Scared Silent

by Mildred Muhammad

Book Overview

Mildred Muhammad shares her story about rising up from the domestic abuse she endured from her ex-husband, John Allen Muhammad, the convicted D.C. Sniper.

Mildred witnessed firsthand John's bizarre behavior after he returned from the Gulf War, but no one--including her family, friends, and local police--took her warnings seriously. Even when John kidnapped their three children for eighteen months, changing their identities and living...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593092423
• ISBN13: 9781593092429
• Release Date: October 2010
• Publisher: Strebor Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

One Woman's Courageous Story about a Silent Killer

Scared Silent by Mildred Muhammad I am a native Washingtonian and as I read this book it brought back the terrifying feeling I had as I traveled from D.C. to my part time job in Arlington Virginia. Looking around at every white van that came by me. Hoping that I would never be in the gas station long enough to be shot at and killed. Everyday I prayed that no one I knew would be the DC Sniper's next victim. However, once I started reading Scared Silent I was immediately humbled by the courage that it had to have taken to be one with the DC Sniper and to take it a step further to know that you were really the intended victim. Mildred Muhammad paints the picture of the before and after life with first a loving husband and father. And, later a calculated killer who killed in cold blood with no remorse. This memoir is a book that everyone should read simply because we were all affected by it in some way. Not only that she tells a story of being victimized by a problem that we hear about everyday but often times can't relate to. I believe her story will help others understand what Domestic Violence looks like. Not just the physical but the mental portion of it that we can't see. Mrs. Muhammad has done a wonderful job in showing us how Wars can change people and even make them worse. This is a story of military deceit, mental health and domestic violence. But, it is also about a system that is not geared to hear our cries. She manages to humanize someone that everyone wanted to see dead. She reminds us that we were not the only victims here but she and her children along with Lee Boyd Malvo actually lived this terrifying ordeal. She allows you to go behind the scenes and feel some of the insanity and fear that she and her children lived with. While I will never excuse or forget what John Muhammad did I can certainly see how he lost his mind. Mildred Muhammad has done more than a good job in taking us on her horrifying journey with a mad man. However, she has also took us on a journey of self discovery, recovery and healing. I applaud her and her children for sharing a part of themselves with us. Ten Stars for you Mrs. Muhammad and your new husband for being man enough to stand by you as you told your family's story. The Official DC Reviewer

We were all scared

This book hits close to home, literally. To have your daughter drive your grandson past the school where 15 minutes later a 13 year old boy is shot; to pick up that grandson less than a mile from that school at a day care center whose windows have been painted over, to stand outside your school and direct your students to hurry to their buses, loading one by one, to drive past shopping centers at night that have very few cars is to have experienced the terror the DC sniper laid on this area. Anyone living or visiting here has their own story. Mildred Muhammad's story is more personal than any; and I have to admit when I first heard about this book the skeptic in me, thought; well, guess she is making some money off of this. But instead in the first few pages her sincerity shows through. She tells of her background meeting John and of their life together and his kidnapping of their children and her fight to get them back. This account is a plea to others to act and protect themselves and the ones they love. The last 30 pages give addresses, telephone numbers and web sites for state coalitions against domestic violence. There are hints that help women who have been or are in abusive relationships Her tale is one that young girls especially should read; how that man who starts out as an attentive suitor can become a controlling abuser, emotionally or physically. Throughout the book there are lessons and warnings, hopefully others can learn from this; although one can see how hard it is to leave such a relationship, when you want to try to save it and when your life is turned upside down and existence is made almost unbearable. Her bottom line becomes don't deal with someone you have to make excuses for. The writing is in 1st person, in an easy to read style, as if Mildred is talking personally to you. I had to keep reading to make sense of what happened and how one person could do this to another, a community, a state. There are so many victims; this experience took away another bit of our innocence and naiveté of the world around us. Mildred Muhammad helps us all to understand.

Excellent Read!!!

I received this book on my day off at 10 a.m. By 10 p.m., I was done reading! Really easy, and informational read. I applaud Mildred for her courage and resilience.

Scare Silent

The book gave such insight into the husband and his actions. Also, the wife was determine to save her children and herself from her husband that had stated clearly that he would take her life. I feel that she was truful thru out the book. I could sense the stress that she was experiencing.

Haunting!

I was in the DC area during the shootings. It was my first book tour so I was more focused on that than I was about a sniper on the loose. It was only after the whole story came out that I realized how lucky I was to get back to California alive. As a former victim of abuse, my heart goes out to Sister Mildred. When I saw her on Court TV and heard that she was writing a book about her experience I couldn't wait to read her story. I read the book in one night, and then had nightmares. Only another victim of abuse can fully understand why I reacted the way I did. This is one women's club NOBODY wants to belong to. I sincerely thank Zane for publishing Mildred's book and I hope that we will all reach out to Mildred and support her by reading her story. It was awesome! Mary Monroe, New York Times Bestselling author of God Ain't Blind