Out of the Woods

A Girl, a Killer, and a Lifelong Struggle to Find the Way Home

De: Gregg Olsen

Narrado por: Karen Peakes

From a girl’s abduction by a serial killer to the harrowing aftermath—a gripping and heart-wrenching true-crime story by Gregg Olsen, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of If You Tell.

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.

Out of the Woods is the haunting and intimate true-crime story of one of the most notorious criminal cases in American history—and a young woman’s journey to reclaim her life in its wake.

©2025 by Gregg Olsen. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Olsen, a prolific and popular author of multiple true-crime books and fictional mysteries, became close to his subject over several years. His chief concern here is to tell the story of the therapeutic work Shasta did to try to find her way “out of the woods” of her trauma. He weaves that somewhat hopeful story together with the nauseatingly disturbing details of the crime, each parallel path unfolding through the book, dropping hints along the way of ever worse revelations to come.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Novelist and true crime author Olsen (The Amish Wife) paints a heartbreaking portrait of a woman haunted by her narrow escape from a serial killer…As in Olsen’s previous works of nonfiction, there’s plenty of rigorous research on display, but it’s his empathetic consideration of what happens to high-profile victims after news cameras stop rolling that sets this apart…It’s moving stuff.”—Publishers Weekly

“Prolific true-crime author Olsen offers another exemplary narrative of unimaginable trauma that packs an emotional punch.”—Booklist

The resilience of an eight year old girl.

Warning: This is a book about children sexual assault.
If you are not prepared to read about the heinous, horrendous, awful, unspeakable or shocking things done to children. Don’t read this book.

This book follows Shasta Greene from the horrific night in May of 2005 when Joseph Edward Duncan III murdered her family and abducted her and her 9 year old brother.

Olsen’s demonstrates his mastery again of True Crime story telling.

very difficult but so worth it

This is an incredible yet horrific true story of survival by a child who outsmarted a maniacalserial killer. The writing is excellent and gives great psychological insight. Shasta is an amazing human being and shows a strength beyond human understanding.

Disturbing but good

Some very raw and disturbing content, but because this is a true story, it gets 5 stars. No one should have to endure what this child went through.

SHOCKING!!!

The saddest story ever and I will pray for the little girl that had everything taken from her!

So devastating

This book broke my heart all over again. I remember when this tragedy happened and I was living in Twin Lakes, Idaho. I had two small children and my husband worked out of town at the time. I was terrified there was a murder on the loose. Those two precious children he kidnapped Shasta & Dylan…our whole community prayed they would be found!

So the day Shasta was spotted by that brave waitress at Denny’s our whole community felt relief….but very sad that Dylan was not with her.

Over the years she’s always crept back into my thoughts….and I always wondered how life was going for her…I could only imagine it wasn’t easy.

I am so proud of her for telling her truth…her story…even though it was absolutely horrific and heartbreaking to read! It was her words, her strength that has gotten her this far in life!

Love those 5 boys of your Shasta! You will always be in PRAYERS ❤️🙏❤️🙏

I remember this well!

being from idaho, I remember this well! it was big news here. To hear Shasta tell her true story not just the things I read in the news breaks my heart again for that family. that girl is Idaho strong!

What a book!

Greg Olsen is an excellent author, although he just put these words to paper. This is a tragic story of a family and a vile disgrace of a human. I had to stop listening for a few days, because of what I had heard from this book. I couldn't imagine any child dealing with a tenth of a percent of this trauma. If you have any triggers from abuse do not listen. I just finished and I am shook, stay strong Shasta!

Remarkable story told in unvarnished detail

The book neither paints a glittering view of Shasta’s survival, nor takes anything away from all that has been and will be.

Astounding

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

Difficult Listen

This is a brutal story of a spectacularly strong child and the woman she became told with insight and compassion. I had to take breaks from the story when it got to be too much. The author talks about hope in the end and captured my exact thoughts. We hope because without it there is only despair. I hope Shasta finds her peace and stability.