Welcome to Litsy!

Wow! This #roll100 memoir blew me away! Axton grew up in an insular household with parents fighting against identity theft they suffered. Her parents made her vigilant against anyone unknown on their property because their power and gas had been cut off before. This led her into a PhD and career studying identity theft. But she never thought she‘d solve the crime of who stole her family‘s identities…🕵️‍♀️ A fantastic true crime memoir.

36/22I‘ll be honest, I just didn‘t enjoy the way this was written. And that is a very personal preference so don‘t let my review put you off if you are interested in the story. I heard about this on one on a podcast and it sounded like my cup of tea so I immediately used one of my precious audible credits on it. But it just didn‘t keep me captivated and the ending, once the truth was realised, which was the most interesting part felt rushed.

I had already heard a lot of this story on two different podcasts where I heard the author interviewed, but it was still interesting. Knowing the background beforehand made it a little hard to believe they didn‘t figure it out earlier sometimes, but I think in some ways it was a case of just not wanting to see the truth?

This story is much less about identity theft and much more about deceit, lies, addiction, mental illness and profound denial. I just had trouble understanding how seemingly bright people could have not seen the obvious blaring truth. It left me more frustrated than anything else. I did feel for the daughter, who obviously suffered from such a traumatic childhood. I understand how you were drawn in @TorieStorieS thanks for sharing it with me💜

I‘m a little skeptical how Axton and her dad can be so clueless because I‘m pretty sure the “thief” is living amongst them. Still very captivating listen. Thanks @TorieStorieS and this works for #ReadingUSA2020 #Indiana

What a captivating listen!! This is my #MemoirAboutAParentAndChild choice for #Booked2020- and I literally couldn‘t stop listening to it! Axton‘s story is horrifying and so unfathomable! Identity theft shaped her entire life... and as she learns more and more, the betrayal is even worse. I‘m so glad she shared this and that I saw the Litsy love to prompt me to get my hands on a copy! #AudioColoring

Just finished the tagged book and then listened to the author on a backlist episode of Criminal (with Phoebe Judge)...... there‘s spoilers in the podcast so be warned!

I'd not heard anything about this story before diving in - so the revelations were shocking. Betz-Hamilton charts the emotional, financial & psychological trauma of being engulfed in an elaborate identify theft that begun when she was 11. I read this in a day, so driven was the story line, it was definitely a 'just one more chapter' book. The closing chapters were the weakest and the only part where I was craving for her to go deeper than she did.

I was only going to read a few chapters this afternoon - but this is compulsive storytelling - really can‘t put it down !

Stripping life back to just essentials (I might add cake to the list in order for it to be complete!) 🤣

Yeah - I‘m so thankful for the mail service. ❤️👏🏻❤️

Now - where to start???

#bookmail

The Edgars have been announced - great place to discover some new reads - I‘m super intrigued by the tagged book ( I might just have ordered it from my local bookstore for home delivery!) 🤣🥳🤣

http://www.theedgars.com/nominees.html?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_...

A nonviolent #truecrime first person account of identity theft. I was fascinated by Axton's story. The pizza wasn't bad either!

Finished this #audiobook on our afternoon walk. I found it a very fascinating story. This is true crime involving identity theft. It wrecks her childhood and teen years and follows her into adulthood. Definitely recommend both as a true crime story and a memoir.

Oh my goodness, this book is WILD. Axton Betz-Hamilton's The Less People Know about Us: A Mystery of Betrayal, Family Secrets, and Stolen Identity is her memoir examining the torment of identity theft. Her family became victims of this phenomenon when Betz is 11, and as a result, they live a life isolated, rife with paranoia and despair. Betz's mother, a financial whiz, does her best to regain their name and reputation, ⬇️

A walk before running a couple errands and then getting ready for work. I'm a little past halfway in this book. It's obvious who the identity thief was, so really fascinating how blind the author was to it. #audiowalking

Starting this one on our evening walk. It's 5:30 and still light! #audiowalking

I used my newest Audible credit to buy this audiobook. This author spoke at my library a couple weeks ago. I was working, so couldn't go, but from what I heard, her story is fascinating. She mentioned at her talk that Hulu optioned her book, so we might see it on the screen.

This was an unsettling book. I already knew the basic storyline from hearing Axton Betz-Hamilton on the Criminal podcast (the episode is called “The Money Tree” if you‘re interested), but wow. There was so much more going on with her family than the podcast went into. Her mom was a messed up person, there‘s just no way around that. I admire Axton for turning her family‘s misfortune into a successful career. Definitely recommended.

This is a truly disturbing story about identity theft. More so, it is a story about mental illness. I read it in one sitting. It was a well-written, fast read that kept you engaged. I would have liked to know more about the pathology behind what motivates a person to do this to another person. I recommend it to true crime readers.

ARC provided by #NetGalley

A story of stolen identities, the unrelenting love of a daughter, and a family broken by betrayal. It's hard not to relate to the feelings of the daughter, Axton, before and after the death of her mother. Enjoyed this!
4.0 /5.0
#NFNov @rsteve388 @Clwojick #TIL

This book was fascinating. The author and her family were the victims of identity theft during her childhood and she made it the focus of her life as a researcher and academic. She conveys the pain that this crime causes as well as its impact on a person‘s financial life. I knew going in who the perpetrator was bc the author was featured on the Criminal podcast. If you don‘t know, read it without finding out! #NFNov

I was just going to read a few pages of this but now I have to finish it! I know the secret in the book bc it was the subject of an episode of the Criminal podcast, but it is still a compelling read. #NFNov

Compulsively readable. I devoured this in two days. Short chapters and lots of cliff hangers. Worth a try.

#nonfictionnovember just started this one in the predawn hours.

I got my paws on an #ARC of this true crime #memoir coming out October 15 and you should definitely put it on your list! #nonfiction #stolenidentity
Thanks to the publisher and #netgalley!