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My Sister Milly

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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook of My Sister Milly by Gemma Dowler, read by Ruby Thomas.

This is Gemma Dowler's powerful account, as seen on The One Show and This Morning . . .

'My name is Gemma Dowler. On 21 March 2002, a serial killer named Levi Bellfield stole my sister and sent our family to Hell . . .'

Everyone thinks they know the story of Milly Dowler.


Haunting headlines about the missing schoolgirl splashed across front pages. The family's worst fears realised when her body was found months later. The years of waiting for the truth, only to learn that the killer, known to the police, lived just yards from where Milly had vanished. The parents subjected to horrific psychological torture at a trial orchestrated by the murderer. And the shocking revelation of what journalists would do for a story - criminal acts that brought down a national newspaper.

But these bare facts hide the true story.

In My Sister Milly, Gemma Dowler shares the heartbreaking account of Milly's disappearance, the suspicions that fell on the family, the fatal errors made by the police, and the media's obsession that focused relentlessly on every personal, intimate and emotional aspect of the Dowlers' lives. It is the story of two stolen childhoods - Milly's and Gemma's - and about the love that kept the family together as they struggled with terrible darkness and injustice.

However, this book is a story of hope and recovery.

It's taken fifteen years of pain for the family to find their voice. The family has worked hard and has received intensive therapy to recover from the trauma of Milly's murder. Their story shows that whatever suffering you endure in life, there is always hope, and there is always love.

Now, for the first time, Gemma tells their story and that of the real Milly. Above all, in this book the family want to bring back to life their incredible daughter and sister. Now, finally, the truth about Milly Dowler can never be denied.

Abductions, Kidnapping & Missing Persons Crime Murder True Crime Disappearance Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking

Critic reviews

This is Gemma Dowler's powerful account, as seen on The One Show and This Morning . . .

'My name is Gemma Dowler. On 21 March 2002, a serial killer named Levi Bellfield stole my sister and sent our family to Hell . . .'

Everyone thinks they know the story of Milly Dowler.

Compelling, an amazing book (Jeremy Vine)
The most honest and unsettling account
Powerful
Tragic . . . poignant . . . full of emotional memories
[Gemma] opens up . . . the books serves as 'fighting spirit'
Inspired . . . the book to allows her voice to be heard
Gemma Dowler has finally revealed how deep they sank in My Sister Milly . . . her family's story is told in their own words
Gemma's book paints happy memories of her sister, a quirky teen who loved music, dancing and playing the saxophone
All stars
Most relevant
This is a remarkable book for many reasons. It is a detailed account of the horrific ordeals (yes, there where more than one) that Milly Dowler and her family have endured. It is a shocking and coherent account of gross failings in the British legal system. This includes the endemic poor practice and frank incompetence of one Police Force, and even the criminal behaviour of some Police Officers involved in the investigation of the disappearance and murder of Milly. Shameful inadequacies in our Court's treatment of witnesses are also revealed. This is a remarkable book for many reasons. It is a detailed account of the horrific ordeals (yes, there where more than one) that Milly Dowler and her family have endured. It is a shocking and coherent account of gross failings in the British legal system. This includes endemic poor practice and frank incompetence of one Police Force, and even the criminal behaviour of some Police Officers involved in the investigation of the disappearance and murder of Milly. Shameful inadequacies are also revealed in our Court's treatment of witnesses. The book is also a brutally honest account of how Gemma and her parents coped with, and sometimes did not cope with, 14 years of repeated traumas.

I am shocked by very little these days. I have heard, and worked with a lot of horror in my own professional practice, and have been a keen reader of crime, both true and fiction, for many years. Nevertheless, this book left me with a knot in my stomach for virtually the entire 22 hours of it's length. Many times I felt real angry on behalf of this family, and many times, I cried for them. So much of it was truly heart-wrenching and the details of what happened to Milly were very tough to hear/read.

Ruby Thomas deserves a special mention here. Narrating this book must surely have been an experience that took her above and beyond the usual call of duty. Yet her narration is faultless. There are times when there is genuine emotion in her voice. She does not indulge in it, but the trace of it fits perfectly with the words she speaks and the experience of the listener.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough to those interested in the subject matter. However, anyone who may be triggered by accounts of abuse, would be best to avoid it.

Remarkable, shocking and heart-wrenching!

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I bought the book first and read that almost without putting it down, the audiobook I've listened to while driving... Such a strong family, this book should never have been written or narrated, it's only through the loss of Milly that it has...

Heartbreaking and Fascinating...

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very detailed but easy written in a chronological order of events, lovely to hear the true Milly direct from a sister's heart.
The only negative was the last quarter of the book, was drawn out that made it a mammoth of a book but understand why, to the sister is was needed.

Thorough and personal

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The love for her sister is evident from the first chapter, so moving and genuinely upsetting but also compelling.

What a moving and wonderfully written but deeply moving account

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This is one if the hardest reads I’ve ever had. The heartbreaking events, the tragic truth, the unimaginable pain, all made so much harder to bear by their shocking treatment. I wish the Dowler’s peace and comfort in their memories and ability to have been able to share the truth....

A heartbreaking but brave truth

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