A Beautiful Child

A True Story of Hope, Horror, and an Enduring Human Spirit

By: Matt Birkbeck

Narrated by: Skye Borgman

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Sharon Marshall was a brilliant and beautiful student whose future was filled with promise—until her murderous, fugitive father drew her into a lifetime of deception that became one of the most baffling cases in the annals of American true crime.

A student at Forest Park High School near Atlanta, Georgia, popular blonde-haired Sharon Marshall was at the top of her class. Serving as a Lt. Colonel in the ROTC, she earned a full scholarship to Georgia Tech University to study aerospace engineering. She was the ultimate girl next door, sweet, generous, and well-adjusted. But Sharon had disturbing secrets so shocking and unique, they took more than a decade to unravel....

This is the horrifying true story of a mysterious young woman caught in the violent web of the murderous fugitive she called her father—and a heartrending testament to the profound courage and perseverance of one woman trapped in the grip of extreme evil.

©2005 Matt Birkbeck (P)2022 Penguin Audio

very well written, through and heartbreaking too

wish they would add another authors now with an update on the 2005 update.

great book

loved it, very interesting audio book . multi faceted. Nicely written and wonderfully narrated. thanks

Stunning yet sensitively-written true crime

**If you are adopted &/or ate unaware of who your parents are/were or were sexually abused as a child, carefully consideration should be given before listening-this book details the theft of a young woman’s past, present, & future by a monstrous individual who also happened to be a victim or horrendous sexual abuse.**
This is the book behind the Netflix doc, “The Girl in the Picture.” It’s a well-written account of Floyd Franklin, a psychopath (in the truest sense of the word) who stole the 4 year old daughter of his girlfriend while she was briefly incarcerated & then pretended to be her “father” (I use quotation marks because Franklin doesn’t deserve that moniker but it’s the best descriptor for his role in Sharon’s life.)
The most heartbreaking part of the story for me was the several adults who were close enough to Jennifer to know something was wrong & yet did nothing because they “didn’t want to pry.” I’m particularly disgusted with the mother of Sharon’s best friend in high school who repeatedly told the teenager that “if she needed anything, just ask” & is described as loving Sharon “like a daughter” yet when Sharon finally does ask to stay at their home after giving birth as a 17 yo, she’s turned down flat because “they won’t raise another persons child while that person is still alive.” Sharon could’ve been saved & I hope Sue Fisher knows she has blood on her hands. Don’t say things like “if you need anything, let me know” if you can’t or won’t follow through, just don’t. I’ve been a victim of this myself but not where the stakes were anywhere near this high.

Excellent book

This story is both heartbreaking and interesting. It’s a very consuming story, fast read/listen. It’s a scary thought to just how long someone was able to destroy a young girl’s life and essentially get away with it.

Great true crime

One of the best true crime stories I have read. Even though I hate the ending.

Danielle Kirsty Suggested this Book

I have to say that Danielle Kirsty told this story better than the book. The book jumps around a LOT and skips over some really important details of Suzanne's story. (She is known best as Sharon Marshall, but her REAL name is Suzanne) The book goes into detail on the background of the investigators but not so much information on her friends or the fathers of her 3 children. Since Suzanne is not able to tell this story herself, so many details are just missing in general which is why they spend a lot of time fluffing up the book with information that isn't important. (Talking about the man who found the pictures under the truck and his background, ETC) Honestly, if you are interested in this story and want the maximum details available presented to you in a clear and concise way, you should watch Danielle Kirtsy's video on YouTube instead.

Tragically amazing

I listened to this book after watching the z Netflix movie. Such a tragic heartbreaking story that makes you question everything.

Heartbreaking Story

Perhaps the saddest story I've ever read. It's unimaginable what Sharon went through in her short life.

A true testament to an amazing, beautiful person who accomplished so much and touched so many under extremely difficult circumstances.

My heart aches for everyone involved in this story.

Remarkable book

I couldn’t stop listening and Skye Bergman made it very easy to listen to. She is remarkable. I MUST for everyone

Fascinatingly horrible story, unimaginable how sick some humans are.

As terrible a story as this was, it was certainly astonishing to hear all the outlandish things this man did to this lil girl, who then became a woman. And so sad she never had the guts to speak out to someone early on to save herself from this life.
I thought it was well written and well narrated. Enjoyed the listen, as weird as that is. I love true crime.