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Out of the Woods: A Girl, a Killer, and a Lifelong Struggle to Find the Way Home
From a girl’s abduction by a serial killer to the harrowing aftermath.
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.
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.
335 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2025
17222 people are currently reading
23122 people want to read
About the author
Gregg Olsen
115 books7,295 followersThroughout his career, Gregg Olsen has demonstrated an ability to create a detailed narrative that offers readers fascinating insights into the lives of people caught in extraordinary circumstances.
A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Olsen has written ten nonfiction books, ten novels, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.
The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel. He has also appeared on Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Today Show, FOX News; CNN, Anderson Cooper 360, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, CBS 48 Hours, Oxygen’s Snapped, Court TV’s Crier Live, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, and A&E’s Biography.
In addition to television and radio appearances, the award-winning author has been featured in Redbook, USA Today, People, Salon magazine, Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times and the New York Post.
The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honored by Washington’s Secretary of State for the book’s contribution to Washington state history and culture.
Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).
A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Olsen has written ten nonfiction books, ten novels, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.
The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel. He has also appeared on Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Today Show, FOX News; CNN, Anderson Cooper 360, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, CBS 48 Hours, Oxygen’s Snapped, Court TV’s Crier Live, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, and A&E’s Biography.
In addition to television and radio appearances, the award-winning author has been featured in Redbook, USA Today, People, Salon magazine, Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times and the New York Post.
The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honored by Washington’s Secretary of State for the book’s contribution to Washington state history and culture.
Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,652 reviews
May 15, 2025
Such mixed feelings on this one, and I want to start with the positive: I deeply respect the author’s commitment to accurately depicting the ambiguity of the aftermath of Shasta’s story; of resisting the impulse to end things on a tidy note of resolution and let the reader imagine that things were happily ever after after that.
And it would have been so easy to do that — to end on the promise of her leaving the Idaho facility and not talk about the rest. Letting us know about Shasta’s tangled path after that does a remarkable act of service in reminding us all that deep trauma consistently resists lasting resolution.
THAT SAID. The book is not great. Dipping in and out of several different timelines is annoying and confusing (I could never figure out when the breakup with the stepmother happened because we were both before and after that so many times along the way), and it undermines the story by doling out crucial information as tricksy little “reveals” that rob the reader of context. And the author’s tendency to tease these reveals (he did THE WORST THING HE’D DONE; there were RUMORS OF HIS INVOLVEMENT; no one on the jury could have imagined anything SO HORRENDOUS) rarely pays off. By the time he gets to the thing he’s been teasing as AWFUL or SHOCKING, you’re totally inured to it by the cavalcade of more banal traumas he’s casually narrated along the way.
And it would have been so easy to do that — to end on the promise of her leaving the Idaho facility and not talk about the rest. Letting us know about Shasta’s tangled path after that does a remarkable act of service in reminding us all that deep trauma consistently resists lasting resolution.
THAT SAID. The book is not great. Dipping in and out of several different timelines is annoying and confusing (I could never figure out when the breakup with the stepmother happened because we were both before and after that so many times along the way), and it undermines the story by doling out crucial information as tricksy little “reveals” that rob the reader of context. And the author’s tendency to tease these reveals (he did THE WORST THING HE’D DONE; there were RUMORS OF HIS INVOLVEMENT; no one on the jury could have imagined anything SO HORRENDOUS) rarely pays off. By the time he gets to the thing he’s been teasing as AWFUL or SHOCKING, you’re totally inured to it by the cavalcade of more banal traumas he’s casually narrated along the way.
July 7, 2025
There needs to be a child sexual assault warning in the book description. This being an Amazon First Reads book- should def have had a warning for other survivors who try to stray away from reading about sexual abuse. I did not take the time to read about the family beforehand- and highly suggest you do before reading.
I do not feel this story should have been written by a man and lacked a lot of empathy- not showing emotions, but only brutality.
I do not feel this story should have been written by a man and lacked a lot of empathy- not showing emotions, but only brutality.
July 2, 2025
Gregg Olsen's Out of the Woods shatters every comfortable assumption about trauma recovery with the devastating honesty of a survivor's journey that refuses to conform to redemptive narratives. This isn't the inspirational comeback story readers might expect—it's something far more valuable and infinitely more difficult to digest. Through meticulous research and unprecedented access to Shasta Groene herself, Olsen delivers a masterpiece that confronts the uncomfortable reality that surviving evil is often just the beginning of a lifelong battle.
The book follows Shasta Groene from that horrific night in May 2005 when Joseph Edward Duncan III murdered her family and abducted her and her brother Dylan, through the forty-eight days of captivity in Montana's wilderness, to the decades of self-destructive behavior that followed her rescue. What emerges is not a tale of triumph over adversity, but a raw examination of how trauma becomes a permanent resident in the survivor's psyche.
The Architecture of Devastation
The Crime That Shattered Everything
Olsen's reconstruction of the Wolf Lodge murders demonstrates his mastery of true crime storytelling. The author doesn't sensationalize the violence—he doesn't need to. The facts speak with devastating clarity about Duncan's methodical invasion of the Groene family home. The killer's own blog entries, quoted sparingly but effectively, reveal a mind that viewed children as objects for his gratification rather than human beings deserving of protection.
The author's decision to include Duncan's perspective through his own writings serves a crucial purpose: it illuminates the calculated nature of the crime while never allowing readers to sympathize with the perpetrator. Duncan's self-aggrandizing narratives about "playing" with children are presented in stark contrast to the reality of his actions, creating a chilling portrait of a predator who rationalized unspeakable acts.
The Captivity That Destroyed Innocence
The chapters detailing Shasta and Dylan's ordeal in the Lolo National Forest represent some of the most difficult material in contemporary true crime literature. Olsen navigates this terrain with extraordinary sensitivity, providing enough detail to understand the scope of their suffering without exploiting their pain for shock value. The "contraption" Duncan built for his torture sessions becomes a symbol of institutionalized evil—a physical manifestation of one man's ability to transform wilderness into hell.
Perhaps most devastating is Olsen's portrayal of how Duncan forced the children to become complicit in their own abuse through psychological manipulation. The killer's bedtime stories about his previous victims serve as both torture and warning, creating an atmosphere where survival required a form of emotional death. The author's ability to convey this psychological warfare without graphic exploitation demonstrates his evolution as a writer who understands that the most profound horrors often reside in what isn't explicitly described.
The Aftermath: Where True Crime Meets Human Complexity
The Myth of Recovery Exploded
Where Out of the Woods transcends typical true crime narratives is in its unflinching examination of Shasta's post-rescue life. Olsen chronicles her descent into drug addiction, legal troubles, and destructive relationships with the same attention to detail he applied to the original crime. This isn't voyeurism—it's essential journalism that challenges society's expectations of how survivors should behave.
The author's documentation of Shasta's struggles with the well-meaning but ultimately harmful therapeutic interventions at Vista at Dimple Dell Canyon serves as a scathing indictment of trauma treatment systems that prioritize forgiveness over healing. The facility's accountability circles, where Shasta was essentially forced to take responsibility for her own victimization, represent a special kind of institutional cruelty that masquerades as healing.
The Generational Cycle of Damage
Olsen's exploration of the Groene family's pre-existing struggles with poverty, addiction, and domestic violence provides crucial context without ever suggesting that these factors justified what happened to them. The Wolf Lodge property becomes a character in its own right—a place where multiple generations of the family sought refuge from the world's harsh realities, only to find that evil could invade even their most sacred spaces.
The author's portrayal of Steve Groene's relationship with his daughter reveals how trauma can simultaneously bind and destroy family connections. Their shared experience of loss created an intimacy that neither could fully navigate, leading to conflicts that persisted until Steve's death. This complex dynamic illustrates how trauma affects not just the primary victim but ripples through every relationship in their orbit.
Literary Craftsmanship in Service of Truth
Narrative Structure as Emotional Journey
Olsen's decision to structure the book as a series of interconnected timelines mirrors the fragmented nature of traumatic memory. The narrative moves fluidly between past and present, allowing readers to understand how Shasta's childhood experiences continue to influence her adult decisions. This non-linear approach serves the story's emotional truth even when it challenges conventional narrative expectations.
The author's use of short, declarative sentences during the most intense scenes creates a staccato rhythm that mirrors the dissociative states trauma victims often experience. Conversely, his longer, more reflective passages during Shasta's adult struggles allow for the kind of psychological depth that transforms true crime into literature.
Research as Reverence
The book's extensive research is evident not just in its factual accuracy but in its emotional authenticity. Olsen's years of interviews with Shasta, combined with his access to court documents, police reports, and therapeutic records, create a multi-dimensional portrait that avoids both sensationalism and sentimentality. His ability to present contradictory information without judgment allows readers to form their own conclusions about complex questions of blame and responsibility.
The author's acknowledgment of his own evolving understanding of trauma—his admission that he initially believed healing was more straightforward than it actually is—demonstrates the intellectual honesty that elevates this work above typical true crime fare.
Critical Examination: The Uncomfortable Questions
The Ethics of Exploitation
One legitimate criticism of Out of the Woods concerns the ethics of chronicling ongoing trauma for public consumption. While Olsen clearly had Shasta's cooperation and consent, questions remain about whether publishing such intimate details of her continued struggles serves her best interests or simply satisfies public curiosity about a famous victim.
However, the book's unflinching honesty about the long-term effects of trauma serves a larger purpose: it challenges the simplistic narratives that allow society to believe that justice and rescue constitute healing. In this sense, Shasta's story becomes a form of advocacy for other survivors who don't fit comfortable recovery narratives.
The Limits of Understanding
The book occasionally struggles with the inherent limitations of trying to make sense of senseless violence. Duncan's motivations, while extensively documented through his own writings and psychological evaluations, ultimately remain incomprehensible to readers who haven't experienced such profound psychological disturbance. Olsen wisely avoids the trap of trying to explain the unexplainable, but this restraint sometimes leaves readers craving deeper psychological insights.
The Question of Hope
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of Out of the Woods is its refusal to provide easy comfort or redemptive closure. Shasta's story continues to unfold with setbacks, struggles, and small victories that resist neat categorization. Some readers may find this ongoing uncertainty frustrating, expecting the narrative satisfaction of clear resolution. However, this messy reality serves the book's larger truth: that survival is an ongoing process rather than a destination.
Final Thoughts: The Courage to Tell Difficult Truths
Out of the Woods stands as a testament to both Shasta Groene's courage in sharing her story and Gregg Olsen's commitment to telling difficult truths. The book challenges readers to expand their understanding of survival beyond simple binaries of victim and survivor, weakness and strength, healing and brokenness.
In our culture's rush to find inspiration in tragedy, Out of the Woods serves as a necessary reminder that some stories resist easy comfort. Shasta's ongoing struggle with the aftermath of her childhood trauma doesn't diminish her strength—it illuminates the true cost of surviving evil and the ongoing battle that characterizes real recovery.
This book will disturb readers who prefer their true crime stories to end with justice served and healing achieved. For those willing to sit with discomfort and examine the complex realities of trauma recovery, Out of the Woods offers insights that extend far beyond the true crime genre. It's a book that will likely influence how we think about trauma, justice, and the real meaning of survival for years to come.
--------
In the spirit of full disclosure, I should mention that I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review—though honestly, after reading Shasta's story, the word "exchange" feels almost comically inadequate. Some stories aren't transactions; they're gifts that cost the giver more than we can ever repay. This is one of those stories.
The book follows Shasta Groene from that horrific night in May 2005 when Joseph Edward Duncan III murdered her family and abducted her and her brother Dylan, through the forty-eight days of captivity in Montana's wilderness, to the decades of self-destructive behavior that followed her rescue. What emerges is not a tale of triumph over adversity, but a raw examination of how trauma becomes a permanent resident in the survivor's psyche.
The Architecture of Devastation
The Crime That Shattered Everything
Olsen's reconstruction of the Wolf Lodge murders demonstrates his mastery of true crime storytelling. The author doesn't sensationalize the violence—he doesn't need to. The facts speak with devastating clarity about Duncan's methodical invasion of the Groene family home. The killer's own blog entries, quoted sparingly but effectively, reveal a mind that viewed children as objects for his gratification rather than human beings deserving of protection.
The author's decision to include Duncan's perspective through his own writings serves a crucial purpose: it illuminates the calculated nature of the crime while never allowing readers to sympathize with the perpetrator. Duncan's self-aggrandizing narratives about "playing" with children are presented in stark contrast to the reality of his actions, creating a chilling portrait of a predator who rationalized unspeakable acts.
The Captivity That Destroyed Innocence
The chapters detailing Shasta and Dylan's ordeal in the Lolo National Forest represent some of the most difficult material in contemporary true crime literature. Olsen navigates this terrain with extraordinary sensitivity, providing enough detail to understand the scope of their suffering without exploiting their pain for shock value. The "contraption" Duncan built for his torture sessions becomes a symbol of institutionalized evil—a physical manifestation of one man's ability to transform wilderness into hell.
Perhaps most devastating is Olsen's portrayal of how Duncan forced the children to become complicit in their own abuse through psychological manipulation. The killer's bedtime stories about his previous victims serve as both torture and warning, creating an atmosphere where survival required a form of emotional death. The author's ability to convey this psychological warfare without graphic exploitation demonstrates his evolution as a writer who understands that the most profound horrors often reside in what isn't explicitly described.
The Aftermath: Where True Crime Meets Human Complexity
The Myth of Recovery Exploded
Where Out of the Woods transcends typical true crime narratives is in its unflinching examination of Shasta's post-rescue life. Olsen chronicles her descent into drug addiction, legal troubles, and destructive relationships with the same attention to detail he applied to the original crime. This isn't voyeurism—it's essential journalism that challenges society's expectations of how survivors should behave.
The author's documentation of Shasta's struggles with the well-meaning but ultimately harmful therapeutic interventions at Vista at Dimple Dell Canyon serves as a scathing indictment of trauma treatment systems that prioritize forgiveness over healing. The facility's accountability circles, where Shasta was essentially forced to take responsibility for her own victimization, represent a special kind of institutional cruelty that masquerades as healing.
The Generational Cycle of Damage
Olsen's exploration of the Groene family's pre-existing struggles with poverty, addiction, and domestic violence provides crucial context without ever suggesting that these factors justified what happened to them. The Wolf Lodge property becomes a character in its own right—a place where multiple generations of the family sought refuge from the world's harsh realities, only to find that evil could invade even their most sacred spaces.
The author's portrayal of Steve Groene's relationship with his daughter reveals how trauma can simultaneously bind and destroy family connections. Their shared experience of loss created an intimacy that neither could fully navigate, leading to conflicts that persisted until Steve's death. This complex dynamic illustrates how trauma affects not just the primary victim but ripples through every relationship in their orbit.
Literary Craftsmanship in Service of Truth
Narrative Structure as Emotional Journey
Olsen's decision to structure the book as a series of interconnected timelines mirrors the fragmented nature of traumatic memory. The narrative moves fluidly between past and present, allowing readers to understand how Shasta's childhood experiences continue to influence her adult decisions. This non-linear approach serves the story's emotional truth even when it challenges conventional narrative expectations.
The author's use of short, declarative sentences during the most intense scenes creates a staccato rhythm that mirrors the dissociative states trauma victims often experience. Conversely, his longer, more reflective passages during Shasta's adult struggles allow for the kind of psychological depth that transforms true crime into literature.
Research as Reverence
The book's extensive research is evident not just in its factual accuracy but in its emotional authenticity. Olsen's years of interviews with Shasta, combined with his access to court documents, police reports, and therapeutic records, create a multi-dimensional portrait that avoids both sensationalism and sentimentality. His ability to present contradictory information without judgment allows readers to form their own conclusions about complex questions of blame and responsibility.
The author's acknowledgment of his own evolving understanding of trauma—his admission that he initially believed healing was more straightforward than it actually is—demonstrates the intellectual honesty that elevates this work above typical true crime fare.
Critical Examination: The Uncomfortable Questions
The Ethics of Exploitation
One legitimate criticism of Out of the Woods concerns the ethics of chronicling ongoing trauma for public consumption. While Olsen clearly had Shasta's cooperation and consent, questions remain about whether publishing such intimate details of her continued struggles serves her best interests or simply satisfies public curiosity about a famous victim.
However, the book's unflinching honesty about the long-term effects of trauma serves a larger purpose: it challenges the simplistic narratives that allow society to believe that justice and rescue constitute healing. In this sense, Shasta's story becomes a form of advocacy for other survivors who don't fit comfortable recovery narratives.
The Limits of Understanding
The book occasionally struggles with the inherent limitations of trying to make sense of senseless violence. Duncan's motivations, while extensively documented through his own writings and psychological evaluations, ultimately remain incomprehensible to readers who haven't experienced such profound psychological disturbance. Olsen wisely avoids the trap of trying to explain the unexplainable, but this restraint sometimes leaves readers craving deeper psychological insights.
The Question of Hope
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of Out of the Woods is its refusal to provide easy comfort or redemptive closure. Shasta's story continues to unfold with setbacks, struggles, and small victories that resist neat categorization. Some readers may find this ongoing uncertainty frustrating, expecting the narrative satisfaction of clear resolution. However, this messy reality serves the book's larger truth: that survival is an ongoing process rather than a destination.
Final Thoughts: The Courage to Tell Difficult Truths
Out of the Woods stands as a testament to both Shasta Groene's courage in sharing her story and Gregg Olsen's commitment to telling difficult truths. The book challenges readers to expand their understanding of survival beyond simple binaries of victim and survivor, weakness and strength, healing and brokenness.
In our culture's rush to find inspiration in tragedy, Out of the Woods serves as a necessary reminder that some stories resist easy comfort. Shasta's ongoing struggle with the aftermath of her childhood trauma doesn't diminish her strength—it illuminates the true cost of surviving evil and the ongoing battle that characterizes real recovery.
This book will disturb readers who prefer their true crime stories to end with justice served and healing achieved. For those willing to sit with discomfort and examine the complex realities of trauma recovery, Out of the Woods offers insights that extend far beyond the true crime genre. It's a book that will likely influence how we think about trauma, justice, and the real meaning of survival for years to come.
--------
In the spirit of full disclosure, I should mention that I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review—though honestly, after reading Shasta's story, the word "exchange" feels almost comically inadequate. Some stories aren't transactions; they're gifts that cost the giver more than we can ever repay. This is one of those stories.
July 4, 2025
Shasta, I hear you.
In 2005 the murders at Wolf Lodge horrified my town. Murders and two missing children at a house I had seen hundreds of times while driving between Coeur d’Alene and the Silver Valley in Idaho. Did I really want to know more of the horrific story? As a matter of fact, I did. Yes, the details are included but the focus is on Shasta. At eight years old she had insight that kept her alive. Her struggles were real. She messed up. Who wouldn’t? Gregg Olsen, a master of true crime, allows the reader to know not only that little girl in the woods but the woman that Shasta has become.
Shasta, I believe you.
In 2005 the murders at Wolf Lodge horrified my town. Murders and two missing children at a house I had seen hundreds of times while driving between Coeur d’Alene and the Silver Valley in Idaho. Did I really want to know more of the horrific story? As a matter of fact, I did. Yes, the details are included but the focus is on Shasta. At eight years old she had insight that kept her alive. Her struggles were real. She messed up. Who wouldn’t? Gregg Olsen, a master of true crime, allows the reader to know not only that little girl in the woods but the woman that Shasta has become.
Shasta, I believe you.
September 1, 2025
Devastating
Well written true crime story of horrific trauma, death, devastation, doubt and ultimately survival. This is a very dark story.
Well written true crime story of horrific trauma, death, devastation, doubt and ultimately survival. This is a very dark story.
November 3, 2025
I somehow missed that this was true crime until I finished reading it. It made the style make way more sense. I will say huge trigger warnings for sexual abuse of children, graphic torture, drug use, self harm. This is an extremely dark book and it’s a heavy one to read. I work with survivors and have heard some horrifying things but this more than blew all of those away. This is a story of an 8 year old girl who experienced weeks of torture and spent the rest of her life trying to find her way truly and finally home. The author is good, but he does pick some truly horrifying cases.
July 6, 2025
CAUTION: To say this was a difficult read doesn’t come anywhere close to actuality. Please know what you’re reading before you start….a true crime story about kidnapping, murder, horrific child abuse in all forms, poverty, drugs, trauma, and so much more. Shasta Groene’s story is one you won’t forget.
August 17, 2025
DNF at 40 %. This book was available on Kindle Unlimited. I hadn't noticed any warning about graphic, distressing, and troubling content. I read gruesome fiction and true crime stories, but this account was too disturbing, and I have no regret about abandoning it. This is a detailed account by Greg Olsen about a crime spree that shocked the nation. The home was invaded by a deranged, evil man who was a serial killer and paedophile. The mother, her boyfriend, and a thirteen-year-old brother were murdered.
'Out of the Woods' is an account of eight-year-old Shasta Groen, who was abducted along with her brother Dylan, who may have witnessed some of the slaughter of their family. He brought the brother and sister to a secluded spot in the wilderness. There, she endured 47 days of torture, hunger, and sexual abuse, and Dylan was shot to death. A waitress recognized Shasta with her kidnapper, and she was rescued. Shasta was hospitalized to repair severe injuries, and was probably suffering from PTSD due to the trauma she witnessed and endured. During their captivity, both children were frequently sexually assaulted, and their abductor quoted the Bible and told them of the children he had previously assaulted and killed. Shasta survived by showing insight into her predicament, with reactions that were well beyond her years.
On release, she was the subject of curiosity and shame. Shasta's behaviour became self-destructive. She tried to dull her mental turmoil with addiction and criminal behaviour. She felt rejected by her father. Over the next twenty years, she hoped to heal and rebuild her life. The psychotherapy she received failed to match her needs. Shasta felt no one would listen to the atrocities she endured, but she always held hope for recovery. One therapist insisted she was making up the story about her ordeal, and others suggested she forget the painful past. She was sent to a healing centre where patients were rewarded for conforming to house rules with unhelpful therapy not geared to her needs.
I felt that the graphic nature of Olsen's book was a means to further exploit and victimize Shasta, until I learned that it was the result of a four-year collaboration teaming up with Shasta. She was telling her own story, reflecting on her experiences. This was another attempt in the healing process, as she shared her ordeal with the public. There are even clips of her signing the book along with Greg Olsen.
I wish her all the best. I cannot recommend reading this book. I found the account disjointed, repetitive, and skipped around various timelines. It contains graphic details that were uncomfortable to read.
'Out of the Woods' is an account of eight-year-old Shasta Groen, who was abducted along with her brother Dylan, who may have witnessed some of the slaughter of their family. He brought the brother and sister to a secluded spot in the wilderness. There, she endured 47 days of torture, hunger, and sexual abuse, and Dylan was shot to death. A waitress recognized Shasta with her kidnapper, and she was rescued. Shasta was hospitalized to repair severe injuries, and was probably suffering from PTSD due to the trauma she witnessed and endured. During their captivity, both children were frequently sexually assaulted, and their abductor quoted the Bible and told them of the children he had previously assaulted and killed. Shasta survived by showing insight into her predicament, with reactions that were well beyond her years.
On release, she was the subject of curiosity and shame. Shasta's behaviour became self-destructive. She tried to dull her mental turmoil with addiction and criminal behaviour. She felt rejected by her father. Over the next twenty years, she hoped to heal and rebuild her life. The psychotherapy she received failed to match her needs. Shasta felt no one would listen to the atrocities she endured, but she always held hope for recovery. One therapist insisted she was making up the story about her ordeal, and others suggested she forget the painful past. She was sent to a healing centre where patients were rewarded for conforming to house rules with unhelpful therapy not geared to her needs.
I felt that the graphic nature of Olsen's book was a means to further exploit and victimize Shasta, until I learned that it was the result of a four-year collaboration teaming up with Shasta. She was telling her own story, reflecting on her experiences. This was another attempt in the healing process, as she shared her ordeal with the public. There are even clips of her signing the book along with Greg Olsen.
I wish her all the best. I cannot recommend reading this book. I found the account disjointed, repetitive, and skipped around various timelines. It contains graphic details that were uncomfortable to read.
July 10, 2025
Deleted at 62%. I couldn’t take it anymore. Whoever the F this author is he’s terrible, and writing a story based on Shasta Groene’s trauma is despicable. Seriously Amazon: this was a first reads book?
October 4, 2025
Oof. This was a hard read. I cannot imagine going through abuse and watching family members die.
This was such a well written story though. I think it was a good idea to flash back and forth because if it went in order of events it would have been even harder to read what Shasta went through.
It really makes you think about how people just do stuff to try and survive the day and forget everything that has happened to them. I cannot judge people who abuse drugs and alcohol to try and avoid past trauma. I have never gone through anything like it and cannot imagine a good way to cope. Especially when Shasta tried therapy but it was a horribly run institution where they had no clue what they were doing. I mean the place got shut down because it was so bad.
It hurts my heart that people are capable of doing such cruel things to others…especially children.
Although it was a tragic story, without a happy ending, I’m glad Shasta’s story was told and I wish her the best.
This was such a well written story though. I think it was a good idea to flash back and forth because if it went in order of events it would have been even harder to read what Shasta went through.
It really makes you think about how people just do stuff to try and survive the day and forget everything that has happened to them. I cannot judge people who abuse drugs and alcohol to try and avoid past trauma. I have never gone through anything like it and cannot imagine a good way to cope. Especially when Shasta tried therapy but it was a horribly run institution where they had no clue what they were doing. I mean the place got shut down because it was so bad.
It hurts my heart that people are capable of doing such cruel things to others…especially children.
Although it was a tragic story, without a happy ending, I’m glad Shasta’s story was told and I wish her the best.
July 3, 2025
Wow! I live in Coeur d Alene and remember when this happened. We all prayed Shasta and Dylan would be found alive. I think our community poured out their love with money and gifts, but never understood that Shasta’s journey was far from over. We couldn’t comprehend the massive trauma that she endured and carriers with her. I’m so sad that many of our institutions failed her. However, she is so strong! I’m amazed her 8 year old self was able to be so clever and worked to take the burden off of her brother, even though that burden would have been too heavy for any adult to carry. Live your best life, Shasta! You definitely do deserve it. Know that your kootenai county community still stands by your side and hopes the best for you.
Read
August 12, 2025I’m finding it difficult to “rate” this book. This nightmare took place just 30 miles from my home, during a summer when my youngest daughter was the same age as Shasta - 8 tender years. The billboards, pictures, etc. and the relief when she was rescued have stayed with me.
The usual terms - ‘gut-wrenching’, ‘heart breaking’, ‘harrowing’ don’t do this book justice. It’s a hellish read but one that finally gives voice to Shasta’s unimaginable and brave story.
While it deserves them, it feels wrong to give a book like this ‘stars’. No stars for the book but ALL of the stars in the sky that are sweet Dylan shining down on Shasta. ⭐️♥️
The usual terms - ‘gut-wrenching’, ‘heart breaking’, ‘harrowing’ don’t do this book justice. It’s a hellish read but one that finally gives voice to Shasta’s unimaginable and brave story.
While it deserves them, it feels wrong to give a book like this ‘stars’. No stars for the book but ALL of the stars in the sky that are sweet Dylan shining down on Shasta. ⭐️♥️
Read
September 17, 2025DNF. I checked this book out of the library for two reasons: 1) I like books by this author, 2) I zeroed in on the synopsis where I saw the words "serial killer", my favorite. I should have paid closer attention to the fact that it is a true story. I never have good luck with true stories. In this case, I am not inclined to read about detailed sexual abuse of children.
July 7, 2025
Do not read this book.
July 11, 2025
gregg olsen CANNOT keep getting away with this
July 13, 2025
Halfway through, I abandoned this book because I read for pleasure, and the book was so disturbing that I didn't want to continue. God bless the victims.
July 12, 2025
Warning!! This book is a true story of a young girls kidnapping and torture at the hands of a true monster! I chose to read this because I believe victims are so often not heard and this book was written so the victim could tell her side of the story and every single detail! It is heart wrenching to read but I believe she wants to be heard. I pray this young lady can continue to heal!
July 12, 2025
After reading “if you tell,” I had higher hopes for this book. The author has completed necessary research on the topic to write the book, however the story line was all over the place and didn’t flow well at all.
I do not DNF books, however I did contemplate doing so while reading this.
I do not DNF books, however I did contemplate doing so while reading this.
March 25, 2026
Really sad and disturbing true crime novel. Is it worth the read? Yes, especially if you read a lot in the genre. But it deals with very tough situations so be warned.
August 2, 2025
Rough read, but a must read. I frequently read true crime, I started with “The Stranger Beside Me” when I was in high school. Why? I grew up in serial killer heyday of the late 70’s/early 80’s at ground zero- the L.A. area. It was on the news, in the newspaper and right in front of me. Reading about it became a way to try to understand I guess.
I chose this book only remembering a little about the story. I read the first chapter or so, and had to put it down as it was so disturbing. I then researched WHY Shasta Groene had cooperated with this book, and saw how crucially important it was to her to not only get to finally tell the whole story herself, but to be HEARD. I finished the book.
I’m not going to lie, I’ve read some stuff, and that was literally the hardest book I ever read. Her resiliency to live through it and to keep putting one foot in front of the other every day, now with 5 children of her own, it such a lesson in courage, trauma, therapy, forgiveness and determination it is beyond what most people can comprehend. I hope this brings her some peace. Compassionately written, her voice is strong throughout. I heard you Shasta. Well done.
I chose this book only remembering a little about the story. I read the first chapter or so, and had to put it down as it was so disturbing. I then researched WHY Shasta Groene had cooperated with this book, and saw how crucially important it was to her to not only get to finally tell the whole story herself, but to be HEARD. I finished the book.
I’m not going to lie, I’ve read some stuff, and that was literally the hardest book I ever read. Her resiliency to live through it and to keep putting one foot in front of the other every day, now with 5 children of her own, it such a lesson in courage, trauma, therapy, forgiveness and determination it is beyond what most people can comprehend. I hope this brings her some peace. Compassionately written, her voice is strong throughout. I heard you Shasta. Well done.
July 22, 2025
5 days for me to read a book with less than 400 pages says just how bad I found it. So much repetition and going from past, present and future with no warning of the change in direction. It was all over the place. Hard to rate being such an horrific true crime committed on an 8yr old girl and the rest of her family. My rating is based solely on the writing, not the actual 2vents that took place
July 15, 2025
This was HEAVY. It broke my heart in so many ways. Some people in this world are so sick and disgusting it just kills me. The poor people affected by this sicko and the failure of the imperfect justice system have many reasons to be angry. I just.... feel so awful. My heart hurts :(
July 6, 2025
Grusome
What was the point of this book? Not a fun read by any stretch of the imagination. Three more words required
What was the point of this book? Not a fun read by any stretch of the imagination. Three more words required
July 24, 2025
Devastating and shocking, this true crime retelling creates intense emotions of downright disgust at the crime, the victims who suffered horrendous atrocities all at the hands of a monster.
Tragedy: catastrophic proportions as two young siblings, ages 8 and 9 bear witness to the slaughter of their mother, brother and step father, in their own home. Whisked away by a deranged stranger hell bent on lascivious plans, all while claiming God told him to the devil’s bidding.
Travesty: infuriating at the greedy people, so desperate to steal from a precious child, a child who somehow kept her wits about herself to survive and then suffer yet another tragedy as everyone’s goal was to get their hands on the money set aside for her therapy, her medical necessities; being taken advantage of by people who were supposed to have her best interests at heart.
Miscarriage of justice: therapists and counselors and one remaining parent, all wanting to heal her but refusing to really listen to her recounting of events, claiming it was too rough to hear? A system of failure, inappropriate therapy sessions, and the only remaining parent, stealing from his daughter’s coffers to “help himself”.
Aftermath: years of self harm through drugs and alcohol, out of control behavior, wanting to talk it out, to maybe clear her mind, to try and find a peace within herself, to be more than just a survivor. Finding a purpose, a resolution within, to feel whole again.
This true crime retelling is presented in a professional manner, handled with as much care as possible, despite the grotesque and disturbing details. The raw emotions that will spring forth at the stark reality of the cruel monsters that walk upright, parading as a man.
Finally: Thanking Shasta Groene, for being so brave, having to endure so much horror at such a tender age, but managing to put evil behind bars and keeping it there, and to protecting future children from monstrous predators.
May she find peace❤️
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for this arc, and a chance to see a warrior through the eyes of her memory.
Tragedy: catastrophic proportions as two young siblings, ages 8 and 9 bear witness to the slaughter of their mother, brother and step father, in their own home. Whisked away by a deranged stranger hell bent on lascivious plans, all while claiming God told him to the devil’s bidding.
Travesty: infuriating at the greedy people, so desperate to steal from a precious child, a child who somehow kept her wits about herself to survive and then suffer yet another tragedy as everyone’s goal was to get their hands on the money set aside for her therapy, her medical necessities; being taken advantage of by people who were supposed to have her best interests at heart.
Miscarriage of justice: therapists and counselors and one remaining parent, all wanting to heal her but refusing to really listen to her recounting of events, claiming it was too rough to hear? A system of failure, inappropriate therapy sessions, and the only remaining parent, stealing from his daughter’s coffers to “help himself”.
Aftermath: years of self harm through drugs and alcohol, out of control behavior, wanting to talk it out, to maybe clear her mind, to try and find a peace within herself, to be more than just a survivor. Finding a purpose, a resolution within, to feel whole again.
This true crime retelling is presented in a professional manner, handled with as much care as possible, despite the grotesque and disturbing details. The raw emotions that will spring forth at the stark reality of the cruel monsters that walk upright, parading as a man.
Finally: Thanking Shasta Groene, for being so brave, having to endure so much horror at such a tender age, but managing to put evil behind bars and keeping it there, and to protecting future children from monstrous predators.
May she find peace❤️
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for this arc, and a chance to see a warrior through the eyes of her memory.
August 4, 2025
Your might remember the story from 2005. A family murdered. The two youngest children missing. Eight-year-old Shasta survived.
I’m always interested in the what comes next for the survivor. Shasta was returned to her father, a highly flawed, addicted man, who should have never been a parent. He stole most of the donations that poured into Shasta, and that was the least awful thing he did.
Shasta bounced around treatment centers, which were also more concerned with the funds allotted for her treatment. As a retired child psychologist I grimaced at the horrible “therapy” she received in these facilities. We’ve heard about these awful treatment centers before in documentaries about facilities now closed. To be fair, I believe few therapists would have heard a story as harrowing as Shasta’s. Even disregarding her family’s murders, which she witnessed, the sadistic psychological, sexual and physical abuse perpetrated against her would be difficult for even the most seasoned therapists to hear. The therapists said Shasta lied and exaggerated the abuse. She was forced to admit to lying (when she was telling the truth) or risk continued taunting from staff and patients.
Only when Shasta was arrested and sent to a juvenile facility did she finally receive the help she needed to let go of the guilt and learn to live as a survivor.
Without a doubt, OUT OF THE WOODS is Gregg Olsen’s finest work
I’m always interested in the what comes next for the survivor. Shasta was returned to her father, a highly flawed, addicted man, who should have never been a parent. He stole most of the donations that poured into Shasta, and that was the least awful thing he did.
Shasta bounced around treatment centers, which were also more concerned with the funds allotted for her treatment. As a retired child psychologist I grimaced at the horrible “therapy” she received in these facilities. We’ve heard about these awful treatment centers before in documentaries about facilities now closed. To be fair, I believe few therapists would have heard a story as harrowing as Shasta’s. Even disregarding her family’s murders, which she witnessed, the sadistic psychological, sexual and physical abuse perpetrated against her would be difficult for even the most seasoned therapists to hear. The therapists said Shasta lied and exaggerated the abuse. She was forced to admit to lying (when she was telling the truth) or risk continued taunting from staff and patients.
Only when Shasta was arrested and sent to a juvenile facility did she finally receive the help she needed to let go of the guilt and learn to live as a survivor.
Without a doubt, OUT OF THE WOODS is Gregg Olsen’s finest work
July 8, 2025
I didn’t finish the book. I had to give it up about 20% in. I felt obligated to continue to read because it was a true story, but the story was hard to follow and the details were more than I could handle.
July 20, 2025
Out of the Woods had potential, but ultimately missed the mark for me. I didn’t hate the story itself. I’m glad Shasta’s story is being told, and I admire Olsen’s effort to stay true to the facts while addressing the aftermath of such a horrific event.
That said, the execution just didn’t land for me. The writing was clunky, the structure confusing, and the constant jumping between timelines and unrelated storylines made it hard to stay engaged. So much of the book dragged before finally getting to what actually happened in the national forest.
What bothered me most though, was how the book seemed more like another avenue to exploit Shasta than to honor her. It lacked real empathy and leaned heavily into brutality without much balance.
I do respect that Olsen didn’t try to wrap this up in a tidy “happily ever after,” but overall, this one left me feeling more uneasy than informed.
That said, the execution just didn’t land for me. The writing was clunky, the structure confusing, and the constant jumping between timelines and unrelated storylines made it hard to stay engaged. So much of the book dragged before finally getting to what actually happened in the national forest.
What bothered me most though, was how the book seemed more like another avenue to exploit Shasta than to honor her. It lacked real empathy and leaned heavily into brutality without much balance.
I do respect that Olsen didn’t try to wrap this up in a tidy “happily ever after,” but overall, this one left me feeling more uneasy than informed.
July 23, 2025
I have read many of Gregg Olsen’s fiction and non-fiction books. Out of the Woods was horrifying, twisted and frightening.
It was such a great decision to use a non-linear timeline to tell Shasta’s story, as the details flowed better in this format and it gave some suspense overall.
Gregg Olsen did such an excellent job getting the painful details, the sordid details and organizing them into Shasta’s life and story. All of the information he included on trauma, generational trauma, its effects and the spider web it weaves throughout your life was so real. No lies or fairytales here. Just the cold hard truths.
Gregg is a man of strength and true talent—he has to be to write these true crime stories with heartbreaking outcomes. He’s inspirational and he’s also a badass because he doesn’t back down from anything.
It was such a great decision to use a non-linear timeline to tell Shasta’s story, as the details flowed better in this format and it gave some suspense overall.
Gregg Olsen did such an excellent job getting the painful details, the sordid details and organizing them into Shasta’s life and story. All of the information he included on trauma, generational trauma, its effects and the spider web it weaves throughout your life was so real. No lies or fairytales here. Just the cold hard truths.
Gregg is a man of strength and true talent—he has to be to write these true crime stories with heartbreaking outcomes. He’s inspirational and he’s also a badass because he doesn’t back down from anything.
August 1, 2025
CAUTION!! before reading this book please understand what you are about to read.
This book obviously took me awhile to read. I did not have a clue what I was getting into and wish I had looked into it before starting. I didn’t realize this was a true story until quite a bit into it. Call me naive. Or delusional to this. But I truly did not realize
This story is disturbing. And shows that even tho a victim may have escaped. There is so so much more that happens after the rescue. It’s just not happy endings and butterflies.
Praying for Shasta after everything she goes through and has gone through. She is stronger than I think she even knows.
This book obviously took me awhile to read. I did not have a clue what I was getting into and wish I had looked into it before starting. I didn’t realize this was a true story until quite a bit into it. Call me naive. Or delusional to this. But I truly did not realize
This story is disturbing. And shows that even tho a victim may have escaped. There is so so much more that happens after the rescue. It’s just not happy endings and butterflies.
Praying for Shasta after everything she goes through and has gone through. She is stronger than I think she even knows.
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