Product Description

‘Thank God we have found her.’ Sara Payne's words as she announced that the body of her daughter – snatched and murdered by paedophile, Roy Whiting – had finally been found.

In this memoir, Sara tells her personal story. She describes the numbness as she waited for seventeen days, desperate to hear news of her missing daughter, and the terrible moment when her worst fears became reality. She explains how her family tried to cope with their grief and the stress placed upon them by the media campaign for Sarah’s Law. As the family tried to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of tragedy, they found that each reminded the other of the child they had lost. Guilt and anger pushed Sarah's marriage into a spiral of alcohol abuse and violence.

This is the ultimate story of a family’s journey through hell, but Sara’s strength is an inspiration as, despite everything, she and her family slowly found a way to go on. (20040704)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64712 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

The Sunday Times
'I would challenge anyone to read it and not cry, many times.'

Review
'I would challenge anyone to read it and not cry, many times.' (The Sunday Times )

'I would challenge anyone to read it and not cry, many times.' (Sunday Times )

'. . . this is the true value of Sara's book . . ., it illustrates the sheer mess murder can make of daily life.' (Guardian )

About the Author
Sara Payne won the hearts of the country when she, with husband, Mike, appealed for the return of their missing daughter Sarah. The whole nation grieved when Sarah's murdered body was found. When Sara found strength to campaign for the controversial Sarah's Law she again won respect and admiration. She is a strong personality fuelled by a determination to protect the lives and innocence of all children after her own tragic loss.

Customer Reviews

Heart-wrenching
I'd had this book for quite a while before I started reading it as I knew it would tug on the heart strings and be generally upsetting. Sara & Mike Payne lived through the single most horrific ordeal seeing their child abducted and murdered by a callous, unrepentant monster. Their strength of character saw them through the darkest days but I don't think you ever really get over the death of a child, especially a child lost in such horrible circumstances.

Sara Payne wrote this book to explain how the family made it through and the trauma suffered by the entire family as a result of Sarah's disappearance. While they appreciated the help of the media and public in the search for Sarah and the messages of condolence when she was found the media interest was extremely difficult and Mike especially found it hard to deal with. Sara dealt with the media intrusion better because she refused to let her emotions break through and kept a `stiff upper lip' throughout the whole affair. This façade would eventually crumble and Sara's grief overwhelmed her.

The guilt felt by the boys, Luke and Lee, was heart-breaking but through their courage and attention to detail they brought the man responsible for Sarah's death to justice. That must have been harrowing for them but they did themselves proud.

This is a heart-wrenching book and I defy anyone to read it and not have tears in their eyes.

If You Don't Pick Up Another Book This Year, Read This One
It took me just a day and a half to read this book and it was difficult to hold back tears whilst sitting at my desk during the quiet time over Christmas when I had enough peace and quiet to absorb it. Sara Payne has written from the heart, from the time before Sarah disappeared right through the trial, her subsequent pregnancy and the problems the family encountered, you can experience all her innermost feelings, the tension in the courtroom during the trial, their relief when Roy Whiting was convicted and the joy her and Michael felt when their new baby was born. You are there with Sara, Michael and their family from start to finish - a horrific story and a family who we all came to know through the media, however, Sara tells the more private side of their story, the drinking problems, the arguments. She does not glorify their story in anyway, it is so honest it is humbling and I defy anyone not to feel tearful during any chapter...

100% TRUE!!!!
I've read many true stories but i can honestly say that this one touched my inner soul so much that wherever i go i tell everyone about this poor little girl who was unlucky enough to be abducted and worst of all murdered in such a cruel way... I was so amazed by the mother and the pain which those parents must have felt, i'm sure they will never get over with it! It's a must read!!!