ask. Well, he and Terri separated, and he was stuck with a child and no full time babysitter (AKA mom). So why not give the kid to his ex? Problem solved! This proposition never came to pass, but you see how Kaine’s mind works.

For Desiree, Kyron’s disappearance became a full time vendetta. So confident is she in her suspicions of Terri, Desiree had no moral qualms about throwing a street protest on Terri’s doorstep - we’re talking signs, posters, sidewalk chalk, chants, the whole deal. Desiree still encourages supporters to stalk Terri’s every move and “to keep pressure on Terri” at all times. It’s harassment at worst, a waste of time at best.

For Terri, Kyron’s disappearance is a witch-hunt. Terri attempted and failed to legally change her name to Claire Sullivan. Why that name? I don’t know for sure, but there IS a Nevada Barr book character named Claire Sullivan. The fictional woman was accused of killing her family but later proven innocent. And so we glimpse into Terri’s psyche.

You can imagine these people navigating life. The book relishes the soap opera: the infidelity, STDs, gossip, slander, retribution, accusation, neglect, drama, custody battles, child support battles, “the divorce papers say” battles. Speaking of divorce, every adult in Kyron’s life married, had children, divorced, remarried, had children, divorced, rinse and repeat until the family tree was a jungle. Oh, and there was the sexting scandal. And the small matter of a possible murder for hire plot. (sigh)

While there’s no evidence Kyron was neglected or abused, I think it’s fair to say the adults in his life were preoccupied with their own drama.

The book tries (and succeeds) to portray Terri as a callous bitch. Terri wrote a note to Kaine on “How To” divorce Desiree. Tips included “lots of sex with me.” Desiree claims Terri stuck her head in the delivery room looking for Kaine while Desiree was in labor with Kyron. Terri moved into Kaine’s house the same day Desiree moved out, her moving van idling down the street as Desiree drove away.

(Can we pause and acknowledge that Kaine, of all people, was not worth such trouble? The letter-K obsessed reluctant dad who wanted to name his son Kermit. The computer geek who probably longs to be a Kardashian. Kaine was and is utterly replaceable.)

Okay. Back to Terri. She made poor choices that hurt others. And there’s no question she’s selfish. She was sexting within days of Kyron’s disappearance. Not a good time for pleasure or revenge, Terri. And there ARE red flags about her personality. For example, Terri held a teaching degree but only ever worked as a substitute. As an educator myself, this indicates … something. I’m not sure what. A lack of responsibility? Lack of confidence?

The teaching mystery makes more sense in the greater scheme of Terri’s life. She went through stages in which she fully threw herself in a role. First, she was a beautiful young bride. For a short time, she was a bodybuilder. While the fitness phase didn’t last long, pictures prove Terri was award-winningly ripped for a minute. Then she was a mom, busy and homely, comfy in sweats. Then she was Claire Sullivan, innocent woman accused. Eventually she became an alleged petty criminal complete with mean mugshots. We all have Eras, you know. Maybe not the “threaten boyfriend with a knife” kind of era.

I think Terri simply lost enthusiasm for her teacher identity. The ability and desire to embrace different roles with such vigor and then abandon them MAY be a sign of a mental health condition? A personality disorder? I’m not a mental health professional. I can’t say what’s normal.

So … is Terri guilty?

Let’s start by cleaning out the junk. We all know polygraphs are useless. We also know eyewitness accounts are highly unreliable. Especially in a school bustling with activity and strange new faces coming and going. Forget about it. Body language experts? Not interested.

Terri has an excuse for everything, and I mean everything. Why wasn’t she crying at the press conference? She has a thyroid condition which causes dry eye! Or so she says. Terri’s deflections may all be true which makes her a VERY unlucky lady. Or she may be a stellar liar, the kind you have to know for years before you see the pattern of deception.

A trial could flush out some truth. Did you watch Dr. Phil? Terri has made plenty of public statements that could easily be proven or disproven. Could the defense produce witnesses from 7-11 who heard a mystery man ask where the nearest school was located? Could they find a doctor to attest to Terri’s hearing loss? But there’s been no trial, and we simply don’t know if Terri is a liar. The police might, but we don’t. We do know her luck has held even through the legal proceedings of her “crime era.” She’s never been found guilty of anything. She’s never been pinned down.

If there’s solid evidence against Terri, it lies inside the MCSO case file away from our prying eyes. There are hints of important information contained within: items recovered in a search, items missing from Kaine’s house. Whatever evidence is contained in that case file, it’s not enough. If it were, she would’ve been arrested.

We know Terri’s integrity is questionable. But is she dark enough she could’ve killed Kyron? Left him in the wilderness to die? Sold him or gave him away?

Desiree’s theory is this - Terri resented raising Kyron and blamed him for her faltering marriage. She was planning to divorce Kaine (or have him killed, you know, whichever panned out first). The night before the disappearance, Terri and Kaine argued. Desperate to hurt her soon to be ex-husband, Terri became a danger to Kyron. She took Kyron to the science fair where she made sure he was seen. They slipped out to the truck unnoticed. Terri drove around to several pharmacies to pick up baby Kiara’s medicine. Terri used the medicine to sedate Kyron. She took him into the wilderness and strangled him. She buried him or placed his body in water.

Maybe that’s what happened. It could have happened.

Maybe it was something even less likely. Maybe Kyron wandered outside and got lost in the wildnerness. Bodies elude searchers all the time. Maybe the science fair was used as an opportune moment by a predatory stranger or by a pedophile connected to the school. The situation was ideal for such a thing to occur.

We don’t know, and that’s the hell of it.


My Burning Questions

* The murder for hire plot was never proven. It was her word against his. If it WERE proven, it would establish Terri as dangerous and violent beyond doubt. But it wasn’t. So why was it included in the deposition? Lawyers. Ugh. Don’t even answer.

* Why did DeDe plead the fifth so many times? I get why she did it a FEW times. She was committing unemployment fraud by working that day. But pleading the fifth 142 times? That’s excessive, lady. Advice of counsel? Just to be salty? For what it’s worth, I don’t think DeDe had a thing to do with it. I think she just wasn’t seen at lunch that day because she was out working on a big ass lavender farm.

* Did the police look hard at Kaine, the man who didn’t want to be a dad and was cool giving his baby daughter away to his ex-wife? Hope so.

* Do Terri’s biological children believe her to be innocent or guilty? Her parents?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kayla Krantz.
Author 45 books739 followers
August 27, 2020
Plenty of research and time went into the creation of this book, obvious by the quality of every chapter.

The search for Kyron Horman has spanned over ten years. Ten years and the parents still have no answers. I can’t imagine going through something like this. This book carefully covers all the aspects of the Kyron Horman case, including other cases that had an impact such as the Casey Anthony trial.

Narration fit the book.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
Profile Image for Pamela.
237 reviews
June 29, 2020
This book is well researched, although pretty one sided (not the author's fault). It's an easy read, although if I'm being nitpicky the writing was a little too casual at times. It is very informative even there there has never been a conclusion to Kyron's story. I hope he is found someday.
Profile Image for Avid Reader and Geek Girl.
1,242 reviews146 followers
January 5, 2023
3.5 stars

The narrator was very good for a true crime book. It was a great in-depth look at the case and I learned some things I didn't know. It kept me interested throughout. Overall a good book.
Profile Image for Tara Simonini.
179 reviews
June 20, 2021
As far as nonfiction true crime stories go, this one is one of the best I've ever read. This is an incredibly well written and thorough account of a frustrating mystery.
Profile Image for Carrie Bliss.
133 reviews3 followers
September 18, 2022
Good book
I hate rating real life books,especially one with missing kids who are still missing..
Profile Image for Brian.
127 reviews9 followers
August 9, 2022
Really excellent. The book does take a negative slant towards a single person, but that person is really the only one with the means, motive, and opportunity to harm Kyron, and was the last person to see Kyron alive.

There were a few nuggets of information that were never really expounded upon: the search dogs alerting on something early on in the search, and a suitcase size object in the Columbia river that was never recovered. For the latter, divers did search the Columbia, but perhaps the conditions were so poor, that they just were never able to recover the object.
Profile Image for SKP.
1,197 reviews
February 15, 2023
Excellent book —well researched and complete. I cannot imagine being in Desiree’s shoes, but this book does a good job of putting the reader in her place. As close as is possible anyway! I found Kyron’s story via Facebook, and this book was recommended to me by the founder and Admin of “Kyron Horman’s World Soldiers”, Stacey Green. She is introduced in this book as one of those who was a stranger to the family, but who fearlessly took on the task of trying to bring Kyron home and get justice for him. I felt that there couldn’t be a better person to recommend this book than her, unless it was Desiree herself.

I can’t imagine the frustration of knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that Terri is responsible, but not being able to do anything about it. I pray every single day that today will be the day Kyron comes home and Terri will go to jail for the rest of her sorry life.
88 reviews
August 21, 2020
The wicked stepmother

I remember watching and reading about Kyrons disappearance. I fully believe Terri is guilty of murdering him. She was angry and jealous. I do feel like Desiree and Kaine should have pushed harder to have her investigated sooner. I think Kaine knew in his heart she killed him and could not accept it. I can't imagine their pain. I hope one day they will find his remains. This read was hard to put down.
Profile Image for Barb Westgarth.
4 reviews
September 30, 2021
Only Suspect ... the Step-mother!

I learned many things we were not told by the MCSO or PPB. I believe the step- mother knows exactly what happened but she will take that secret to her grave!
Profile Image for Debbie.
198 reviews2 followers
June 16, 2020
Well-written, informative...the author put a lot of time and effort in her research and did a great job. Justice is coming and the dominos are falling. Kyron will be found.
Profile Image for Rachael.
809 reviews13 followers
November 18, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Rebecca Morris's audiobook, "Boy Missing: The Search For Horman," delves into the mysterious disappearance of Kyron Horman, a case that has left many unanswered questions. It's a challenging task to review a true crime book, especially one where closure remains elusive due to the lack of accountability for the crime.

The author, Morris, seems to have a strong suspicion towards Terry Horman, making it evident throughout the narrative. This perspective is likely influenced by various sources, including a crime weekly special that recommended the book, as well as Stephanie Harlow's endorsement. The reviewer appears convinced of Terry's guilt, citing reasons such as the strained relationship between Terry and Kyron, fueled by disturbing emails and comments expressing animosity.

One notable aspect of the book is its apparent focus on Desiree's viewpoint, Kyron's mother. While this personal perspective adds depth to the narrative, the reviewer suggests that a more balanced approach, including insights from law enforcement and possibly Kyron's father, Kane, could have provided a more comprehensive picture. The reviewer expresses concern that these perspectives may have been overshadowed, and the narrative may have veered towards sensationalism.

Criticism is also directed at the book's length, with the reviewer feeling that some details, particularly those related to other cases, were unnecessary and contributed to the book feeling drawn out. A suggestion is made that a shorter version of the book, approximately 70 pages less, could have achieved the same impact without the perceived padding.

Despite these criticisms, the reviewer acknowledges the commendable efforts of the Sherris department in the case. The quick response and their immediate call for help are highlighted as positive aspects. The reviewer also expresses hope that the limited release of case files and information is a strategic move aimed at building a stronger case against the suspected individual, in this case, Terry Horman.

In conclusion, "Boy Missing: The Search For Horman" receives a three-star rating for its gripping exploration of a perplexing true crime case. While the reviewer appreciates the author's dedication to Desiree's perspective, they advocate for a more balanced approach and a streamlined narrative for a more impactful reading experience.
16 reviews
September 28, 2020
Such Strength and Courage in This Book

The reason I purchased this book was because of Kyron. I, like many have been following since the beginning of their horror.
The book is remarkable. Rebecca wrote the events in a practical but strong manner. This author never over dramatized an event. She followed the timeline of events and never left us confused. The direct quotes of the family, friends and law enforcement were done in an extremely sensitive way and made us believe the only thing anyone ever wants is to find Kyron. Rebecca explained the different nuances of the case by explaining the thought processes that were involved in the decision making. Although this book is about Kyron and his family she has captured the raw pain and suffering this family, and all families of missing family members have to go through every minute of every day.
My favorite parts are the excerpts at the end, where all the family, friends and law enforcement had a chance to make their voices heard.
She also convinced me, not that their was ever any doubt, that all this family wants is to bring their boy home.
Thank you for showing a different insight to this case.
I pray they bring Kyron home soon.
Great job! You have just become one of my favorite authors.
Look forward to reading more of your work.
Profile Image for Madison Jacobs.
102 reviews10 followers
January 10, 2023
Listened on audiobook and this is now in my top favorite true crime books. The narration was pleasant. The information was well researched and not redundant. I can’t tell you how many true crime books I’ve read that I feel like the same pieces of information are given over and over again. This book had me learning new things throughout its entirety. I do find myself feeling deeply unsatisfied with the ending..not because of the writing…but because there is still no justice for this case. No justice for Kyron. My heart breaks for his mother and I hope that the truth will come out eventually and justice will be served.
Profile Image for Natalia Stucky.
1 review
November 3, 2022
"We will never stop looking!"

Great read and i fully recommend it to anyone who knows about this case. I have followed this case since that June day when I got the phone call about a child missing from a local school. My son is the same age as Kyron so the news hit close to home. Thank you for telling his story and getting all the facts out there in one place. Kyron is always in the hearts and minds of those of us who have watched this case go on over the years. We all continue to share hope that justice is served very soon and that Kyron is brought home where he belongs.
294 reviews2 followers
January 18, 2025
I live in Oregon and this is a local crime. My son is approximately the same age.
As a result, I followed the media on this case closely and become absorbed in the story.

I really loved this book because it allowed me insight into facts that I didn't know. It allowed me to understand how the case has progressed and why different decisions were made. There was so much "behind the scenes" going on.

Mrs. Morris did a phenomonal job with her research and presenting the facts of the case without taking a side.

Highly recommend

Profile Image for Kim.
125 reviews2 followers
June 30, 2025
I have followed this case from Day 1. It's a sad story but a very good one nonetheless. Many many people said the stepmother had something to do with Kyron's disappearance. We may never know. I liked that this book had short chapters and the print seemed larger than an average book, which my eyes appreciated. It was very well put together. This is the second book I've read from this author. The other being the true story of Susan Powell called If I Can't Have You. I highly recommend this book whether you know about the case or not.
100 reviews2 followers
August 31, 2020
Detailed and troubling chronology of this missing child tragedy

This is a very detailed and painstakingly assembled book of the timeline and many of the accounts and perspectives on this sad, tragic case of the disappearance of a young boy. Definitely aligns with the opinion of the missing boy's birth mother (and many others) as to who was responsible for the disappearance. Hard to read at points, and being still essentially unsolved so many years out just breaks the heart of the reader, and leaves one wondering - what really did happen?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
549 reviews6 followers
September 9, 2020
I wonder what made this case more newsworthy than other missing child cases. Morris has thoroughly researched and described this case. The book is well written and Lee Ann Howlett's narration is excellent. Officially this case is unsolved, but there's enough information here to draw some pretty definitive conclusions.

Note: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Profile Image for Penny Clark.
15 reviews
June 4, 2022
Clear and Concise information on the disappearance of Kyron Horman. I didn't learn much more than I already knew and about 3/4 of the way through the book it got a bit off track so I put it aside. Came back and finished it in a few days.
Important to keep Kyron Horman and ALL missing children in the forefront.
Read this story and decide for yourself what happened and if Law Enforcement handled this properly. Did they do everything they could do?
Profile Image for Brooklyn Valentine.
1 review
September 25, 2022
The book was okay, but there’s a lot of hearsay and speculation included as facts when they’re not facts. Anyone who has followed the case from day one knows there’s quite a few inconsistencies in Desiree’s statements. Plus, Kaine and Terri were not part of book, so we never get to hear their side. Also, if Kyron’s regular bus driver saw Terri leave with Kyron that morning, why didn’t he/she say something to Kaine and Terri at the bus stop when they asked him/her why Kyron was not on the bus?
Profile Image for Ann Whitaker.
49 reviews1 follower
September 19, 2023
Good information

Kyron's story has been on my mind and heart, since June 5th 2010 the day after when I first heard about him missing. I was in Texas, when I read the story and heard about Teri leaving him at school, my gut began to ache and I started crying. I "knew" that she had killed him. After, reading this book, I know more information and know why I still feel this way. Justice for Kyron.
Profile Image for Michele.
155 reviews1 follower
July 27, 2024
While a compelling and frustrating case, the book was too long. There was no need to include the many tangents and sidebars about other missing person cases. Unless one specifically affected Kyron's investigation and prosecution, as Casey Anthony's did, the extraneous story did not belong here. My heart breaks for Desiree not knowing for all of these years. I too believe Terri got rid of that little boy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.