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Click on the titles below to jump down the list
REVIEWS :
The Sunday times, Scotland Online,The Daily Mail,
Scotland on Sunday, The Herald,Yedioth Ahronoth (Israel), The Guardian,
Abuse Survivors Support Group , SKY TV Bookshow, National Bullying Advice line,
e-mail : Sandra7510@aol.com .......last updated 22/4/00 JMcG.
REVIEWS :
THE SUNDAY TIMES LITERARY REVIEW of PAPERBACKS;
"Where There Is Evil" by Sandra Brown. "This disturbing true story opens in a superbly evoked Scottish community in the 1950's, a world about which you could become nostalgic, a world of Baby Austins and box Brownies, where divorce only happens to Hollywood stars. Then a girl of 12 goes missing, never to be seen again. Years later, Sandra Brown realises that her father is a paedophile, and comes to believe - convincingly - that he abducted and killed the girl. Like someone trapped in a bad dream, she confronts him, and tries to get him convicted. This is an extraordinary book on every level"(Pan £6.99).
Margarette Driscoll, SUNDAY TIMES;
"SANDRA BROWN'S PAST HAS COME BACK TO HAUNT HER IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY.....HER STORY ROCKS MANY FONDLY HELD ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE WARMTH OF WORKING CLASS CULTURE IN THE 1950'S"
SCOTLAND ONLINE Paperbacks Review;
"A provocative piece of writing that doesn't get bogged down by the inevitable emotion of revealing disturbing details. The courage and dedication to the truth make this a must read." ~Books We Couldn't Put Down - Award from readers of "BEST" magazine June 1999 "Sandra Brown was 8 when a 12 year old neighbour, Moira Anderson, disappeared in 1957. Twenty seven years later,Sandra's estranged father confessed to her that he had been involved in the disappearance.Then Sandra discovered that her father was a child molester,whose activities were known to the police.This is a personal story,that reaches the heart of one of the most appalling issues of our time."
Jac O' Sullivan, SCOTLAND ON LINE ;
"EXPLOSIVE, EVOCATIVE .....A REMARKABLE STORY THAT CLIMBS INTO YOUR MIND AND STAYS THERE; A BOOK THAT SHOULD SHAKE A NATION."
"If this wasn't a true and appalling story, it would have made a terrific thriller. As it is, this tale of child abuse, murder, betrayal and corruption is utterly harrowing,even if the telling of it has been redemptive for the author.She discovered through patient detective work and half-recalled memories that her father had been a child molester- a fact known to most of her family, neighbours and even the police, yet never acted upon. A powerful book from someone brave enough to confront evil on her doorstep. Five Stars."
SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY RECOMMENDED LIST OF BOOKS OF THE YEAR;
"Scottish identity is endlessly diverse in fact and fiction. In a lacklustre year for non-fiction, Sandra Brown's account of her bus-driver father's dark past stands out as harrowing, compelling, and unsensational. Deeply disturbed by his behaviour towards her friends when she was young, Sandra has nothing to do with him until well into her middle age, when he almost casually mentions his connection with the unsolved mystery of a Coatbridge girl. Though inevitably emotional at times,this is a well-told, rational account of a painfully unpleasant subject." ~BOOKS ON LINE, UK- CUSTOMER RATING FIVE STARS for "WHERE THERE IS EVIL" Readers comments include : "This book is very well written and not as dark as the title suggests. The author uses humour well to lighten the dark side and shows how one woman can commit herself to unlocking her past.............. It captures the feelings of a small town dealing with horror on its own doorstep. By the end, you are right in there shouting at the farce created by all involved in the original investigation."
Audrey Gillan, SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY;
"A HUGELY CONTROVERSIAL BOOK WHICH HAS DIVIDED A FAMILY- THE SENSATIONAL STORY OF HOW A DAUGHTER, IN WHAT WILL BE SEEN AS A BRAVE AND CONTROVERSIAL MOVE-NAMES HER FATHER AND LINKS HIM TO ONE OF SCOTLAND'S MOST NOTORIOUS UNSOLVED MURDERS........... EXPLOSIVE."
Cate Devine, Magazine Editor, THE HERALD;
"SANDRA BROWN'S STORY BOTH MOVED AND MADDENED ME....THE SENSE OF FOREBODING CONVEYED STAYED WITH ME, A GLIMPSE OF THE FORCES OF EVIL. IT'S UNTHINKABLE THAT THIS COULD STILL ALL BE GOING ON, ESPECIALLY IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE. I'VE BEEN TELLING EVERYONE TO READ IT."
Orna Nenner, Bureau Chief, YEDIOTH AHRONOTH , Daily Newspaper, Israel ;
"A STORY THAT I CAN ASSURE YOU, HAS HAD A GREAT EFFECT ON MANY READERS IN ISRAEL ....... THANKS TO HER COURAGE AND HER OPEN HEART. "
Sally Vincent, Weekend Magazine, THE GUARDIAN;
"VERY FEW WRITERS CAN EVOKE CHILDHOOD, EVEN AND ESPECIALLY THEIR OWN........SHE HAS SERVED UP REAL CHILDHOOD, RAW, UNEXPURGATED, TUNNEL- VISIONED AND COMMON TO EVERY LAST ONE OF US. A GRAPHIC AND INDELIBLE ACCOUNT OF THE MIND-BOGGLING PERSISTENCE, AUDACITY AND RUTHLESSNESS OF THE TRULY OBSESSIONAL PAEDOPHILE. "
C. Stein, Spokesperson, ABUSE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP;
"THOUGHT PROVOKING AND MOVING BEYOND BELIEF."
David Freeman, SKY TELEVISION BOOKSHOW ;
"TRAGIC IN ITS TELLING, HORRIFIC IN ITS IMPLICATIONS............... ... IT'S ONE OF THE MOST MOVING, COMPELLING BOOKS I HAVE READ IN A LONG, LONG TIME."
Tim Field, Founder UK National Bullying Advice Line, author of "Bully in Sight" ;
"WHAT AN INSPIRATION- AN EXCELLENT WORK, OR SHOULD I SAY EXCELLENT LIFE'S WORK...HER BOOK IS ONE OF THOSE RARE FEW THAT LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION ...A REMARKABLE ACCOUNT OF ONE WOMAN'S COURAGEOUS ATTEMPTS TO SEE JUSTICE DONE."
Anne Houston, Director, CHILDLINE SCOTLAND;
"SANDRA BROWN'S POWERFUL ACCOUNT OF HER MEMORIES, HER FEARS AND HER DAWNING BELIEF THAT HER FATHER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF A CHILD AS WELL AS SEXUAL ABUSE OF HER CONTEMPORARIES, MAKE COMPELLING READING ........IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE VERY REASON FOR THE EXISTENCE OF CHILDLINE. THE SITUATIONS DESCRIBED IN SANDRA'S BOOK REMIND US WITH FRIGHTENING CLARITY WHY WE IGNORE CHILDREN'S EXPERIENCES - AND THOSE OF ADULTS WHEN THEY WERE CHILDREN- AT OUR PERIL & AT THE PERIL OF OTHER CHILDREN WHO MAY FOLLOW."
Rose Catlin, International Secretary, LEAGUE AGAINST SEXUAL ABUSE ;
" 'WHERE THERE IS EVIL' IS ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE AND MOVING TESTIMONIES EVER WRITTEN....THAT HER BOOK IS COMPELLING AND COMPLETELY UNPUTDOWNABLE IS DUE TO HER SKILLS AS AN ELOQUENT OBSERVER OF HER LIFE AND TIMES. I URGE EVERYONE TO BEG, BORROW, OR BUY A COPY OF THIS BOOK AND TO READ IT AND WEEP AS I DID."
CHANNEL 4 / TUESDAY18TH APRIL 2000 , 21:00
Few cases this century have been as mysterious or compelling as the disappearance of Moira McCall Anderson. The 11- year-old from Coatbridge, Scotland vanished suddenly in February 1957, yet no-one in the town will ever forget her. This is largely down to the tireless efforts of one woman - SANDRA BROWN, another Coatbridge girl who has fought for years to bring the man she believes is the murderer to justice. This dogged investigation by Brown has not only split opinions in her hometown, but has also created a considerable rift within Brown's own family. This is hardly surprising since Sandra has accused her own father, ALEC GARTSHORE, (interviewed here for the first time ever on television) of Moira's murder. Brown claims that her father admitted his involvement in the disappearance of her former school mate - a claim he vigorously denies. This film examines the unsolved murder and Brown's one-woman crusade.
If you've been affected by child abuse - or any of the other issues in the programme - there's a free Channel 4 helpline where you can talk in confidence. The number to call is: 0800 600 444. Lines are open until midnight tonight, from 10.30 am to 9 pm tomorrow, and from 1 pm to 8 pm on Thursday.