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Not Lost Forever: My Story of Survival Kindle Edition

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 494 ratings

In this memoir of true crime and survival, a woman recounts the remarkable story of her father’s murderous rampage and how she was left for dead.

On April 14, 1989, in California’s idyllic Sonoma Valley, Mexican immigrant Ramón Salcido went on a rampage, killing his wife, her two younger sisters, his mother-in-law, and his wife’s suspected lover. Then he slashed the throats of his three young daughters—ages four years, three years, and twenty-two months—and left them for dead in the county dump. A day later, when the children’s bodies were finally discovered, three-year-old Carmina was miraculously still alive. “Daddy cut me,” she told her rescuers.

In 
Not Lost Forever, Carmina Salcido reaches back into her traumatic past to reconstruct, in sobering detail, her father’s crimes and their aftermath. Recalling with clear-eyed candor, courage, and grace the horrific event and troubled childhood that followed, a remarkable young woman carries readers along on her miraculous journey of survival, discovery, and hope.


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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

On April 14, 1989, in California's idyllic Sonoma Valley, Mexican immigrant Ramón Salcido went on a rampage, killing his wife, her two younger sisters, his mother-in-law, and his wife's suspected lover. Then he slashed the throats of his three young daughters—ages four years, three years, and twenty-two months—and left them for dead in the county dump. A day later, when the children's bodies were finally discovered, three-year-old Carmina was miraculously still alive. "Daddy cut me," she told her rescuers.

In Not Lost Forever, Carmina Salcido reaches back into her traumatic past to reconstruct, in sobering detail, her father's crimes and their aftermath. Recalling with clear-eyed candor, courage, and grace the horrific event and troubled childhood that followed, a remarkable young woman carries readers along on her miraculous journey of survival, discovery, and hope.

About the Author

Carmina Salcido lives and works in Northern California.



Steve Jackson is a bestselling author who lives and works in Colorado.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002QCJO1G
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins e-books; Illustrated edition (September 25, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 25, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 303 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 494 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
494 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the compelling story and the author's narrative style. The writing is described as honest and smooth. Readers praise the young woman for her strength, courage, and determination. They describe her as a special human being and hero. Opinions differ on the heartfelt nature of the story - some find it uplifting while others consider it sad and heartbreaking.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

49 customers mention "Readability"49 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They enjoy reading about the young lady's life journey and appreciate the author's editing skills. The story has many highlights and is well-paced, making it a good read for nonfiction readers.

"From a tiny 3 year old girl to a grown woman, this is the most incredible journey of life I’ve heard in a long time...." Read more

"...story to tell nonetheless and that makes it forgivable and actually more compelling...." Read more

"Really really good, it was a very informative experience. I love following Carmina, and her life and her survival and her struggle...." Read more

"...weeks to read 'Not Lost Forever' at my turtle pace, but it was so well done that I never struggled to remember the bits of the story that had..." Read more

46 customers mention "Story quality"46 positive0 negative

Customers find the story compelling and heartfelt. They appreciate the victim's eloquent and honest narration. The story is different from other stories they have read, touching and sad at the same time. Readers also mention that it's a true story of a young girl's life.

"...by Jackson describing scenes for us as the readers was a lovely narrative choice" Read more

"...Its obvious she is not a writer but has a great story to tell nonetheless and that makes it forgivable and actually more compelling...." Read more

"What stood out in my mind was that the victim told the story so eloquently and intelligently ...." Read more

"I liked how the book gave you the facts and how it went beyond just the crime. Carmina got to tell her side and what she went through...." Read more

26 customers mention "Writing quality"26 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality. They find the book easy to read and inspiring. The author writes with honesty about what she has endured in her young life. Readers enjoyed reading it from cover to cover, finding the story straightforward and detailed.

"An incredible story, great writing, and an insane story...." Read more

"...Steve Jackson has told Carmina's story in a straight-forward and detailed fashion...." Read more

"...This book has it all - a gripping story, first hand details, very well written, and in the end a story of triumph over so much atrocities brought..." Read more

"Well written….. didn’t try to sugar coat any of it. Heartbreaking but I believe Carmina is very strong and will make her loved ones and herself proud!" Read more

25 customers mention "Strength"25 positive0 negative

Customers find the story inspiring and uplifting. They appreciate the girl's will for survival, strength, and intelligence. The book is described as an easy read about a brave girl who overcomes a lot.

"...Carmina is a survivor and a wise woman who doesn’t wallow in the disaster that her life became but rose above it...." Read more

"...This lady is courageous and full of hope but the end is a bit odd. It feels almost like she just stopped writing...." Read more

"...all these years and am truly happy to learn of her survival, her strength, and her health...." Read more

"This was a very uplifting story of strong spirit, survival, and determination...." Read more

15 customers mention "Beauty"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's heroine inspiring and a good person. They describe her as a wise, special human being and their hero. The story of survival and the human spirit is told in a straightforward and detailed manner.

"...Carmina is a survivor and a wise woman who doesn’t wallow in the disaster that her life became but rose above it...." Read more

"An incredible story, great writing, and an insane story. Carmina is so real and honest in this book and the additions by Jackson describing scenes..." Read more

"...Yet despite all she has been through shes such a sweet, good person! God bless you Carmina!" Read more

"...You can only hope that this beautiful young woman can continue her quest for love and enlightenment god bless" Read more

23 customers mention "Heartfelt story"8 positive15 negative

Customers have different views on the story. Some find it moving and uplifting, while others describe it as heartbreaking and painful. The story is about love, family, murder, and abandonment.

"...Such a horrifying and sad crime. Glad this young woman survived." Read more

"...Yet despite all she has been through shes such a sweet, good person! God bless you Carmina!" Read more

"...The story was horrifying and challenging/uplifting all at the same time...." Read more

"I liked the strange reality of surviving a murder but still losing a meaningful life. She is still on her road of recovery hoping to find happiness." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2024
    From a tiny 3 year old girl to a grown woman, this is the most incredible journey of life I’ve heard in a long time. Carmina is a survivor and a wise woman who doesn’t wallow in the disaster that her life became but rose above it. I certainly hope for her further healing and peace.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2025
    An incredible story, great writing, and an insane story. Carmina is so real and honest in this book and the additions by Jackson describing scenes for us as the readers was a lovely narrative choice
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2014
    The hits just keep coming and you are left wandering how in the world she gets through it all. The book is one I read in a single sitting. Its obvious she is not a writer but has a great story to tell nonetheless and that makes it forgivable and actually more compelling. This lady is courageous and full of hope but the end is a bit odd. It feels almost like she just stopped writing. I guess you have to remember that this is her real life and she is still young. There is truly a lot undone yet in her life and it cannot be resolved in the book anymore than it is in her life. So, from that perspective she is true to her story and I appreciate that. If you ever want to feel grateful to you parents for raising you well, read this book. You will call your mom afterwards just to say, "I love you."
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2025
    Oh how i wish i could embrace this author! My heart breaks for her! Yet despite all she has been through shes such a sweet, good person! God bless you Carmina!
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024
    Really really good, it was a very informative experience. I love following Carmina, and her life and her survival and her struggle. In fact I was glued to this book until the end. Highly recommend
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2014
    What stood out in my mind was that the victim told the story so eloquently and intelligently . You can only hope that this beautiful young woman can continue her quest for love and enlightenment god bless
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2010
    I remember the horrendous murders/mutilations of Ramon Salcido and was so happy all those years ago when he was found (hiding in his mother's skirts) in Mexico and was returned to the US for trial! I have wondered about little Carmina Salcido all these years and am truly happy to learn of her survival, her strength, and her health.

    It is so very sad, beyond words, what happened to Carmina, especially that following the murderous rampage of her father she was adopted by a so-called religious family who changed her name of all things and raised her in depravity and fear. What people do in the name of religion has once again proven to be untenable and criminal and I wish that these terrible people, her adopted family, could somehow pay for they crimes they committed against her, but the worse was the time they stole from her, all of her growing years, and those are gone forever. I am just happy to learn that Carmina has somehow forgiven them and has found the strength to move away and to try to move on.

    Steve Jackson has told Carmina's story in a straight-forward and detailed fashion. I am sure it was painful for Carmina to recall the horrific acts of her father, but Mr. Jackson and Captain Mike Brown have helped her with the details and I am sure have also helped her to regain a sense of who she is and how brave and beautiful she has become.

    I wish Carmina nothing but the best! This may be the saddest story I have ever read, but I am glad to have stumbled across this book at Amazon and hope that it will be read and cherished as a testament to love and hopefulness.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2024
    I lived through this as it happened in parts of my county. Such a horrifying and sad crime. Glad this young woman survived.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Amaze-Zing
    5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book!!!!
    Reviewed in Canada on June 14, 2014
    Finally purchased this book. It's a heartbreaking story. But it is also a story of survival...and a reminder of God's plan...that she survived for a reason. I wish this beautiful young woman all the best in life as she so much deserves and now has her reason for surviving...in the heart of her own beautiful daughter. Best wishes, Carmina and love from SK, Canada. ♡
  • Anne Chapman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2014
    Loved it found it very interesting. Hope you have a wonderful life Carmina.
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2015
    Kept you reading

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