Love as Always, Mum xxx

The true and terrible story of surviving a childhood with Fred and Rose West

By: Mae West, Neil McKay

Narrated by: Julia Barrie

Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

The true story of an abused childhood, of shocking brutality and life as the daughter of notorious serial killer and master manipulator Rose West.

You're 21 years old. Police arrive on the doorstep of your house, 25 Cromwell Street, with a warrant to search the garden for the remains of your older sister you didn't know was dead. Bones are found, and they are from more than one body. And so the nightmare begins. You are the daughter of Fred and Rose West.

'Mae, I mean this.... I'm not a good person, and I let all you children down....' (Rose West, HM Prison Durham)

It has taken over 20 years for Mae West to find the perspective and strength to tell her remarkable story: one of an abusive, violent childhood, of her serial killer parents and how she has rebuilt her life in the shadow of their terrible crimes.

Through her own memories, research and the letters her mother wrote to her from prison, Mae shares her emotionally powerful account of her life as a West. From a toddler locked in the deathly basement to a teen fighting off the sexual advances of her father, Mae's story is one of survival. It also answers the questions: how do you come to terms with knowing your childhood bedroom was a graveyard? How do you accept the fact your parents sexually tortured, murdered and dismembered young women? How do you become a mother yourself when you're haunted by the knowledge that your own mother was a monster? Why were you spared, and how do you escape the nightmare?

Read by Julia Barrie.

©2018 Neil McKay (P)2018 Orion Publishing Group

overall good

long and sometimes stays on one subject too long. overall a good read and really digs into the mind of an abused child.

Whoa.

It's pretty horrible to admit that one of the first things I thought before reading this book was what kind of people could these children have possibly become, being products of both the nature and nurture of Fred and Rose West? Mae West answered that question for me with such self-awareness and grace, a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit and the ability of very victimized people to embody tremendous beauty. Mae's account makes no excuses whatsoever for the actions of her parents, and she dives into the grittiest material, bravely facing all of it: the trajectory of her parents' lives and their truly appalling actions, her own relationship with her parents, her siblings, her daughter, herself. West is remarkably reflective. If you like true crime stories, you will enjoy this, but the book embodies much more than your typical crime ctory ever could. I read a lot of books and don't remember most of them, but I think I will always remember this book, and that is really saying something. Just...WHOA.

Top 5 books

This book was an amazing read from start to finish. I didn’t want to put down.
Although the subject was hard to hear the ending was so uplifting!
Highly recommend!!!!

A Unique Story

Mae West did a wonderful job of this book. She did include some descriptions that some may have difficulty with, but not ALL details. The book is not necessarily about the murders committed by her parents, but her survival of their crimes, secrets, and abuse to become a capable, compassionate person.

This must have been a difficult book to narrate, but it was a spectacular job. Her accent made it feel as though Mae was speaking.

traumatic history told from the child inside

I hadn't heard of Fred & Rose West, maybe I live under a rock, but a true crime YT-er mentioned this book and how great it was before discussing a different crime story in her video. Without reading details of the actual crimes I jumped to Audible and purchased this book. the way this book is written is really different (at least for me, maybe it's common in other true crime books). The author is one of the children who tells the history from her perspective, so I'd you don't know the crimes already you, like I have, will learn what is going on within your family along with the author.
It's heart breaking and angering and fascinating and yes I had to fast forward a couple times through parts I wasn't able to handle but it didn't hurt the overall story to do so. This story has aspects that you'd never think you'd be able to relate to, because we're talking about very horrific things that thank goodness DONT happen in everyone's life, but because it's the perspective of a child living and learning, it's relatable. The author and narrator did an amazing job at sharing the emotion and soul that is very tricky to put into true crime stories, and I am very proud of this author for sharing this story, her story! I'm sure it's helped victims feel normal, outsiders empathize rather than gawk and communities recognize signs in kids & families who need help.

INTENSE

Great audiobook. Very startling during the first half, but then you get more into Mae’s personal struggles and experiences post the horrific findings. It is very explicit, and makes you very uncomfortable but at the same time you feel like you need to hear the reality of the outside world. Outside of your bubble. Wish Mae and her family the best today and always. Thanks for sharing your story.

excellent memoir, gripping story

love hearing the story from a survivor like her rather than a true crime author

Enjoyed

I really enjoyed this book very much!! I always love true crime stuff and this is defiantly from a different perspective of things and it’s really good !!

An interesting read

It can be hard to listen to the details sometimes, but I thoroughly enjoyed the perspective!

Amazing

The narrator was perfect. It was fascinating to hear the daughter's perspective. I will probably listen to this again.