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A Beautiful Child
by
Matt Birkbeck (Goodreads Author)
Sharon Marshall was a brilliant and beautiful student whose future was filled with promise. But her murderous, fugitive father had drawn her into a lifetime of deception that became one of the most baffling cases in the annals of American crime.
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
August 2nd 2005
by Berkley
(first published 2004)
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I find true crime books interesting to read once in awhile. The same way that I found my "social deviance" psychology class in college very interesting. To see how the brain can go so horribly wrong as a result of genetic anomaly (or more often as a result of abusive upbringing) is fascinating (while still sad and tragic.) Any way, true crime isn't a category of book that I would buy new or keep for my bookcase, but once and awhile I see one at a 2nd hand store or a thrift store and pick it up....more
Say your best friend is beautiful, smart and popular. But then you find out that her dad is crazy (like he bursts in the room during your sleepover brandishing a gun). You stay friends, but you know something's very wrong with her home life.
Imagine years later, you find out you didn't have an inkling of how bad it really was.
A Beautiful Child presents a true case of deception, murder and abuse that proves the adage truth is stranger than fiction.
It starts with the death of a young woman an...more
This is the story off a young girl who was abducted by a man (or she was given to him by her father) when she was about four to six years old. She was a beautiful child even then, but she managed to be an exceptional student who received a scholarship to Georgia Tech and a stunningly beautiful young woman. She wanted to be an astronaut and it appears as if she would have achieved that goal had she been allowed to. Instead, her father put her in stripper bars and basically became her pimp. Eventu...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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How has a true crime fanatic like me never heard of this case???? Shouldn't it have been on a special 2 hour Dateline? Or an Investigation Discovery special? This book is about an all American girl with a dark past who leaves behind an ongoing mystery. I don't want to say too much about it because it may ruin for you. If you're such a true crime fanatic that spending 5 hours at the National Museum of Crime and Punishment in DC was pretty much the best day of your life (I will admit this and I am...more
This book is hard to rate for me! Michael Anthony Hughes was my foster brother!! I named my first child after him! Seeing his story unfold in print was a difficult thing to read. I knew he had been through a lot and I knew a little about how he came to be a foster child but to read about the things that I didn't know was heartbreaking.
For years I would look into the eyes of little boys wondering if they could be my Michael. 15 years later I still think about him often and I hope he knows how m...more
For years I would look into the eyes of little boys wondering if they could be my Michael. 15 years later I still think about him often and I hope he knows how m...more
3 likes · like · see review
This is a pretty fast review. I was in a foul mood when I started this book and it did take my mind off my troubles for a bit, so there's that.
I was hoping for something more like Anne Rule's writing, but this was more procedural, so it's probably good if that is what you are looking for. It's not too graphic, but I missed Rule's detail to attention and minutia, which is what I think I like about her books.
Probably worth the $8 from B&N and a fast read. I started it about 10 am and was finis...more
I was hoping for something more like Anne Rule's writing, but this was more procedural, so it's probably good if that is what you are looking for. It's not too graphic, but I missed Rule's detail to attention and minutia, which is what I think I like about her books.
Probably worth the $8 from B&N and a fast read. I started it about 10 am and was finis...more
Conociendo mi afición por la serie de televisión Crímenes imperfectos, y en concreto por su narrador en español, un amigo me recomendó esta lectura. “No hay traducción”, me advirtió, “pero si lo lees pensando en la voz que tanto te gusta seguro que lo disfrutas”. Por si a alguien no le suena, es esa voz que empieza todos los capítulos con algo parecido a esto: “Anchorage, 1985. Mientras todos en la pequeña comunidad celebran el día de la Marmota, el coche de Mary Brunheimer, dependiente de un su...more
I cannot believe that a child can go missing and no one ever reports it. More so I am sickened that this child/woman felt that she could not tell anyone of what her life was...which was a living hell. The author did a great job in getting all the facts together in a way that was easy to follow. I hope this case is solved one day. She {Sharon/Tonya?} deserves more than a grave in an obscure area that will soon be just another among the unknown.
This was one of the most twisted true crime books I've ever read, and one of the saddest. It wasn't that the writing was so fantastic on its own--though it was just fine--in my opinion, it was the combination of the writing, the facts of the case, and the people who shared their recollections with the author. I thought the extra background material was important since this cold case had to reconstruct everything from the memory of others. I want to believe nothing like this could happen today, b...more
Mar 21, 2010
*•.♥.•*Sabrina Rutter*•.♥.•*
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
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This is one of the best written true crime books I have ever read! Birkbeck didn't just sit at his computer and let information flow to him, he went out and did his own research and interviews. Given the quality of writing and detail I would say Sharon Marshall's story effected him the way it effected all those involved with the Floyd investigation. It's a heartbreaking mystery that's impossible to not leave a lasting impression.
Sharon's story leaves so many asking how, why, who, and where. I my...more
Sharon's story leaves so many asking how, why, who, and where. I my...more
This book was very well written. It almost came off as fiction! That really grabbed me because every time I though, "what great character development," I reminded myself that this is a true story. I can't believe some times just how much the bad guys can get away with.
Anyone who wants to get a glimpse into how the missing children system in the US has progressed over the years should read this book.
Anyone who wants to get a glimpse into how the missing children system in the US has progressed over the years should read this book.
800,000 children disappear every year. Some are runaways. Some throwaways. Some are abducted. Matt Birkbeck researched one of these children who were abducted and abused and finally murdered along with her young son. If it were not for a few caring investigators who pursued the case, her harrowing story would not have been told. It is a reminder to all of us that there are sick, evil slick people living in our world. Sometimes nearby.
This book was interesting, but all over the place. It jumped around a lot. I was disappointment to know that they never found out who Sharon really was. It's kinda sad that our system lacks so much stuff that a child could be kidnapped and live an entire different life and no one ever finds out the true identity of the child. Our system, as shown in this book, still has a lot of work to do!
Mar 01, 2010
Alyssa Cannata
added it
a very compelling book about a women who was abused by the man who kidnaped her a women with out a real name and face who endured so much. in her life until her death. she left behind so many questions who was she. dna test done on several missing children from the 70s all have come back as negative on her. someone somewhere knows who she is.
This was a brilliant book. The author did a wonderful job. There were a lot of names and characters to remember. Some might say the story jumped around a lot. This is a book I would like to read again. Unfortunately, this was a true story and the ending was not the way we all would hope. I do think this was a great read and do recommend this book to everyone!!
Well written book portraying a disturbing crime which took place over more than 20 years ... more notoriety is needed for the way this young woman was exploited through out her life by a man who apparently kidnapped her at a very young age... and authorities appear uninterested in discovering the whole story.
Jan 30, 2013
Jill Glancy
added it
Ok, the story itself was mesmerizing. The inner strength this girl had [given her past] was remarkable. Almost unbelievable, yet it's all true.
I wish the ending had revealed more but hopefully, one day, her story will surface.
I hadn't read a "complete" book in over a year and I knocked this one out in less than a week. It definately held my attention.
I wish the ending had revealed more but hopefully, one day, her story will surface.
I hadn't read a "complete" book in over a year and I knocked this one out in less than a week. It definately held my attention.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Quite a bit of horror, but unless we are aware of people in the world, with this hideous personality how can we protect our families from getting involved. We must be ever vigilant and know what is happening in the world. It is sad that so much cruelty happened.
Wow! I cried. I'm mom now so I felt this heart pain for this girl. And this happening to her and still with all her accomplishments, wow! If she had lived she longer I'm sure she would of been something bigger than life.
This true crime story is so sad. I was able to identify with it because Mr. Floyd started out living in my hometown and I could picture some of the places mentioned. My heart went out to the two children.
What a sad story more poignant and maddening because it is true--a stolen child leading a hellish life with her kidnapper and abuser, yet she had so many hopes and aspirations and didn't give up. Bringing her killer to justice and trying to find out who she was kept me reading the book. The author's heart was in the story but towards the end the writing was repetitious. It's still saddens me that the writer never found out who she was stolen from and who missed her. It's still a mystery and a ca...more
This was a fascinating, impossible to put down, and very sad account of a kidnapper and his relationship with a missing child. Thanks to Dana Yelen for the recommendation. It was a very enjoyable read!
I knew this woman, her son who was nicknamed Pookie, and the monster that ended up murdering them both. Such a very sad story. Hard to believe it really happened.
This story is so heartbreaking but amazing at how strong a person could be, and what they are willing to go through to live life. Amazing story!
like mentioned before here:
this book is one of the most twisted true crime books I've ever read, and one of the saddest.
this book is one of the most twisted true crime books I've ever read, and one of the saddest.
I read this book two weeks ago and I'm still thinking about it. It's the true story of a young woman who doesn't appeare to be what she says she is. That's all I can say without giving it away. It's an incredible story and a very, very good read. It's the kind of book that you won't put down. The author: Matt Birkbeck, is an investigative journalist and he does a remarkable job sorting out all the twists and turns and putting it into one cohesive storyline. It's a very disturbing story, but unfo...more
I love true crime books and this one did not disappoint. Very well written and researched, this story is incredibly astounding and heartbreaking.
Dec 02, 2008
Michelle
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
oooya
Recommended to Michelle by:
true crime fans
I have read it three times, and would read it again if people would give it back. The true crime book I ever read!!!!!!
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Matt Birkbeck is an award-winning investigative journalist and critically acclaimed author. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Reader's Digest, Boston Magazine and the Philadelphia Inquirer. He is the author of "Deconstructing Sammy," the 2008 page-turner on the life and death of Sammy Davis Jr. which the New York Times called "Sensational," and "A Beautiful Child," the he...more
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Nov 16, 2012 10:37pm