book review of kidnapped

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1001 Book Review: Kidnapped Robert Louis Stevenson

It’s been a while since we’ve reviewed a classic so today Book Worm and I are going back in time to review and old classic that happens to be on the 1001 list of books to read before you die: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. Next monday we’ll be posting our top ten list of books published in 2016. Keep reading to see what we thought of Kidnapped.

Kidnapped  by Robert Louis Stevenson Published in: 1886 Reviewed by: Book Worm  and Jen Find it here:  Kidnapped

Synopsis from Amazon:  Kidnapped is an historical fiction adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, written as a “boys’ novel” and first published in the magazine Young Folks from May to July 1886. The novel has attracted the praise and admiration of writers as diverse as Henry James, Jorge Luis Borges, and Hilary Mantel. A sequel, Catriona, was published in 1893. Kidnapped is set around 18th-century Scottish events, notably the “Appin Murder”, which occurred near Ballachulish in 1752 in the aftermath of the Jacobite rising of 1745; Many of the characters were real people, including one of the principals, Alan Breck Stewart. The political situation of the time is portrayed from multiple viewpoints, and the Scottish Highlanders are treated sympathetically.

Book Worm’s Thoughts: I have given this 4 stars based on my own enjoyment and on the fact that I am not the target audience. This book is all about the adventures of David, an orphan whose scheming uncle arranges for his kidnap onboard a ship bound for the Carolinas. Things take a dramatic turn when the ship hits a smaller boat and the survivor of this encounter, Alan, is bought onboard.

Alan and David form an unlikely alliance and end up on the run together through the Scottish highlands, escaping from Alan’s political enemies and aiming to outwit David’s uncle. During their journey the pair face many hardships and find their friendship tested to the limit, however they remain loyal to each other.

I really enjoyed the pure escapism of this novel. It is an adventure story and the action is pretty much constant. It did what a book should do — transport you to another time and place. It may be seen as a simple narrative, but I think that is a strength and not a weakness. I would recommend this to those who enjoy adventure stories and those who need some escape from the real world.

Jen’s Thoughts : Unlike Book Worm, I did not particularly enjoy this book but I gave it 3 stars because Stevenson is a good writer.  I’ve liked Stevenson’s other books but found myself yawning and eye-rolling fairly frequently during this novel. I had read this book as a child and remember enjoying it more back then.Unfortunately, this time around I found my mind wandering. I listened to the audio so that may have impacted my enjoyment. I found it rather simplistic and thought the plot fairly absurd. I didn’t feel emotionally invested in the fate of David and I felt annoyed at the somewhat meandering plot to finally get to the point where David returns to his uncle.

I do think it will appeal to readers who like classic adventure tales (not my favorite genre). It feels very much a masculine read and I think it will appeal more to male readers.

Want to try it for yourself? You can find a copy here: Kidnapped

We want to hear from you! Have you read this book? What did you think? Who do you agree with? Did you find it an enjoyable adventure story or were you bored?

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I read this when I was in junior high, and remember liking it. I prefer Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the first because I read it to my sons, and the second because it was so much more than a horror story. Stevenson was a master of creating characters and building excitement!

Ive been reading the other Stevenson classic, Treasure Island, and discovering there is a lot more to it than I realised when I read it as a child. The historical context is interesting – apparently both books were written at a time where there was widespread concern in the UK that boys were reading the wrong kind of material – stuff in the penny dreadful magazines that wasn’t going to prepare them to be the leaders of the British Empire. Stevenson’s books were more acceptable yet still had the adventurous element that boys loved …..

this story is marvelous and even knowledgeable.

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Jen’s Rating system

★ Hated it & no redeeming additional qualities noted. Recommend avoiding it. ★★ Disliked it, may have 1 redeeming quality (writing style, novelty, etc). ★★★ Liked it or may have a few interesting qualities. ★★★★ Really liked it & it has at least a couple interesting qualities. ★★★★★ Loved almost everything about it. Only a few, if any, minor limitations noted.

Book Worm’s rating system

★ Bah I really hated this would not even pass this to my worst enemy ★★ I really didn't like this but would consider giving it to my worst enemy for vengeful purposes ★★★ this was an enjoyable way to pass the time not great not horrendous ★★★★ really enjoyed this book there was something about it that made me think ★★★★★ wow I loved this book I am now out recommending it to all my friends, will keep to re read even though I have banned re reads

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Book Review: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

“Kidnapped” by Robert Louis Stevenson is a book I’ve got a nostalgic fondness for – despite never having read it until very recently.

I’ve always been a fan of “adventure” novels. When I was little, I used to live on a diet of cosy Enid Blyton tales about precocious children and various animal companions, before graduating to Willard Price’s “Adventure” series, set in exotic climes all across the world.

Jolly good 1950s fun all round!

But there was one story above all that fascinated me. Thing is, I’d only read one paragraph of it. (During a typing exercise, of all things.)

This paragraph was so enthralling that I had to get myself a copy of “Kidnapped”.

It was the betrayal of my young life when I didn’t enjoy it one bit. I gave up a few chapters in.

However, over the years I’ve read other things by Robert Louis Stevenson. I particularly enjoyed his short gothic tales, such as “The Body Snatcher” (inspired by Burke and Hare) and the curious vampire tale “Olalla”.

So, I finally decided to revisit “Kidnapped”.

The beginning of a swashbuckling adventure . . .

The novel opens with David Balfour, setting off on a journey to his family’s ancestral home at Cramond, just outside of Edinburgh. The House of Shaws and its lone inhabitant, Uncle Ebenezer, are odd and unwelcoming – as you might expect!

Davie soon begins to get the distinct impression that his uncle is plotting against him. Sure enough, after a bit of nefarious trickery, he finds himself unwittingly taken to sea on board the Covenant , with its rag-tag crew of miscreants.

Luckily for David, the next accidental acquisition to the crew is the Jacobite Alan Breck Stewart. He’s taken aboard after the Covenant mistakenly sinks his ship.

Together, Alan and David over turn a murder plot, and embark on a series of swashbuckling adventures together, as their journey leads them back across Scotland – as both men have scores to settle.

The novel surprised me from the get-go

The novel surprised me from the get-go. I’d remembered the novel as being too dry and Victorian for my youthful tastes. This time around, I found the book drew me in completely.

Not only did Stevenson’s descriptions of the landscapes around the city of Edinburgh strike a chord with me, the book actually had me chuckling to myself with its observations about people that still ring true, over a hundred years later.

Touches of Scots dialect here and there, as well as banter between the characters really brought the book to life for me.

The star of the show is, perhaps unsurprisingly, sword-slinging hero Alan Breck. His martial prowess is matched by his quick wit, and his confidence in his own abilities. (It takes a certain sort of person to get into a bagpipe duel, after all . . .)

The action scenes were flashy and well-paced. I was disarmed, in a good way, by how enjoyable this novel turned out to be.

It may not have been a creepy, dark story about Spanish vampires, or grave-robbing doctors, but it got me thinking.

Whilst “Kidnapped” and “Treasure Island” are both brilliant tales, I found more to enjoy about them now than I ever did when I was younger!

How unfair it is that some still regard Stevenson and his adventures as being just “for children”.

Why should they get all the fun?

For more book reviews from “The People’s Friend”, click here .

Kirsty Souter

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by Robert Louis Stevenson

• Kidnapped Summary

The first person narrator, David Balfour , begins the novel by introducing his journey from his home, Essendean, in 1751. He walks with the minister of Essendean, Mr. Campbell, for some of the way. David feels that with his parents dead, it is the time to move on. David's father had asked the minister to deliver a letter to his son. With the letter, David can travel to the Shaws, once home to his father. David never knew that his poor father was related to such a high family. The minister tells David to continue studying the Bible and gives David four gifts: money for his father's books, a Bible, a shilling, and a recipe. The latter three have symbolic meaning. Mr. Campbell hurries away because of his sadness regarding David's departure.

When David arrived at the Shaws, an old man peered out with a gun. David told the man that he had a letter of introduction. After hearing David's last name and a great pause, the man asked if David's father was dead. The old man answered his own question and reluctantly let the boy in. David was surprised to learn that this old man was his uncle. Ebenezer led the boy to a bedroom. The darkness was overwhelming but Ebenezer refused to find a light. In morning, David had to bang to be let out. The old man seemed very miserly. During breakfast, Ebenezer told the boy that he would find employment for him. David said that he had not willfully sought his uncle. David remembered the people who warned him against Ebenezer and told his uncle about one. Angered, Ebenezer started to leave, telling David that he would have to wait outside. David refused. Finally Ebenezer decided not to leave.

The old man told David that he had promised David's father that he would save the boy money. In return, his uncle asked for help. David was told about an unfinished tower of the house. At the top of a staircase was a chest the old man wanted. David tried climbing the stairs until a flash of lightening came, displaying to David that the walls were not finished and the stairs were of different lengths. Angered, he continued to climb. He came to a spot where the stairs completely stopped. His uncle had sent him to die. Inside, David snuck up behind his uncle. The man fell in shock. Seeing that his uncle was not breathing, David splashed water on his face. Ebenezer promised to explain in the morning so David locked him in his bedroom for the night.

David was confident that he had the upper hand. The next morning, David asked Ebenezer to explain. Before he could, a small boy named Ransome arrived with a message for Ebenezer. Captain Hoseason wished to see him, giving he and David a chance to visit Ebenezer's lawyer who could verify Ebenezer's position. David felt he would be safe in town. David talked to the boy and learned of the tortuous life aboard the ship. Spying the boat, Covenant in the distance, David told Ebenezer that he never step on board the ship. Ebenezer agreed. Ebenezer met with Captain Hoseason but David decided he would rather see the ocean than listen. At the inn, David learned that his father had been the older brother, meaning that the Shaws legally belonged to David. Finding Ebenezer and the Captain outside, Hoseason invited David to board the ship. Hesitant, David declined but the Captain whispered in his ear that the old man was working mischief. David agreed to come aboard. As they approached the ship, Hoseason thrust David on board. Suddenly, David noticed that his uncle was retreating to the shore. David yelled for help but was knocked unconscious.

David awoke in the dark underbelly of the ship. He hoped for death. Finally, a man, Mr. Riach , tried to feed him but David could not eat. The next time he came, Riach addressed Hoseason with reproach regarding the boy's condition. Hoseason seemed unconcerned. Riach, defiantly freed David and brought him to the forecastle. Daylight shone in and other men were often present. David spent some time with Ransome who could not believe the stories David would tell him. The Covenant moved toward the Carolinas where David was to be sold as a slave. After hearing David's story, Riach promised to help.

One day, Hoseason commanded that David change jobs with Ransome. David quickly ran to the round-house. Mr. Shuan sat, staring blankly. Hoseason demanded to know if Shuan realized he had killed the boy. Shuan exclaimed that Ransome had brought him a dirty container. Hoseason told them to never speak of the murder. After this night, David served meals to the three men. The work gave him less time to be discouraged. A week of terrible weather passed. One night, the ship struck another boat. Only one man, Alan Stewart, survived. Alan revealed a belt of guineas. He offered Hoseason thirty guineas if he was let off seaside and sixty if dropped at Linnhe Loch. Finally, the Captain agreed on sixty. David overheard the three officers planning to mug the new man. He rushed back to tell the man what he had heard. David did not wish to witness another murder. They prepared for an ambush.

Hoseason entered the round-house. Alan drew his sword. The Captain was surprised and left. Suddenly the men entered the room, led by Mr. Shuan who attacked Alan. Alan gave him a killing blow. Men rushed past, forcing David to shoot. They scurried back to the deck. David became fearful now that he had witnessed a killing. Soon the men came again. As a man jumped through the skylight, David nervously drew his pistol. The man grabbed David which forced him to shoot into the man. Alan was surrounded by men but managed to kill three and injured most of the others. Alan and David were victorious!

When morning came, Alan gave David one of the silver buttons on his coat. Hoseason told Alan that the ship was very difficult to maneuver without Shuan. Alan still demanded to be let off in his own land and suggested to Hoseason a large stretch of shore which would be easier to navigate. Hoseason asked for money. Alan agreed to his old proposition. Finally, with an exchange of brandy for water, the deal was done. The ship's course was decided by Hoseason who feared that the boat may be too large to navigate between the smaller isles. Alan and David sat pleasantly in the round-house and told their stories. The name of David's minister worried Alan since the Campbells were his worst enemy. Alan had deserted the English army and joined the Jacobites in 1746. King George demanded rent from the Highlands he had conquered and was aided by Colin Campbell , who was left in charge of the area. Alan's clan chief, Ardshiel, had to flee to France. The people of Appin continued to send him rent in addition to paying King George's rent. David thought this noble. Alan helped transport the rent from one side of the English Channel to the other.

Late one night, Hoseason pleaded with Alan to steer the ship. Alan took the reins. Suddenly, a fountain of water spurted high, caused by water breaking on a reef. Hoseason pointed to the fountains spurting up all around the ship. Safe navigation seemed nearly impossible. Hoseason cared more about the ship, David observed, than he had about Ransome. Riach screamed to the men on deck just as the tide hit the ship sharply. The Captain stood motionless. A great swell came and David was pushed into the sea. Finally, David came to in calmer water. With his little swimming experience, he did not reach the shore for over an hour.

David trekked to the top of a nearby hill but could not see any sails. It began to rain. Discouraged, David came to a creek which was too deep to cross. He ran back to the shore to find the spar but it was far out at sea. David wept. The snails he ate often made him ill. The next day, David traveled to the other side of the island but found no one. Loneliness set over him. By midday of the third day, the sun came out. David noticed a ship. Exuberantly, he shouted but the men only laughed. The next day, the ship miraculously returned. Straining to understand the crew, David caught the English word "tide" and realized that the island was connected to land during low tide. He ran to the creek he had found earlier and waded across to the main island.

David came upon a small residence where an old man gave him a message to meet Alan in Torosay. The next night, David reached a small house but was refused entrance until he offered money. The house owner then began speaking Scottish and agreed to lead him to Torosay. Due to stopping and drinking, his guide was often incapacitated. Soon, the man demanded more money, taking out a knife when David refused his second request. David overpower him and continued alone until he met a blind man who professed that he could guide David. When David would not succumb to his tricks, the old man too wandered off cursing. David took a ferry from Torosay to Kinlochaline. David recognized the boat skipper's last name, Macrob, as one of Alan's clan and offered him money for information. Macrob was deeply offended. David then showed him Alan's silver button which Macrob recognized. He gave David a route to follow. The next morning, David met another catechist, Mr. Henderland . Being from the south, the catechist and David got along well. David told him much of his story, leaving out Alan's name. Henderland told him about Alan, Ardshiel, and Red Fox. Henderland was kind enough to bring David back to his dwelling for the evening.

The next morning, Henderland arranged for a man to bring David to Appin. Red coats were spotted moving in. On land, David wondered why he was risking his life for a rebel. Suddenly, he heard men coming down the trail and decided to continue. The leading man was Red Fox. David asked for directions to Aucharn. While they were speaking, a single shot hit Red Fox. He quickly died. David sprang up the hill, yelling after the murderer. The Sheriff's men called for David, claiming he was an accomplice. Men hiding in the bush pulled David inside. There, he saw Alan Stewart, who helped them escape danger. David told Alan that they must part company. He did not wish to be near a man who either participated in or committed a murder. By describing how foolish it would be for Alan to take part in a murder, Alan convinced David that he had no part in the crime. Alan explained to David the danger he was in. David was skeptical but was finally persuaded to follow Alan. While walking, David learned of the events following his capsize. Water poured into the ship. The able bodied men paddled to shore in a small boat. On shore, Hoseason demanded they ambush Alan but Riach defended him and Alan got away.

When it grew dark, the two approached the house of James Stewart of the Glens. James mentioned that the murder would likely be pinned on him. They were burying weapons and burning documents. David changed into better clothing and they were given provisions. James would have to create wanted posters for Alan and David. Alan cried that he was acting like a traitor to David. David thought they should make posters of the man who had committed the crime but the Highlanders gasped so David gave up. Mrs. Stewart thanked them graciously. During the night, they moved quickly. When the sun rose, they were in a valley, quite visible. Alan ran on, leaping across a river. David would only be persuaded after drinking brandy to follow. They climbed up a rock to hide. David slept first. Hours later, David was awakened and noticed the red coats close by. David and Alan were forced to lie flat on the extremely hot rock. Finally, a shadow crept across and allowed the men to slip down. They ran until they reached a river. Much refreshed, they continued. They walked in the dark until they came to a cleft of a great mountain named Corrynakiegh, where they hid in a cave for five days. They could cook the fish and practice sword fighting. Alan contacted a friend to bring them money from James. Three days later, the bouman reappeared with a message from Mrs. Stewart. James was imprisoned. David suggested that Alan change his clothes so he would not match his Wanted poster but Alan refused. The button was returned to David.

Traveling again, they wandered through the mountains and into a misty moor. Alan asked David if he wished to continue or rest. David rationalized that they should keep going. They crept to a bush. Alan gave David a specific time to wake him. David dozed off and missed the soldiers moving in. They ran for the mountain, Ben Alder. David soon became extremely weary. Alan exclaimed that they must reach the mountain and offered to carry David. David kept moving, hating Alan. When day dawned, they stumbled dumbly into an ambush. The men were from the Vourich clan led by Cluny. Two of the men carried David into Ben Alder. Cluny lived in a dwelling called the Cage which was hidden from view. His clansmen still held him as an authority. After a meal, Cluny took out a deck of cards. David said it was not right to play cards. and then fell into a feverish sleep. Cluny and Alan played cards. When Alan asked David for money, he was too ill to refuse. On the third day, David came to his senses. Alan had to admit that he had lost their money. The chief mumbled that he would not keep it. Privately, David asked the chief what he should do. Though angered, Cluny returned the money to David.

David and Alan walked in silence. David was angered by Alan's actions at the Cage and Alan was embarrassed. David thought often of separation. Alan finally apologized, saying he would leave if not wanted. David exclaimed that he had not reproached Alan for his stupidity and should not be criticized for keeping silent. The gillie persuaded them to travel into Campbell territory. David felt increasingly ill as rains fell. He hoped for death but said nothing. Alan grew weary of being apologetic. After Alan began insulting David, David exploded. He challenged Alan to a sword fight. Alan collapsed, refusing to fight. David's anger finally left him and he was honest about his health. Alan ran to his side, apologizing. Though risky, Alan knocked on the door of the first house they found. The house belonged to a Maclaren and David was given a bed. Alan refused to leave although he was in danger. The entire area knew of David's stay, but no one bothered him, except for Robin Oig . Robin wished to see David because he had known a surgeon whose last name was Balfour. David knew nothing about his relatives. Robin rose to leave when Alan walked in. They spoke of dueling. Duncan challenged them, instead, to pipe. Although Alan was forced to concede the victory to Robin, the two played through the night.

In a month, David was well. In Alan's eyes, the hunt for them had likely slackened. If they went directly over the bridge, Alan hoped, they could pass unnoticed. When they reached Stirling Bridge, Alan advised they wait. Later, a small woman crossing was stopped by a guard. David thought it best to cross the river, whereas Alan wanted to cross the sea. Alan persisted. In the morning, they bought cheese and bread from a pretty girl. Lying, Alan told the girl how ill David was and how much they needed to cross the river. The girl finally agreed to help. Late at night, the girl rowed the men over to the opposite shore. She would accept no thank you and paddled quickly back. The next day, they decided that Alan would fend for himself until night. David searched for Mr. Rankeillor but was too embarrassed because of his appearance to ask for directions. He also realized that he had no proof to offer.

Finally, David asked a man for directions. The man was Mr. Rankeillor. Rankeillor allowed David an interview. David stated that he was the rightful heir to the Shaws. Rankeillor noted that David's description fit with what details he knew from Mr. Campbell's visit. Ebenezer had claimed that David had gone to Europe. But, Hoseason returned with stories of David's drowning. David told the story of his adventures, referring to Alan as Mr. Thomson on Rankeillor's suggestion. Rankeillor invited David to dinner and gave him a change of clothes. He also gave David some information on his father and uncle. Ebenezer had been handsome when young. In 1715, he ran off with rebels until he was apprehended by David's father. Back home, the two brothers fell in love with the same woman. David's father was weak and decided to let Ebenezer have the woman, but she did not agree. Both brothers proposed. They bargained. At last, they agreed that Alexander would marry but Ebenezer would take the estate. As a result, David's parents were poor.

Still, the estate did legally belong to David. Rankeillor did not want to take Ebenezer to court since information about David's link to Alan could leak out. David related to Rankeillor his plan. Rankeillor agreed to it. He told and retold David a story about forgetting his glasses. When they neared Alan, Rankeillor realized that he had forgotten his glasses. David understood that his earlier story would allow Rankeillor to claim that he could not identify Alan. Alan agreed to the plan. When they arrived at the Shaws, Ebenezer was likely asleep. Alan knocked on the door while David, Rankeillor, and Rankeillor's clerk, Torrance , hid. Finally, Ebenezer opened a window. When Alan named David, Ebenezer invited Alan inside but Alan refused. Alan told Ebenezer that he was keeping David on the Isle of Mull and that Ebenezer either had to pay for David to be kept or killed. Otherwise, David would return and report the kidnapping. Ebenezer said he was too moral to have David killed. Alan demanded to know what Ebenezer had paid Hoseason. Ebenezer responded that Hoseason was a liar. He had only paid Hoseason twenty pounds. At this, Rankeillor stepped out and they took the old man inside. After consulting with Rankeillor, Ebenezer agreed to pay David two-thirds of the Shaws' yearly.

David wanted to help Alan and James of the Glens. Rankeillor wrote him a letter to the a bank and a lawyer who could represent David to the advocate in the murder case. David and Alan started for Edinburgh. Saddened, they tried discussing their plan. Alan would hide, coming once daily to a chosen spot. David would seek out a lawyer who was an Appin Stewart. David then gave Alan the little money he had and they shook good-bye. David ran to Edinburgh, refusing to look back until Alan was out of sight. The crowd carried him to the door of the lawyer. A narrator ends the story by alerting the reader that both David and Alan handled what was in store for them in the future well enough.

Kidnapped Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Kidnapped is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Who won the battle? Briefly describe the battle.

Alan and David won the battle.

Please check out GradeSaver's summary for Chapter Ten in the Study Guide for additional details about the battle.

How did David come to know that his uncle was his great enemy

I think this is when Campbell reveals to David that he has an uncle, Ebenezer Balfour.

David is led to his father's childhood home where his resentful Uncle Ebenezer first tries to kill him and then has him kidnapped.

Study Guide for Kidnapped

Kidnapped study guide contains a biography of Robert Louis Stevenson, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Kidnapped
• Character List

E-Text of Kidnapped

Kidnapped E-Text contains the full text of Kidnapped

• CHAPTER LIST
• CHAPTER III

Wikipedia Entries for Kidnapped

• Introduction

Book review: “Kidnapped” by Robert Lewis Stevenson

I have a bone to pick with people who want to talk about “young adult” books.  To me, this has more to do with the need of a bookstore, say, or a library to categorize and organize volumes, and less to do with the books themselves and their audience.

Kidnapped, published in 1886 by Robert Lewis Stevenson, is a classic in that category, described as a “boy’s novel” or a “boy’s adventure.” 

It is a proto-“young adult” novel about the kidnapping of an 18-year-old Scottish boy, David Balfour, for sale into slavery in the American colonies.  He undergoes great hardships and threats to his life as he struggles his way back to win his inheritance, meeting several historical figures including the irrepressible Scottish rebel Alan Breck Stewart.  The two spend much of the novel being hunted, and they become close friends.

Kidnapped is a rollicking tale that, yes, has beguiled generations of boys.  Yet, the fact is that girls can find — and have found — the book fascinating.  Adults too.

The late Hilary Mantel, author of esteemed historical fiction, including the immensely popular trilogy of novels centering on the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII, told the Guardian in 2005 that she was enthralled by the Stevenson novel as an eight-year-old.

“It made a lot of sense, when Davie finds himself marooned in the wild country, where the previous rules don’t obtain. I just knew this was what a story should be like. It was the model that was always in my head. Stevenson takes the reader by a short route from one point of suspense to the next. Even as a very small and unsophisticated reader I understood the perils Davie was entering into.”

Henry James was captivated by the book, particularly Alan Breck Stewart whom he described as “the most perfect character in English literature.”   Other adult fans of the book and of Stevenson have included Jorge Luis Borges, Ernest Hemingway and Vladimir Nabokov.

Entertainment and literature

Most novels are written to be entertainment. That’s why there are so many genres or categories, whether young adult or science fiction or thriller.  Readers pick up a genre book for the fun of it — for its ease.  They know what to expect, and they don’t expect to do a lot of heavy-lifting.

Some novels, though, are literature.  They are more challenging and rewarding, seeking to rise above the run-of-the-mill and attempt to create art.

They do this in the way the story is told, i.e., style, language and creativity, and in the psychological depth of the characters and their actions.  The author of a literary novel — it’s odd in a way that there is such a category — eschews the superficial and stereotypical and attempts to get at what makes humans tick.

To call George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four a science-fiction novel is to ignore its literary excellence.  Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice isn’t a romance novel although it’s been the model for two centuries of them. Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment is about a murder but shouldn’t be thought of as a murder mystery.

The same is true, I think, with Kidnapped .

“A clay-faced creature”

For instance, consider the way David Balfour — the narrator of the novel — describes his uncle Ebenezer when first they meet at the family house in Cramond, outside of Edinburgh:

He was a mean, stooping, narrow-shouldered, clay-faced creature; and his age might have been anything between fifty and seventy….He was long unshaved; but what most distressed and even daunted me, he would neither take his eyes away from me or look me fairly in the face.  What he was, whether by trade or birth, was more than I could fathom; but he seemed most like an old, unprofitable serving-man, who should have been left in charge of that big house upon board wages.

As a description, that savors more of Charles Dickens than Robert Ludlum or Ian Fleming.

In most adventure stories, the villain — and Uncle Ebenezer turns out to be a right villain — is introduced in clear, straight-forward language, applied with strong simple brush strokes, identifying him as a bad guy.  Think of the James Bond opponent Doctor Julius No, a reclusive Chinese-German scientist with a Napoleon complex.

Stevenson, by contrast, goes deeper. While suggesting that Uncle Ebenezer has few if any redeeming features, he particularizes the character.  This oldish man is uniquely himself, and his appearance and actions hint at complexities in his life story.

David’s description of his uncle echoes, for me, David Copperfield’s depiction of Uriah Heep, the law clerk of Mr. Wickfield, who first appears at a small window as “a cadaverous face”:

The low arched door then opened, and the face came out. It was quite as cadaverous as it had looked in the window, though in the grain of it there was that tinge of red which is sometimes to be observed in the skins of red-haired people. It belonged to a red-haired person — a youth of fifteen, as I take it now, but looking much older — whose hair was cropped as close as the closest stubble; who had hardly any eyebrows, and no eyelashes, and eyes of a red-brown, so unsheltered and unshaded, that I remember wondering how he went to sleep. He was high-shouldered and bony; dressed in decent black, with a white wisp of a neckcloth; buttoned up to the throat; and had a long, lank, skeleton hand, which particularly attracted my attention, as he stood at the pony’s head, rubbing his chin with it, and looking up at us in the chaise.

“Stumbling like babes”

Similarly, adventure stories usually depict the hero with seeming superhuman strength and stamina, climbing mountains or scaling buildings or racing through sewers with vim and vigor and nary a drop of sweat.

By contrast, Stevenson brings the reader deep into the exhausting experience that David and Alan Breck Stewart have, trying to stay free and get to Cramond. 

In fact, David himself notes that authors don’t seem to have ever been wearied “or they would write of it more strongly.”  And he goes on:

I had no care of my life, neither past nor future, and I scarce remembered there was such a lad as David Balfour. I did not think of myself, but just of each fresh step which I was sure would be my last, with despair…. Day began to come in, after years, I thought; and by that time we were past the greatest danger, and could walk upon our feet like men, instead of crawling like brutes. But, dear heart have mercy! what a pair we must have made, going double like old grandfathers, stumbling like babes, and as white as dead folk. Never a word passed between us; each set his mouth and kept his eyes in front of him, and lifted up his foot and set it down again, like people lifting weights at a country play; all the while, with the moorfowl crying “peep!” in the heather, and the light coming slowly clearer in the east.

This is evocative for any reader who has ever felt pushed to the brink by physical exertion — and brings the experience alive for any reader who has never been driven to such extent.

“This is a great epic”

One of the delights of literature are the allusions to earlier works that a writer includes, and a particularly apt one comes near the end of Kidnapped . 

The two fugitives have finally gotten to Cramond where David finds a way to meet the family lawyer, Mr. Rankeillor, and relate his tale. The lawyer, initially skeptical, tests the young man enough to realize that he’s speaking the truth.

“Well, well, this is a great epic, a great Odyssey of yours. You must tell it, sir, in a sound Latinity when your scholarship is riper; or in English if you please, though for my part I prefer the stronger tongue. You have rolled much; quae regio in terris — what parish in Scotland (to make a homely translation) has not been filled with your wanderings? You have shown, besides, a singular aptitude for getting into false positions; and, yes, upon the whole, for behaving well in them.”

These sentences do several things.  They dovetail with earlier references to indicate that the lawyer is more than a bit pedantic and yet not stuffy.  There’s a liveliness to his language despite his weakness for dropping Latin phrases into his speech.

In addition, Mr. Rankeillor sums up the story of Kidnapped in a perceptive single sentence: “You have shown, besides, a singular aptitude for getting into false positions; and, yes, upon the whole, for behaving well in them.”

And he compares David’s long and arduous journey to Homer’s great Greek epic: “this is a great epic, a great Odyssey of yours.”

Since the Odyssey was first written down thousands of years ago, authors have used it as a model for modern stories. 

That’s what Stevenson did, with David in the role of Odysseus and with a nice twist at the end.  Instead of David finding a loyal Penelope upon his return, he is able to prove that his uncle is as disloyal as they come.

So, don’t call Kidnapped a boy’s novel.  It’s literature, plain and simple.

Patrick T. Reardon

Written by : Patrick T. Reardon

For more than three decades Patrick T. Reardon was an urban affairs writer, a feature writer, a columnist, and an editor for the Chicago Tribune. In 2000 he was one of a team of 50 staff members who won a Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting. Now a freelance writer and poet, he has contributed chapters to several books and is the author of Faith Stripped to Its Essence. His website is https://patricktreardon.com/.

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46 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

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Summary and Study Guide

Kidnapped is a historical romance novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson published in 1886. Stevenson was well known for both his travel writing and his adventure stories. Kidnapped was his third novel, a coming-of-age story that follows the adventures of a young heir-apparent after he is abducted and shipwrecked in Scotland. Famous for incorporating real-life events and people into its plot, Kidnapped explores themes of Authority, Treachery, and Justice and The Duality of Human Nature as its protagonist treks across the wilderness after being falsely accused as an accomplice in the infamous Appin murder.

This study guide refers to the 2017 Digireads.com edition.

Plot Summary

The novel opens in Scotland in 1751. David Balfour is a 17-year-old with limited prospects. After his father dies, David learns that he has an uncle, Ebenezer Balfour , who owns Shaws, an estate near Edinburgh. He sets off with a letter of introduction, but when he arrives at Shaws, he finds it a near ruin and his uncle a miser living alone. David hears from the locals that his father was the elder brother and should have inherited the estate. Before he can act on this information, his uncle has him kidnapped and bound for slavery in America.

The ship taking David to America makes its way around the northern coast of Scotland under rough weather. On a foggy night, it runs down a small boat, killing all hands on board save one. That man is Alan Breck Stewart , a Jacobite agent on a mission to France. (The Jacobites were the supporters of King James and his descendants after he was deposed in 1689.) The sailors plan to rob Alan, but David warns him and joins him in a fight against the crew. In thanks for his help, Alan pledges his friendship to David and gives the young man a button from his coat. Alan tells David that the Campbell clan is evicting people from his clan, the Stewarts, out of their homes. The effort is being led by the crown’s agent in the region of Colin Campbell, known as the Red Fox. Soon, the ship runs aground near the rocky coast of the Highlands, and David is washed overboard and marooned on a small island.

After surviving alone for four days, David escapes with the help of local fishermen. He learns that Alan also survived the wreck and left word for David to follow him. David travels across the Highlands, using Alan’s button to prove his friendship. Eventually, David comes to Appin, where he witnesses the murder of the Red Fox. Mistaken for an accomplice, David flees and, by luck, runs into Alan, who quickly takes David into hiding. The two go to Alan’s foster father, James Stewart, who tells them they will have to flee south since they will both be blamed for the killing. James supplies them with weapons and money and sends them on their way.

Alan leads David across the Highlands, narrowly avoiding British redcoats sent to find the fugitives. They come to a cave where they hide while they gather information from Alan’s friends and contacts about the ongoing search. When they read the bill describing them, David realizes the description of him is so vague that he would never be identified if he left Alan. He cannot bring himself to do that, however, as the two have become close friends.

They continue their flight, and David grows weary under the strain of constant travel. When they come to the hideout of a Jacobite named Cluny, David collapses into an exhausted fever and sleeps for two days. While he recovers, Alan plays cards with Cluny and loses all their money. Cluny returns it willingly, but the episode leaves David resentful of Alan and ashamed of having to beg for the money to be returned.

The two walk on in silence for several days while David’s health and mood continue to deteriorate. At first, Alan is ashamed of himself for losing their money, but after David refuses to let it go, Alan’s shame gives way to annoyance, and he begins taunting David. The young man eventually snaps and insults Alan’s honor, challenging him to a duel. Alan draws but then can’t bring himself to fight. David, realizing his childish outburst has lost him a friend, collapses and blames his outburst on exhaustion. Alan grieves at the thought of David dying and forgives all, carrying the young man to the nearby village of Balquhidder.

The two spend a month in Balquhidder. David recuperates in a cottage while Alan hides in the hills. Once David recovers, the friends continue south at a more relaxed pace since the search lightened while David was recovering. They come to the River Forth. When they find the bridges guarded, Alan has David pretend to be a disinherited young lord on the run from the law to attract the pity and assistance of a young barmaid. With her help, they are ferried to safety across the river.

Now in southern Scotland, Alan hides in the hills while David searches for his father’s lawyer, Mr. Rankeillor . After David proves his identity and shares the story of his travels, Rankeillor agrees to help him secure his birthright. The two recruit Alan to pretend he is holding David hostage to get David’s uncle Ebenezer to admit he wants David out of the picture. Ebenezer falls for the ruse and offers to pay Alan to keep David prisoner. Rankeillor uses the incident to get Ebenezer to turn over Shaws’s revenue to David without a lawsuit.

With his future and title secure, David makes plans to smuggle Alan to France. He also learns of the execution of James Stewart and resolves, at great personal risk, to give testimony to clear Stewart’s name. David and Alan walk together one last time. They stand in silence on top of a hill, knowing they will likely never see each other again, and then they part ways with a handshake.

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Kidnapped (Illustrated Classic): 100th Anniversary Collection Paperback – Illustrated, December 1, 2018

More than 100 black and white illustrations bring the story to life. And we don't need a Quiz in the back of our books. The Publisher's website has a free, downloadable Discussion Guide for this book for anyone to use.

• Over 100 original illustrations . Don't be fooled by other versions with missing or made-up pictures.
• Text that has been proofread to avoid errors common in other versions.
• A beautiful cover that replicates an early edition cover.
• The complete text in an easy-to-read font similar to the original.
• Properly formatted text complete with correct indenting, spacing, footnotes, italics, and tables.

Look for other Robert Louis Stevenson books in our 100th Anniversary Collection .

Kidnapped was written as a boys' novel and was first published in Young Folks magazine in 1886. It is an historical fiction story set in Scotland and written in English with some Lowland Scot dialogue. Kidnapped is set around real 18th-century Scottish events, notably the "Appin murder", which occurred in the aftermath of the Jacobite rising of 1745. Many of the characters are real people, including one of the principals, Alan Breck Stewart. The political situation of the time is portrayed from multiple viewpoints, and the Scottish Highlanders are treated sympathetically.

• Reading age 8 - 12 years
• Print length 248 pages
• Language English
• Lexile measure 630L
• Dimensions 6 x 0.62 x 9 inches
• Publication date December 1, 2018
• ISBN-10 1949460622
• ISBN-13 978-1949460629
• See all details

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Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ SeaWolf Press; Illustrated edition (December 1, 2018)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 248 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1949460622
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1949460629
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 630L
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.1 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.62 x 9 inches
• #179 in Sea Adventures Fiction (Books)
• #204 in Classic Action & Adventure (Books)
• #3,392 in Classic Literature & Fiction

About the author

Robert stevenson.

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• Romance Book Reviews
• Virginia Hodgson

Best Kidnap Romance Novels Of All Time – UPDATED 2019

Does a book where the kidnapped falls in love with kidnapper sound exciting? Well, so some it is. Kidnapping is definitely one of the most terrifying experiences in someone’s life and this experience has been used by many writers to startling effect. Hence, here are eight extremely beautiful novels based various experiences of kidnapping and romance between the victims and their own captors. Just a head’s up – if you purchase products through some of the links on this page, we may receive a small commission from Amazon.

A List of the Best Books About Kidnapping Romance

• The Good Girl – by Mary Kubica

The entire story is narrated from the point of views of both the victim and the perpetrator and fluctuates between flashbacks and present day events. The truth of what is actually happening is not revealed until the last few pages of the story.

• Stolen – by Lucy Christopher

Some readers might find this novel very disturbing. The novel is written in second person and as a letter by a girl called Gemma to her former kidnapper.

Gemma is kidnapped and drugged by her captor Ty, who himself is a handsome young man. After waking up she finds herself tied to a bed that too in the middle of a desert wasteland. Gemma has no idea about her whereabouts and there is absolutely no way to get in touch with anyone from the outside world. Ty, as an individual is very unbalanced but still is kind, honest and open with her.

The writer has written this piece of novel so cleverly that by the end of the story the reader will be in a dilemma and think whether it is a thriller about kidnapping of Gemma or one of the most unusual love stories he/she has ever read.

• Captive – by A.J. Grainger

Captive is the story of Robyn, the prime minister’s daughter. She is kidnapped by a group of terrorists. The motive of kidnapping is to demand the release of one of their compatriots. Robyn, is also used as a leverage against corruption, by her three kidnappers.

The captors sometimes are really kind and sensible to her but at times they behaved in a frightening and unpredictable manner too. But the whole story takes a turn when Robyn realizes that her father has refused to “negotiate with terrorists”, which leaves her all alone to her own fate.

• Wanderlust – by Skye Warren

Wanderlust is the story about Evie. A girl who loves to travel and dreams of seeing the world but very soon her first night at a motel turns into a nightmare. The story revolves around Evie and Hunter, who is a rugged truck driver and could do anything to keep Evie with him, which includes kidnapping her.

While crossing the country with him, Evie plans her escape but later she may find something that she has been looking for.

• The Breakaway – by Michelle D. Argyle

The Breakaway is about the kidnapping of Naomi Jensen, a young girl who is kidnapped. She goes through a very emotional patch after her kidnapping, where she thinks about her life and what she will get once she is out. Finding an escape doesn’t become a priority for her because she doesn’t want to return back to her abusive boyfriend or parents who didn’t care much for her.

Although it is a family of criminals and she is still a captive for them. In an attempt to have some control over her own life, she pretends to fall in love with one of her kidnappers. The plan works really well, but when the chance of escape comes she is not sure if she wants to run or not.

• Captive in the Dark – by C.J. Roberts

Captive in the Dark is a very intriguing story of a man called Caleb. The sole interest of his life is revenge. As a young boy Caleb was kidnapped and sold to slavery by a mobster and since then Caleb has thought of nothing but revenge from this mobster. For twelve years he dwells into the world of pleasure slaves and finally finds the architect of his miserable life but with an entirely new identity.

Caleb now devices a plan to strike this man and in the event kidnaps a beautiful young girl, Olivia Ruiz. The story then revolves around Olivia and Caleb. Although, Caleb is her kidnapper, Olivia slowly and gradually is attracted towards this strong, arrogant and sadistic man.

• Tears of Tess – by Pepper Winters

It is the story of a girl named Tess, who has everything that she ever wanted in her life. Starting from a great career to a loving boyfriend and a very bright future right in front of her. But all of this comes to an end after she is kidnapped and drugged while holidaying with her boyfriend, Brax in Mexico.

Captive and all alone with no lover or faith in anybody Tess evolves herself from a terrified little girl and becomes a fighter. The story then further looks into the fact that will Brax ever find Tess or her new owner or captor change her life forever?

• Dirty Angles – by Karina Halle

Dirty Angles is a very interesting story about a former beauty queen, Luisa Chavez. Every single day of her life is a struggle towards survival. At some point Luisa meets Salvador Reyes, a depraved leader of one of the major cartels in Mexico. Luisa sees this as an opportunity and exchanges her freedom and body for all the riches she ever wanted in life.

Later on she realizes what her life as a married woman is and that no matter how much money she has now nothing can change the abuse and ugliness of this marriage.

Hopefully  you’ve enjoyed our books about kidnapping romance list – it certainly is an interesting topic. If you’re looking for something a little more mainstream read All Grown Up by Vi Keeland Review & Why You Need to Read This Book Now here.

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Review: In ‘Pretty Is,’ Grown Friends Recall Being Kidnapped

By Sarah Lyall

• July 16, 2015
• Share full article

People looking for tips on how to mount a successful kidnapping-and-torture operation could easily find help from the large body of literature on the subject. In Thomas Harris’s “Silence of the Lambs,” for example, the villain stashes his victims in a fetid pit before killing them and using their skin for his freaky sewing project. The protagonist of John Fowles’s creepfest “The Collector” imprisons a woman in a custom-built underground bunker and waits for her to fall in love with him. (She doesn’t.)

But “Pretty Is,” Maggie Mitchell’s stunning, multilayered debut, is not that kind of thriller. (For one thing, her kidnapper does not seem to have read any of those earlier works. As a sadist, he is a total failure.) Instead of following convention by lavishing attention on intricate descriptions of new and disgusting forms of cruelty, Ms. Mitchell has instead focused on exploring possible answers to an intriguing question: What are the psychological repercussions for victims whose experiences were, in the scheme of things, not really that bad?

It all makes for a much more satisfying book. The crime in question took place 17 years before “Pretty Is” begins, when two 12-year-old girls were picked up by a stranger in a car and then held for six summer weeks in a remote cabin in Connecticut. The girls, it turns out, found the experience oddly positive, and not because they were brainwashed or Stockholm syndromed. Unhappy in different ways at home, they — at least according to one account — spent their time playing cards, eating Kraft macaroni and cheese, fashioning costumes out of interesting old outfits they found in a storage room, going swimming and chatting on the porch at night. Zed, as their enigmatic kidnapper called himself, taught them good vocabulary words (“syzygy”) and dispensed useful advice. Except to stroke their hair chastely once in a while, he never laid a hand on them.

Having set up an intriguing back story, Ms. Mitchell, who lives in Georgia and has published short fiction in various literary magazines, proceeds to unpack it and spin it forward with a great deal of intelligent, beautifully written panache. Along the way she merrily sends up Hollywood, academia, the child beauty-pageant circuit in the American heartland and the public’s prurient interest in the sexual proclivities of kidnappers. Like Gillian Flynn’s spiky, damaged heroines — I’m thinking particularly of Camille in “Sharp Objects” and Libby in “Dark Places” — the girls, Lois and Chloe, have dry, self-aware senses of humor that make the book that much more fun to read.

They are now 29 and not doing so well. Chloe, who as a child was a beauty queen named Carly May, has become a low-in-the-alphabet Hollywood actress playing characters that get killed off quickly (“I’m a good corpse”) and trying to reanimate her career. She drinks too much and makes sardonic observations about the acting world. “Sure, she’s a household name,” Chloe says of an actress specializing in “dimwit-exhibitionist-floozy” roles, “but so is Velveeta.”

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14 Chilling True Crime Books About Real-Life Kidnappings

In an instant, their lives were changed forever.

Few crimes haunt the mind quite like kidnapping. The threat of being abducted from your own home is terrifying—and sadly, such a violation happens all too often in the real world.  

From the panic-inducing ring of an Amber alert to the heartbreaking pleas of family members desperate for answers and information about their missing loved one, we're all-too-familiar with the signs of a kidnapping. But after the news breaks, how do these kidnapping cases end? In certain instances, abductions result in a happy ending, with the perpetrator behind bars and the kidnapping victim reunited with family members. But not always.

Related: The Best True Crime Documentaries on Netflix You Can Stream Right Now  

Some real-life abductions last hours. In other instances, a victim’s forced captivity will last days, months, years—even decades . And while movies and television often use kidnapping as a narrative device, wherein a criminal commits the crime to secure a ransom, many real-life perpetrators abduct their victims with the dark intention of abusing them emotionally, physically, and/or sexually. 

No matter the circumstances, those who are kidnapped undergo a deeply traumatic experience. The following true crime books focus on this terrifying ordeal, examining the crime while honoring those who have suffered—and amplifying the voices of all those who have survived. From powerful survivor stories by well-known kidnapping victims like Elizabeth Smart to true crime books about historical disappearances that stunned the public, these harrowing reads about real-life kidnappings will open your eyes to the endless terrors these victims faced. Lock your doors before cracking open any of these real-life kidnapping books.

Defy All the Devils

By Norman Zierold

In 1874, a kidnapping took place in the broad daylight of Philadelphia. Four-year-old Charley Ross and his older brother Walter were lured into a carriage with the promise of candy and fireworks. After several hours, Walter returned home. Charley, however, did not.

Related: Before the Lindbergh Kidnapping, There Was the Abduction of Charley Ross

After receiving a request for $20,000 in ransom, the boy’s father sought help from the police. But in the days that followed, the national attention derailed the search for little Charley. As false reports of Charley’s whereabouts flooded in, newspapers churned out exaggerations and lies about the kidnapping story, exploiting the wave of fear and interest in the case. The ransom letters received by Charley’s family grew more disturbing and peculiar—until they abruptly stopped.

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The Disappearance of Maria Glenn

By Naomi Clifford

The unbelievable true crime story of Maria Glenn still staggers the mind. In 1817 England, Maria Glenn, the sixteen-year-old heiress to West Indian sugar plantations, vanished from her uncle’s home. All signs pointed to the fact that the Bowditches committed the abduction—a farming family determined to get Maria to marry one of their sons at any cost. Maria was eventually returned home, but the truth behind her kidnapping remained a mystery.

Related: 46 Gripping True Crime Books from the Last 54 Years  

After a dramatic trial, four people were sentenced to prison. But when rich and powerful families became entangled in the case, they attacked Maria’s claims and her reputation. Soon, the tables turned. Charged with perjury, Maria fled in a self-imposed exile. Yet this twisting tale of deceit and betrayal was not yet over.

By Noel Behn

When the infant son of acclaimed aviator Charles Lindbergh was discovered to be missing from the family’s home in New Jersey, the Lindbergh family paid a ransom of $50,000 in an attempt to get their baby back. Unfortunately, they would never see their child again. The baby's remains were eventually found among the trees less than five miles from their house. Over two years later, illegal German immigrant Bruno Hauptmann was convicted and executed in connection to the crime. But was justice served?

Related: A Chilling Look Inside the Lindbergh Kidnapping

After an eight-year investigation and review of old evidence, author Noel Behn writes on the questionable actions taken by the New Jersey Governor, the Director of the FBI, the New Jersey Police, and the grieving aviator himself. Behn comes forward with a captivating theory that not only casts doubt on Hauptmann's culpability, but points the finger unnervingly close to the Lindbergh family.

The Snake and the Spider

By Karen Kingsbury

When Daryl Barber and James Boucher set out on their vacation to Daytona Beach, it was supposed to be the spring break of their dreams. The trouble started when the boys failed to check in with their parents as promised. Matters grew worse when the boys didn’t return home on the agreed upon date. Tragically, the teenagers fell victim to two violent individuals along the coast of Florida. Abducted, tortured, and eventually murdered, Daryl and James would be found months later in a Florida swamp.

Related: 9 Real-Life Kidnapping Stories That Still Haunt Us

We Is Got Him

By Carrie Hagen

For all those looking for more information on the 1874 disappearance of Charley Ross, check out Carrie Hagen's in-depth look at the case. Philadelphia was set to celebrate America’s Centennial when Charley Ross was kidnapped. The case sent shock waves throughout the city and beyond. Police conducted a building-by-building search for Charley, and implemented surveillance in the slums of New York, launching a manhunt that stretched across state lines. In this well-researched account, Hagen delivers illuminating profiles of the many criminals, detectives, and politicians associated with the crime, as well as the ordinary people who were caught in between.

Incident at Big Sky

By Sheriff Johnny France, Malcolm McConnell

In 1984, while training near Big Sky, Montana, biathlete Kari Swenson was kidnapped by Don and Dan Nichols—father and son survivalists who hoped to make Kari Dan’s bride. Kari was held captive for 18 hours, during which time Don Nichols shot dead Kari's friend Alan Goldstein when Alan came looking for her. Kari too suffered a gunshot wound after Dan Nichols' gun accidentally discharged. The father-son duo then fled their camp, leaving a wounded Kari chained to a tree. The perpetrators managed to evade capture for five months. Incredibly, Kari Swenson survived her ordeal. Her story is told in this true crime book written by the Sheriff who eventually captured the kidnapping duo.

Related: Kari Swenson: The World-Class Biathlete Who Was Abducted and Held Captive in the Woods

American Heiress

By Brad Schreiber

For all those who came of age in the 1970s, the headline-grabbing kidnapping of Patty Hearst by the SLA will likely remain imprinted on their memories forever. The granddaughter of publishing giant William Randolph Hearst, Patty Hearst’s February 1974 abduction shocked an American public already rocked by the unfolding Watergate scandal. 

Related: 8 Famous People Who Just Vanished Without a Trace

But then news broke—accompanied by startling security footage—that Hearst had joined her captors in their renegade revolution, raising questions about her capture, culpability, and mental state. Jeffrey Toobin is no stranger to the world of true crime, having chronicled the trial of O.J. Simpson in The Run of His Life . In American Heiress, Toobin delivers the definitive account of one of America’s strangest and most notorious kidnapping cases.

Not Just Evil

By David Wilson

The abduction and murder of 12-year-old Marion Parker became a landmark trial not for the atrocity of the crime, but for the defense plea used by the defendant. December 15, 1927, young Marion Parker was abducted from her Los Angeles school. A few days later, Marion's killer, William Edward Hickman, emerged—making off with the ransom money before authorities realized Marion was already dead. It didn’t take long for authorities to apprehend William. It didn’t take long for him to confess, either, in unsettlingly gruesome detail. However, Hickman’s lawyers claimed that he couldn’t be held responsible.

Related: Child Killer: Gordon Northcott and the Wineville Chicken Coop Murders  

The California court witnessed the state's very first insanity plea—one that led to absolute chaos in the media. As Hickman’s lawyers argued that the blame for Marion’s murders rested on the shoulders of the entertainment industry for peddling sex and violence, the industry lashed back to protect their image. As the debate raged, Hickman went from criminal to infamous, and America's mass media culture entered a new era.

Elizabeth Is Missing

By Lillian de la Torre

On New Year’s Day, 1753, Elizabeth Canning went missing while walking home in London, England. Friends and family were shocked when Elizabeth returned one month later, claiming that she had been robbed and kidnapped by Susannah Wells and Mary Squires after refusing to enter into prostitution. Though the community stood by Canning’s account, and Wells and Squires were found guilty, another judge later found Canning guilty of perjury and sentenced her to imprisonment followed by exile. But what really happened? Author Lillian de la Torre takes a crack at solving the case. 

Related: What Really Happened to Elizabeth Canning?

Did They Really Do It?

By Fred Rosen

On March 1, 1932, Charles Lindbergh’s 20-month-old son, Charles Jr., was taken from the family’s home in the middle of the night. What followed was a desperate attempt to get him back. While the illustrious family paid a man who claimed to be the kidnapper $50,000 in ransom, Charles Jr. was not returned. The infant's remains were found months later near the Lindbergh home. Fred Rosen’s book explores whether or not the man executed for the kidnapping was responsible, among other cases.

Related: 12 True Crime Authors Who Will Hook You on the Genre  

Finding Me: A Decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed: A Memoir of the Cleveland Kidnappings

By Michelle Knight and Michelle Burford

In 2013, three young women were finally rescued after being held captive for years by Ariel Castro in his Cleveland, Ohio home. Michelle Knight, the first of three women kidnapped, tells her harrowing story. Knight was kidnapped on August 23, 2002—the same day she was supposed to appear in court to fight for custody of her young son. Believing she had run away, authorities removed Michelle from the missing persons list 15 months after she vanished. Though her captor tormented her with the thoughts that no one was looking for her, she never gave up. 

Related: 27 Years Later: The Haunting Disappearance of the Springfield Three Remains a Mystery  

3,096 Days in Captivity: The True Story of My Abduction, Eight Years of Enslavement, and Escape

By Natascha Kampusch

At the age of 10, Austrian woman Natascha Kampusch was kidnapped while on her way to school in Vienna. Though the police conducted a massive search for the young girl, they came up empty-handed. Her captor, Wolfgang Přiklopil starved and beat her—making her too weak to run away. She finally saw a moment of opportunity eight years after she was taken against her will. Natascha's memoir recounts her ordeal and how she never lost sight of survival. 

Related: 9 Haunting Cases from Unsolved Mysteries That Have Since Been Solved  

By Elizabeth Smart

In 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was taken from her bed in the middle of the night by religious fanatics Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. She was held for nine months, enduring repeated rapes and threats that her family would be killed if she tried to escape. Smart's case made headlines across the world. Today, she's an advocate for kidnapping and sexual assault victims—traveling the country (and the world) to help others in need. 

Related: 7 True Crime Books About Victims Who Escaped Their Captors

A Stolen Life: A Memoir

By Jaycee Dugard

On June 10, 1991, Philip Greg Garrido kidnapped Jaycee Dugard near her home in South Lake Tahoe, California. While on her way to the bus, a car approached her and Garrido used a stun gun on Jaycee. Though her stepfather saw the incident happen and attempted to chase the car down on a mountain bike, he could not catch them. Dugard was not found until 2009, 18 years later, having bore two children while in captivity. The terrifying story of her survival is told in her memoir A Stolen Life.  

Related: The Best True Crime Books You’ve Ever Read  

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