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

Communications consultant Thomas recounts managing media for the family of Elizabeth Smart in the wake of her 2002 kidnapping in this intriguing but unsuccessful debut memoir. Initially volunteering as the Smart family’s media manager, Thomas was later hired full-time and spent the nine months between Elizabeth’s abduction and her return triaging interview requests (a process he describes in perhaps too much detail) while working to keep the case in the public eye. He recounts long, grueling days (“I [had] broken four teeth, unaware that I was grinding them due to... stress”) as the family pushed the police to investigate suspects. Thomas, meanwhile, contended with an ever-growing “media frenzy” and worked to limit journalists’ direct access to the Smarts, especially as public opinion of the family grew “accusatory and complicated” and articles floated Tom Smart, Elizabeth’s uncle, as a suspect. Throughout, Thomas incorporates loosely related childhood memories, including growing up in Latter Day Saints culture, which he suggests helped him develop the “intuition” to navigate Elizabeth’s case. While Thomas might offer just enough behind-the-scenes details—including descriptions of the strange atmosphere of Elizabeth’s return—to satisfy true crime buffs, more casual readers will be put off by the tangents and overly granular discussion of media processes. This adds little to a case that’s seen no shortage of coverage. (Mar.)