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Unexpected: The Backstory of Finding Elizabeth Smart and Growing Up in the Culture of an American Religion
The backstory of finding Elizabeth Smart and how growing up in the Mormon culture pushed the author to develop the exact kind of intuition that was needed to help manage Elizabeth’s kidnapping and rescue while the world watched.
Chris Thomas is not yet thirty years old when he finds himself managing the immense pressure, eccentric personalities, and extenuating circumstances of an international story, where one small misstep could adversely impact the search for a missing teenager and the reputation of her family. Now, twenty years later, Thomas takes readers behind the scenes, providing new details, perspectives, and commentary on finding Elizabeth Smart.
In the process of reflecting on Elizabeth’s search and rescue, Thomas discovers how growing up in the culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as Mormon) helped push him to develop the exact kind of intuition needed to manage Elizabeth’s kidnapping and rescue, and to do so while the world watched.
Unexpected juxtaposes crucial events from the Smart case with Thomas’s experience growing up in the Latter-day Saint culture, including coming to understand the secret of a broken war hero before it was too late.
Chris Thomas is not yet thirty years old when he finds himself managing the immense pressure, eccentric personalities, and extenuating circumstances of an international story, where one small misstep could adversely impact the search for a missing teenager and the reputation of her family. Now, twenty years later, Thomas takes readers behind the scenes, providing new details, perspectives, and commentary on finding Elizabeth Smart.
In the process of reflecting on Elizabeth’s search and rescue, Thomas discovers how growing up in the culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as Mormon) helped push him to develop the exact kind of intuition needed to manage Elizabeth’s kidnapping and rescue, and to do so while the world watched.
Unexpected juxtaposes crucial events from the Smart case with Thomas’s experience growing up in the Latter-day Saint culture, including coming to understand the secret of a broken war hero before it was too late.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2023
27 people are currently reading
720 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
February 15, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: March 7, 2023
Chris Thomas is a writer, publicist and communications specialist, who served as one of the PR representatives for the Smart family during the Elizabeth Smart abduction. Thomas is also an active member of the Church of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as Mormons, and he describes the Mormon religion in detail, and how it attributed to the behaviours and the attitudes the Smart family held before, and after, the kidnapping.
This novel is not specifically separated as such but it has three parts to it; one, Thomas during his time as the PR rep with the Smart family during Elizabeth’s abduction; two, Thomas’ upbringing and family life and three, a breakdown and examination of the Mormon religion, including its prejudices, stereotypes and misunderstandings by society at large. Thomas does his best to tie all three of these together into a well-packaged story, and he manages this, for the most part.
“Unexpected: The Backstory of Finding Elizabeth Smart and Growing Up in the Culture of an American Religion” has a foreword by Smart, so you can assume Thomas received her full approval to go ahead with his pseudo-memoir. That being said, Elizabeth herself is rarely in Thomas’ book, as he came into play after she was abducted. Thomas does provide details on what went on behind-the-scenes, including the family tensions with each other and with the police and other cutthroat journalists that took place as a result. (Thomas does all of this respectfully of course). (For those who are looking for Elizabeth’s experience, I recommend Smart’s own book, “My Story”) .
I did not know much about Latter Day Saints before reading this novel, and Thomas provided an interesting perspective, being a life-long member. He highlights the religion in a positive note, obliterating the “polygamous” and “cult-like” monikers the religion has received over the years. Like most religions, it has its negative parts as well, but Thomas’ focus is exclusively on the religions’ sense of community and commitment.
“Unexpected” is part true crime, part memoir. The behind-the-scenes look at the experiences of the Smart family was emotional and raw, but it was also the most interesting part for me. I don’t know Thomas well enough to have a stake in his background or life history, and I am too cynical to look at any religion in an overly positive way. “Unexpected” should not be read by anyone looking for Elizabeth’s story, but does provide an honest look at the life of a public relations agent faced with the immediate pressure of being thrust into the spotlight with a young girls’ life at stake.
Expected publication date: March 7, 2023
Chris Thomas is a writer, publicist and communications specialist, who served as one of the PR representatives for the Smart family during the Elizabeth Smart abduction. Thomas is also an active member of the Church of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as Mormons, and he describes the Mormon religion in detail, and how it attributed to the behaviours and the attitudes the Smart family held before, and after, the kidnapping.
This novel is not specifically separated as such but it has three parts to it; one, Thomas during his time as the PR rep with the Smart family during Elizabeth’s abduction; two, Thomas’ upbringing and family life and three, a breakdown and examination of the Mormon religion, including its prejudices, stereotypes and misunderstandings by society at large. Thomas does his best to tie all three of these together into a well-packaged story, and he manages this, for the most part.
“Unexpected: The Backstory of Finding Elizabeth Smart and Growing Up in the Culture of an American Religion” has a foreword by Smart, so you can assume Thomas received her full approval to go ahead with his pseudo-memoir. That being said, Elizabeth herself is rarely in Thomas’ book, as he came into play after she was abducted. Thomas does provide details on what went on behind-the-scenes, including the family tensions with each other and with the police and other cutthroat journalists that took place as a result. (Thomas does all of this respectfully of course). (For those who are looking for Elizabeth’s experience, I recommend Smart’s own book, “My Story”) .
I did not know much about Latter Day Saints before reading this novel, and Thomas provided an interesting perspective, being a life-long member. He highlights the religion in a positive note, obliterating the “polygamous” and “cult-like” monikers the religion has received over the years. Like most religions, it has its negative parts as well, but Thomas’ focus is exclusively on the religions’ sense of community and commitment.
“Unexpected” is part true crime, part memoir. The behind-the-scenes look at the experiences of the Smart family was emotional and raw, but it was also the most interesting part for me. I don’t know Thomas well enough to have a stake in his background or life history, and I am too cynical to look at any religion in an overly positive way. “Unexpected” should not be read by anyone looking for Elizabeth’s story, but does provide an honest look at the life of a public relations agent faced with the immediate pressure of being thrust into the spotlight with a young girls’ life at stake.
December 29, 2022
Elizabeth’s Return Should Satisfy True Crime Buffs
Chris Thomas is a writer, speaker, and communication professional and a member of the L.S.D. church. Chis is married and this story happened 20 years ago when Chris had only been married six months. Chris grew up in the Latter-day Saint culture and this book is about Elizabeth Smart who went missing from the family home in the middle of the night in 2002. Chris Thomas was only thirty when he became the Smart family publicist during the nine and a half months that Elizabeth Smart went missing.
Chis has written a remarkable book which not only gives you the inside story into the Smart family’s dilemma when their daughter was kidnapped, but he describes how the L.S.D church comes together to help the family look for Elizabeth immediately. Chris becomes the family spokesperson and navigates the Smart family, police, T.V and media over the next nine months.
Chris tells the story in Unexpected about his experience of growing up as a Mormon in the church of Latter-day Saint culture. Chris takes the readers behind the scenes, providing new details about Elizabeth’s abduction, and lets readers read how the LSD church is run and how he believes this helped him develop the intuition to navigate Elizabeth’s case.
Chris talks about how living next door as a child, to an alcoholic who verbally abuses both Chris’s father and Chris from age 3. Chris at such a young age cannot understand what is wrong with Baker but later comes to understand the secret of his Neighbour as a broken war hero when Chris visits Baker to say goodbye. Baker invites Chris into his home and Baker opens up and shares the trauma of how war changed him to the person he now is. The story is heart wrenching and brings both to tears and leaves Chris with a better understanding of the old man next door.
Chis does an extremely excellent job of tying together both his personal experiences growing up and the effect and toll of Elizabeth Smarts abduction on him personally and the Smart family. John Walsh of America’s Most Wanted, credits Chris Thomas with the credit for keeping the public and family focused on finding Elizabeth. Chris did 100’s of interviews, he helps the family navigate the press and takes 10’s of thousands of calls over nine months. Chris helps with the Amber Alert, and the eventual rescue of Elizabeth. Chis reckons the lessons learned as a child helped him develop the “intuition” to navigate Elizabeth’s case.
A very well-balanced book on both Chris’s life in the LDS church and the Rape and Abduction of Elizabeth Smart with plenty of facts which have never been revealed before. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Chris Thomas is a writer, speaker, and communication professional and a member of the L.S.D. church. Chis is married and this story happened 20 years ago when Chris had only been married six months. Chris grew up in the Latter-day Saint culture and this book is about Elizabeth Smart who went missing from the family home in the middle of the night in 2002. Chris Thomas was only thirty when he became the Smart family publicist during the nine and a half months that Elizabeth Smart went missing.
Chis has written a remarkable book which not only gives you the inside story into the Smart family’s dilemma when their daughter was kidnapped, but he describes how the L.S.D church comes together to help the family look for Elizabeth immediately. Chris becomes the family spokesperson and navigates the Smart family, police, T.V and media over the next nine months.
Chris tells the story in Unexpected about his experience of growing up as a Mormon in the church of Latter-day Saint culture. Chris takes the readers behind the scenes, providing new details about Elizabeth’s abduction, and lets readers read how the LSD church is run and how he believes this helped him develop the intuition to navigate Elizabeth’s case.
Chris talks about how living next door as a child, to an alcoholic who verbally abuses both Chris’s father and Chris from age 3. Chris at such a young age cannot understand what is wrong with Baker but later comes to understand the secret of his Neighbour as a broken war hero when Chris visits Baker to say goodbye. Baker invites Chris into his home and Baker opens up and shares the trauma of how war changed him to the person he now is. The story is heart wrenching and brings both to tears and leaves Chris with a better understanding of the old man next door.
Chis does an extremely excellent job of tying together both his personal experiences growing up and the effect and toll of Elizabeth Smarts abduction on him personally and the Smart family. John Walsh of America’s Most Wanted, credits Chris Thomas with the credit for keeping the public and family focused on finding Elizabeth. Chris did 100’s of interviews, he helps the family navigate the press and takes 10’s of thousands of calls over nine months. Chris helps with the Amber Alert, and the eventual rescue of Elizabeth. Chis reckons the lessons learned as a child helped him develop the “intuition” to navigate Elizabeth’s case.
A very well-balanced book on both Chris’s life in the LDS church and the Rape and Abduction of Elizabeth Smart with plenty of facts which have never been revealed before. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily
January 18, 2023
I couldn't put this book down. As a crime junkie who loves to know the inside scoop, I enjoyed every detail of how the family organized the search and response, how Chris responded to the many demands of the media, and the often rocky relationship with the police. It was also really interesting to learn more about how the Mormon culture played a role in things. 10/10 would recommend.
March 15, 2023
Reads like a not very successfully disguised elders quorum lesson, complete with an emphatic use of the LDS Church’s full name whenever possible and constant morality lessons to be gleaned from frequent tortured metaphors. This felt like an infomercial for the Church’s PR department with little details about Elizabeth Smart sprinkled in for name recognition. Defensive, apologetic, and very disappointing.
October 4, 2022
I could not put this book down!
It is so well written and does an excellent job of tying together lessons learned by the author as a child and how he used them to help guide him through the communication process during this world-renowned crisis.
I was interested in reading it from a crisis communications perspective but found it so much more. The book would be interesting to various audiences; true crime, communications, spiritual, memoir, families and relationships. I highly recommend this read as it is a completely different look than what we have heard so far about what went on behind-the-scenes during the search for, and recovery of, Elizabeth Smart.
It is so well written and does an excellent job of tying together lessons learned by the author as a child and how he used them to help guide him through the communication process during this world-renowned crisis.
I was interested in reading it from a crisis communications perspective but found it so much more. The book would be interesting to various audiences; true crime, communications, spiritual, memoir, families and relationships. I highly recommend this read as it is a completely different look than what we have heard so far about what went on behind-the-scenes during the search for, and recovery of, Elizabeth Smart.
January 8, 2023
I absolutely devoured this book! I was hooked on the Elizabeth Smart disappearance while it was ongoing and afterwards. Chris Thomas was the family’s publicist and I thoroughly enjoyed all of the “backstage” insights to this highly publicized case.
March 8, 2023
very informative and inspiring!
Having lived through this most harrowing story of Elizabeth’s kidnapping 20 years ago through the media and from the fears of my children I was very interested in the backstory of all that went on. Lived in Draper Ut and so pretty close proximity to the event. It put anxiety into all of us with children that this could actually happen. So glad Elizabeth’s ending was a happy one ultimately and amazed at her strength to survive. Than you Chris for your ability to tell this story so well! You certainly deserve praise for all your devotion to the Smart family and for ultimately taking the high road in both stories told.
Having lived through this most harrowing story of Elizabeth’s kidnapping 20 years ago through the media and from the fears of my children I was very interested in the backstory of all that went on. Lived in Draper Ut and so pretty close proximity to the event. It put anxiety into all of us with children that this could actually happen. So glad Elizabeth’s ending was a happy one ultimately and amazed at her strength to survive. Than you Chris for your ability to tell this story so well! You certainly deserve praise for all your devotion to the Smart family and for ultimately taking the high road in both stories told.
October 20, 2023
Wow! What a great book. I live in Utah and I remember so much of the Elizabeth Smart abduction and miraculous return.
I am so impressed by the Smart family and especially Elizabeth. Elizabeth has taken something so incredibly horrifying and has shown through grace and composure what healing looks like.
I loved hearing about the authors growing up in Utah. So many things I experienced too! I smiled as I reminisced at childhood memories of the exact same things! I kept wondering how old Chris was.
I loved Chris’s raw emotion and true honest.
I was appalled by how the media twists and turns things. It’s hard for me to understand that getting a story is done through lying, cheating and creating hurt that is so irresponsible.
I am so impressed by the Smart family and especially Elizabeth. Elizabeth has taken something so incredibly horrifying and has shown through grace and composure what healing looks like.
I loved hearing about the authors growing up in Utah. So many things I experienced too! I smiled as I reminisced at childhood memories of the exact same things! I kept wondering how old Chris was.
I loved Chris’s raw emotion and true honest.
I was appalled by how the media twists and turns things. It’s hard for me to understand that getting a story is done through lying, cheating and creating hurt that is so irresponsible.
March 8, 2023
I thought I knew everything about Elizabeth Smart’s story but this book brought together so many nuances that really painted a new picture. Chris Thomas’ life story also was a relatable delight. ‘Unexpected’ is captivating and truly caused me to take a better look at those in my life that I may have written off or unfairly judged. Great introspection and a very worth while read that I struggled to put down. Incredibly entertaining, I highly recommend it, 5 stars!
March 12, 2023
I absolutely loved it. I read it from cover to cover. The writing is excellent, and the author did a beautiful job weaving the Elizabeth Smart story, alongside his childhood. He tells two stories in one book, that of Elizabeth Smart and also of him growing up in Mormon predominant Millcreek Utah. This book has everything, it is heartbreaking, inspiring, motivational, and at times even hysterically funny. I rarely give 5 stars but this was a favorite.
May 6, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫3.5 Okay I’ll admit I was so drawn into the Elizabeth Smart coverage, I had just graduated high school and her kidnapping haunted me for weeks after. I still could not believe my ears when she was found. I can’t even remember where I heard about this book but I heard Elizabeth Smart and I was interested.
So Chris Thomas was the head PR guy working with the Smart family during the search for Elizabeth. And I did like the look into what her family was going through during those months of looking for her.
And I even liked the parts of the book were Chris as an active member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints tells kind of the background and culture and our focus on service and how that influenced the search for Elizabeth.
However I’ll say the stories of his younger years were a bit sporadic to me, I feel bad saying that. But at times I really couldn’t understand what they added to the overall theme of the book.
I would recommend to the right audience. If you are interested in true crime and also interested in seeing The Church of Jesus Christ portrayed in a positive light (not always the case it seems 🥺) this might be a book that interests you!
So Chris Thomas was the head PR guy working with the Smart family during the search for Elizabeth. And I did like the look into what her family was going through during those months of looking for her.
And I even liked the parts of the book were Chris as an active member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints tells kind of the background and culture and our focus on service and how that influenced the search for Elizabeth.
However I’ll say the stories of his younger years were a bit sporadic to me, I feel bad saying that. But at times I really couldn’t understand what they added to the overall theme of the book.
I would recommend to the right audience. If you are interested in true crime and also interested in seeing The Church of Jesus Christ portrayed in a positive light (not always the case it seems 🥺) this might be a book that interests you!
May 30, 2023
I loved this book! Unexpected has several interesting and touching stories. I remember following the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping on the news 20 years ago. It was fascinating to hear the about the search for Elizabeth from Chris’s point of view. This book gave me a new perspective regarding the media surrounding this event and the police investigation.
I also really loved the story of Chris’s next-door neighbor. It was so touching and heart-breaking and shows how easy it is to judge someone harshly until you know their story. The book does a great job of showing how hard things in life can help prepare a person for future events.
I also really loved the story of Chris’s next-door neighbor. It was so touching and heart-breaking and shows how easy it is to judge someone harshly until you know their story. The book does a great job of showing how hard things in life can help prepare a person for future events.
February 13, 2023
I really wanted to enjoy this, but I found the author's backstory to be distracting and to me it devalued the whole book.
When the book stuck to telling Elizabeth Smart's story I found it compelling and very interesting, but once the author started telling his story I got bored.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
When the book stuck to telling Elizabeth Smart's story I found it compelling and very interesting, but once the author started telling his story I got bored.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
September 10, 2023
Not a fan of the LDS propaganda, but great story otherwise. Some people wrote reviews saying they had a hard time following the timeline, it seemed pretty obvious to me.
September 15, 2024
There’s nothing like reading a book written by a true journalist! Fascinating to hear the behind the scenes of the search effort to find Elizabeth
February 5, 2023
Twenty years ago the attention of the world was focused on finding 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart who was kidnapped in her sleep from her Utah home. Anyone who remembers Elizabeth's abduction will want to learn more and Chris' book does just that detailing the challenges, debates, disappointments and opinions that guided the Smart family throughout this nightmare. He shows the perils of dealing with a family desperately trying to find their daughter, while dealing with an onslaught of press conferences, interviews and incorrect information from the media both here and around the world for nine months. Chris' firsthand experience working daily with the media and the family to keep attention focused on finding Elizabeth is fascinating, and at times ugly too.
Chris' book is just that, unexpected. While sharing the story about searching for and eventually finding Elizabeth, he provides insight into his Mormon faith and childhood moments that guided him throughout. From growing up in The Church of Latter-day Saints and his faith journey to being a eight-year old entrepreneur selling nightcrawlers to raise money for a new bike. Hearing about his childhood and the moments really adds to the Smart story. Perhaps the most unexpected story in Chris' book though is about his relationship with his drunk and angry, World War 2 veteran neighbor Baker. Like most of the bullies from our childhoods, he share stories about fearing Baker and the conflicts that terrorized him to growing up and confronting Baker and facing his fears to the tears he shed when Baker died. In a story about Elizabeth Smart, Chris' story within it is both moving and thoughtful and really brings it all together.
History often shows that whether it's fate, divine intervention or circumstance, that the right people with the right experience and drive come together at the right moments to define the moment. Chris' book show this and that sometimes you really should expect the unexpected.
Chris' book is just that, unexpected. While sharing the story about searching for and eventually finding Elizabeth, he provides insight into his Mormon faith and childhood moments that guided him throughout. From growing up in The Church of Latter-day Saints and his faith journey to being a eight-year old entrepreneur selling nightcrawlers to raise money for a new bike. Hearing about his childhood and the moments really adds to the Smart story. Perhaps the most unexpected story in Chris' book though is about his relationship with his drunk and angry, World War 2 veteran neighbor Baker. Like most of the bullies from our childhoods, he share stories about fearing Baker and the conflicts that terrorized him to growing up and confronting Baker and facing his fears to the tears he shed when Baker died. In a story about Elizabeth Smart, Chris' story within it is both moving and thoughtful and really brings it all together.
History often shows that whether it's fate, divine intervention or circumstance, that the right people with the right experience and drive come together at the right moments to define the moment. Chris' book show this and that sometimes you really should expect the unexpected.
April 14, 2023
Living in Utah, following the Elizabeth Smart story closely, and being a member of the LDS church that is referred to regularly throughout the book, drew me to it. It was our book club pick this month. The book is divided between the authors life story and his experiences leading the Smart family during Elizabeth‘s abduction. I liked the insight from his perspective from the public relations angle on the case.
June 25, 2023
Captivating. I was glued to the news for the entire nine months Elizabeth Smart was missing back in 2002-03. I loved reading this book from the standpoint of Chris Thomas, the PR specialist representing the family. It may or may not surprise you the tricks the media played during the ordeal. While the insight of the activities behind the scenes was fascinating, I equally enjoyed the backstory of Chris’ life and what shaped him.
Rating 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 14, 2023
It was interesting to listen to the PR side of the Elizabeth Smart case. As someone with a degree in Mass Communication, PR was something I studied but have never done professionally, so I appreciated the thorough way he writes about the decisions that were made day-to-day as the case unfolded in real time.
I did wonder if the way this book is written, with so much of the author’s personal experiences and life in SL County, will resonate with those outside of the local area? He mentions working with a master class and multiple readers who are unfamiliar with the LDS church and Utah culture, so maybe it does work? My personal experience with both would preclude me from being a good judge of that.
I followed the Elizabeth Smart Case closely while it was happening and in the years since she was found. Fascinating story.
I did wonder if the way this book is written, with so much of the author’s personal experiences and life in SL County, will resonate with those outside of the local area? He mentions working with a master class and multiple readers who are unfamiliar with the LDS church and Utah culture, so maybe it does work? My personal experience with both would preclude me from being a good judge of that.
I followed the Elizabeth Smart Case closely while it was happening and in the years since she was found. Fascinating story.
April 29, 2023
Didn’t think I loved it until the end. Then it was just soo good.
January 27, 2023
I wasn’t sure what I was hoping for when I picked this up. I knew I was going to be the first ever Kindle Edition reader.
I knew about Elizabeth Smart’s story.
But in 2002 I was a lanky and somewhat unaware high schooler who had no idea he’d one day work in communications and media for a living.
tl;dr: unexpected is a quick, satisfying read for anyone interested in true crime, communications, media, public relations or just good, reflective writing from an earnest author.
Mr. Thomas jumps seamlessly between recollections of his own childhood and adolescence and the time he spent being the primary media contact and frequent spokesperson for the Smart family after Elizabeth was abducted. The format might strike the reader as self-serving at first glance — but like it did in “Where the Crawdads Sing,” the hopping starts to work if you give it a few chapters.
It works because there is honest reflection on the religion and cultural mores of the Mormon faith and its impact on Utah communities — encapsulated just as much in how one community reacted to the sudden kidnapping of one of its own as it is in a childhood story of backyard fences being suddenly, simultaneously taken down.
It works because it’s an honest, autobiographical reflection on life, and how the experiences we have in it sometimes prepare us for the unexpected things that might be ahead of us.
It works — and this is the real brass tax for me — because the author is writing as if he were delivering an oral history for posterity — and not as yet another participant chiming in on an already well known tale. It's a truly 'new' viewpoint that explores an event from an angle that normally it never would be, with humility.
I liked that especially because we communicators — we are usually in the back of the room. Doing a whole lot that nobody sees. Unexpected is true to that ethos while laying bare the realities of being a ‘PR guy’ and the powerful, unseen impact that advocation can sometimes have on the world.
I knew about Elizabeth Smart’s story.
But in 2002 I was a lanky and somewhat unaware high schooler who had no idea he’d one day work in communications and media for a living.
tl;dr: unexpected is a quick, satisfying read for anyone interested in true crime, communications, media, public relations or just good, reflective writing from an earnest author.
Mr. Thomas jumps seamlessly between recollections of his own childhood and adolescence and the time he spent being the primary media contact and frequent spokesperson for the Smart family after Elizabeth was abducted. The format might strike the reader as self-serving at first glance — but like it did in “Where the Crawdads Sing,” the hopping starts to work if you give it a few chapters.
It works because there is honest reflection on the religion and cultural mores of the Mormon faith and its impact on Utah communities — encapsulated just as much in how one community reacted to the sudden kidnapping of one of its own as it is in a childhood story of backyard fences being suddenly, simultaneously taken down.
It works because it’s an honest, autobiographical reflection on life, and how the experiences we have in it sometimes prepare us for the unexpected things that might be ahead of us.
It works — and this is the real brass tax for me — because the author is writing as if he were delivering an oral history for posterity — and not as yet another participant chiming in on an already well known tale. It's a truly 'new' viewpoint that explores an event from an angle that normally it never would be, with humility.
I liked that especially because we communicators — we are usually in the back of the room. Doing a whole lot that nobody sees. Unexpected is true to that ethos while laying bare the realities of being a ‘PR guy’ and the powerful, unseen impact that advocation can sometimes have on the world.
April 26, 2023
The Elizabeth Smart story has always shed light on child abduction and community. I loved reading from their PRs perspective. I can’t believe how much happened in order to get her back. I would hope that all abductions were to follow this example!
February 6, 2023
As a parent of young children, I do not have a lot of time for reading for pleasure.
I started this book at 9 p.m. and planned on reading for an hour and possibly getting a few chapters in.
Well the book got the better of me and I couldn’t put it down all night.
At 6:50 a.m. the following morning I was racing to finish it before my children woke up.
I assumed the book would be about the behind the scenes info of the Elizabeth Smart case. It does give many less known and previously unknown details of the case, but it’s the author’s story of his childhood that draws you in.
I found this book to be a very captivating read.
There are some parts of the book where the author mentions his religious beliefs. While I am not a religious person, I found the author’s explanation of various parts of his religion informative and not preachy. Because it was not preachy, it made it very relatable.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for an engaging and entertaining read.
I started this book at 9 p.m. and planned on reading for an hour and possibly getting a few chapters in.
Well the book got the better of me and I couldn’t put it down all night.
At 6:50 a.m. the following morning I was racing to finish it before my children woke up.
I assumed the book would be about the behind the scenes info of the Elizabeth Smart case. It does give many less known and previously unknown details of the case, but it’s the author’s story of his childhood that draws you in.
I found this book to be a very captivating read.
There are some parts of the book where the author mentions his religious beliefs. While I am not a religious person, I found the author’s explanation of various parts of his religion informative and not preachy. Because it was not preachy, it made it very relatable.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for an engaging and entertaining read.
February 2, 2023
An interesting peek behind the scenes of one of the most sensational events in American True Crime.
Part of the memoir chronicles Thomas’ upbringing in a 1980’s Utahn suburban community and how the lessons learned provided the seed for some of the important insights and strategies that helped him succeed in many of the near-impossible situations during his involvement in the Elizabeth Smart saga. I truly enjoyed revisiting the nostalgia of my own 80’s childhood that were reawakened through Thomas’ colorful retelling of his early experiences. I was awestruck with so many aspects of Elizabeth’s abduction (and her amazing rescue) that i hadn’t heard about when watching the news unfold back in 2002-2003. It was also especially intriguing to get an insider’s look at the way that journalists and media-news organizations function and how the hunger of the 24-hour news cycle (even back then) seemed to take on a life of its own. This is a well crafted memoir that expertly contrasts how the experiences of the past can be critical to life’s present challenges and how hope, faith and hard work can sometimes manifest miracles in unexpected ways. I wound up reading this book over a single weekend and I highly recommend it for anyone that enjoys an suspenseful, sometimes emotional, satisfying read.
Part of the memoir chronicles Thomas’ upbringing in a 1980’s Utahn suburban community and how the lessons learned provided the seed for some of the important insights and strategies that helped him succeed in many of the near-impossible situations during his involvement in the Elizabeth Smart saga. I truly enjoyed revisiting the nostalgia of my own 80’s childhood that were reawakened through Thomas’ colorful retelling of his early experiences. I was awestruck with so many aspects of Elizabeth’s abduction (and her amazing rescue) that i hadn’t heard about when watching the news unfold back in 2002-2003. It was also especially intriguing to get an insider’s look at the way that journalists and media-news organizations function and how the hunger of the 24-hour news cycle (even back then) seemed to take on a life of its own. This is a well crafted memoir that expertly contrasts how the experiences of the past can be critical to life’s present challenges and how hope, faith and hard work can sometimes manifest miracles in unexpected ways. I wound up reading this book over a single weekend and I highly recommend it for anyone that enjoys an suspenseful, sometimes emotional, satisfying read.
August 27, 2025
Book Review: Unexpected by Chris Thomas
I didn’t expect to be this moved. Unexpected isn’t just the behind-the-scenes account of Elizabeth Smart’s rescue—it’s a deeply personal reckoning with faith, pressure, and the quiet heroism that unfolds when the world is watching.
Chris Thomas writes with clarity that’s both journalistic and intimate. He doesn’t just recount events; he invites us into the emotional chaos of managing a national crisis while navigating the expectations of his Latter-day Saint upbringing. The tension between public responsibility and private conviction is palpable, and it’s what makes this book so compelling.
What struck me most was the vulnerability. Thomas doesn’t shy away from his own doubts or the weight of being trusted with something so fragile. His reflections on faith aren’t preachy—they’re honest, sometimes raw, and always grounded in lived experience. Whether you share his beliefs or not, there’s something universally resonant in his journey.
I loved this book. Not just for the story it tells, but for the way it tells it—with humility, insight, and a quiet kind of courage. If you’re fascinated by the human side of public events, or if you’ve ever wondered what it means to carry someone else’s hope, Unexpected will stay with you.
I didn’t expect to be this moved. Unexpected isn’t just the behind-the-scenes account of Elizabeth Smart’s rescue—it’s a deeply personal reckoning with faith, pressure, and the quiet heroism that unfolds when the world is watching.
Chris Thomas writes with clarity that’s both journalistic and intimate. He doesn’t just recount events; he invites us into the emotional chaos of managing a national crisis while navigating the expectations of his Latter-day Saint upbringing. The tension between public responsibility and private conviction is palpable, and it’s what makes this book so compelling.
What struck me most was the vulnerability. Thomas doesn’t shy away from his own doubts or the weight of being trusted with something so fragile. His reflections on faith aren’t preachy—they’re honest, sometimes raw, and always grounded in lived experience. Whether you share his beliefs or not, there’s something universally resonant in his journey.
I loved this book. Not just for the story it tells, but for the way it tells it—with humility, insight, and a quiet kind of courage. If you’re fascinated by the human side of public events, or if you’ve ever wondered what it means to carry someone else’s hope, Unexpected will stay with you.
January 14, 2023
Really a fantastic book. If you want to know more about Elizabeth Smart’s story, read this book. If you want to learn about personal growth and becoming a better you, read this book. If you just want to enjoy a heartwarming story about a young man and his difficult neighbor, read this book.
When I cracked open this book I thought I would just be learning more about Elizabeth Smart’s incredible story, but in fact I learned about life and how so often the trials in our lives prepare us to make a difference in the lives of others when they might need us the most.
It was a heartwarming read that I honestly couldn’t put down.
When I cracked open this book I thought I would just be learning more about Elizabeth Smart’s incredible story, but in fact I learned about life and how so often the trials in our lives prepare us to make a difference in the lives of others when they might need us the most.
It was a heartwarming read that I honestly couldn’t put down.
March 21, 2023
This book was good not great. I will start by saying Chris’ perspective on this case is very unique and his book did provide some additional details and information to me. His chapters on how they dealt with 48 Hours and John Walsh were especially interesting.
I did not care for the way the author intertwined his personal childhood story with the Smart family’s story. While he insists it will serve to help people understand LDS culture and that culture’s part in the Smart story, I found it to be distracting from the Smart family’s story. I will note here that I have lived in Utah and have relatives who are LDS, so maybe I didn’t find it helpful because I have a working knowledge of that culture. Ultimately, I think he should have written two separate books.
Having read and enjoyed Tom’s book on the Smart case, I felt he was a little harsh on Tom Smart, Elizabeth’s Uncle. While I understand his frustration with Tom as a PR professional, Tom was still a grieving family member, and admits he made mistakes.
While this book did have some good information, I wouldn’t recommend it to those looking for a first book to read on the case. Start with Elizabeth’s book, move to Tom’s then read this one if you still desire more information.
I did not care for the way the author intertwined his personal childhood story with the Smart family’s story. While he insists it will serve to help people understand LDS culture and that culture’s part in the Smart story, I found it to be distracting from the Smart family’s story. I will note here that I have lived in Utah and have relatives who are LDS, so maybe I didn’t find it helpful because I have a working knowledge of that culture. Ultimately, I think he should have written two separate books.
Having read and enjoyed Tom’s book on the Smart case, I felt he was a little harsh on Tom Smart, Elizabeth’s Uncle. While I understand his frustration with Tom as a PR professional, Tom was still a grieving family member, and admits he made mistakes.
While this book did have some good information, I wouldn’t recommend it to those looking for a first book to read on the case. Start with Elizabeth’s book, move to Tom’s then read this one if you still desire more information.
May 24, 2023
The Elizabeth Smart abduction is a story I will never forget. It’s one of those moments in time where I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard she’d be found. The behind-the-scenes details outlined in the book is what I found most interesting throughout and exactly what I was looking forward to learning more about. Considering the age of Chris Thomas (late 20s) when he took the helm of the PR efforts for the Smart family made the whole saga even more impressive in my mind. The book chapters jump back and forth between the Elizabeth Smart Case and the story of a curmudgeonly old man Thomas lived next door to (and their relationship) while growing up. While the story of the neighbor ultimately left me feeling sympathetic toward him, I’m still unclear as to why it was included or deemed necessary. 3.5 stars
July 28, 2024
I was hesitant to start this book as I’ve read previous accounts about the abduction of Elizabeth Smart and didn’t want to feel the heaviness of what she endured again. I realize this may sound incredibly selfish as she actually had to live it and here I was complaining about having to read about it again, but that was my truthful reaction when it was chosen for my book club.
Well then I decided to give it a try . . . and I’m genuinely grateful that I did. Thomas intertwines stories of his childhood living next to a vet suffering from effects of war with the hurdles and exhaustion and ultimate joys of helping to find Elizabeth. The storytelling gave me more information about history and religion, but even more important to me were the insights I gained about my own relationship with God, choices, behavior, survival, coping, faith, light, and the power of family.
Well then I decided to give it a try . . . and I’m genuinely grateful that I did. Thomas intertwines stories of his childhood living next to a vet suffering from effects of war with the hurdles and exhaustion and ultimate joys of helping to find Elizabeth. The storytelling gave me more information about history and religion, but even more important to me were the insights I gained about my own relationship with God, choices, behavior, survival, coping, faith, light, and the power of family.
May 20, 2024
I’m changing my rating on this because I have since learned some things about Chris and his PR firm. I can no longer stand behind him or his character.
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Original review:
I liked this book a lot. I have a personal story about meeting Chris and hearing him speak to my class full of PR students. This probably made the book more interesting to me than most. He really is such an incredible communicator and seems like genuinely good person.
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Original review:
I liked this book a lot. I have a personal story about meeting Chris and hearing him speak to my class full of PR students. This probably made the book more interesting to me than most. He really is such an incredible communicator and seems like genuinely good person.
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