Unexpected

The Backstory of Finding Elizabeth Smart and Growing Up in the Culture of an American Religion

By: Chris Thomas

Narrated by: Chris Thomas, Elizabeth Smart

Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

The backstory of finding Elizabeth Smart and how growing up in the Mormon culture pushed the author to develop the exact kind of intuition that was needed to help manage Elizabeth’s kidnapping and rescue while the world watched.

Chris Thomas is not yet 30 years old when he finds himself managing the immense pressure, eccentric personalities, and extenuating circumstances of an international story, where one small misstep could adversely impact the search for a missing teenager and the reputation of her family. Now, 20 years later, Thomas takes listeners behind the scenes, providing new details, perspectives, and commentary on finding Elizabeth Smart.

In the process of reflecting on Elizabeth’s search and rescue, Thomas discovers how growing up in the culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as Mormon) helped push him to develop the exact kind of intuition needed to manage Elizabeth’s kidnapping and rescue, and to do so while the world watched.

Unexpected juxtaposes crucial events from the Smart case with Thomas’ experience growing up in the Latter-day Saint culture, including coming to understand the secret of a broken war hero before it was too late.

©2023 Chris Thomas (P)2023 Post Hill Press

In the room where it happened

Chris’s experience is really remarkable. I wasn’t sure I was going to like the story with the back and forth with his childhood but, after about chapter four I was completely hooked and it became a real page turner. His perspective is very personal and raw and I forgot how everyone had basically given up on finding her (police included). The childhood piece is a little idealistic at first but, he dives in deeper as the book progresses and brings it full circle in the end. Nicely done.

Elizabeth’s experience during the nine months can’t be compared, it was completely different but this book captures the trauma of a family and community and how they came together and did everything in their power to bring her home.

Fantastic listen.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was extremely well written, had very interesting stories about the authors life which I enjoyed almost more than the parts about his role with the abduction of Elizabeth smart.

Awesome book from a different point of view.

I loved this book!! Chris made his church beliefs an important part of the story. I found the parts about Baker so incredibly tender, it enriched the story in a beautiful way! Great job, Chris!

Much better than expected

At first I was annoyed that the story of Thomas’s neighbor, Baker, kept interrupting the story of finding Elizabeth. But Thomas does such a beautiful job of trying these experiences together that by the end, I was rooting for Thomas and Baker to finally understand each other. So well done and worth the listen.

Couldn’t stop listening

Chris simultaneously focuses in on the complexity of the Elizabeth Smart story, while also sharing his perspective and observations that uniquely prepared him to tell that story.

Fascinating insight

Loved it! Fascinating to read such a familiar story from a different perspective. Thoroughly enjoyed the parallel story of Baker and his influence

Could not stop listening!

This is an amazing perspective on a story I have followed for years. I was a young mother when Elizabeth was abducted and was distraught over what it would be like to lose a child in that way. I have seen Elizabeth speak and have read her book. I am so inspired by her strength and her willingness to not allow the most horrible of circumstances keep her from the positive impact she has had on the world. I LOVED reading Chris’s perspective. He has lived an incredible life and has a true gift for storytelling. I couldn’t stop listening. His insight and explanations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were accurate and handled with respect and absolute truth. I wish there had been a little more detail into Elizabeth’s rescue and how that came to be. Although I’ve heard it before, I felt it didn’t get the justice it deserved in the work. Overall, this is an amazing memoir and I am grateful for the opportunity to have listened to it as it has given much thought into how connected we all are and the opportunities we have to learn from those around us. Thank you Chris and Laura Thomas, and Elizabeth Smart.

Essential for those who know the Elizabeth Smart story well

Loved Chris’ story! The way he wove his childhood into his experience of helping the Smart’s was engaging and well done.

Thank you , Chris for never giving up on your dream of writing this book. It has given me a new perspective on life and loving.

You are an amazing writer and gentle man with integrity and insights about the human race. You did a tremendous work of reading your own words. I loved all the acknowledgments you gave. I love your wife. Thank you

Uplifting and inspiring

This is a story and perspective worth listening to. It's a miraculous and uplifting story.