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By J. Brennan October 5, 2007
Important message for young travelers, but book lacks substance by not correcting her public false statements.
What an interesting story Beth tells in her book. The problem I am having is based on some of what I know; her stories differed in many instances from what she has told previously. That is what has plagued this case, so many stories, what to believe? Most people however, will read this and feel her pain. And there is nothing wrong with that. Because, after reading this book, I do believe that the Aruban authorities in many instances were not doing all they could for Natalee's family. If even half of the incidents are true that Beth writes about, regarding those first few days, it is really a sad tale for any parent to have to deal with, if their child is missing. I certainly came away from certain parts of the book quite unsettled over what they faced down there. So, from that part of the book, I will give Beth the benefit of the doubt, in relation to the law enforcement. About that, Beth and Dave have many good reasons to be outraged! Everyone has to be careful though where we allow our precious young people to travel. Many, many places, not just Aruba, are also incapable of handling such a disappearance. When anyone travels out of the United States, they have to realize that they are beyond the protection of our government, so that decision should be made before the trip and prior to trouble arising.
There is so much about the book that just does not seem to ring quite true to the Beth we saw nightly on TV. It makes you wonder, what she is up to now? I have a feeling, based on the way this book was written, she does have some deviously, interesting plans in her future (perhaps a new religious career). I think those plans are much more grandiose than her hastily created "safe travels" organization.
For me though, she really offers nothing for what she thinks happened to Natalee, other than the rehash of those statements, which she has been referencing for years now. And what do we know for sure about them? Were they signed, were they legit, what were the questions asked to get the answers stated, do we know anything about any of that? No, and neither does Beth, for sure. She is still going down the same road that has led to nothing so far; same old "original perpetrators" and the "going in and out of consciousness," (a phrase she made up out of whole cloth) that we have been hearing forever! She also fails to mention the Skeeters recordings and explain how she heard things that clearly were not there to be heard. In my opinion, she needed to deal with some of that, since it was what she seemed so outraged about for almost a year. So, no revelations at all regarding the case! In the summer of 2005, she said she had information that "would shock the world." I am still waiting!