cover image Victims: The Kari Swenson Story

Victims: The Kari Swenson Story

Janet Milek Swenson. Pruett Publishing Company, $19.95 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-87108-775-1

In 1984, Kari Swenson, one of America's top performers in the biathlon, a competitive sport that combines skiing and target shooting, was kidnapped while jogging near Big Sky, Mont. The kidnappers were Don and Dan Nichols, a father and son who lived in the wilds of Montana, hunting, raising some food and stealing the rest; intending to found a ``tribe,'' they were characterized as ``mountain men'' by the media. During her rescue, Swenson was badly wounded, and one of her liberators was shot to death. This book, by her mother, focuses on the effects of the tragedy on the athlete and her family. Few books have done such a compelling job of assessing the consequences of violent crime on its victims. Swenson required long-term physical therapy and psychological counseling, and her family was also deeply hurt. And, although she attempted a comeback, her days as a leading biathlete were over. Photos not seen by PW. Literary Guild selection; author tour. ( July )