Stolen : A True Story—Kidnapped, Rescued, Redeemed

A true crime memoir of international abduction, miraculous rescue, and the long road from trauma to forgiveness and redemption.

A true crime memoir of international abduction, miraculous rescue, and the long road from trauma to forgiveness and redemption. At seven years old, Lauren Burns was abducted by her father and taken from her home in Texas. She was flown to the Middle East and thrust into a life she did not recognize with a future she could not understand. What followed was an extraordinary international rescue by a small team of former military operatives and a mother who, refusing to give up, was guided by faith when all legal options had failed. But Stolen is not only the story of a daring rescue; it’s the story of what came after. Returning to the US did not end the fear. Lauren and her mother lived in hiding, changed names, and rebuilt their lives under the shadow of betrayal. Told from the rare perspective of the child at the center of the crime, this memoir explores the lasting impact of trauma, the struggle to reclaim identity, and the painful journey toward forgiveness. As Lauren grows from a frightened child into a woman searching for peace, she reveals what true healing requires—and how redemption can emerge from even the deepest wounds. Gripping, intimate, and ultimately hopeful, Stolen will resonate with readers drawn to true crime, memoir, and stories of faith and resilience. Includes a foreword by Miranda Lambert.