The Woman in the Strongbox

Missing collection

By: Maureen O'Hagan

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 1 hr and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

In this tantalizing true mystery of a stolen life, an acclaimed reporter and an identity theft investigator follow a series of incredible revelations about the actual identity of a wife, mother, and friend turned perfect stranger.

Days after Lori Ruff’s suicide, her family discovered her hidden strongbox containing stunning evidence that her entire life had been invented. Her real identity was buried so deep it would take five years to unearth. Who was Lori Ruff?

Maureen O’Hagan’s The Woman in the Strongbox is part of Missing, a collection of six true stories about finding, restoring, or accepting the losses that define our lives - from the mysterious to the inspiring. Each story can be listened to in a single sitting.

©2018 Maureen O'Hagan (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved

thoroughly engaging

I felt that the story was well-crafted, and well narrated. It's the longest story in the Missing series and I had been expecting it to wind to conclusion at around the 1-hour mark. I think that that added to my enjoyment - because everything that came after that felt like a bonus. The story *could* have wrapped up earlier... but I felt that it was good story-telling to keep adding little temptations to keep the reader engaged.

I'd not normally choose or listen to something like this, but I am glad that I did.

a good missing person story

I struggled with the climax, it was very repetitive and finally the last 5 minutes told you how it happened. just drug out too long for my taste.

Identity

Why would she change her identity? Was she hiding from someone who abused her?

Couldn't hold my interest

this sort of story this is not my thing. it just doesn't hold my interest.

Interesting short story

I am very sensitive to the voices of the narrators in audio books. They can make or break a book for me. This narrator has a cadence and an inflection I find distracting. If the book was any longer I could not have finished it, but I stuck with it because it was intriguing and interesting.

Strange, Sad and Fascinating Tale

This short and true story of the young wife and mother who ultimately shot and killed herself in front of her in-laws house is one of the strangest and saddest I've ever heard. I couldn't stop listening as the story of Lori Ruff's short life unfolded and bit by bit came apart. The further the family and investigators dug into her past, the more bizarre it became . . . like a real life Alice down the rabbit hole, without explanation as to the reasons for her choices. I was very impressed by the many people who care for, look for and respect people like Lori, who for whatever deep personal reasons that we can never understand leave behind a life and a family. We will never know what went on in the deepest parts of the young girl's heart, how on earth at age 18 she had the courage and wherewithal to walk away and SURVIVE, but I appreciate the telling of her story.

Heartbreaking

This story makes me wish I could have been there for both Kim and Lori.

Very interesting

Very well presented true story. It is interesting how the process works and I really enjoy short books on occasion.

Lack luster ending.

It was interesting to follow and full of facts and timelines. Great for those interested in mysteries full of detail. It seemed to all build to an ending that lacked the time spent on developing the plot. Wouldn’t listen to/read again.

What a strange mystery

This story is unsolved, but so well worth listening too. Are there signs in people that we should be looking at closer, paying more attention too? Maybe yes. This is a good story!