This story is based on a true crime - dates, times, and details were researched from media sources, court documents, and police records. Empty Cradle is the writer's personal recollection of the days leading up to and surrounding the abduction of her newborn infant, just days before Christmas.

Beside the Empty Cradle points you to the paths of satisfaction that will help you regain the joy that infertility has stolen.

“Bereavement after the loss of a baby is often quiet and lonely,” writes Christine O’Keeffe Lafser, who has twice lost a child to death. “There is no wake or funeral, no grave site, no memorial to our baby’s life or death. . . . Since there are no real memories of our little one’s life, people have a hard time comprehending the depth of our love and grief.” In these reflections, Lafser offers grieving parents the empathy and courage that can come only from one who has walked the same difficult path. “Chris expressed so many of my thoughts and feelings and made me feel so normal. . . . The greatest gift is learning that God does not desert us in our time of need.” Linda Davis, Compassionate Friends, after miscarriage and stillbirth “The juxtaposition of a Scripture text with each reflection is inspired. Some of the texts are breathtaking in their beauty and appropriateness. This book is a ‘must’ for anyone who is ever touched by the loss of an infant.” Joseph Awad, poet and grieving grandfather “This book will be very helpful for parents who are mourning the loss of their child. It will also prove very beneficial to anyone who is ministering to a bereaved parent.” Robert N. Craig, O.F.M. Cap., hospital chaplain “These reflections allowed me to ‘be’ how I was feeling—not feel like I should be going through the stages of grief that other books described. With this book I was no longer a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.” Jeanette Siebels, after infant death

Two things Mama knows: sweet-potato pie...and murder. Old bones and buried secrets... I would have thought a bunion operation might slow Mama down, but I should have known better. We found ourselves knee-deep in somebody else's trouble even before the surgery, when we saw crazy old Miss Birdie at the grocery store with a baby that didn't belong to her. It wasn't twenty-four hours later that the baby's mother, a young woman with a wild reputation, was murdered--and the baby had vanished. And when my Daddy's wandering dog began bringing home old bones of the most shocking kind, no way Mama wasn't going to start snooping--with me doing her legwork. It's a good thing I still had two good feet, because before long, I was running for my life...as babies' cries and women's tears mingled in a crime fueled by motives as ancient as human memory--greed, jealousy, and old-fashioned revenge.

Mark and Jeannie Smythe are a married couple in their forties, they own a beautiful house on Blackheath Common have their own buisness, his and her's sports cars and money no object for a wealthy pair such as themselves. To the outside world they appear to have everything ,and that indeed was once the case. However a tragedy happened in their lives five years ago that turned their world upside down. After three miscarriages , Jeannie becomes pregnant again, but their joy is short lived as the final pregnancy is ectopic, resulting in Jeannie being rushed in to hospital for an emergency hysterectomy. Although Both of them are completely devastated at the news that they will never be able to conceive again, Mark slowly comes to terms with the tragedy over the years that follow. Unfortunately Jeannie does not, Mark does his best to love and support his wife, but there is only so much he can do. What would any man do ? Has Jeannie Smythe become a woman who is simply drenched in grief ? Or has she become psychotic ? A woman who is prepared to stop at nothing to get what she truly believes she deserves, even if that means hurting the one person who loves her unconditionally. A strange spiral of events unfold, and will keep you guessing until the end.

Reassurance for parents who struggle with anger, guilt, and despair after a miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death.