Books written about murdered people-by their parents/relatives-recommendations?

[Patienceisntvirtuous]

Any you've read that you love?

I've read;

My Sister Millie by Gemma Dowler-excellent, I couldn't put it down. I've read it more than once, it seems it hits different depending on where one is in life.

'Our April' about April Jones' murder Bit clumsily written in comparison but worth a read

'Sarah Payne: a Mother's story-again astonishingly good. I admire Sara so much for her pioneering work since Sarah was murdered.

'I let him go' by Denis Fergus-again an addictive read.

'My James' by Ralph Bulger-I felt it was required after reading Denise's book. Very good.

'The Murder of Rachel' by her Mother Wanda-I can't remember much about this book if I am honest.

'Beyond Evil' about Tracie Andrews by her victim's Mum. Another one I couldn't put down-so so awful.

Of course, all of them are upsetting and compelling

I feel I've read every one of this category that there is now, but I am sure I can't have done! Can anyone recommend any, or have any opinions on any of them?

I don't know how anyone can bear to read these.

However, you didn't mention A Song for Jenny, by her mother, Julie Nicholson. I've not read it but knew Jenny slightly and think of her every time I go through Edgeware Road tube station. She was killed in the London tube bombings in 2005.

A Song for Jenny

Colin Caffell ‘In search of the Rainbow’s End’

Another one:

’Goodbye dearest Holly’ by Kevin Wells

Thank you all for the recommendations.

I don't know why but I just find them the most compelling reads even though they're so upsetting. I don't like fiction, and I don't like reading true crime books written by journalists etc, I just don't think It's right for others to capitalise.

Have a look on the Amazon ‘True Crime’ section

I have done that @Greenshake and I will have another look-it just seemed not many of this type there.

Another one:
’Goodbye dearest Holly’ by Kevin Wells

Very good book. Very interesting.

'The bodyguard's story' by Trevor Rees-Jones. He's not related to Princess Diana, obvs but the story, to me at least, gave food for thought.

I seem to have read a lot of these!

Yet another one is:

‘I don’t want to live this life’ by Deborah Spungeon, mother of Nancy who was murdered by Sid Vicious.

Heartbreaking. I read it years ago - it’s still in print, just checked.

My Sister Milly is very well written. But...it annoyed me. It was like competitive grief with her mother.

Hate on me if you like but when it's put out there for public consumption, people will form opinions.

That's interesting, I never thought about that when reading it! And as I've said, I read it more than once.
Not saying you're wrong of course-I guess we all glean different things from the written word.

We all take different things from books and the like. Hate on me again (!). I was always uncomfortable with Sara Payne. Her husband was absolutely broken but she kept dragging him into the public domain.

Then I read her book, and I had been right. Not for one millisecond do I think she 'enjoyed' it, she was living the worst thing ever, but do I think she got something out of it to the detriment of a man on the brink? Yeah.

Fairly old, but riveting and very, very sad....And I Don't Want to Live This Life by Nancy Spungen's mother, Deborah.

I was beaten to it!

Now I do agree with you on that!

I felt so sorry for him.

I guess perhaps they had very different ways of coping-her by throwing herself into productivity and him by retreating and keeping quiet and they just didn't gel. I am not sure if they could have ever dealt with it together or separately, while still being together. I like to think they could have but as you've said, she wasn't having it.

Similar to what happened to the parents of Sarah and Victoria Hicks in the Hillsborough disaster-Trevor wanted to keep busy and 'do', and Jenni just wanted to be at home in the calm, they divorced too

I've ordered that on kindle just now :)

This is a beautiful book. To say highly recommend seems inappropriate, but it's a wonderful tribute to a daughter from a mother.

I'm in the Sid Vicious is innocent camp. There's quite a bit of stuff been written that points to someone else killing Nancy, and that Sid was also murdered.
Sadly he was never able to defend himself in a court of law x
RIP Sid and Nancy x

I am ashamed to say I don't know much about the whole Sid and Nancy thing. I will have a quick look. I am going to order the 'Song for Jenny' book definitely.

I am on chapter 12 of the book by Deborah Spungeon. I can't put it down.(Ordered it on the kindle app, night shift worker). I am sure I had more productive things to do but nevermind

Josie's Journey by Sean Russell is very good.

If you don't know/recognise the names Josie, along with her mother Lin and sister Megan were attacked by a man with a hammer in the 1990s. Lin and Megan were killed, Josie miraculously survived.

Bit different but Dennis Nilsen wrote a book, only read half of it and wandered off, interesting though.

Mae West’s book Love as Always, Mum is pretty good. Of course, it isn’t quite in the category you mean but the West children were definitely victims of their parents too.

I think Sarah Payne’s young age and prettiness evoked a positive media reaction to her disappearance. To be honest I do think the family were a lot more dysfunctional and chaotic than was initially thought.

Stephen Lawrence's mother Doreen wrote a book called Still I Rise which was interesting.

How ghoulish.

Murder sells, always has.