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Out of the Woods

A Girl, a Killer, and a Lifelong Struggle to Find the Way Home

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Out of the Woods

Written by: Gregg Olsen
Narrated by: Karen Peakes
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From a girl’s abduction by a serial killer to the harrowing aftermath—a gripping and heart-wrenching true-crime story by Gregg Olsen, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of If You Tell.

In May 2005, authorities discovered the Groene family murdered in their Idaho home. The family’s youngest members—eight-year-old Shasta and her brother, nine-year-old Dylan—were nowhere to be found.

As a community prayed for their return, Shasta and Dylan were already miles away in the woods of Montana at the hands of serial killer Joseph Edward Duncan. After a harrowing forty-eight day ordeal, Shasta was rescued. In many ways, her survival story was only beginning.

In the following years, while Shasta struggled to outrun her trauma, a pattern of self-destructive behavior shadowed her like an ever-worsening thunderstorm. She still had hope buried deep inside. Every bit as much as the little girl who had been held captive in the woods. This would be an all-new battle for Shasta. And she was determined not to lose.

Out of the Woods is the haunting and intimate true-crime story of one of the most notorious criminal cases in American history—and a young woman’s journey to reclaim her life in its wake.

© 2025 by Gregg Olsen. ℗ 2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

 Murder Sexual Crimes & Assault True Crime Crime Disappearance Exciting Montana
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What the critics say

“Olsen, a prolific and popular author of multiple true-crime books and fictional mysteries, became close to his subject over several years. His chief concern here is to tell the story of the therapeutic work Shasta did to try to find her way “out of the woods” of her trauma. He weaves that somewhat hopeful story together with the nauseatingly disturbing details of the crime, each parallel path unfolding through the book, dropping hints along the way of ever worse revelations to come.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Novelist and true crime author Olsen (The Amish Wife) paints a heartbreaking portrait of a woman haunted by her narrow escape from a serial killer…As in Olsen’s previous works of nonfiction, there’s plenty of rigorous research on display, but it’s his empathetic consideration of what happens to high-profile victims after news cameras stop rolling that sets this apart…It’s moving stuff.” —Publishers Weekly

“Prolific true-crime author Olsen offers another exemplary narrative of unimaginable trauma that packs an emotional punch.” —Booklist
All stars
Most Relevant
Very well written and narrated story. Scary to think these manipulative sociopaths live among us. This story is both heartbreaking and tragic.

Great listen

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Please don't read this book if you're unprepared for some disturbingly graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse. (I simply skipped the most horrific parts -- and they are HORRIFIC). I read this book to understand how Shasta Groen was able to survive the unfathomable trauma of her ordeal with her captor. The book is very honest about her problems after being rescued -- drug abuse, addiction, troubled relationship with her father, etc -- but despite it all, Shasta is still standing. I am deeply impressed by this young woman's determination to live her best life, even when she stumbles. A very inspiring story of survival.

Not for the faint of heart

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This true story sent me on an emotional roller coaster and it will stick with me. I’m so glad she got to tell her story through this book and hopefully really open people’s eyes on these types of offenders. The author definitely did not hold back or sugar coat the horrible things this child went through so be ready.

Well written!!

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Fast forwarded thru it’s entirety trying to skip the child the constant description of child molestation l. Very disturbing book. Do nit recommend

Not interested in descriptive child molestation

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