Kidnapped: A Personal Account of John Doe #2, Oklahoma Bombing – April 19, 1995

There is that thrill that comes with reading stories based on real-life events. The chilling story of Judith Anne Warner’s encounter with a  dangerous man who was part of the Oklahoma Bombing on April 19, 1995, is told in a captivating manner, that the reader feels like the events are happening in real time.

The author begins the book by introducing herself to the reader. This was a great start, as it gave the reader an insight of who Judith Anne Warner is, her experiences and what life had been to her. She tells of her childhood, the relationship between her parents, growing up moving around, lowest points of her life and much more. I loved reading Judith’s story especially since it was told in the first person. Her talking about her life had me feeling like she was narrating her story to me on a one on one basis. Her parents’ failed marriage, her unsuccessful marriage despite marrying when 17, the birth of her son and her divorce made me emotional.

The story of Carlos was interesting. His relationship to president Lemus of El Salvador Che Guevara and his experience fighting made a good read. The Cuban revolution in Latin America was exciting to read, especially if you are a lover of history. The author also wrote a little about Fidel Castro and the spread of communism. The book is basically divided into four parts; The story of Judith, The story of Carlos, Woman in chains, The Road to oblivion, and Appendices. All the five parts have two to seventeen chapters which impressively describe Judith’s journey.

The author tells of her experience with Carlos Parraga, a dangerous man who had fought with Che Guevara and trained as a Guerilla in Latin America. The Oklahoma bombing of 1995 came as a shock to Judith not only because children had died and many lives lost, but also because she recognized the picture of John Doe #2, one of the men who had orchestrated the attack. The man was Carlos. Judith couldn’t help but think of all the days she had been held captive, and what could have become of her daycare. She, later on, changed her name after giving the FBI every information that helped in the arrest of Carlos.

Judith’s life was far from smooth. I could feel the intensity of every her story as I read page after page. She is an amazing writer and a good storyteller. You can never get bored no matter how many times you read this book.

I love the style of narration and how she gave the details. This book is an amazing read that will have you overwhelmed with emotions every time you read about a new event. Anyone who enjoys an adventurous and exciting read will totally love this book. I’d rate it with 4 out of 5 stars