Book Description Review “In 2006, Kentucky attorney Muse, the author of this harrowing, cautionary tale that juxtaposes crisp, clear writing with court transcripts, was kidnapped and beaten by Larry Morrison, a former client she barely remembered…. Though finally given life in prison, Morrison will be eligible for parole in 2026. Advice on how to be one’s own advocate is a bonus. This gripping, fast-paced account leaves the reader wondering: could this happen to me?”—Publishers Weekly starred review “Sharon Muse takes her readers on a deep dive into fear and danger. As a trial attorney who becomes a crime victim, she shares a perspective few others can, and when she finds her voice and her power, she teaches others how to do the same.” —Gavin de Becker, bestselling author, The Gift of Fear “Sharon Muse’s Kidnapped by a Client is a page-turning and terrifying account of an attorney’s unimaginable ordeal of being kidnapped and nearly murdered by a dangerously obsessed former client. The author brings a keen eye and perceptive fast-paced recounting of the desperate battle, not only for her life, but for her case as it precariously wound its way through the court systems where justice can often be elusive.”—Susan Fensten, author of You Have A Very Soft Voice, Susan: A Shocking True Story of Internet Stalking “A thoroughly compelling true crime story—a brutal attack, an attorney victim expecting justice to be done, and her disturbing ride through the broken criminal justice system. Sharon Muse’s account of her long quest for justice and personal safety is gripping and multi-faceted, and a deeply insightful look into what it means to be a victim, an advocate, and a person striving for spiritual understanding in the face of violence and injustice.”—Pamela Everett, author of Little Shoes: The Sensational Depression-Era Murders That Became My Family’s Secret “Muse takes the reader on a raw transparent journey into the depths of fear, the criminal justice system, and the faith to survive it – challenging readers to consider their own journeys and how to triumph over tragedy to thrive in a life of forgiveness.” —Kyle Idleman, Senior Pastor at Southeast Christian Church and author of not a fan and Don’t Give Up Read more About the Author Sharon R. Muse, JD is the commonwealth attorney for Kentucky’s 14th Judicial District. She has a BA in Psychology from the University of Kentucky, a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Louisville, specialized training in the legal field, and extensive training in effects of trauma on the brain. She works with experts in self-protection, trauma, and grief counseling. Muse teaches classes and speaks to groups about self-protection and assists victims as they navigate the legal system. Read more Customers Review: The Publishers Weekly Red Star Review was well deserved! It was a page-turning read even though I was the judge in the case. As a judge, the only information you get to know is what is said in the courtroom. Sharon’s harrowing account is a shocking behind-the-scenes look at her experience as a crime victim. I recommend everyone read it!
This well-written true crime story tells of a kidnapping and near murder and rape of a successful attorney and her battle with a corrupt and broken “criminal’s justice system.” Sharon Muse’s relentless spirit is something to which we can all aspire.I can not put this book down! I have already recommended this to friends and family. A must read!
What an interesting read! There were so many emotions – fear, sadness, vindication, elation! I just couldn’t get enough. And it inspired me that the human spirit can recover through God’s help and turn something so unbelievably tragic into such an inspiration. Thank you for this book!
This book is a sensationalized account of a kidnapping that occurred in Kentucky in 2006. The author is Sharon Muse, a lawyer as well as the victim. The book follows the crime, the investigation, and the subsequent jury trial. In 2011, the prosecutors convicted the Defendant of kidnapping and he was sentenced to Life. The jury acquitted the Defendant of the less serious offense of sexual abuse.The author claims that her account is an “incredible true story”. But to me it seems like a crude mix of fact and fiction, and I suspect that the author’s primary purpose in writing this book is one of self-promotion. For this reason I give the book one star.The title of the book — “Kidnapped by a Client” — is ill-suited. I understand the kidnapping part, but what about the client part? The author tells us painfully little about her prior representation of the Defendant. What was the Defendant charged with? How much experience did the author have handling criminal cases? The author, by her own admission, was “fresh out of law school” at the time. (See p.12) What happened in court? Why did another lawyer end up representing the Defendant? The author doesn’t offer satisfactory answers to any of these very important questions.It’s almost like the author doesn’t want us to know very much about her prior representation of the Defendant. That in itself is suspicious.The author gives us an extensive account of the kidnapping. I am skeptical though as to certain parts of her narrative. The Defendant, no doubt, is a dangerous man and there’s no question that he had bad intentions. But is the Defendant really the obsessed sociopath that the author makes him out to be?The author explains that the Defendant threatened her as she escaped her car. This is the exact threat — “I will kill you. It doesn’t matter if you get away. I’m going to kill you. It may be tomorrow, it may be next year, but I will kill you.” (See p.26)This threat sounds contrived, like something the author came up with years after the incident to make her book more marketable. It sounds too much like something out of “Cape Fear”. So I considered the question, did the author actually report this threat to the authorities?Did the author report the threat to the deputies at the scene or to the hospital staff at the emergency room? The answer to both appears to be “No”. (See p.42 & p.55)The discerning reader will notice that the author does not include a transcript of her recorded statement to the State Police Trooper (made the day of the incident) or her subsequent written statements to law enforcement. Furthermore, the author omits large portions of her direct testimony to the jury. Why would she do this?I suspect that the author never reported the threat to law enforcement. This would explain why the authorities did not charge the Defendant with attempted murder. I also suspect that the author did not tell the jury about the threat. I couldn’t find that part in her book.In addition, I doubt that the author told the authorities that day about the hammer, duct tape, and rope which were supposedly in the Defendant’s green duffle bag. If she had, wouldn’t law enforcement have made it a top priority to collect the bag and examine its contents? Likewise, I doubt that the author told the jury about the “contents” of the green duffle bag. I just couldn’t seem to find that part in her book.In my opinion, the author is embellishing the story.The author describes a brutal attack that occurred in her car. She notes her many injuries — skin and hair ripped from her skull, back badly bruised, deep cuts, bloody scratches on her chest, bruises and scrapes covering the right side of her body, etc…The author, however, drops her guard and tells us that she went to an Etta James concert the next day. The day after that she drove to the grocery store by herself and went shopping. This makes me doubt the author was injured as badly as she claims.The discerning reader will notice that the author does not include her hospital records or pictures of her injuries. Do her hospital records contradict her account of a horrible beating? If so, then the author’s narrative collapses.Describing herself as “a lawyer savvy in the institution of law” (See p. ix), the author presents herself as a skilled trial attorney. But when she found herself the victim of a crime, the author, it seems, did not really know the reputation of the top prosecutor’s office in her circuit. (See p.83) This is telling, and I suspect that the author had had minimal experience dealing with serious criminal cases.Still, the author acts like she’s the sage of legal wisdom, and her incessant, petty attack on the prosecutors is annoying. It’s strange, but she seems to go out of her way to be nasty to the prosecutors. I don’t get it. The “good ol’ boy” prosecutors could have dismissed the case. Instead the prosecutors took the bad guy to trial and nailed him to the wall — Life on kidnapping.I could address the author’s frivolous complaints against the prosecutors ad nauseam. Instead I’ll just focus on the biggest one.The author laments that the prosecutors “failed to address the sexual abuse during trial.” (See p.249) I find this difficult, if not impossible, to believe. If the prosecutors had not offered evidence of sexual abuse, the judge would have directed a verdict of not guilty. This, of course, did not happen. This means that the prosecutors did in fact present evidence of sexual abuse, so much so that the judge made a legal determination that a reasonable juror could find the Defendant guilty of that charge. This is basic criminal procedure.Finally, it’s somewhat disconcerting how the author more than hints that she is romantically interested in the judge. It’s really strange, but it probably explains why she appears so reluctant to write anything negative about him. If you look at pages 147-148, you’ll see that the Kentucky Supreme Court reversed one of the judge’s rulings. This led to a delay in the trial of almost four years. The author, however, gently covers for the judge by pointing out that the Supreme Court’s ruling was a “split decision” and would have been different but for the vote of one justice. She’s not at all upset with him. But can you even begin to imagine how indignant the author would be if the prosecutors had caused a four-year delay in the trial?In sum, the author claims that her account is an “incredible true story”. To me, though, it reads like a cheap mix of fact and fiction. It appears that the author is doing everything possible to promote her book and herself, even at the expense of those who fought for her and won. I find this repugnant. I don’t buy her sensationalized account, and I do not recommend this book.
I read a lot of true crime books and this one was written in a way that I actually did enjoy. I was very caught up in the story up until a certain point, somewhere around the actual trial it became harder to enjoy. That is a challenge all crime books probably have to overcome, writing about a trial in a way that keeps the reader interested. Sometimes even if the facts are interesting they can be written about in a boring way. The story aside, I also started to feel like I didn’t really like Ms. Muse’s personality much. Maybe it was just the way the story was written but it’s hard to continue a read when I start finding I don’t really like the main character. As it happened I actually didn’t finish the entire book, maybe one day I’ll go back and finish it but, just for now, I’m done.
I had one question the entire book I still have. There was a “wad of money” which disappeared. The duffle bag was not retrieved. The cops really did not follow protocols and declined to do what they needed. I felt they lied. Therefore I question that they were paid off with the cash he had. Was this ever investigated?
Wow. What a page turner! The author, Sharon Muse, does an incredible job telling her story of being kidnapped by a client and the physical, emotional and spiritual repercussions she experienced as a result. As a lawyer, she has a unique point of view of the criminal justice system; or as she refers to it: “the criminal’s justice system.”
Incredible book by author Sharon Muse. The author truly shares her experience in a way that you know she lived through something truly traumatic and came out victorious. I was captivated from first page through the end. With the end of the book and knowing this is a true story, I am so thankful to know she has had a thriving life. This is truly a must read! |
23 reviews