When Shannon Moroney married in October of 2005, she had no idea that her happy life as a newlywed was about to come crashing down around her. One month after her wedding, a police officer arrived at her door to tell her that her husband, Jason, had called 911 and confessed to having kidnapped and brutally assaulted two women. He was arrested, held in prison, and set to be tried as a Dangerous Offender-–Canada's highest sentence.
In the aftermath of these crimes, Shannon dealt with a heavy burden of grief, the stress and publicity of a major criminal investigation, and the painful stigma of guilt-by-association, all while attempting to understand what had made Jason turn to such violence.
THROUGH THE GLASS is an impassioned, harrowing and ultimately hopeful story of one woman's pursuit of justice, forgiveness and healing. In this intimate and gripping journey into prisons, courtrooms and the human heart, Shannon reveals the far-reaching impact of Jason's crimes, the agonizing choices faced by the loved ones of offenders and the implicit dangers of a correctional system and a society that prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation, and victimhood over recovery.
Hear Shannon read Chapter One (17:05)
THROUGH THE GLASS
ACCOLADES
“A compelling documentation of a flawed penal system [and] a nuanced look at the humanity of a violent criminal. Most of all, it’s a meditation on forgiveness.”
— Maclean's
Timea Nagy was twenty years old when she answered a newspaper ad in Budapest, Hungary, calling for young women to work as housekeepers and babysitters in Canada. Interviewed and hired by what seemed like a legitimate recruitment agency, Timea left her home on the promise she would earn good money to send home to her family. What she didn’t know was that she’d been lured by a ring of international human traffickers—and her life would never again be the same.
Upon her arrival in Toronto, she was forced into sex labour in some of the city’s seediest nightclubs, starved and controlled by her agents, and brainwashed to believe she was to blame for her situation. The only way she’d be free was when her debt was paid—but, no matter how hard she worked, that debt seemed only to go up, not down.
Out of the Shadows is a gripping, heartbreaking and eye-opening journey deep into the underworld of human trafficking and the sex trade, told in riveting detail by one brave survivor. At once tragic and powerfully redemptive, Timea Nagy’s story is one that will stay with you long after you’ve read the last page.
National Bestseller
Praise for OUT of the SHADOWS
“Timea Nagy’s harrowing story deeply reports the ugliness of human trafficking. But it’s ultimately a remarkable tale of survival and resilience, with lessons for a country that considers itself to be a safe place for immigrants.”
— Pauline Dakin, author of Run, Hide, Repeat
Book Club Events
Oct 2019 • Toronto, ON • Junior League of Toronto Book Club • Featured author
Mar 2019 • Toronto, ON • Private book club • Featured author
Jun 2018 • Toronto, ON • Private book club • Featured author
May 2018 • Toronto, ON • Private book club • Featured author
Nov 2016 • Kitchener, ON • Turn the Page Book Club • Crime Prevention Council • Panelist
Coffin Ridge Winery, Oct. 2017
Author Events
Sep 2019 • Charlottetown, PE • Charlottetown Public Library • Featured author
Jun 2019 • Toronto, ON • Indigo, Sherway Gardens • Out of the Shadows signing
Jun 2019 • Ottawa, ON • Jamari Espresso House • Out of the Shadows signing
May 2019 • Toronto, ON • Out of the Shadows launch & signing
Oct 2017 • Meaford, ON • Speaker Series at Coffin Ridge Winery • Featured author
Apr 2016 • Toronto, ON • Harper Collins headquarters • Staff Lunch & Learn interviewer of Diane Schoemperlen
Jul 2014 • Buckhorn, ON • Turquoise Waters Writers Retreat • Featured author
Sep 2012 • Kingston, ON • Kingston WritersFest • Featured author
Jan 2012 • Sarnia, ON • Book Keeper Books & Cafe with Sarnia Public Library • Featured author
Nov 2011 • Toronto, ON • Ben McNally Books and Brunch • Featured author
Shannon’s book Through the Glass has been adopted as required reading at several high schools, colleges and universities in Canada and the USA, and is a favourite among students and teachers. Shannon is a popular guest lecturer and is known for engaging Q&A sessions that allow students to delve deeply into the issues her story brings forth, drawing links among various fields: criminology, psychology, victimology, social work and mental health. She is available to speak to classes/ student groups in person or via Skype .
Ryerson University School of Criminology Lecture, Mattamy Athletic Centre (Maple Leaf Gardens), March 2013
WHAT STUDENTS SAY
“Thank you for allowing us this opportunity to learn more about you, Shannon. And for allowing us to realize the impact that we can and WILL have on others as we enter into this field. This was definitely an honour!”
— Nessa M., 4th Year Social Work Student
WHAT COURSE INSTRUCTORS SAY ABOUT ADOPTING THROUGH THE GLASS
“Shannon's work consistently inspires students to think more critically about their world, and to reflect more deeply about their own values. I have used Shannon's book as a text in a number of courses and would highly recommend it to others.”
— Judah Oudshoorn, Professor, Bachelor of Community & Criminal Justice, Conestoga College