Rust & Stardust

Release Date: Aug. 7th 2018
Camden, NJ, 1948. When 11 year-old Sally Horner steals a notebook from the local Woolworth's, she has no way of knowing that 52 year-old Frank LaSalle, fresh out of prison, is watching her, preparing to make his move. Accosting her outside the store, Frank convinces Sally that he’s an FBI agent who can have her arrested in a minute―unless she does as he says.

This chilling novel traces the next two harrowing years as Frank mentally and physically assaults Sally while the two of them travel westward from Camden to San Jose, forever altering not only her life, but the lives of her family, friends, and those she meets along the way.

Based on the experiences of real-life kidnapping victim Sally Horner and her captor, whose story shocked the nation and inspired Vladimir Nabokov to write his controversial and iconic Lolita, this heart-pounding story by award-winning author T. Greenwood at last gives a voice to Sally herself.


Before even starting this book I had very mixed feelings about. I wanted to read it because it's compared to Lolita (the real story of Sally is the inspiration for Lolita), with the title itself being a quote from the book. I was also super hesitant though because it's based on a true story. For me book that depict real events of pedophilia, rape, mass shootings, either turn out really wonderful and leave me in tears, cursing humanity, or the author romanticizes the crime to the point where I want to throw the book at their face, repeatedly.
This book was the former. I hate hate hate this book, and I mean that in the best possible way. After reading this my heart has been torn apart, for the fiction Sally Horner, and the real one whose life paralleled these events. This book will want you to hold your children close if you have them, it will make you curse and hate everybody that had ever hurt a child. This is an absolutely heartbreaking tale of a girl whose life was destroyed before she had a chance to really live.
I loved the different view points in this book. Although the majority of the chapters were Sally, we got to hear from her family back home, and the family she tried to piece together during those awful years. I loved these chapters. The hope, the agonizing, the glimpses of these other lives happening around Sally.
The secrets her skin kept now, the horror that flowed in her veins.
The most terrifying part of this book is when Sally blames herself. It's a story you hear over and over again. She constantly blames herself for the situation she's in, she's scared she'll go to jail if she tells anyone. These thoughts made the story so much more real, and really made you believe you were in the head of this poor 11 year old girl.
I started crying before it ended because I knew what happened in real life. Even though this is a work of fiction, I knew that T. Greenwood would not insult the real Sally by giving her fictionalized version a happy ending. The ending is absolutely awful, and will break you're heart if you don't know what happened.
certain she had hit the bottom, the ocean floor, the weight suddenly lifted from her chest, and she was light, ascending, dizzy and disoriented. The sky of water becoming a sky of stars. She was suspended, floating.
This was beautifully written, and each character definitely had a distinct voice, helping the story flow better than I ever could have imagined. I'm so in love with this book and I still have tears in my eyes.
5//5 Owls 🦉🦉🦉🦉🦉

The ARC was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story of Sally Horner, the inspiration for Nabokov's book Lolita. Gripping, heart-wrenching and ultimately unputdownable.

This book shines on every level: sentence after sentence is beautiful and precise. The characters are complicated and sympathetic, the ideas are sweeping and profound, but are never too overt. It’s a rare novel that is as accomplished in its meaning as it is in its storytelling while also succeeding wildly on the language level as well! A novel to lose yourself in and then reflect upon again and again.

When a book opens with a quote from Lolita, you know you are in for a disturbing and heartbreaking story. Even the title, Rust and Stardust, comes from a poem Humbert wrote for Dolores Haze. Reading the first chapter convinced me that I don't need to stop to sleep, eat or answer my phone, I simply devoured this book in 4 hours! I am still shaken, especially after seeing images of true protagonists of this story, real people long gone now. If these dramatic stories didn't exist in real life, I wonder if writers would be able to create them on their own?

The story is about Sally Horner, a girl kidnapped by a proven child molester. She was just 11 years old and gullible as one can be at that age. He tricked her into believing he was from the FBI and took her with him. They spent almost 3 years together. There are not many testimonies from the two of them, so the majority of the book is fiction, but the facts are proven and true. This made me so upset while reading, because I had to google those facts after every chapter, just to make sure that this is how it really went down!

We get a glimpse of Sally's life, but also what it might have been for her mother and sister, her friends and people who met her along the way. The amount of guilt that everyone harbors after such traumatic event is because everyone is responsible for this. Turning your heads away because it's to complicated to raise your voice, not wanting to believe just because it sounds messed up and sick, makes every person in a community and country partially responsible for letting these kinds of things happen. I even remembered some minor events that I witnessed during my lifetime and I felt guilty as hell, just because of this book!

I loved a voice that T. Greenwood gave to Sally. She really was just a girl, naive, scared and easy to manipulate. While reading, I had to remind myself that this was a child, not an adult who knew what is the proper way to defend yourself or find an escape. I had to remember what it was like to think that every adult is smart and important, that you listen when they speak and you do as you are told. I personally hated the mother, but not for the lack of good writing! Her character was despicable, but I guess that was just me. Her reasons and driving forces were well explained and I enjoyed this author very, very much! Other characters were also magnificent, each one was there for a reason and I loved them.

I almost rated this book a 4, because there were things that just didn't sound believable to me. Then I remembered, this was 1948! Even the police couldn't perform then what I can do now on my smartphone. After reminding myself of this, I felt even more how helpless those people were and how lucky we are today for all the resources and science progress we have.

I am not the one for tears while reading (unless the book is Call Me by Your Name, then I'm a mess), but the ending will move even the toughest 'I've seen it all' readers. It was truly emotional and deep and I will remember this story for a long time. When you close the book and read the last page, only then you get the meaning of the red fabric on the cover of this book. Oh my God! Symbolism at its finest!

This is a beautifully written book, based on the real life story that spawned Lolita. It is gripping from the very beginning, and doesn’t let you go until the very end. You will find yourself feeling the full spectrum of emotions while reading this, much of which will be heartache and even anger, but it is completely worth the read!

It’s incredibly difficult to review such a heartbreaking book but all credit to the author for making a magnificent read. So very beautifully written and done with such sensitivity...hard to think how this could ever happen and the fact it’s based on a true story makes it even harder ..5 great big stars and many many thanks to the author for a wonderful read.

Great read!! I couldn't believe how easily this girl's life completely changed, just like that. You find yourself saying run!! get out of there while you can!! kick him..call someone. It is HARD to not get emotionally involved in this book. All the people she meets along the way, I just can't believe it took so long for her to speak up. I liked that this book was not super detailed about the rape scenarios. I did think there were a few parts that really were too much detail. Too much on and on about stuff you have already figured out earlier in the book. I really enjoyed the book, it was a page turner for sure! And that ending...jeez. Never saw that coming..

I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the opportunity!

T. Greenwood is a virtuoso of a writer at this point in her career. In Rust & Stardust, she pulls off the feat of bringing to life a sordid but important tale. It’s never been more timely and she presents the victim’s POV from the real-life story of Lolita so deeply that it’s impossible not to be affected. It’s a page-turner, too. Go back and read her other books if you like this one, she’s truly a great writer.

This book was so heart wrenching. To know that its based off true events makes it all the more tragic.



Sally only wants to have friends. She doesn't understand why nobody likes her and when the chance appears to become friends with the popular girls, she jumps at it. Never could she have imagined what she would have to endure for years to come.



I think what really got to me was how Sally's story ended. I won't give anything away, but it made my heart ache for her even more.



A heart wrenching story that will leave you hugging your kids tight.

As the description says, this is probably one of the most gripping and heart-wrenching novels I've read this year. It's hard to imagine this happening to an 11-year-old girl. Truly an unbelievable and tragic story. The author blends historical detail and fiction to create the perfect balance. The tension builds as the plot develops. to a point where the reader feels as helpless as the characters. I will admit there were a few instances in which I wanted to shake the police into action as I was so incredibly frustrated by their incompetence! The subject matter is not an emotionally easy one as it focuses on the kidnapping and sexual abuse of a child but the book itself is incredibly well written and extremely hard to put down. Yes!! Read this book if the plot is of interest to you.

Very fast paced and very intriguing. I enjoyed how it kept me hooked and it was an original story. Nowadays so many books read the same. Highly recommend

Sally Horner is under peer pressure because she wants to join her friends club and they want her to steal something from the local Woolworths store in Camden, New Jersey. This happened in the 1940's. She decides to steal a composition notebook and doesn't realize that Frank LaSalle is watching her. He was released from prison. Sally is only eleven years old and he abducts Sally, convincing her that he is a F.B.I agent, and can have her arrested in a minute, unless she does what he says.

This is based on the real life story that inspired Vladimir Nabokov to finish Lolita.
This is every parents nightmare and it is a heartbreaking novel. Frank LaSalle is a monster. Sally doesn't want anyone to know that she is kidnapped, and keeps secrets, because she is in fear that something worst could happen to her, and her family.

This is such a heartbreaking novel based on a true story that is every parents nightmare. Some true stories don't have a happily after. Even though this wasn't a happy story, I loved it. This is a historical novel and I am loving them more and more. It was a very suspenseful book.

I thought the author did a really excellent job on her characters. Sally was very naive but she also was a smart girl for her age. The author did a great job on Sally's emotions and actions. Sally led a tragic life. My heart went out to Sally and her family.

It was very difficult to read at times and I don't think this story will leave me anytime soon after reading it. It was a little dark and disturbing.

I thought it was very well written and it flowed so well. I read Where I Lost Her and thought that book was outstanding and I thought this one was done, just as good as that book. This one is a must read. I want to read all of her books. If you haven't read any of this authors books, go ahead and read one. It will give you an awesome reading experience.


I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and T. Greenwood for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There should be a warning on this book--"Read at your own risk" or "Do not read this book unless you want your emotions to be shaken, stirred, chewed up and spit out". The fact that this book is based on a true story makes it even more heart wrenching. The writing was superb--did I "enjoy" what I was reading-heck, no. But, the author's way of relating a story will stay with me for a long time. I don't like to summarize a books plot usually in my reviews because you can just read the book blurb for that --T. Greenwood you really wrecked me with this book.

Thank you go NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book.

T. Greenwood's Rust and Stardust broke my heart. I read it anyway. She tore at my soul. I read it anyway. She dangled threads of redemption that were swatted away before I could even catch my breath. I read it anyway. My heart broke, mended, broke again, and still, I kept turning pages. Unlike other stories I've read that lay unfinished, flung against the wall or otherwise ignored, T. Greenwood's version of this true crime story would not let me go. It is deftly told through the lens of Sally Horner, a young girl stolen from her mother, abused and tortured, both the girl and her family's lives changed forever. Greenwood continues to tread in those waters where other authors dare not go, her compassionate and gentle hand pulls back the curtain and yet shields us from the total torment of Horner with her prose. For this reader, it is a cautionary tale and a reason for speaking out and speaking up. Do not bury your head in the sand if you notice something amiss, as so many did with Sally. There are few books that transform you during the read. Rust and Stardust is multi-layered and beautifully written, and not for the faint-hearted.

This book was haunting and uncomfortable but so well done. Rust & Stardust depicts the "real-life Lolita" scenario where a man lures a young girl away from her mother to travel across the country. I can see why this book may not be for everyone, but this book gets 5 huge stars from me.

The news story that inspired the book Lolita....Sally Horner was a sweet young girl, just trying to fit in. When peer pressure ensues, Sally is abducted by a man claiming he is from the FBI. The year is 1948 and this is the story of what happened to Sally. The author points out at the end that she was capitivated by this story and did a lot of research, however this story is fiction, based on real events. Extremely well written and had great character development with the people Sally encountered throughout the country and her family back home awaiting her return. The overall story of Sally Horner is tragic and sad, and this book pulled me in from the beginning. Highly recommend!

Beautifully written and heart-wrenching. Un-put-down-able! This book is based on the real life kidnapping of Sally Horner. This really happened. It's not another made up story to grab the readers attention with horrible things. It is real life. Sally really existed, she was really kidnapped. Simply astounding. 5/5

How does one give 5 stars to such a heart-wrenching story. When it is so beautifully written with the both the horror of the story and the beauty of the women we encounter throughout the story. The balance in which the author writes of the trauma inflicted on this 11 year old child, her family left behind, the people she encounters, and the sickness of her abductor was masterful. While there is no misgiving as to what is happening to Sally, the authors writes with a beacon of hope. The kindness of strangers and the fragility of innocence shine brightly in this tale. The faith that Al has in Sally's eventual return and his unwavering loyalty to her memory was a moving part of the story for me. How he was able to see the fragility in his mother in law and wife and helped them cope was redemptive next to the wretchedness of her abductor. . Add to this all is that it is based on truth and the true story what helped inspire Lolita to be written and hence from where the title of the book comes from. Thank you Net Galley for this early look at Rust & Stardust. Once I picked it up it was hard to put down and I highly recommend it as a great read.

This book is based on the true story that inspired the novel, Lolita, about a young girl named Sally Horner who was tricked, kidnapped, and held captive by a serial pedophile for roughly two years. The author tells Sally's story with grace and tenderness, drawing the reader into her innocent world infiltrated, yet never quite shattered, by the harrowing experiences she endured. I highly recommend this book.

Years ago, I read Nabokov’s Lolita and thought that it was a masterful piece of literature. There must have been some note or afterword telling the readers that it was based on the real life abduction of Sally Horner, but knowing me, I didn’t read it. Or maybe I did read it, and promptly struck it from my memory.

So when I saw this book on Netgalley, I was shocked to learn about 11 year old Sally Horner and her 50 year old abductor. This is an important book, because whatever you personally think about Nabokov and Lolita, his is a novel about the abductor, seen through the abductor’s eyes and his twisted logic. Here we see Sally through her eyes as she survives her devastating captivity. We also get POVs of her mother, sister, brother-in-law, a classmate that unwittingly put Sally in Frank’s snare, a nun at a Catholic school, and a woman who suspects something terrible is happening to Sally. We see the failure of the police to take the case seriously, and how each of her family members react to Sally’s absence.

My reaction to books (and yes, all sorts of media) has changed since becoming a parent. I have a daughter, and while she’s still a toddler, I can easily imagine her at 11. I also remember myself at 11, with my unicorn notebooks and teddy bears. So reading this novel was harrowing, but Sally’s voice shone through in beautiful, simple prose, and as I wrote before, I think that is so important.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an ARC.

Apparently 2018 is going to be the year where I read all the things I don’t typically choose to read because generally when it comes to books that fall under the “Historical Fiction” umbrella I’d say I don't care for it. Either that, or it’s the year that it officially is confirmed that I'm the "stupid" all of those "I'm with stupid" t-shirts are referring to because not only was this Historical Fiction that I really liked, but apparently it was also the story behind the inspiration to Lolita (which I read waaaaaaaay before GR (like in the stone age) so maybe there’s an excuse for me not remembering the “And the rest is rust and stardust” quote - also if you’re curious about the 3 Star rating I gave, it came from not being a fan of Nabokov’s prose since I read this when I was young and even more stupid, but now that I am old (and also kind of a psycho) I think I should give it another try because I’ll probably love it).

But anyway, back to the book. There’s not a whole here to tell. Rust and Stardust is the fictional take on what happened in 1948 to young Sally Horner – an 11-year old girl who is stopped by an “FBI Agent” while shoplifting in order to get in with the in crowd and becomes his captive for the next two years.

I’m really not sure what others will think of this one, but I was completely fascinated – maybe more so than other readers will be since I had zero knowledge of this case prior to beginning. If you’re curious about any potential “shock and awe” factor I will say that the brutality is done in a fade-to-black style so you won’t have to experience any gory details. The truly horrific factoid is that Frank LaSalle, the perpetrator of this atrocious crime, had just been released from jail for raping FIVE other little girls between the ages of 12 and 14 and before that he had not only kidnapped another girl, but ended up married to her and they had a baby! (And THAT is the case that reminded me of Lolita waaaaaaaaay more than this one. I would read the shit out of Dorothy Dare’s story.) Rust and Stardust is presented with chapters from TONS of different viewpoints – not only Sally, but also her mother and sister and brother-in-law and schoolmates and teachers and neighbors and on and on and one. This worked for me throughout the duration of Sally’s captivity, but leads to my one complaint: The ending needs a heavier-handed editor who is willing to take the scissors to this sucker and leave all the excess on the floor. EVERYONE’S story gets wrapped up which is completely unnecessary. It should not be forgotten that this was SALLY’S story. All the other characters were just helping to tell it. Oh and I can't forget to give a shoutout to that cover. You won't understand it until nearly the end of the book, but WOW. Perfect.

Many thanks to my friend Meow for turning me on to this title. I try my best to stop my crack-addict-style-of-clickery over at NetGalley, but rely on my GR friends to point me toward the good ones. That’s what happened here.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.

A monster masquerading as a man (an FBI agent, a Daddy, whatever he needs to be) has a predilection for little girls.  Young girls who are gullible and naive, and who have been taught that adults are always right.  Easy prey for this vile man.

This is historical fiction, based on a case that was all too real.  The year is 1948.  Excellent characterizations.  Loved the analogy of the carnival sideshow folk and the fiendish freak who showed no outward signs of it.

Harrowing and heartbreaking are the words that describe this story, based on the 1948 real-life abduction of 11-year old Sally Horner.

While stealing a composition notebook from the Woolworth’s in her hometown of Camden, New Jersey, young Sally is confronted by a man claiming to be an FBI agent. The man, convicted child abuser Frank LaSalle, frightens Sally into thinking she is going to court and possibly jail for her shoplifting crime. He tells her he is taking her into custody until her court date and the petrified child believes him. More horrifically, he convinces her to lie to her mother and tell her she is going to the shore with a friend for a few days so that no one will come looking for her. Thus begins almost 2 years of sexual abuse and false identities as the kidnapper takes her from state to state, always one step beyond being saved.

Told from the perspectives of Sally, her mother Ella, her sister Susan and various other characters, the author provides a realistic feel for the fear, guilt, shame and hopelessness that surely surrounded them all during this nightmare. The story of abduction is true, and the author’s fictional recounting of events over that two-year period was chilling enough to make me believe things definitely could have occurred the way they were written.

Sally Horner and her abductor were prototypes for characters in the novel “Lolita,” by Vladimir Nabokov. I was not aware of this, or even of Sally Horner herself until I read this book. For those who don’t know how Sally’s story turned out, I won’t expound any further. I will say that this can be a tough read for the tender-hearted, and there are potential triggers here for those who have suffered or witnessed sexual abuse.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

5 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2268141163?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

I feel so many things right now, it is hard to put all of these feelings into words. Anger, sadness, nausea. I have goosebumps, and I had them the whole time I was reading Rust and Stardust. As an adult, it is hard to comprehend kidnapping. Why would someone do it? Why would the child go with them? Why was the child not found sooner? I found myself asking myself so many questions whilst reading.

This book is based on the real life kidnapping of Sally Horner. This really happened. It's not another made up story to grab the readers attention with horrible things. It is real life. Sally really existed, she was really kidnapped. We read about Sally's time with La Salle through multiple perspective's. We have Sally's perspective, the people surrounding Sally in her new life, and Sally's family as they live without Sally. It is a truly heart wrenching story.

Ultimately, it was the cover that attracted me to this novel. It is very unique and the red ribbon is of significance to the story. Definitely read the synopsis before you embark on this journey. There are many triggers throughout.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really loved the author's gorgeous writing style. It was very descriptive and made it easy to picture the story as I was reading. I liked the characters and general story line. Having never read Lolita (gasp) I don't know how well it links to the original, but it was a great book even if you don't know the Lolita story.

Rust & Stardust... where do I begin? Oh my gosh 5 huge gut wrenching and beautiful stars!!

Oh my goodness did I cry on this book.... this book was so amazing!

This is my first book that I've read by Greenwood and I honestly am not sure why?! I have 2 others sitting on my kindle and am going to get to them ASAP now!!

Greenwood tells a disturbing and heart-breaking story of Sally Horner and her abductor Frank LaSalle. The novels stars off in 1948 with Sally stealing a notebook from Woolworth's in order to impress her friends. Sally is approached by a man outside the store, claiming to be an FBI agent who says he is going to save Sally from prison due to her stealing. For the next two years, Sally is taken across multiple state lines with her captor, Frank LaSalle, and the heart-ache that accompanies Sally through her childhood.

Greenwood's words flow so beautifully across the pages that you can't help but get lost in the world of Sally and her family. The story alternates between Sally, her mother Ella, sister Susan, brother-in-law Al, and all the other people whose lives were touched by Sally throughout her journey.

I do have to warn you... this novel touches on some serious issues of child abuse (including physical, sexual, and emotional). This novel actually reminded me a little bit of the dark but beautiful book "All the Ugly and Wonderful Things" by Bryn Greenwood.

In all the darkness to this novel.. there is also so so much beauty. This is going on my top reads for 2018. I can't recommend this enough and am telling you to pre-order this one. I will be buying a hardcover when the book comes out in August of 2018.

Greenwood you got me with that ending.... I couldn't hold it together.. tears were a flowing my friends. I feel like my heart is broken :(.

A HUGE thank you to St. Martins Press, Netgalley, and T. Greenwood for an advanced arc in exchange for my honest review.
Published to GR: 2/25/18
Publication date: 8/7/2018

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
“Rust and Stardust” by T. Greenwood is based loosely on true events. In New Jersey in 1948, Sally Horner steals a notebook from Woolworth’s in order to impress her friends. When she is approached by a man outside the store, claiming to be an FBI agent who is going to “save her from jail”, her life is forever changed. For the next two years, Sally is taken across state lines multiple times, bouncing from home to home with her captor, Frank LaSalle, a wanted criminal and sex offender. “Rust and Stardust” tells not only the story of Sally, who is forever changed and forever bound to Frank, but of those she left behind who feel her void most vividly.
Greenwood tells a disturbing, psychological, morally defunct story in “Rust and Stardust”. The plot began right away, which instantly draws a reader in to the dark underworld of child abduction. The storyline alternates and we hear not only from Sally herself, but from her mother, sister, brother-in-law, friends, and all of those individuals whose lives she touched throughout her journey. With such an expansive cast of characters, alternating storylines would normally be challenging and difficult to follow but Greenwood sets up in such a way that the plot is expanded and the characters are given room to develop at a slow burn.
Loosely based on Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita”, “Rust and Stardust” is not for the faint of heart. The darkness of the plot brings to mind “All the Ugly and Wonderful Things” by Bryn Greenwood as well, with the depravity and empathy and all the feelings of disgust and emotional turmoil.
The ending of this novel was definitely unexpected and tragic, especially knowing this ending based on the real outcome. The struggles faced by Sally and her family were honest and emotional, and this story is not one that will be easily forgotten.
A difficult novel to read, based on its subject matter, “Rust and Stardust” ran the gamut of emotions, while still managing to captivate me and keep me engaged until the very end. A very well told story, full of complex characters and disturbing plot twists, I highly recommend this novel for readers who are looking for something terribly dark and fascinating.

Sally is only 11 years old and desperate to fit in with the popular girls and become part of the in crowd. In an effort to impress them she steals a 5 cent notebook. Frank LaSalle, an ex-convict recently released from prison uses this chance opportunity to pose as an FBI agent and "arrest", Sally.

Sally being naive, trustworthy and scared falls for his ruse and becomes his victim. He convinces, Sally that in order for her to avoid jail she must cooperate with him. Sally obliges. The book then chronicles the next two years in which, Sally is physically, mentally and sexually abused. The move from one location to another to avoid detection.

Greenwood tells this story from multiple points of views. The reader hears Sally's view, her families, the police and those few individuals who pop in and out of her life for various reasons.

Greenwood gives a voice to, Sally with tact and emotion. Your heart will break over and over again. You will cringe, your skin will crawl in particular as the desperation, fear and loneliness come to life across the pages. Rust and Stardust is well written, dark and real.
Be prepared to go on an emotional journey.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an advance copy to review for my unbiased opinion.

Admittedly, this novel was hard for me to review. As a lifelong Nabokov & Lolita lover, I was loathe to delve into the complete seediness of it all.

However, this true story of Sally Horner and her abduction by a pedophile was so beautifully, evocatively, and originally written, I couldn’t put it down. The reader’s main narrator is Sally herself, with the people she meets along her journey interspersed throughout. The desperation, the fear, the loneliness comes shining through, but in such a subtle way.

It’s incredibly sad. Greenwood managed to write in different voices that managed to differentiate themselves so well.

My only criticism is that I did end up skimming through a few of the narratives that added nothing to the novel.

I really enjoyed this book. The subject matter is disturbing, yet not overly graphic or exploitative. This is a true story, and the author did a fantastic job of immersing the reader into Sally's perspective. I'll definitely read more from this author.

If you haven't read Lolita or weren't alive before 1948, Sally Horner and Frank LaSalle might not already be household names. T. Greenwood has taken the story of Sally's kidnapping by deceptive con man Frank LaSalle, that really happened in the late forties, and used it as the premise for this fictitious novel. Since I hadn't re-read the summary before I started this book, I was absolutely infuriated and angry as the pages wore on, but I was engrossed and I read the whole book in a day. Greenwood did a remarkable job. What got me through this book, besides Greenwood's writing style, were the "helpers" present throughout Sally's traumatic adventure across the country. From school teachers to circus "freaks", a string of hope was present throughout the whole book. The ending of Rust & Stardust does coincide with what actually happened to Sally. So if you don't want to know how this fateful tale ends, don't Google the real story!

Heartbreaking. Tragic. Important.
Although the tale is sickening, it is tastefully portrayed. This version of Sally Horner’s kidnapping shows us how simple it is for a child to be abducted and remain captive for the fear that is planted by their captor. It all, makes sense; doesn’t want to disappoint mother, doesn’t want more trouble to befall those around her. Sally is not too young to know that it is not right, but she is not mature enough to escape the situation. Hug your kids and show them that they can come to you with ANYTHING.

In 1948, 11-year-old Sally Horner stole a notebook from Woolworth’s. Frank LaSalle, newly released from prison, witnessed the theft and grabbed Sally, telling her he was with the FBI. Terrified of getting in trouble, she agreed to leave with him, and she didn’t come home for two years.
I was drawn to read this novel after discovering that Sally’s story inspired Nabokov’s Lolita.
Rust and Stardust is a fictionalized account of what may have happened during Sally’s two years on the run with Frank LaSalle. LaSalle mentally and physically abused Sally, convincing her at first that he was the law, then that he was her real father. Sally was naïve and gullible, believing that she had to keep quiet or she would get in trouble. He took her across the country, evading the police and the FBI, telling neighbors that Sally was his daughter.
No one thought to question his story.
Rust and Stardust gives life to a real story that has almost been lost to history. Told from multiple points-of-view, the story follows Sally’s nightmare with Frank LaSalle, and also the horrible anguish of her family searching for her. The author deftly recreates Sally’s thought processes, showing how this young girl could believe such outlandish lies even while enduring abuse and isolation. Even though I knew the outcome, this was a gripping story. My heart was racing while I turned the pages.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview this ARC of Rust & Stardust.

First of all, let me just say, I adore T. Greenwood. She has written some of my favorite books. But I have mixed feelings about this one.

Greenwood does something that should have been done a long time ago. She gives a voice to Sally Horner, the young girl who was abducted in 1948 and provided inspiration for the story Lolita.

Here's your trigger warning, this is truly every parents worst nightmare, and especially in the beginning, so hard to read. It never ceases to amaze me just how narcissistic and manipulative people can be. To not only get away with a child abduction, but to keep them for as long as he did. Greenwood takes a lot of liberties with this story, largely by adding fictional characters and probably fictional drama to Sally's story, which made me a bit uncomfortable? Here's your spoiler alert, Sally's whole life is tragic, from beginning to end, so to add intrigue and entertainment to her story feels inappropriate and exploitive. But flip that coin over, and I also really appreciated being able to hear her story and learn more about this poor young victim. So, there you go.

A harrowing take on what happened to Sally Horner those two years she was abducted and the couple of years following. A heart breaking rendering...and very well written. The story is compelling and completely gripping due to the variation of viewpoint as well as the level of detail involved in the storyline. It really made me appreciate my own life and understand how lucky I am and how dangerous the world can be for some. I will never understand how some people come to be like La Salle. This is an extremely sad story and is not for the weak of heart to read..

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for gifting me with an ARC of Rust & Stardust in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book in one sitting with my heart pulsating, holding my breath in dread and anticipation. Artistically told, I was introduced to a true crime event I was unfamiliar with. In June of 1948, 11 year old Sally Horner was abducted under the most bizarre circumstances and held captive for two years. Her story is believed to be the basis for Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita.

Told in multiple points of view, one gets the perspective of victim, family members, law enforcers and acquaintances who knew intrinsically something was wrong but not sure how to help young Sally. Frank LaSalle a convicted rapist and kidnapper preyed on the innocence of Sally, convincing her he was with the FBI and she was in trouble with the law.

While the story is horrifying, T. Greenwood presents it in such a respectful, graceful manner. Your heart will ache for Sally, her mother and the tragic circumstances that destroyed both their lives. I highly recommend this stunning tale.

‘I’m gonna need for you to come with me,’ he said, tugging at her arm to pull her along.’

Camden, NJ, 1948. Sally Horner is just 11 years old when wanting to be part of girls’ club changes her life forever. To join, Sally must steal something from the local Woolworth’s. Sally knows that stealing is wrong, but she longs to belong. Sally takes a notebook, but just as she gets to the front door she’s accosted by a man:
’I’m sorry, miss, but you’re going to need to come with me.’.

The man tells her that he is an FBI agent, and because he likes her, he’s not going to hand her to the police. The man is Frank LaSalle, a 52-year-old man, fresh from prison. He convinces Sally do as he says. This involves a complicated story, which has Sally’s mother initially believing that Frank LaSalle is the father of a friend of Sally’s and is taking her on a holiday.

So begins almost two years of physical and mental abuse as Frank LaSalle takes Sally westward from Camden. Sworn to secrecy, fearing for her mother and her sister, Sally suffers in silence. Some of those she meets along the way are concerned for her, but they (and the police) seem to always be one step behind.

‘Don’t worry about your mama, Sally. They’ll forget about you soon. It’ll be like you never was.’

The real-life kidnapping of Sally Horner is one of the inspirations behind Vladimir Nabokov’s novel ‘Lolita’. Near the end of ‘Lolita’, Nabokov writes: ‘Had I done to Dolly, perhaps, what Frank Lasalle, a fifty-year-old mechanic, had done to eleven-year-old Sally Horner in 1948?’ I’ve read ‘Lolita’ three times, but I never looked for any information behind this reference until after reading this novel. Both ‘Lolita’ and this novel are fiction, but Sally Horner’s abduction is fact. In this novel Ms Greenwood draws Sally from the shadows and gives her a voice. Imagine being an eleven (and then twelve) year old girl in her situation. Imagine feeling unable to tell anyone what was happening, for fear of what might happen to you or to those you love?

‘Please let them find me, she thought. Before it’s too late.’

Ms Greenwood explores this period in Sally’s life from several different angles. Her mother, her sister, her brother-in-law and a couple of the people she meets along the way are each part of the story. Perhaps her mother was naïve and trusting, perhaps Sally should have tried harder to escape. It’s always easy to wonder why other people act the way they do (or do not). By presenting this story in the way she does, Ms Greenwood invites the reader to imagine being Sally, or one of the other people worried for her. But for Sally there is little comfort, no escape.

‘Why didn’t anyone try to save her?’

Those who know the story of Sally Horner know how it will end. Those who do not will, like me, be turning the pages hoping that Sally will be rescued. Some, like me, finding the suspense unbearable will do some research before the end of the novel. Whichever way you choose to approach Sally’s story, it’s uncomfortable.
I did not enjoy this novel in any conventional sense of the word. I was profoundly moved by it, reduced to tears
at times, occasionally taking heart from the small pieces of humanity Sally benefitted from on her journey. How can it be that so many of us remember ‘Lolita’ but have never explored Sally Horner’s story? Ms Greenwood has written a powerful and moving novel, imagining aspects of Sally Horner’s journey. This is not an easy read, but I think it will prove unforgettable.

And the title ‘Rust and Stardust’?

‘My car is limping, Dolores Haze,
And the last long lap is the hardest,
And I shall be dumped where the weed decays,
And the rest is rust and stardust.’
― Vladimir Nabokov, ‘Lolita’

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Engaging and griping, Rust and Stardust is the fictionalized story of Sally Horner, an inspiration of the infamous Lolita.
Sally Horner is caught trying to steal a cheap composition notebook in New Jersey in 1948. The "FBI agent" tells her she must go with him to face trail over the event. So begins a years long capture of an eleven year old girl by a 50-sometyhing pervert. While the novel is the fictionalized version of these events, the majority of the story's components are factual.
I finished this book in two days because the book was engaging and the chapters short enough to spur the reader to want to know what happens next. The story fallows the point of view of a variety of characters including Sally h, her mother, and those she meets along the way.
As both a novel lover and a true crime buff, I loved Rust & Stardust; I was entrance at page 1.

Wow. What a story. Based on a true story, this is one unforgettable read. I cried and raged over Sally's words as we read about what happened to her. My heart ached and broke for her. This book devastates with its brutal honesty. A must-read story and a must-read author.

Fantastic book. I wasn't familiar with the story this was based on so I was a complete newbie to this story as well as this writer. Both were great. I can't wait to read more from the author in the future and thought this was a solid five star read.

Inspired by a real life kidnapping case, this is a story of malevolence and true evil. In 1948, Sally is only 11 years old when she steals a notebook from the local dime store in Camden, New Jersey. On the street outside, she’s accosted by a man who claims to be an FBI agent and tells her she will go to jail if she doesn’t do everything he says. In reality, the man is Frank LaSalle, and he’s just been released from prison. Terrified, Sally goes with LaSalle, beginning an odyssey of pain and terror that will last two years as the two make their way cross-country to San Jose. I had never heard of this case, and the story just sent chills down my spine. This book is not an easy read because of its subject matter, but it’s incredibly well written and hard to put down

This was an incredibly touching, difficult story. When I read in the blurb that it was the inspiration (or one of them) for Lolita, I was intrigued. I didn't know exactly what to expect, but figured it would feature a rather wicked temptress-type young girl, manipulative and rather dislikable - as Lolita does. Instead I found myself heartbroken for the unbelievable string of horribles that fell upon a poor, innocent, sad, lonely little girl. A girl who, through one single action committed in the desperation for acceptance that only young girls can understand, made a critical and life-altering mistake that she literally spent the rest of her days paying for... It was a devastating read and I wanted to put it down just to stop feeling the walls closing in as Sally's days with Frank LaSalle just kept piling one on top of the other.

And yet despite the abuse, the fear and torment, and the darkness of her days, what I found most unbelievable in this tale was Sally's ability to find joy in small places hidden among the shadows of her off-the-grid existence. Circus people. Diving horses. A puppy. A mother-figure desperate for someone to mother. Sally manages to eke out a childhood - not much of one, mind you, but one nevertheless - despite LaSalle's best efforts to break her of all childish experiences...

That's the miracle of the story. But it's mired in so much horror that it can be difficult to see it that way... Still, the writing is utterly compelling, as is Sally herself. And so are the thought-experiments, the what-ifs and how-could-theys that populate this story. Even though the world was a different place at the time, it's hard to imagine a mother sending her child off with the "father" of a school friend she's never met, for an indefinite and continually extended vacation, let alone receiving numerous post cards that only ever mention her young daughter doing things with said father and never thinking anything was awry...

That's only one example of the parade of oddities that comprised Sally's life with Frank, but it's a big one. And it leads to fascinating thoughts of blame and responsibility, what it means to be a parent, how much we are responsible for the things that our children do and think. Why was Sally so quick to believe that Frank could have her imprisoned - and so willing to believe it for so long? Why was her mother so quick to believe her daughter suddenly fell into such good luck as to find a great friend and be invited away for a great vacation? Why was Sally so willing to accept that her mother - let alone her sister - had given up on her? Why was her fear so great that she never took the chance to reach out to her family - or even another adult? One can get lost in the whys and what-fors and lose sight of the fact that none of that matters, in the end. What matters is that a man preyed on a child, and she paid the ultimate price for that predation. Whether anyone else - Sally included - could have mitigated the circumstances once the ball began rolling is almost beside the point. Evil exists, and it has throughout time. One can only hope that we remember stories like these, because the biggest tragedy would be if their victims (both the actual victims like Sally herself, and the victims friends/families who suffer right along with them) were not only mistreated but also forgotten...

Sally Horner is a lonely 11 year girl, who would love to be part of a group of friends. One day she sees a group of girls cutting their thumbs and rubbing them together, as they become blood sisters. She walks up to them at lunch time to ask them about what she saw. They offer to make her part of their club, if she steals something from the Woolworth's that afternoon. So begins Sally's misfortune.... when she decided to steal and composition notebook and put it under her shirt, she is caught by an "FBI Man," who tells her that she is in big trouble. She did not know the half of it, as she is taken away by this FBI man, to go see the judge, and told not to worry her Mama, by telling her the truth. Instead, she is off on a lovely vacation with Vivi Peterson, one of the girls from the club (the only kind and decent young lady among them.) Mr. Peterson, is going down after his family left and is taking Sally with him. So, Sally's mom, wanting her to have something she would not otherwise have, puts her on the bus with a stranger, and it is a long time before she sees her baby girl again. This tale is based on a true story, and while fictionalized by the author, reads as if it is a biography of two + years in this young girls life. Your heart will break right along with Sally and her family as they travel on the roller coaster that starts on the day of the stolen notebook, and brings them all to another place entirely by the end of the story. While this is not a feel good book, it is a book that is hard to put down, due to the incredible writing of T. Greenwood.

This a sad story and it can break your heaet as it is based upon a true event.
The author did a great job making me feel for the characters, my emotions ran from anger to sadness to hope and everything in between.

"Rust and Stardust" is a novel that retells the story of Sally Horner, the real-life girl whose abduction and subsequent abuse at the hands of a disgusting excuse for oxygen named Frank LaSalle was probably the germ from which Nabokov got the idea for "Lolita."

The essential plot (it's not a spoiler) is this: Little Sally Horner is caught by a conman when she's getting in trouble. The poor child is convinced he's somehow the legal authority and that she must obey him. This sets up her abduction and the story of the book, which is told mostly through Sally's point of view, but with other players as well.

I'm trying to take apart this book as I sit here and stew on it. It's fast-moving--I read it in a night, unable to put it down. It's vivid; I left the book with the same tears-and-existential crisis that I had after reading "The Fault in Our Stars." And thankfully it is quite sensitive--the sexual abuse is handled with no detail, as Sally disassociates in a way that feels very real. (For this choice, the author really does deserve a lot of credit.)

Overall, the book seems to speak to the beauty of our flawed realities, the nature of grief, the power of memory, and the human capacity to love, to treat others with kindness and compassion. (Love is shown in this book in ordinary gestures, far from talk of romance or the horror of LaSalle.) And it is a final tribute to a poor child whose tragic story has been erased in popular memory in favor of twisted readings of the book that was born of her story, "Lolita."

This book was reviewed as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was a twisted story, and I knew it before going into it. Twisted as it was, I really enjoyed the book and most of the characters. As good as it was, i did skip through mom obsessing over her dead husband. That was made a point early on. Still great read!

Until reading this I had never heard of Sally Horner. What an incredibly sad life this little girl had. There were so many opportunities for rescue that were missed. I throughly enjoyed reading this.

This book was really well written. It was very sad though and a very frustrating read. The author did his job well. During the read you just want to rush ahead to the conclusion, you want something to happen to save her, you want to shake her and scream at her to do ‘this’ or ‘that’. So all in all it was a difficult book to read, and the author did a good job of propelling you through a series of emotions. I’m just left feeling sad and unfulfilled though. I do like how you see how the life of Sally then changed the lives of the others in the book. A difficult but good read.

This book was outstanding. Heartbreaking to say the least. I had zero knowledge of who Frank La Salle or Sally Horner were when I began reading. I was so incredibly intrigued, I had to stop and do some googling.

Although this book is a work of fiction based around a true crime, I must say the Author did an amazing job creating a story that immerses you.

The Authors note at the end of the novel was powerful and informative. Highly recommend.

Young Sally Horner, kidnapped by repeat sex-offender Frank Lasalle in 1948.....a true story, sadly. And that is where this novel leaves you after carrying you through what might have happened to poor Sally and the family still searching for her on her abusive and bewildering trek from Atlantic City to California. Shock at how easily Sally was convinced that she risked going to jail for trying to steal a notebook, dismay and incredulity at how little Ella, her mother, knows about her daughter's life and how naively she trusts Lasalle's story of taking Sally to Atlantic City to visit with one of her friends, dismay at her inevitable rape throughout her trip, desperate longing for her to share her story with one of those people she gets to know along the way........and finally deep sadness when, shortly after her return, she tragically dies in a car accident. While the story is speculative, it's highly believable and draws you into Sally as well as her families minds and hearts as they all try to cope with her absence. Her story has been 'told' before, in Vladimir Nabokov's 'Lolita'.......but this one is for Sally.

"Rust & Stardust" is a fictionalized accounting of the real kidnapping of 11yr old Sally Horner in the 50's by a pedophile. This case is also believed to be the inspiration for "Lolita". The story was an intriguing read, without getting graphic about the abuse, helping the reader understand how a victim stays without barrier with their kidnapper.

**Review will be published to blog closer to publication date**

I chose this book because:

I’ve never read Lolita, and I never knew that it was inspired by the case of Sally Horner. Crime stories have always captured my interest (I binged all of Criminal Minds on Netflix), so I’m intrigued by this book and it’s definitely up my alley. The fact that this book is based on true events perhaps makes it all the more captivating, but also makes me feel more cautious about how the events will be handled by the author.

Upon reading it:

I started this book in the late evening and didn’t put it down until I finished it in the early morning because I couldn’t bear to stop in the middle of the story and be stuck in that world. It’s terrible to know that this was the reality for Sally Horner.

In the Author’s Note, Greenwood gives the disclaimer that though the case of Sally Horner is true, this book is not a true crime book; she also briefly goes over which characters and events were real and which ones were made up. She did a lot of research, but of course, nobody will know exactly what happened during those two years that Sally Horner was captured. Greenwood does a good job filling in the blanks and telling the story though. It took me there and made me feel some type of way (anxiety!), which for me is an indicator of a good story, whatever that feeling is, whether it’s positive or negative.

I was relieved with the way Greenwood handled the fictionalised events and that this horrible event wasn’t romanticised. It was heartbreaking to see how innocent and trusting Sally Horner was, and to see how she was taken advantage of, to put it lightly. It’s a heavy story and my heart was racing, wondering if and how she was going to survive or escape.

And trying my best not to spoil anything: The end tho…

This was a great start to 2018, as I couldn't put this book down. Its a tragic, sometimes fantastic, heartbreaking story. Fantastically written.

It is hard to find the words to express how I felt about Rust & Stardust. The subject matter was difficult, because I knew it was a true story and reading what Sally possibly went through was emotional and upsetting. T. Greenwood is definitely up to the task of writing abut Sally's experience in a way that is not exploitative but highly empathetic and puts the reader right into the hearts and minds of Sally and those who love her. Although I knew how the story ended, it was still devastating. Warning--the last few pages will tear your heart right out. I have not been this moved by historical fiction since Mary Beth Keane's The Fever, which is high praise. Highly recommended.

This story is so full of sorrow yet it is so beautifully written. I cried multiple times while reading this book and the characters have stuck with me in the last two days since finishing.
My review is 5 Star for one main reason. I want to give credit to the author for picking such a hard story to write and it was done in a way that left me speechless. Great job! This will be one that I recommend to my friends and family for sure.

Heartbreaking. That's the only thing I can say about this one. Even more so because it's based on true events.
It's 1948. Young Sally, still reeling from the death of her father, is desperate to fit it. So, on a dare, she steals a notebook from the local Woolworth's. This one childish mistake sets in motion a chain of events that will have lasting repercussions. When a man posing as an FBI agent approaches her outside the store, Sally's innocence and gullible nature guarantee that she'll believe him. But what excuse for her mother, who allows this man to take Sally off on a supposed trip to the seashore? The only excuse I can think of is that it was a different time, simpler and more trusting.
For almost two years, Sally is victimized by Frank. They travel across the country, Sally being held against her will. Along the way, there are people who see something in Sally. And these people even make attempts to help her without truly knowing the extent of her abuse. Still, Sally must reach within herself and have the courage to speak up before she can be rescued.
While some liberties have been taken in the telling of Sally's story, the fact remains that she was a real person and a real kidnapping victim. An interesting side note: Sally's story was the inspiration for Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita.

Excellent story! Sad, tragic, memorable! Absolutely engrossing read. Looking forward to reading more by this author!

Rust & Stardust
Tammy Greenwood
I received this copy from NetGalley for an honest Review:
I'm not really sure where to begin with this review...First let me say that I am a huge fan of T. Greenwood, there isn't anything that she has written that I have not loved, this book included. This was a harder read for me; it dealt with loss - a loved (step)father, a mother wracked with pain, a sister living her own life. It dealt with the cruelty of young girls...let's face it, we all know how mean girls can be when they reach that certain age. It dealt with naïveté, with trust, with fear. Fear of consequences, of getting caught, of not measuring up. It dealt with trust, or rather the pain that mis-guided trust can cause you.

I Loved Sally Horner...I laughed with her, cried with her and was frightened with her. I love the way this story unfolds from every characters POV, showing us that there are no minor characters in fiction or, more importantly in our own lives.

It never ceases to amaze me that one incident, no matter how minor you may think it is can cause a whole lot of change in the world surrounding you. There is a lot of pain in this story, physical and emotional. There's hope though, sometimes it is fleeting but it is always there. There's kindness, from places we didn't expect it and there's evil lurking also if we aren't careful

I am the mother of two beautiful daughters, I can not imagine and really don't want to imagine how I would handle things if one of my own daughters went missing and/or was kidnapped...I don't think I could withstand the ache in my arms and my heart.

Thank you T. Greenwood for a moving and utterly satisfying, if not sadder, tale of fear, redemption, acceptance, kindness, motherhood , sisterhood, friendship, love, hate. I Loved this book.

WARNING: Abused (Physical and Mental), Kidnapping, Crime

This novel is a fictional telling of a real life story of the kidnapping of an 11-year old, Sally Horner, back in 1948. This crime also inspired Vladimir Nabokov to write LOLITA. Sally, due to peer pressure, stole a notebook from Woolworth's without knowing that she's being watched by a an ex-convict, 52-year old, Frank LaSalle. He convinced her he's an FBI and if she doesn't do what he says, he'll have her arrested.

And thus Sally was taken. And then the accounts of how she was physically and mentally abused by Frank, while moving from state to state, using fake names begun.

It took me a month to read this book but Definitely Not because it's an awful book. In fact, as my star-rating says, I liked this very much. Though it's true, I found this book really hard to read because the main plot centers on a very sensitive and heartbreaking issue and I think this isn't actually the kind of books I should be reading (I'm battling depression) but I couldn't help but request it when I saw it on Netgalley. I was intrigued and thank God I was intrigued.

I can't say, I love the characters because there's nothing lovable with the characters. Frank is, well evil. Sally, though I find her smart despite her naivety, there's no time loving her, only pity. The others, her family and friends, all I felt were disappointment but that's just me. And the people around Sally when she was already taken, those people who sensed something is wrong but didn't do enough to help her. I just hope they did more.

I also can't say I love the plot. Nope. I definitely don't love the plot. It's heartbreaking. Everytime I pick up my kindle to read, my heart break into pieces. It's heart-wrenching. Holy God, I'm always at the edge, biting my lip and silently screaming.

And then the writing...

This is my first book by T. Greenwood, so I didn't have any expectation. She did a fr**king good job, start from showing Sally's innocence and naivete, how she was so scared and worried believing she'll be arrested and all b*llsh*t Frank told her. This book tells more of what happened after the abduction and from that very first scene with Frank when he easily deceived her, my hopes already left me. I knew, I just knew, her life, her following days, would be horrifying. The author just know the right words to use, how to use them and why is she using them, and so the effect of this prose to a reader is simply magnificent. No doubt, this is one of my best reads this year. I mean, she made the characters, even the ones with their awful, heart-sinking qualities very believable, I felt so much. The narration is just amazing. And what a treat when at the end, this story of an awful turned into something inspiring. Something moving... Beautiful.

And though this must be one of the most disturbing books I've ever read, I still highly recommend it.

This is the true story of Sally Horner.
This book was eye opening & heartbreakingingly sad. Many times I could not bring myself to beleive it was a true story- but it is.
This book was so compelling & detailed that I finished it in one sitting, pausing many times to take it all in.
If you are a parent this is a tough read but read it, you must.

Rust and Stardust is based on the true story of 11-year-old Sally Horner who was kidnapped in Camden, New Jersey in 1952 by 52-year-old Frank LaSalle, who was fresh out of prison.
Sally wasn’t like the other girls but, she wanted to join ‘the club’ to be with other girls her own age. So do so, she had to steal something from her local Woolworth Store. She stole a composition notebook. But as she was leaving the store, she is confronted by a man who claimed to be an FBI agent. The man, a convicted child abuser claimed if she didn’t do as she was told that she would face a judge and go to prison for stealing. Sally is so terrified she believes him. He manages to persuade her that she should lie to her mother, and say that she is going on holiday with her friend to the shore. As the family, has little or no money agrees to this and mother even walks to the bus stop with her to meet LaSalle.
The Story is told by Sally, her mother Ella and sister’s Susan POV. This is a tragic story, what atrocities that this girl had to go through in the hands of LaSalle. This story was beautifully written and so easy to read. Although in some parts it made me uncomfortable when Sally was describing what LaSalle was doing to her. It also made me wonder as this is based on a true story, that other people apart from Ruthie noticed what was going on. Maybe because things were different in them days. This was a beautiful but terrifying read.

Thank You Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for a copy of this ARC for an honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5*.

This was a book I would have read in one sitting if life and obligations hadn't gotten in my way.

Rust & Stardust is the second book by T. Greenwood that I've read and I had to go back and check what I'd rated the other title because it hadn't stayed with me. This story will not require follow-up. It haunts me.

Rust & Stardust is a novel based on the true kidnapping of 11-year old Sally Horner by 52-year old Frank LaSalle from Camden, New Jersey in 1948. It combines most of my favorite things: True Crime, Historical Fiction, beautifully evocative writing and a clear and memorable voice. I did not know that this kidnapping was the basis of the character depiction for "Lolita" in Nabokov's famous book of the same title. I also did know know much about this famous crime.

T. Greenwood masterfully depicts what everyday life might have been for Sally. She invents fully evolved characters to accompany her on what can only be described as a harrowing journey.

While not for everyone-this is a book I will gleefully recommend to "My People".

*ARC received from #netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This harrowing tale of the 1948 kidnapping of 11-year-old Sally Horner by a pedophile is both riveting and disturbing, especially knowing it was based on real events. After extensively researching the abduction, the author used her imagination to write a fictionalized account of Sally's two-year ordeal with her captor and the impact her kidnapping had on those she left behind and encountered along the way. I started it yesterday afternoon and stayed up late to finish it.

I absolutely adored this book. It was gutwrenching to keep in mind that this was based on a true story. The amount of research the author clearly did on the subject is astounding. I'm a huge LOLITA fan, and this book added incredible nuance not only to the story of its subject character but to Nabokov's story as well. I also appreciated the author's care with regard to the sexual abuse elements. The way Greenwood merges the threads of Sally's story with the impact her kidnapping has on her family and people she encounters along the way is stunningly done, and so important for portraying the effects sexual assault and child abuse has on family members and loved ones. Sally's voice was also incredibly true to age and character, yet still so engaging and relatable for an adult reader.

While not a "true crime" this compelling work of historical fiction based on real people and events broke my heart in a million pieces. In 1948 when 11 year old Sally Horner was abducted and held captive for 21 horrific months, news did not travel so quickly then as it does today. There were no amber alerts to cell phones, no world wide web on which to upload pictures of the missing and their captors, no national sex crime registry in which to keep track of the location of known child molesters. So although some characters are the invention of the author it is all to easy to imagine the real Sally losing all hope as her captor is able to keep her in his control for nearly 2 years staying one step ahead of the police and running to another state every time they get a lead on what state she might be prisoner in. This must be only a glimpse into the true heartache and suffering of Sally and her family which the author so deftly brings to life.

I did not have any previous knowledge of the Sally Horner case until I was given the opportunity to read this. This was a very well-written and researched story. It's the first: based on a true story, book I actually enjoyed which was told from multiple POV's. Greenwood did an excellent at retelling this story.

Loved this book. Didn’t want it to end. Highly recommend.

Love love love. Incredible book. Fabulous book club pick too

I both wanted to read this book and NOT read it. Ultimately I'm glad I did for one specific reason...the next time I encounter a fan of the book Lolita, I would love the chance to inform the fan that it's likely based on a real person--a person who wasn't coy and loving all of the attention she was receiving from her suitor (look up pictures of Frank LaSalle. So creepy.) Her story is an awful one. So could we stop with all the "Lolita is an erotic masterpiece" B.S. already?

I appreciate the way the author handled the graphic nature of this story. The rapes are not described in detail. In many cases they are referred to using the same vague embarrassed terms an 11 year old girl would use. Also the book is nearly entirely filled with the viewpoint of various women (including Sally). In other words, this "Lolita" may not have had any sense of agency during any point in her abduction, but she is granted one in this narrative.

There is one aspect that makes this a challenging read, from a technical standpoint (which I hesitate to even mention seeing as this is based on a true event). Nearly the entire book consists of describing the same pattern--they get settled somewhere and life there is pretty awful, they meet other people, one of those other people gets suspicious/too close, they move. As a reader, you're left stuck reading about the same ugly situation over and over. But I suppose Sally was stuck in it as well, so perhaps that's the point. You can only introduce so many colorful side characters, the fact remains that she was abused over and over for years. Ultimately even with the repetition, the book moves very quickly and is engaging. I was able to finish it in an evening.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rust & Stardust is based on the real-life kidnapping of Sally Horner. The same incident also inspired Nabokov's Lolita.

After being dared by a group of friends to steal a notebook from Woolworth's, Sally is stopped by Frank LaSalle. Posing as an FBI agent, Sally is convinced to go with him for fear of arrest. The rest of the story follows them as they travel across the country for two years posing as father and daughter. Frank seems to be one step ahead of nearly everyone along the way, moving on when people begin to question too much.

This novel is disturbing and painful to read, yet it is also poignant and thoughtful. Kudos to the author for tackling the heart-breaking subject matter in an honest, yet considerate manner.

Now I need to go read Lolita...!

That was a heartbreaking, disturbing, but amazing book.It is definitely not for everyone, the book follows the story of Florence "Sally" Horner and her kidnapping by Frank Lasalle, the story that inspired Nabokov's Lolita. I am geniunely lost for words, just want to say that my heart was broken over and over during reading this book.