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Stolen in the Night: The True Story of a Family's Murder, a Kidnapping and the Child Who Survived
Joseph Duncan had been convicted of raping and torturing a 14-year-old boy in Tacoma, Washington. On the Internet he proudly boasted of his perversions. But the system turned Duncan loose, and no one would stop him from committing an even more horrifying act...
This time, he prepared meticulously. He chose his getaway car. He chose his murder weapon and loaded a video camera. Then, when he saw young Shasta and Dylan Groene playing outside their Idaho home, he struck—killing their mother and her boyfriend, and their older brother…and vanishing into the night with Shasta and Dylan.
Detectives pored over the bloody murder scene. The FBI scrambled to find the children and the abductor. And even when Duncan was finally located, the story was not yet over: Dylan was still missing…and the depth of one man's evil was still coming horribly to light….
This time, he prepared meticulously. He chose his getaway car. He chose his murder weapon and loaded a video camera. Then, when he saw young Shasta and Dylan Groene playing outside their Idaho home, he struck—killing their mother and her boyfriend, and their older brother…and vanishing into the night with Shasta and Dylan.
Detectives pored over the bloody murder scene. The FBI scrambled to find the children and the abductor. And even when Duncan was finally located, the story was not yet over: Dylan was still missing…and the depth of one man's evil was still coming horribly to light….
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 6, 2007
85 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
About the author
Gary C. King
30 books940 followersGary C. King is a freelance author and lecturer who has published more than 500 articles in true crime magazines in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He is also the author of several true crime books including: Blood Lust: Portrait of a Serial Sex Killer, Driven to Kill, Web of Deceit, Blind Rage, Savage Vengeance, An Early Grave, The Texas 7, Murder in Hollywood, Angels of Death, Stolen in the Night, Love, Lies, and Murder, An Almost Perfect Murder, Butcher, Rage, The Murder of Meredith Kercher, Crime Scene: True Stories of Crime and Detection, and Murder Most Foul: True Crime Stories of Murder and Mayhem.
Driven to Kill, the story of serial child killer Westley Allan Dodd's killing spree, was nominated for an Anthony Award in the Best True Crime Book category at Bouchercon 25.
Blood Lust: Portrait of a Serial Sex Killer, details the bizarre case of Dayton Leroy Rogers, Oregon's worst serial killer. A German language edition of Blood Lust was published in 1995. Both Blood Lust and Driven to Kill were chosen as featured selections of Doubleday's True Crime Book Club.
King’s television appearances have included Entertainment Tonight, Larry King Live, Inside Edition, Court TV, MSNBC’s Headliners and Legends, E!, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Extra TV, and several other programs. He also frequently provides radio interviews and has given talks at libraries as well as organizations devoted to readers and writers interested in the genre of true crime.
After years of traditional publishing, King recently joined the growing ranks of indie authors.
Driven to Kill, the story of serial child killer Westley Allan Dodd's killing spree, was nominated for an Anthony Award in the Best True Crime Book category at Bouchercon 25.
Blood Lust: Portrait of a Serial Sex Killer, details the bizarre case of Dayton Leroy Rogers, Oregon's worst serial killer. A German language edition of Blood Lust was published in 1995. Both Blood Lust and Driven to Kill were chosen as featured selections of Doubleday's True Crime Book Club.
King’s television appearances have included Entertainment Tonight, Larry King Live, Inside Edition, Court TV, MSNBC’s Headliners and Legends, E!, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Extra TV, and several other programs. He also frequently provides radio interviews and has given talks at libraries as well as organizations devoted to readers and writers interested in the genre of true crime.
After years of traditional publishing, King recently joined the growing ranks of indie authors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 5, 2023
Story 5/5
Narration 5/5
Narration 5/5
April 24, 2010
Author Gary C. King is a good writer. Stolen in the Night, however, serves as more of an exploitational examination into a horrifying crime than a good piece of literature.
Ordinarily, this would not be an issue for a St. Martin's paperback release, which typically do not try to mask themselves as being anything other than cheap malapropisms of other people's suffering. Stolen in the Night differs primarily because it pretends to have some social merit or extra worth. It comes complete with details on how to reform the current laws regarding sex crimes and criminals, and delves into the various degrees of human pathos associated therewith.
But in reality, it's a base rehashing of a family's - indeed, an entire nation's tragedy.
Without delving into the heart-breaking case of the Groene Family's unexpected tragedy, it should suffice to say that King adds no new dimensions to the case outside what has been revealed in, say, People or on CNN. He repackages it all into a neat set of paperback covers (albeit written more neatly than the typical true crime release). Then he fills in the remainder of the space by discussing unrelated cases, and offering his own opinions on how the United States has failed to protect its citizenry through its current laws and regulations.
Stolen in the Night becomes King's vehicle for the expression of his own ideas - which, solid though they are, seem to cheapen the nature of the bulk of the book. It does not focus on very much, it seems, before meandering off into the direction it eventually does, which is... where, exactly?
With any luck, King will eventually write a book based on his own interviews and observations - not just on the Groene case, but on the topic of abuses against children perpetrated by strangers and family alike. As it stands, the gross element of detail provided herein remains either too strikingly little for the hardened true crime fanatic, or too sickeingly much for the rest of his readership.
Shasta Groene is the personification of a modern-day miracle. Perhaps Stolen in the Night would have better served to exemplify her story of survival than to trek down the twisted path of her torturer. But unfortunately, it is the horrific and bizarre which draws the masses, and the humanity behind the tragedy gets tossed over for the freak show.
Gary C. King's obvious talents and writing skills seem to have been wasted on this effort.
Ordinarily, this would not be an issue for a St. Martin's paperback release, which typically do not try to mask themselves as being anything other than cheap malapropisms of other people's suffering. Stolen in the Night differs primarily because it pretends to have some social merit or extra worth. It comes complete with details on how to reform the current laws regarding sex crimes and criminals, and delves into the various degrees of human pathos associated therewith.
But in reality, it's a base rehashing of a family's - indeed, an entire nation's tragedy.
Without delving into the heart-breaking case of the Groene Family's unexpected tragedy, it should suffice to say that King adds no new dimensions to the case outside what has been revealed in, say, People or on CNN. He repackages it all into a neat set of paperback covers (albeit written more neatly than the typical true crime release). Then he fills in the remainder of the space by discussing unrelated cases, and offering his own opinions on how the United States has failed to protect its citizenry through its current laws and regulations.
Stolen in the Night becomes King's vehicle for the expression of his own ideas - which, solid though they are, seem to cheapen the nature of the bulk of the book. It does not focus on very much, it seems, before meandering off into the direction it eventually does, which is... where, exactly?
With any luck, King will eventually write a book based on his own interviews and observations - not just on the Groene case, but on the topic of abuses against children perpetrated by strangers and family alike. As it stands, the gross element of detail provided herein remains either too strikingly little for the hardened true crime fanatic, or too sickeingly much for the rest of his readership.
Shasta Groene is the personification of a modern-day miracle. Perhaps Stolen in the Night would have better served to exemplify her story of survival than to trek down the twisted path of her torturer. But unfortunately, it is the horrific and bizarre which draws the masses, and the humanity behind the tragedy gets tossed over for the freak show.
Gary C. King's obvious talents and writing skills seem to have been wasted on this effort.
December 17, 2018
Audiobook #255
August 14, 2017
Why yes. I am on a true crime binge. xD!
Alright. So this is about a man who is facing possible jail time (again) after he lured two young boys to the woods and touched one of the boys' genitals. Both ran away. 9 months later, he's in jail again. The judge gives him a light bail (15k), he writes a bad check, get outs, borrows the fund from a friend, steals a car, then leaves the state.
Somewhere along his trip, he notices two kids playing outside in their bathing suits and decides he's going to kidnap them. So he watches them for two days before killing three who live there (mother, father, older brother) and taking the two kids with him. He eventually rapes and kills the boy, and the girl is found later in his presence.
First problem here is that, besides this bare bones summary, there is little time spent on the case. Instead, he goes on these random tangents. Painful random tangents. It really sounded like he supported the killer. I know he didn't but the way the book is written makes it hard not to feel that way.
For example, this man felt that sexual crimes shouldn't be prosecuted and they shouldn't be punished. He went on and on about how it made him, the perp, a victim. And interspersed with this is tangent on how the sex offenders list is a bad thing.
Except, you have to remember, he didn't do this crime in the state he lived in. He traveled over state lines. How, exactly, is the sex offenders list relevant to this in any way? He mixes these two things over and over again, and spends way more time of this then the actual case.
It makes it sound like the author thinks the killer is a victim.
Furthermore, we are then treated with a case about a guy who looked up the sex offenders list and killed two of the people on it.
It's like what?
Alright. So this is about a man who is facing possible jail time (again) after he lured two young boys to the woods and touched one of the boys' genitals. Both ran away. 9 months later, he's in jail again. The judge gives him a light bail (15k), he writes a bad check, get outs, borrows the fund from a friend, steals a car, then leaves the state.
Somewhere along his trip, he notices two kids playing outside in their bathing suits and decides he's going to kidnap them. So he watches them for two days before killing three who live there (mother, father, older brother) and taking the two kids with him. He eventually rapes and kills the boy, and the girl is found later in his presence.
First problem here is that, besides this bare bones summary, there is little time spent on the case. Instead, he goes on these random tangents. Painful random tangents. It really sounded like he supported the killer. I know he didn't but the way the book is written makes it hard not to feel that way.
For example, this man felt that sexual crimes shouldn't be prosecuted and they shouldn't be punished. He went on and on about how it made him, the perp, a victim. And interspersed with this is tangent on how the sex offenders list is a bad thing.
Except, you have to remember, he didn't do this crime in the state he lived in. He traveled over state lines. How, exactly, is the sex offenders list relevant to this in any way? He mixes these two things over and over again, and spends way more time of this then the actual case.
It makes it sound like the author thinks the killer is a victim.
Furthermore, we are then treated with a case about a guy who looked up the sex offenders list and killed two of the people on it.
It's like what?
Read
August 11, 2012If you’re in the mood for a true crime story featuring a horrifyingly random crime, Gary C. King’s Stolen in the Night is a great choice.
May 5, 2017
This is one of the saddest stories I have every listened to that could have been prevented if he had not gotten out of jail the first time, maybe gotten some help but I doubt that would have made a difference to his way of mind. What a cruel man who thinks nothing of life as you will find between these pages a man who rapes, kills little kids and families for no other reason than to have his fun and way with kids.
Mr. Bennett has become one of my favorite narrators he really knows how to pull a read in becoming the characters. His character voices have always been outstanding here you have more facts the characters so you really do not get a true sounding of just how great his narration is. There his narration you can really feel the pain the families, friends and the victims go through. There is no repeat of words nor any background noise just a clean clear audio that you will spend time in shock and pain as you hear what they had to go through. The narrator really bought home to me all this and so many more families had to go through because of this man. He really put emotion into the audio you can feel each pain, sorrow and tear that falls through his voice.
Words cannot say what I feel for the victims and their families. All that Shasta and Dylan had to go through and what Shasta still is today just breaks your heart. My mind won’t even wrap around the years since this and what it must have been like to become an adult still dealing with the past.
This is a story mostly of facts that are heartbreaking from the day they were taken and their family was killed up to and a few years after he caught, it even goes over his thought to a point and how he was turning his self in..whatever. The author does into some detail but it isn’t hard core, he doesn’t go into just what happen to these children just they were raped and used. It shouldn’t set off any triggers. It’s a story of one family’s life turned upside down never to be the same. I thought it was well written with good facts that kept me interested. I am a true crime junky no doubt about it. I spend my time trying to work out why, why would someone do the things they do. I am hooked on the way the mind works or doesn’t work. I was hooked from the start and was so glad one child made it out of a nightmare to live. One must wonder what her life is like today and when the evil man will be put to death. I hope it is very long and painful. It might be wrong but it is how I feel. I enjoyed seeing how the law had changed, how the holes have been filled to helpful help the next Shasta so her and her family will not have to deal with all she has. My heart is very much with her family and hope them the very best. I feel so much for a child that had to be a hero but lost so much to the women she is today. If you enjoy facts and true crime it is worth the listen. The narration is outstanding.
Mr. Bennett has become one of my favorite narrators he really knows how to pull a read in becoming the characters. His character voices have always been outstanding here you have more facts the characters so you really do not get a true sounding of just how great his narration is. There his narration you can really feel the pain the families, friends and the victims go through. There is no repeat of words nor any background noise just a clean clear audio that you will spend time in shock and pain as you hear what they had to go through. The narrator really bought home to me all this and so many more families had to go through because of this man. He really put emotion into the audio you can feel each pain, sorrow and tear that falls through his voice.
Words cannot say what I feel for the victims and their families. All that Shasta and Dylan had to go through and what Shasta still is today just breaks your heart. My mind won’t even wrap around the years since this and what it must have been like to become an adult still dealing with the past.
This is a story mostly of facts that are heartbreaking from the day they were taken and their family was killed up to and a few years after he caught, it even goes over his thought to a point and how he was turning his self in..whatever. The author does into some detail but it isn’t hard core, he doesn’t go into just what happen to these children just they were raped and used. It shouldn’t set off any triggers. It’s a story of one family’s life turned upside down never to be the same. I thought it was well written with good facts that kept me interested. I am a true crime junky no doubt about it. I spend my time trying to work out why, why would someone do the things they do. I am hooked on the way the mind works or doesn’t work. I was hooked from the start and was so glad one child made it out of a nightmare to live. One must wonder what her life is like today and when the evil man will be put to death. I hope it is very long and painful. It might be wrong but it is how I feel. I enjoyed seeing how the law had changed, how the holes have been filled to helpful help the next Shasta so her and her family will not have to deal with all she has. My heart is very much with her family and hope them the very best. I feel so much for a child that had to be a hero but lost so much to the women she is today. If you enjoy facts and true crime it is worth the listen. The narration is outstanding.
August 14, 2009
This true crime story heartbreakingly conveys the story of the anniliation of a family. Sexual psychopath Joseph Edward Duncan II brutally murdered a mother, her older son, and her boyfriend. Duncan then kidnaps the murdered woman's other 2 children, young Shasta and Dylan Groene from their idyllic Idaho home.
Millions of people watched the horror of this case unfold on the evening news. Detectives and the FBI scrambled to find the missing children, and the nation held it's collective breath, hoping for the best, anticipating the worst.
Told with an unerring eye to detail, Gary King's book takes the reader on this heartrending story, from harrowing twists to the tale of a courageous little girl who manages to survive against all odds. You feel the righteous indignation that comes with knowing that a bragging sexual predator was allowed to escape his punishment for earlier crimes, the horror faced by the young girl who he sexually brutalized, and the brother she knows he murdered. This story will haunt you long after you finish reading it, as much from the experiences of the family as from knowing that the system didn't work, and that this monster was allowed to go free.
Mr. King writes with great detail, and shares much of the case, the work involved, and the background story that allowed this horror to exist in the first place. I came away knowing more about the faults of our justice system, and what made this psychopath "tick". Knowing that Shasta has been reunited with her father, and is receiving psychological help to deal with her ordeal, brings the book to a decent conclusion. There is no happy ending to this story, and Mr. King doesn't try to paint a picture of one. It's handled with tact, well-meaning and compassion.
Millions of people watched the horror of this case unfold on the evening news. Detectives and the FBI scrambled to find the missing children, and the nation held it's collective breath, hoping for the best, anticipating the worst.
Told with an unerring eye to detail, Gary King's book takes the reader on this heartrending story, from harrowing twists to the tale of a courageous little girl who manages to survive against all odds. You feel the righteous indignation that comes with knowing that a bragging sexual predator was allowed to escape his punishment for earlier crimes, the horror faced by the young girl who he sexually brutalized, and the brother she knows he murdered. This story will haunt you long after you finish reading it, as much from the experiences of the family as from knowing that the system didn't work, and that this monster was allowed to go free.
Mr. King writes with great detail, and shares much of the case, the work involved, and the background story that allowed this horror to exist in the first place. I came away knowing more about the faults of our justice system, and what made this psychopath "tick". Knowing that Shasta has been reunited with her father, and is receiving psychological help to deal with her ordeal, brings the book to a decent conclusion. There is no happy ending to this story, and Mr. King doesn't try to paint a picture of one. It's handled with tact, well-meaning and compassion.
June 7, 2017
Joseph Duncan, a man who has no business being released back into society after the rape and torture of an adolescent boy, travels to Idaho to strike again. He brutally murders a mother, her boyfriend and her teenage son, then abducts her two small children. Stolen In The Night is a factual and detailed account of the subsequent murder investigation and search for the children. This was a chilling and compelling tale and also a reminder that true evil still exists in this world. J. Scott Bennett's performance as narrator was outstanding. Given the subject matter, I can't say that I was entertained - engrossed would probably be a more accurate word. I would recommend Stolen In The Night for fans of the murder mystery or true crimes genre.
I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator. This review is my honest opinion.
I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator. This review is my honest opinion.
May 4, 2017
This is a sad, true crime story of murder and child abuse. It tells the story of Joseph Duncan and his long history of child abuse and violence. Highlighting the shortfalls in the system that allows dangerous repeat offenders to be released to once again destroy even more lives. The narrator gave the story life, imparting the horror and desperation Duncan's victims must have suffered with his tone. The author did not sensationalize the story or add further distress to the victim or their families by revealing sordid details. He presented the case in a methodical fashion, treating the victims with compassion and illustrating Duncan's distorted view of life.
May 12, 2017
Stolen in the Night
: Gary C. King
This is a scary true crime story. I remember the news coverage from when this actually happened. There are many acts of other crimes also committed by this monster.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. J. Scott Bennett does an excellent job in narrating this book.
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
: Gary C. King
This is a scary true crime story. I remember the news coverage from when this actually happened. There are many acts of other crimes also committed by this monster.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. J. Scott Bennett does an excellent job in narrating this book.
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
May 13, 2017
As far as it goes, this is a very thoroughly described true crime case. I'd say it's one of King's best. This happened more than 10 years ago, however,
so I wish more had been included about what has transpired during the past decade. Other than that, this is a very compelling true crime story. And J.
Scott Bennett performs quite well.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
so I wish more had been included about what has transpired during the past decade. Other than that, this is a very compelling true crime story. And J.
Scott Bennett performs quite well.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
March 28, 2012
Nothing more than facts of the case. I usually like KING but, this book was very bad for him.
May 15, 2018
Obviously there were break downs in the system that let this maniac out! Sad that there were people that had to pay the ultimate price due to this monster's actions!
May 15, 2017
( Format : Audiobook )
"Without forgiveness there is only insanity.""
J.Scott Bennett assumes a gentle country accent to narrate the remarkable and very harrowing story of Joseph Edward Duncan III and his planned entry into a family home where he bludgeoned to death two adults and a teenage boy and abducted two young children, a boy and a girl, to physically and sexually abuse them. That this is, in fact, a true story which made headline news at the time, makes it all the more terrifying.
Duncan, by his own boasting admission, was already a serial rapist by his mid teens. Convicted at 16 of raping a boy at gunpoint, he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment but served only 14 before being released to continue to rape and kill, and eventually move to Idaho where this particular criminal attack took place. The hunt for the missing children was bungled from the beginning and only Duncan's apparent disregard for being spotted enabled his capture. The account of the investigation, the people involved, of Duncan himself and his very strange outlook on life (he even kept a regular web blog), the legal implications and the after arrest circumstances, are all documented in a non dramatic, newsworthy way, telling the facts without dwelling on the gore. This in no way negates the horror of it all, however. Throughout, J.Scott Bennet reads clearly, impeccably and with understanding, enhancing the text with his beautifully modulated voice, always staying true to the text by not over dramatising. An outstanding performance.
The story is not finished, cannot be whilst Duncan and one survivor continue to live, and whilst legal debates over what to do with inveterate disregarders of acceptable behaviour continue. The man was certainly different. But was he mad? This book is a must for all true crime officianados. It doesn't titillate but is shocking and it makes the listener think. Highly recommended.
"Without forgiveness there is only insanity.""
J.Scott Bennett assumes a gentle country accent to narrate the remarkable and very harrowing story of Joseph Edward Duncan III and his planned entry into a family home where he bludgeoned to death two adults and a teenage boy and abducted two young children, a boy and a girl, to physically and sexually abuse them. That this is, in fact, a true story which made headline news at the time, makes it all the more terrifying.
Duncan, by his own boasting admission, was already a serial rapist by his mid teens. Convicted at 16 of raping a boy at gunpoint, he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment but served only 14 before being released to continue to rape and kill, and eventually move to Idaho where this particular criminal attack took place. The hunt for the missing children was bungled from the beginning and only Duncan's apparent disregard for being spotted enabled his capture. The account of the investigation, the people involved, of Duncan himself and his very strange outlook on life (he even kept a regular web blog), the legal implications and the after arrest circumstances, are all documented in a non dramatic, newsworthy way, telling the facts without dwelling on the gore. This in no way negates the horror of it all, however. Throughout, J.Scott Bennet reads clearly, impeccably and with understanding, enhancing the text with his beautifully modulated voice, always staying true to the text by not over dramatising. An outstanding performance.
The story is not finished, cannot be whilst Duncan and one survivor continue to live, and whilst legal debates over what to do with inveterate disregarders of acceptable behaviour continue. The man was certainly different. But was he mad? This book is a must for all true crime officianados. It doesn't titillate but is shocking and it makes the listener think. Highly recommended.
May 19, 2017
This is a strange book. It's a factual documentation of the kidnapping of two kids in Idaho and commentary from family, news reports, law enforcement and the criminals blogs and journals. Then all of a sudden three-quarters of the way through it starts talking about someone else, Mullen, who was a killer of pedophiles, which, while had attachments to the idea of the crimes that Joe Duncan committed, had nothing to do with the crime itself.
I actually agreed to listen to this in exchange for a review thinking that this was a novelization of the facts surrounding the events of the kidnapping of Shasta and Dylan Groene and the murder of other members of the family. Instead this just seems to be a compilation of documents and the facts surrounding the case, causing it to be confusing and disjointed. This could just be due to my pre-conception of the book.
As a compilation of documents of the facts of the crime at times the book was repetitive; a combination of first hand accounts from interviews of the criminal, victim, and witnesses and other people involved in the crime and subsequent hunt for Shasta and Joe Duncan as well as wandering into other cases that may or may not have been perpetrated by Duncan, as well as commentary on the laws surrounding sexual assaults, sexual predators, and even the helpfulness of the Amber Alert System.
So, I have to say I was disappointed with this, as I was expecting more of a book along the lines of James Patterson, Lisa Jackson, or Lisa Gardner while revealing the case against Joseph Duncan. Again, this is my fault.
I in no way wish to trivialize the crime or the pain this man caused to his victims and their families. This review was based on my misconception as too what the book was going to be.
I actually agreed to listen to this in exchange for a review thinking that this was a novelization of the facts surrounding the events of the kidnapping of Shasta and Dylan Groene and the murder of other members of the family. Instead this just seems to be a compilation of documents and the facts surrounding the case, causing it to be confusing and disjointed. This could just be due to my pre-conception of the book.
As a compilation of documents of the facts of the crime at times the book was repetitive; a combination of first hand accounts from interviews of the criminal, victim, and witnesses and other people involved in the crime and subsequent hunt for Shasta and Joe Duncan as well as wandering into other cases that may or may not have been perpetrated by Duncan, as well as commentary on the laws surrounding sexual assaults, sexual predators, and even the helpfulness of the Amber Alert System.
So, I have to say I was disappointed with this, as I was expecting more of a book along the lines of James Patterson, Lisa Jackson, or Lisa Gardner while revealing the case against Joseph Duncan. Again, this is my fault.
I in no way wish to trivialize the crime or the pain this man caused to his victims and their families. This review was based on my misconception as too what the book was going to be.
April 28, 2022
Well-written I would recommend.
Informative, for sure. Can't believe that they think the $25k is enough to help someone recover. What she must have gone through. Watching him kill her Brother, the he cuts him up in pieces and makes her the pieces into the fire. That is so seriously disturbing. We have to recognize that these monsters are not going to change. They don't deserve release, ever.
Informative, for sure. Can't believe that they think the $25k is enough to help someone recover. What she must have gone through. Watching him kill her Brother, the he cuts him up in pieces and makes her the pieces into the fire. That is so seriously disturbing. We have to recognize that these monsters are not going to change. They don't deserve release, ever.
May 27, 2017
Stolen in the Night by Gary C. King was a good but terrifying read. This book followed the true story of the murder of a family and the subsequent kid napping of the two young children. Joseph Duncan is a truly evil person who should have never been on the loose after torturing and raping a 14 year old boy.
September 5, 2024
Good read!
I followed this story back when it happened. The whole thing was horrendous. I always wondered if there would be a book about it and nearly 20 years after the fact I found out this one was written.
I followed this story back when it happened. The whole thing was horrendous. I always wondered if there would be a book about it and nearly 20 years after the fact I found out this one was written.
October 20, 2025
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as STOLEN IN THE NIGHT, but I did like the aspect of everything the Idaho legislature failed to do to protect children because they didn’t think it was worth one cent, even after the Groene murders.
March 13, 2026
The case itself is an interesting one. I wish the book would have dug deeper and given us more details. It was just basically a bunch of facts and quotes shoved together. Also in the middle there was a random non connected story which was weird.
May 23, 2018
Very boring to read. So much unimportant info and not mug about what actually went on
April 21, 2021
This book takes place close to my home. It was frightening then and it is still frightening. Parts of the book are redundant but it is full of info for parents and grandparents. A horrible man.
September 15, 2024
Interesting story, written badly.
December 12, 2025
Stolen in the night
Such a tragic event. Such an intense read. How there aren't more intense laws. I don't get it. Cage them
Such a tragic event. Such an intense read. How there aren't more intense laws. I don't get it. Cage them
May 8, 2014
I was intrigued by this story from the very first page. While I am already a sucker for true crime stories, Gary King's writing is ideal for telling the story in an interesting way. I didn't feel like I was reading a monotonous police report, I was actively involved in the story and couldn't wait to read more. However, if the idea of children being victimized churns your stomach, I don't suggest you read about this particular true crime. Being a fan of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, these kids of stories don't really bother me so I was eager to finish the story. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good true crime story, I am sure you won't be disappointed.
August 31, 2011
Stolen in the Night is the true story of the kidnapping of Shasta and Dylan Groene and the events surrounding the kidnapping, but it also includes pertinent information about the kidnapper, such as past crimes against children.
I picked up the book because I was curious about how Shasta and her father, Steve Groene, were doing in the years after the ordeal. I was a bit disappointed in that regard. Aside from learning that Steve developed throat cancer, I didn't really learn much, although I understand that Shasta and Steve might want their privacy.
I picked up the book because I was curious about how Shasta and her father, Steve Groene, were doing in the years after the ordeal. I was a bit disappointed in that regard. Aside from learning that Steve developed throat cancer, I didn't really learn much, although I understand that Shasta and Steve might want their privacy.
November 19, 2009
Read in 2009
June 27, 2012
great book well from what i see
July 19, 2017
Good detail and thorough. Easy to read.
September 27, 2021
Heartbreaking, disturbing, shocking, the first book I read and explained how a monster could kidnap innocent children, unputdownable
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