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Don't Be a Victim: Fighting Back Against America's Crime Wave
Discover gripping true crime stories and the surprising tools you need to keep you and your family safe -- from iconic legal commentator, TV journalist, and New York Times bestselling author Nancy Grace.
Nancy Grace wasn't always the iconic legal commentator we know today. One moment changed her entire future her fiancé Keith was murdered just before their wedding. Driven to deliver justice for other crime victims, Nancy became a felony prosecutor and for a decade, put the "bad guys" behind bars in inner-city Atlanta.
Now, with a potentially life-saving book, Nancy puts her crime-fighting expertise to work to empower you stay safe in the face of daily dangers. Packed with practical advice and invaluable prevention tips, Don't Be a Victim shows you how
This paperback edition also includes a bonus chapter , breaking down how to spot the new scams and dangerous misinformation that have emerged in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With insights on so many potential threats, you'll be empowered to protect yourself and your children at home and in the world at large by being proactive! Nancy's crime-fighting expertise helps keep you, your family, and those you love out of harm's way.
Nancy Grace wasn't always the iconic legal commentator we know today. One moment changed her entire future her fiancé Keith was murdered just before their wedding. Driven to deliver justice for other crime victims, Nancy became a felony prosecutor and for a decade, put the "bad guys" behind bars in inner-city Atlanta.
Now, with a potentially life-saving book, Nancy puts her crime-fighting expertise to work to empower you stay safe in the face of daily dangers. Packed with practical advice and invaluable prevention tips, Don't Be a Victim shows you how
This paperback edition also includes a bonus chapter , breaking down how to spot the new scams and dangerous misinformation that have emerged in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With insights on so many potential threats, you'll be empowered to protect yourself and your children at home and in the world at large by being proactive! Nancy's crime-fighting expertise helps keep you, your family, and those you love out of harm's way.
416 pages, Paperback
First published September 22, 2020
89 people are currently reading
2252 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Grace
21 books234 followersNancy Grace is an American legal commentator and former prosecutor. She frequently discusses issues from what she describes as a "victims' rights" standpoint. She was the host of Nancy Grace from 2005 to 2016 on HLN, and she was the host of Court TV's Closing Arguments from 1996–2007.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
December 16, 2021
The book covers a wide array of circumstances with snippets of true crime stories solved and unsolved. I found the chapters on traveling alone, staying in hotels, cruise ships and protecting the elderly the most interesting. There is quite a lot about safeguarding young children, but that doesn't apply to me anymore.
October 12, 2020
Nancy Grace has published one of the most important books of the decade. Everyone, and I mean everyone, should read it. Men, women, dads, moms, single people, couples, athletes, police officers, everyone. This is an incredibly valuable insight into the minds and intentions of all sorts of criminals who slink around among us every moment of every day. We should never cower in fear or bury our heads in the sand and pretend that for whatever reason, such things will never happen to us. We can stand against them.
This is one of those books where I read every single word; there’s no skimming here. It’s a perfect balance of real-life crime stories and investigations interwoven with pages of bullet-pointed tips on what we can learn from these stories. Take heed, though: The reports of real-life crimes are extremely disturbing. There will be moments when you will set this book down and go take a breather, perhaps play with your puppy for a bit. Nancy doesn’t include these stories for sensationalism, but to teach us what kinds of monsters lurk among us. To live in a bubble and tell ourselves that those things only happen on TV is to give them the upper hand. Read their names. Read their ages. Read the dates. Remember these victims so that maybe someone out there will be spared the same fate.
One of the most poignant messages throughout the entire book is the undeniable instinct that every one of us has: Our gut. We need to learn how to trust our instincts. My personal contribution is this: About nine years ago, I was casually hanging out with this guy from work, whom we’ll call Jeremy. One day, I pulled into the Walgreen’s parking lot and was walking toward the front door when a man approached me. “Hey, I know you!” he said, though I’d never seen him before. “I know your boyfriend from back the day, uh, what’s his name again?” My red flags went up, and I deliberately told him a false name, “Kyle?” He immediately brightened up, “Yeah, yeah, Kyle! I know him! Listen, my car battery died, and my girlfriend’s at her work not too far away. Do you think you could give me a lift there?” I told him, “Actually, I’m on my way to work myself, sorry.” He backed off, pretending to be friendly still, and said, “Ah, no biggie, no biggie, I’ll figure something out.” Looking back, I should have gone into the store and asked a cashier to call the police, at the very least to let them know that a man was stranded at the store with a dead car battery, if his story rang true. I picked up my prescription and left, and I still think about that to this day. The fact that I gave him a false name and he immediately latched onto it was what confirmed my gut feeling, that this guy had nothing to do with the coworker I’d been hanging out with, and to this day I really don’t like strange men talking to me or approaching me. Sorry, it’s just statistics and experience.
Everyone reading this review: Trust your gut. Always. It’s better to be perceived as rude than turn up dead somewhere, without fail. Ted Bundy used to pull his VW Beetle to the side of the road and stand beside it with his arm in a fake cast, waiting for a woman to pull up to help him. We don’t know how many women he murdered, to this day. This is what predators do: They stalk, they plan, they prey. They look for weakness and opportunity. There are theories that these people secrete pheromones that tap into our most primal instincts, which is what triggers that hair-raising, bowel-clenching reaction we feel when someone gives off bad vibes. If there’s a uniformed person standing at your front door with a package you weren’t expecting, and you don’t feel right about answering the door, keep that door locked. If it’s genuine, they can drop it off or leave an official note from UPS or FedEx about where to pick it up and when.
Does this mean that we’re responsible for whether or not we become the victims of crimes? Absolutely not. The fault lies, always and forever, with the monsters that choose to perpetrate them. The blaming, shaming, and justification of victims in criminal cases is disgusting and needs to stop now. Nancy writes on page 160, “But people still twisted her [Natalee Holloway’s] story from the beginning: She was bright, but she was at a bar drinking shots with guys she didn’t know? She got in a car and left with them? She left all her friends late at night at a bar to go be with some guy she just met?” Who does this help? No one. This book illustrates so much hatred and violence against women in particular that it’s even more horrific to read these examples of how people seem to revel in blaming the victim. Does that make them think they’re better than someone? Is it some kind of bizarre explanation that makes them believe that only “those kinds” of people are victimized? Because it’s not, and they’re wrong. Crimes happen because these animals who walk around and look like people make conscious choices to do harm.
Nancy has firsthand experience into the innermost thoughts and feelings of violent offenders. We’re talking the worst of the worst, child rapists, child pornographers, stalkers, sadists, serial killers, psychopaths of all kinds. She prosecuted them in Atlanta when it was one of the murder capitals of the country. During her time as a prosecutor, she came to resent the phrase “burglary gone wrong” because it glosses over the heinous violence at the heart of a burglary, which is the intentional invasion of a residence or business to steal things that don’t belong to you. Nancy writes, “The burglar has already broken into someone’s home. How does it go ‘wronger’ than that? Burglars will often tell you, ‘Oh, I was just going in to get the television,’ as if their initial criminal intent lessens the impact of what they ended up doing. I’ll never forget what one defendant said: ‘Well, my little nature got up.’ That was how he explained how his erection led to a rape.” These criminals do enough to make excuses for their behavior, so we should never use phrases or justifications to add to their lack of responsibility.
I used to subscribe to Teen Magazine in the early 2000s, and every issue had some sort of safety tips included, and this book reminds me of that. It takes mere seconds for someone to commit a crime, and we can arm ourselves just as quickly to put the odds more on our favor if, God forbid, that ever happens. If you go out shopping at numerous stores and you have an armful of bags, try to consolidate them into 1 or 2 bags and have your car keys in your hand so that you aren’t juggling a bunch of things in your arms and looking for your keys after you leave a store. Always let someone know where you’re going and when you get back home. Teach your children to pay attention to their surroundings, especially if they’re standing at a bus stop, and not to be absorbed into phones, Nintendo DS systems, or books while they’re waiting. These are just a few out of thousands of awesome ideas that most of us have never thought of. I never imagined that thieves might hang out in mall bathrooms close to a main entrance so that they could quickly snatch a purse left on the sink and then get away. This book is eye-opening.
The section on road rage scared the daylights out of me. Sonya Randle was driving with her seventh-grade daughter Alexis Wiley when they were bumped from behind by Richard Calderon, who then sped away. Sonya followed him until she got his license plate number, then moved on, but her daughter noticed he had begun to follow them. He then shot at the car, killing Alexis Wiley. I’ve got road rage really bad, and this story hit me like a punch to the gut. So what if someone tailgates me or speeds around me in a no-passing zone? I need to stop engaging them all together like I typically do, by laying on the horn and waving a raised middle finger while I yell out the window. There are psychos everywhere, and any one of them could decide to turn around and pull a pistol on me or another driver nearby. That’s terrifying.
Nancy Grace covers white-collar and electronic crime in addition to violent crime. She provides readers with extremely valuable information we can use to protect our identities, our financial information, our electronic data, and who to contact if we feel compromised. This is especially important for older people, who are often targeted by cyber criminals posing as insurance agents or IRS officials. These thieves call older people, especially widows, and tell them that unless they wire large sums of money immediately, their assets will be seized from the IRS or their accounts will be frozen. These scams are cruel and work too often, and so it’s up to us to make sure the seniors in our lives know what to look out for.
Along that vein, Nancy also details how to spot the signs of nursing home abuse or neglect. There are many wonderful facilities and people who take care of our elderly all across the country, but as with society in general, there are some monsters out there lurking around. The decision to move a loved one into an assisted living or nursing home is difficult enough as it is, but when you think about the horrors that can happen behind closed doors due to a lack of background checks, security measures, and diligence, it’s heartbreaking. The checklists provided will help families to ensure they are vetting these facilities thoroughly and checking up on their loved ones after they move in, to provide them with the best care possible.
Overall, this book is a masterpiece. It absolutely will save lives. Nancy Grace wrote it for all of us, for you and me, for our families both current and future, so that we can show criminals that we won’t roll over and hand over our money, belongings, or ourselves without a fight. Everyone, absolutely everyone, needs to read the whole thing.
This is one of those books where I read every single word; there’s no skimming here. It’s a perfect balance of real-life crime stories and investigations interwoven with pages of bullet-pointed tips on what we can learn from these stories. Take heed, though: The reports of real-life crimes are extremely disturbing. There will be moments when you will set this book down and go take a breather, perhaps play with your puppy for a bit. Nancy doesn’t include these stories for sensationalism, but to teach us what kinds of monsters lurk among us. To live in a bubble and tell ourselves that those things only happen on TV is to give them the upper hand. Read their names. Read their ages. Read the dates. Remember these victims so that maybe someone out there will be spared the same fate.
One of the most poignant messages throughout the entire book is the undeniable instinct that every one of us has: Our gut. We need to learn how to trust our instincts. My personal contribution is this: About nine years ago, I was casually hanging out with this guy from work, whom we’ll call Jeremy. One day, I pulled into the Walgreen’s parking lot and was walking toward the front door when a man approached me. “Hey, I know you!” he said, though I’d never seen him before. “I know your boyfriend from back the day, uh, what’s his name again?” My red flags went up, and I deliberately told him a false name, “Kyle?” He immediately brightened up, “Yeah, yeah, Kyle! I know him! Listen, my car battery died, and my girlfriend’s at her work not too far away. Do you think you could give me a lift there?” I told him, “Actually, I’m on my way to work myself, sorry.” He backed off, pretending to be friendly still, and said, “Ah, no biggie, no biggie, I’ll figure something out.” Looking back, I should have gone into the store and asked a cashier to call the police, at the very least to let them know that a man was stranded at the store with a dead car battery, if his story rang true. I picked up my prescription and left, and I still think about that to this day. The fact that I gave him a false name and he immediately latched onto it was what confirmed my gut feeling, that this guy had nothing to do with the coworker I’d been hanging out with, and to this day I really don’t like strange men talking to me or approaching me. Sorry, it’s just statistics and experience.
Everyone reading this review: Trust your gut. Always. It’s better to be perceived as rude than turn up dead somewhere, without fail. Ted Bundy used to pull his VW Beetle to the side of the road and stand beside it with his arm in a fake cast, waiting for a woman to pull up to help him. We don’t know how many women he murdered, to this day. This is what predators do: They stalk, they plan, they prey. They look for weakness and opportunity. There are theories that these people secrete pheromones that tap into our most primal instincts, which is what triggers that hair-raising, bowel-clenching reaction we feel when someone gives off bad vibes. If there’s a uniformed person standing at your front door with a package you weren’t expecting, and you don’t feel right about answering the door, keep that door locked. If it’s genuine, they can drop it off or leave an official note from UPS or FedEx about where to pick it up and when.
Does this mean that we’re responsible for whether or not we become the victims of crimes? Absolutely not. The fault lies, always and forever, with the monsters that choose to perpetrate them. The blaming, shaming, and justification of victims in criminal cases is disgusting and needs to stop now. Nancy writes on page 160, “But people still twisted her [Natalee Holloway’s] story from the beginning: She was bright, but she was at a bar drinking shots with guys she didn’t know? She got in a car and left with them? She left all her friends late at night at a bar to go be with some guy she just met?” Who does this help? No one. This book illustrates so much hatred and violence against women in particular that it’s even more horrific to read these examples of how people seem to revel in blaming the victim. Does that make them think they’re better than someone? Is it some kind of bizarre explanation that makes them believe that only “those kinds” of people are victimized? Because it’s not, and they’re wrong. Crimes happen because these animals who walk around and look like people make conscious choices to do harm.
Nancy has firsthand experience into the innermost thoughts and feelings of violent offenders. We’re talking the worst of the worst, child rapists, child pornographers, stalkers, sadists, serial killers, psychopaths of all kinds. She prosecuted them in Atlanta when it was one of the murder capitals of the country. During her time as a prosecutor, she came to resent the phrase “burglary gone wrong” because it glosses over the heinous violence at the heart of a burglary, which is the intentional invasion of a residence or business to steal things that don’t belong to you. Nancy writes, “The burglar has already broken into someone’s home. How does it go ‘wronger’ than that? Burglars will often tell you, ‘Oh, I was just going in to get the television,’ as if their initial criminal intent lessens the impact of what they ended up doing. I’ll never forget what one defendant said: ‘Well, my little nature got up.’ That was how he explained how his erection led to a rape.” These criminals do enough to make excuses for their behavior, so we should never use phrases or justifications to add to their lack of responsibility.
I used to subscribe to Teen Magazine in the early 2000s, and every issue had some sort of safety tips included, and this book reminds me of that. It takes mere seconds for someone to commit a crime, and we can arm ourselves just as quickly to put the odds more on our favor if, God forbid, that ever happens. If you go out shopping at numerous stores and you have an armful of bags, try to consolidate them into 1 or 2 bags and have your car keys in your hand so that you aren’t juggling a bunch of things in your arms and looking for your keys after you leave a store. Always let someone know where you’re going and when you get back home. Teach your children to pay attention to their surroundings, especially if they’re standing at a bus stop, and not to be absorbed into phones, Nintendo DS systems, or books while they’re waiting. These are just a few out of thousands of awesome ideas that most of us have never thought of. I never imagined that thieves might hang out in mall bathrooms close to a main entrance so that they could quickly snatch a purse left on the sink and then get away. This book is eye-opening.
The section on road rage scared the daylights out of me. Sonya Randle was driving with her seventh-grade daughter Alexis Wiley when they were bumped from behind by Richard Calderon, who then sped away. Sonya followed him until she got his license plate number, then moved on, but her daughter noticed he had begun to follow them. He then shot at the car, killing Alexis Wiley. I’ve got road rage really bad, and this story hit me like a punch to the gut. So what if someone tailgates me or speeds around me in a no-passing zone? I need to stop engaging them all together like I typically do, by laying on the horn and waving a raised middle finger while I yell out the window. There are psychos everywhere, and any one of them could decide to turn around and pull a pistol on me or another driver nearby. That’s terrifying.
Nancy Grace covers white-collar and electronic crime in addition to violent crime. She provides readers with extremely valuable information we can use to protect our identities, our financial information, our electronic data, and who to contact if we feel compromised. This is especially important for older people, who are often targeted by cyber criminals posing as insurance agents or IRS officials. These thieves call older people, especially widows, and tell them that unless they wire large sums of money immediately, their assets will be seized from the IRS or their accounts will be frozen. These scams are cruel and work too often, and so it’s up to us to make sure the seniors in our lives know what to look out for.
Along that vein, Nancy also details how to spot the signs of nursing home abuse or neglect. There are many wonderful facilities and people who take care of our elderly all across the country, but as with society in general, there are some monsters out there lurking around. The decision to move a loved one into an assisted living or nursing home is difficult enough as it is, but when you think about the horrors that can happen behind closed doors due to a lack of background checks, security measures, and diligence, it’s heartbreaking. The checklists provided will help families to ensure they are vetting these facilities thoroughly and checking up on their loved ones after they move in, to provide them with the best care possible.
Overall, this book is a masterpiece. It absolutely will save lives. Nancy Grace wrote it for all of us, for you and me, for our families both current and future, so that we can show criminals that we won’t roll over and hand over our money, belongings, or ourselves without a fight. Everyone, absolutely everyone, needs to read the whole thing.
November 25, 2020
Seriously, everyone needs to read this poignant, insightful, educational, & often evocatively emotional book. It's for EVERYONE, not just women. Nancy also sites some deeply personal events in her & her families lives & in the lives of people she knew, that you wouldn't wish on anyone. With easy to implement ways to protect yourself, your loved ones, & your possessions, 'Don't Be a Victim' is a very useful resource in our fight against crime. I have a whole new level of respect for Nancy Grace! READ. THIS. BOOK. You will cringe at some of the stories, but they may very well save you or someone you love someday. Have a hi-lighter, pen & notebook handy when reading it, too!
September 23, 2020
I don't typically read self-help books but this one was quite interesting and it is not your typical self-help book. Don't Be a Victim is broken down into five different parts: How do I protect my child, protecting yourself, travel safe! Don't become a statistic, Cyber crimes and security: when technology turns dirty, and protecting our elderly. Each of those parts are then broken into smaller topics. Nancy Grace fills each topic with a ton of real life examples, some of them are even personal ones of events that she or her family have gone through.
I found that Don't Be a Victim elicited a lot of emotion for me. Part 1: How do I protect my child? was particularly hard for me for a number of reasons. I am a survivor of child sexual abuse and I am a mother to a beautiful 10 month old boy. Protecting my son and family is my number one priority and to read about some of the horrors that have happened in Part 1 were scary and saddening.
I absolutely loved the tips that Nancy Grace provides. For the most part, the tips are broken down in a list of bullet points, however, towards the last few parts, there are a few tips that are written in paragraph style instead. Some of these tips seemed quite obvious and others were oh that makes sense moments or "I never thought of that". For example, don't monogram or write your child's names on their clothing or accessories because a stranger can use that to call out to your child by name, which could give a false sense of safety with that person. Another one that I quite liked was making copies of your passport before you travel some where. I never thought of this, but it could always come in handy in case you lose your passport.
I read this book from front to back, however, because of the way it is written it would easily be a book that you could just jump to the section that you are the most interested in. It was well written and easy to follow. It really helped me to feel connected to Nancy Grace and understand the reality of some of the situations presented when she shared her own personal experiences.
Rating: 5 out of 5. I was able to easily connect with the book. It opened my eyes to some new ways of looking at things and helped me make a list of some new things that I want to look into for my family to keep us safe. It is definitely a great read and the tips that are provided would be super easy to implement.
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the early readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
I found that Don't Be a Victim elicited a lot of emotion for me. Part 1: How do I protect my child? was particularly hard for me for a number of reasons. I am a survivor of child sexual abuse and I am a mother to a beautiful 10 month old boy. Protecting my son and family is my number one priority and to read about some of the horrors that have happened in Part 1 were scary and saddening.
I absolutely loved the tips that Nancy Grace provides. For the most part, the tips are broken down in a list of bullet points, however, towards the last few parts, there are a few tips that are written in paragraph style instead. Some of these tips seemed quite obvious and others were oh that makes sense moments or "I never thought of that". For example, don't monogram or write your child's names on their clothing or accessories because a stranger can use that to call out to your child by name, which could give a false sense of safety with that person. Another one that I quite liked was making copies of your passport before you travel some where. I never thought of this, but it could always come in handy in case you lose your passport.
I read this book from front to back, however, because of the way it is written it would easily be a book that you could just jump to the section that you are the most interested in. It was well written and easy to follow. It really helped me to feel connected to Nancy Grace and understand the reality of some of the situations presented when she shared her own personal experiences.
Rating: 5 out of 5. I was able to easily connect with the book. It opened my eyes to some new ways of looking at things and helped me make a list of some new things that I want to look into for my family to keep us safe. It is definitely a great read and the tips that are provided would be super easy to implement.
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the early readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 22, 2020
An aging has-been trying to bring as much fear as he can only to get some more attention. Sure, the sky is falling.
January 21, 2023
This book is a great way to learn how to keep yourself safe in the world we live in today. I had my pen out and was CONSTANTLY underlining tips given by Nancy on how to stay safe. A must-read especially if you have children. I will say I wasn’t able to read through all of the real-life victim examples because many of them were very upsetting. But this is why it’s important to be aware and know of the potential dangers you could run into. So happy I read and completed this book! Thank you Nancy for all the info!
November 1, 2020
This woman's ridiculous TV schtick led to an innocent mother taking her own life. Look it up. Also, most crime is at its lowest point in history. Do not enable fear mongers. Do not allow others to profit by traumatizing you and making you fearful of the world. Especially when the cold hard statistics suggest the exact opposite.
November 30, 2020
Holy cow this book was so intense, so well written and really hits home to actual horrific things that have happened to random real life individuals so you can't be left thinking of it won't happen to me, because you never know. Nancy Grace also gives amazing tips on how you can try to limit your vulnerability in certain situations. Which I found really helpful and have even changed some things up in my everyday life to be more safe.
Part one was probably the most difficult to read for me as it focused on children and bright some of my own fears to life. Nancy describes certain situations where children are more vulnerable and susceptible to kidnappings, online predators, safety while shopping, babysitters, accidental deaths, playground and school safety, she describes how each of them is dangerous, giving many real life occurrences ( some very gruesome and graphic) and gives helpful tips to limit the chance of it happening to your child.
Part Two was about protecting yourself by keeping safe while excersing, shopping, in your home and elevators, driving, at parties. Again Nancy talks about real events and deaths that have occurred during each situation and giving tips on how to protect yourself. One part that really hit home was walking by yourself, the same route and same time daily, I used to walk my puppy on the same route at around the same time daily, after reading this book I'm using some of Nancy's tips to make myself less supsectiable to predators.
Part Three discussed how to keep safe during travel, which had some great tips for whenever we are able to travel again.
Part Four discussed cybercrimes, security, internet dating which are all common in this day with some excellent tips, situations and examples to keep yourself safe in these situations.
Part Five discussed protecting the elderly which was also a really hard chapter to read, but very informative for of I ever needed to put my parents into a home and for keeping them safe and protected and less voluneable in their current residence.
Overall a great read with tips on keeping yourself safe from predators
Part one was probably the most difficult to read for me as it focused on children and bright some of my own fears to life. Nancy describes certain situations where children are more vulnerable and susceptible to kidnappings, online predators, safety while shopping, babysitters, accidental deaths, playground and school safety, she describes how each of them is dangerous, giving many real life occurrences ( some very gruesome and graphic) and gives helpful tips to limit the chance of it happening to your child.
Part Two was about protecting yourself by keeping safe while excersing, shopping, in your home and elevators, driving, at parties. Again Nancy talks about real events and deaths that have occurred during each situation and giving tips on how to protect yourself. One part that really hit home was walking by yourself, the same route and same time daily, I used to walk my puppy on the same route at around the same time daily, after reading this book I'm using some of Nancy's tips to make myself less supsectiable to predators.
Part Three discussed how to keep safe during travel, which had some great tips for whenever we are able to travel again.
Part Four discussed cybercrimes, security, internet dating which are all common in this day with some excellent tips, situations and examples to keep yourself safe in these situations.
Part Five discussed protecting the elderly which was also a really hard chapter to read, but very informative for of I ever needed to put my parents into a home and for keeping them safe and protected and less voluneable in their current residence.
Overall a great read with tips on keeping yourself safe from predators
December 27, 2020
Nancy Grace put together a great book about how to NOT be a victim. She covers many different scenarios and she speaks from experience. Nancy had a criminal incident which occurred to her, then fiancé which drove her to study law and eventually becoming one of the most well-known faces and voices on criminality in general.
Anyone with young kids or grand-kids should read this book. Women as well should read this book. As a man, I rarely think about the things Grace covers in this book. Not in a sexist way, but men usually do not think about the things she writes about such as going out to a parking garage. It is good information to follow for men as well. Men have a complex of being tough guys. Although women statistically are attacked more often than men, men should heed the warnings here.
Sadly absent from the many chapters of suggestions is carrying a firearm. She talks about mace and noise makers, but the reality is a conceal carried firearm is a great equalizer for women. My wife has a concealed carry permit and has a Glock 19 with a 21 round magazine. I feel more at ease knowing she can protect herself. I carry everyday. Sometimes I even carry 2 pistols and multiple magazines. I also carry an AR15 chambered in 300 BLK in a backpack since this social unrest phenomenon. I recommend getting insurance for CCW to protect yourself from the litigious nature of our country.
One of the great sections where she just touched on and IMHO should have gone deeper is Situational Awareness. I play a game with my kids. We walk into a store and when we walk out I ask questions like "how many people had hats on?" Or "how many blonde women" etc. When we walk through the mall, we are constantly looking at people to try and identify those that are not acting like others. Such as someone standing on the side of the mall while everyone is walking around. Stay off your phone in public areas.
This is a great eye opening book. I watch a lot of crime TV and I am used to seeing these cases. It could be disturbing to some that may not be used to seeing these types of horrific crimes, but I recommend this book to anyone that wants to be safe.
Anyone with young kids or grand-kids should read this book. Women as well should read this book. As a man, I rarely think about the things Grace covers in this book. Not in a sexist way, but men usually do not think about the things she writes about such as going out to a parking garage. It is good information to follow for men as well. Men have a complex of being tough guys. Although women statistically are attacked more often than men, men should heed the warnings here.
Sadly absent from the many chapters of suggestions is carrying a firearm. She talks about mace and noise makers, but the reality is a conceal carried firearm is a great equalizer for women. My wife has a concealed carry permit and has a Glock 19 with a 21 round magazine. I feel more at ease knowing she can protect herself. I carry everyday. Sometimes I even carry 2 pistols and multiple magazines. I also carry an AR15 chambered in 300 BLK in a backpack since this social unrest phenomenon. I recommend getting insurance for CCW to protect yourself from the litigious nature of our country.
One of the great sections where she just touched on and IMHO should have gone deeper is Situational Awareness. I play a game with my kids. We walk into a store and when we walk out I ask questions like "how many people had hats on?" Or "how many blonde women" etc. When we walk through the mall, we are constantly looking at people to try and identify those that are not acting like others. Such as someone standing on the side of the mall while everyone is walking around. Stay off your phone in public areas.
This is a great eye opening book. I watch a lot of crime TV and I am used to seeing these cases. It could be disturbing to some that may not be used to seeing these types of horrific crimes, but I recommend this book to anyone that wants to be safe.
March 24, 2020
Don't Be a Victim: Fighting Back Against America's Crime Wave by Nancy Grace is a comprehensive reminder that each person has options to lessen the possibility of becoming a victim of crime! The more I read, the more aware I became that I had begun to let my guard down regarding personal safety. Thank you, Nancy Grace, for the reminders and new updated information to help me stay alert and aware. I have already downloaded apps to my phone and put other safety measures in place at my home.
The author shares cases of true crime as examples of the devastation a criminal can cause when you least expect trouble or violence. She gives wonderful safety guides for men, women, and children in different environments, whether it is a night out with friends, a vacation, a shopping trip, or even in your own home. The cold cruelty of some criminals used as examples in this book sickened my heart for the victims and their families. I won't repeat the cases in the book, or the guidelines Nancy provides at the end of each chapter, but I will recommend each honest person read this book as a refresher to bring to mind the fact that not everyone you meet will be a kind person. There are people who may drift into your neighborhood which will have violent tendencies with no regard for human life. It is a sad fact of life, so I will repeat Nancy's advice, "Don't be a victim. Join me. Fight back."
Publication Date: June 2, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC of Don't Be A Victim.
The author shares cases of true crime as examples of the devastation a criminal can cause when you least expect trouble or violence. She gives wonderful safety guides for men, women, and children in different environments, whether it is a night out with friends, a vacation, a shopping trip, or even in your own home. The cold cruelty of some criminals used as examples in this book sickened my heart for the victims and their families. I won't repeat the cases in the book, or the guidelines Nancy provides at the end of each chapter, but I will recommend each honest person read this book as a refresher to bring to mind the fact that not everyone you meet will be a kind person. There are people who may drift into your neighborhood which will have violent tendencies with no regard for human life. It is a sad fact of life, so I will repeat Nancy's advice, "Don't be a victim. Join me. Fight back."
Publication Date: June 2, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC of Don't Be A Victim.
March 22, 2020
Don't Be A Victim is an empowering book about learning tips to protect yourself from all kinds of crime. Nancy Grace uses her expertise to give a helpful guide that can help individuals feel safer and ultimately protect themselves from crime in places like schools, malls, and even your own home.
I was so intrigued by the introduction. I got to learn about Nancy and how she became a prosecutor. She is so honest with her personal experiences and cases she has come across in her life and I think so many will want to take her advice because of it.
Each chapter provides tragic events that took place in a given area or surrounding and then Nancy gives her tips on how to protect yourself in that particular situation. I learned so much and feel like I will be more aware of my surroundings. I know this book will be so beneficial for so many.
I give Don't Be A Victim 5 stars. It's so real and tragic to get people to realize one simple mistake can be deadly. Nancy is so detailed and informative with her advice and so many of her tips are easy to implement in our daily lives. This book is will be a life saver!!
I was so intrigued by the introduction. I got to learn about Nancy and how she became a prosecutor. She is so honest with her personal experiences and cases she has come across in her life and I think so many will want to take her advice because of it.
Each chapter provides tragic events that took place in a given area or surrounding and then Nancy gives her tips on how to protect yourself in that particular situation. I learned so much and feel like I will be more aware of my surroundings. I know this book will be so beneficial for so many.
I give Don't Be A Victim 5 stars. It's so real and tragic to get people to realize one simple mistake can be deadly. Nancy is so detailed and informative with her advice and so many of her tips are easy to implement in our daily lives. This book is will be a life saver!!
June 6, 2021
Don't be a victim was extremely informative
I felt this book was a book that everyone could benefit reading. Its an easy read but covers so many areas that need to be discussed. I always pride myself on being careful but I realized there were many things I had overlooked. Especially when it comes to cyber crimes and scams. I also learned that I need to just go with my gut feeling and walk or run from a situation if it doesn't feel right. I knew that, yet I felt weird following through on it, as if I was over reacting or being silly or stupid. A few years ago I moved my car in the Target parking lot at night because a guy kept walking by it as I sat waiting for my grandchildren.. I moved it but ever sense felt I had overreacted. Now I know I did the right thing and who cares if I overreacted. So what. Definitely buy this book. Its worth every penny and then some. Nancy Grace I feel you're gonna save lives with this book. Thanks.
I felt this book was a book that everyone could benefit reading. Its an easy read but covers so many areas that need to be discussed. I always pride myself on being careful but I realized there were many things I had overlooked. Especially when it comes to cyber crimes and scams. I also learned that I need to just go with my gut feeling and walk or run from a situation if it doesn't feel right. I knew that, yet I felt weird following through on it, as if I was over reacting or being silly or stupid. A few years ago I moved my car in the Target parking lot at night because a guy kept walking by it as I sat waiting for my grandchildren.. I moved it but ever sense felt I had overreacted. Now I know I did the right thing and who cares if I overreacted. So what. Definitely buy this book. Its worth every penny and then some. Nancy Grace I feel you're gonna save lives with this book. Thanks.
December 21, 2020
Nancy Grace is obviously highly intelligent and is a talented writer. She is extremely knowledgeable about the topic of crime, as it is her profession to be so. These traits, along with her experience in this field, make for a most informative book! The book is full of revealing facts and important data.
I didn't enjoy reading "Don't Be a Victim". It's my opinion that Grace included way too much information on the crimes and the victims that she refers to in the book. I realize we need to be made aware of the horrid, violent dangers that we may face, but I feel that the author goes into unnecessary depth of detail here. The lists of safety tips included in each chapter became somewhat tedious and repetitive for me. It was a struggle to make it through the entire book. I think it would be fine to read through selections that may pertain to you, personally.
I didn't enjoy reading "Don't Be a Victim". It's my opinion that Grace included way too much information on the crimes and the victims that she refers to in the book. I realize we need to be made aware of the horrid, violent dangers that we may face, but I feel that the author goes into unnecessary depth of detail here. The lists of safety tips included in each chapter became somewhat tedious and repetitive for me. It was a struggle to make it through the entire book. I think it would be fine to read through selections that may pertain to you, personally.
October 31, 2025
I've been a fan of Nancy Grace since her days on CourtTV. This book was absolutely terrifying, but really useful too. There are sections on everything from keeping your child safe from kidnappings to protecting the elderly in retirement homes. Each chapter offers real-life cases and helpful tips on how to avoid being a victim of these crimes. Although it kind of made me scared of everything and everyone, I was also glued to every page. Grace offers enough of her own real-life experiences and accounts of real people that this felt both fascinating and realistic. Crime can hit everyone close to home, and now I feel like I have a few more tools in my toolbox to avoid being a victim of one in the future. I hope she writes other books in this same vein - I'd definitely read more from her!
*Free copy provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
*Free copy provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
March 26, 2020
to be honest, I'm not sure why I picked this book. I think the title grabbed my attention. I wasn't a fan of Nancy Grace and have't read any of her books until now. I am glad I read this one because it made me realize that there has been alot of crimes in this country, some even in my home state. Some of the stories made me cringe and even broke my heart. it also gave me the chance to see Nancy in a different way.
I think people need to read this because it has tips on protecting chuldren, protecting women, and the elderly. It even talks about how to protect ourselves from cybercrimes and it gives tips for going on vacation. I am thankful that Netgalley and the publishers let me read this book in exchange of an honest review. I give it five stars.
I think people need to read this because it has tips on protecting chuldren, protecting women, and the elderly. It even talks about how to protect ourselves from cybercrimes and it gives tips for going on vacation. I am thankful that Netgalley and the publishers let me read this book in exchange of an honest review. I give it five stars.
November 25, 2020
This was a difficult book to critique. It was a close thing to not give it only one star. It is absolutely chock full of practical things to consider to keep oneself from becoming the victim of all manner of life's problems, so it did live up to its main title. And I think therein may lie the problem - data overload. I suppose somewhere Nancy or one of her editors kept a count of how many dos and don'ts are included; by my reckoning there are about twice as many included as were necessary. After a while Nancy's voice started to drone, and I could no longer pay attention to whether the advice given was truly life-saving or maybe just showing off. Be prepared for a long slog.
December 31, 2020
Thank you to the author, the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity for review. My review opinion is my own.
This is a book all women should read. It is a mix of the author's own experiences with crime, stories of crimes and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. The book is broken down into critical areas and each is well worth your time in this day and age of rampant crime. Of particular interest to parents is protecting your child. The chapters on protecting our elderly are critical reading , how to travel safe and how not to become a crime statistic, She also includes a very important chapter on Cyber crimes and security very critical for today. I highly recommend this book for all women .
This is a book all women should read. It is a mix of the author's own experiences with crime, stories of crimes and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. The book is broken down into critical areas and each is well worth your time in this day and age of rampant crime. Of particular interest to parents is protecting your child. The chapters on protecting our elderly are critical reading , how to travel safe and how not to become a crime statistic, She also includes a very important chapter on Cyber crimes and security very critical for today. I highly recommend this book for all women .
January 25, 2021
There’s something for everyone in “Don’t Be A Victim”. Nancy Grace tackles issues pertaining to children, yourself, traveling, cyber crimes and the elderly. She’s organized it in a style that makes it easy to jump into one section then go back to another. So, before you travel or send your child to summer camp it’s easy to review some tips to help keep yourself and those you love safe. It’s not always easy to read but it’s definitely eye opening! I highly recommend everyone read it. You’ll be glad you did! Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this timely and must-read book!
January 23, 2022
AudioBk-B, Libby, Released 9/22/20, Listened 1/20/22, Narrator Author Nancy Grace, Approx. 16 Hrs.
Nonfiction, Self-improvement, True Crime, Reference. Jan. pick for SCSBDG for Feb. 2022 Mtg. I listened to this book for over 5 hours, and that was only a third of the way through, but even that was a true struggle for me. A brutal account of many true child sexual abuse cases, kidnappings and serial trafficking. Maybe somebody needs to hear this to protect their children or grandchildren, but I don't! Can't tell you how much Much to intense for me. 1☆ = Did Not Finish - I hated it!
Nonfiction, Self-improvement, True Crime, Reference. Jan. pick for SCSBDG for Feb. 2022 Mtg. I listened to this book for over 5 hours, and that was only a third of the way through, but even that was a true struggle for me. A brutal account of many true child sexual abuse cases, kidnappings and serial trafficking. Maybe somebody needs to hear this to protect their children or grandchildren, but I don't! Can't tell you how much Much to intense for me. 1☆ = Did Not Finish - I hated it!
July 7, 2024
I enjoyed this book even though some of it scared me. To me it was helpful as far as understanding the world’s nefarious points and proactive ways to feel like you have a chance to fight them.
I know Nancy isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but her heart is most definitely in the right place.
Some statistics that blew my mind:
40% of all child abductions happen to or from walking to the bus stop or school. - That’s horrific.
Public restrooms that are single use are easier targets for the bad guys. - this was shocking because I feel like it’s less exposed.
I know Nancy isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but her heart is most definitely in the right place.
Some statistics that blew my mind:
40% of all child abductions happen to or from walking to the bus stop or school. - That’s horrific.
Public restrooms that are single use are easier targets for the bad guys. - this was shocking because I feel like it’s less exposed.
November 29, 2020
I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of Ms Grace’s book for review purposes. As you can tell by the five stars, it is a book to which I will be referring over and over. This is before finishing it!
I wish it could be mandatory reading for all parents, educators (and their supervisors), care givers, students,...
I am so sorry for Ms Grace’s personal loss, and grateful she turned it into a cogent series of lessons for all of us. Please do yourself a favor and read a copy today.
I wish it could be mandatory reading for all parents, educators (and their supervisors), care givers, students,...
I am so sorry for Ms Grace’s personal loss, and grateful she turned it into a cogent series of lessons for all of us. Please do yourself a favor and read a copy today.
July 4, 2024
Note: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This book covers a wide array of situations and how to try to keep safe. There were some good real-life examples of each of the situations. Eventually, the bulleted lists of what to do to prevent being a victim just got tedious. They're generally repetitive and some of the author's speech was just a bit TOO colloquial for my taste.
This book covers a wide array of situations and how to try to keep safe. There were some good real-life examples of each of the situations. Eventually, the bulleted lists of what to do to prevent being a victim just got tedious. They're generally repetitive and some of the author's speech was just a bit TOO colloquial for my taste.
September 26, 2020
This is something every woman should read Men like to think they are protecting their wives and daughters but it is not enough. Every single page is chock full of hardcore knowledge. I love Nancy and listen to her podcast daily and I know some of her cases have stayed with her. She does a wonderful job with her tips throughout this book. It covers a lot. Must Read
November 16, 2020
This book is about how to protect your self in situations. Like getting kid napped, walking alone to and from places, running alone or with some one. all of Nancy Grace's books are all New York Times bestselling books. And she is a additive for victims. And each chapter in this book is different. Like it tells how you should and shouldn't put your self in positions.
March 21, 2021
It is possible that after reading this book that you will not feel safe anywhere - including your own home. While many of the tips to avoid becoming a victim are intuitive, I was still able to pick up a few ideas that I will implement. Re gardless, there are no guarantees of personal safety and unfortunately many victims wereinthe wrongplace atthe wrong time
April 11, 2022
A must-read with lots of crime prevention tips for all ages. I have found that information makes some people fearful or uncomfortable but knowledge is power and if you can learn from someone else's experiences you can avoid a lot of misery in this life. Prevent what you can & hope for the best. This book is an excellent tool to help you do that.
April 23, 2023
If you want to keep yourself and your family safe, Nancy Grace is your best resource. I changed a lot of things - not knowing I was putting myself in danger every day. We all say "It couldn't happen to me" but it DOES. Every day. To people just like you and me. Nancy Grace gives simple, good advice. Worth reading and re-reading! You can't be too prepared.
May 2, 2020
I've always like Nancy Grace. Her book had some helpful tips to keep yourself and your family safe. This was a good educational read for self awareness.
Arc provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Arc provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2020
I love this book, but thats easy to say I love Nancy Grace, So of course I would like this book. I listen to Nancy's podcast and reading this was like an extended podcast.
Let's hope I will never be a victim.
***** 5 stars
Let's hope I will never be a victim.
***** 5 stars
October 12, 2020
This book gave very detailed book about crimes that have occurred. This book also gives tips on what to do to prevent anything from happening to you. This book was disturbing but it needs to be shared to prevent more tragedies from occurring.
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