Sold in Secret cover art

Sold in Secret

The Murder of Charlene Downes

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free + £10 Audible voucher

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

Sold in Secret

By: Karen Downes
Narrated by: Lucy Brownhill
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £12.77

Buy Now for £12.77

'1st November 2003 started so unremarkably that I wish I had appreciated the normality of it. Because I would never, ever know peace again.'

Charlene Downes was 14 when she went missing in Blackpool's seedy underbelly. Once a happy-go-lucky schoolgirl, she had become a truant - hanging out with the wrong crowd by the takeaway shops and pier. But Charlene's mum, Karen, always knew her typical teenage daughter would come home.

Until one day she didn't.

Karen has been searching for 15 years, campaigning for the truth of what happened to her daughter. To this day, Karen and her family have no body, no convictions and no answers. Arrests were made and a murder trial took place, but no one has ever been brought to justice.

On the 15th anniversary of Charlene's disappearance, Karen shares this heartbreaking account of every parent's worst nightmare. Abuse Child Abuse Dysfunctional Families Dysfunctional Relationships Parenting & Families Relationships True Crime Emotionally Gripping
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
This is incredibly sad,Charlene was failed!
Her mothers love and strength will hopefully one day bring her home

Incredibly sad

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Took me days to finish this book. The strength of a mother 💕 heartbreaking

Such a heart wrenching book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I feel for Karen and her family however the book had me hooked. I hope she gets answers soon.

Great book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is such a powerful book, ive cried and laughed, so good i hope more people listen too this, its really important.

Such a powerful book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I can not begin to imagine the hearbreak your family have endured over the years... As a mum I could not even allow myself to imagine what it feels like to loose a child, let alone have no answers... In a world where we are told about equality and diversity, it seems Charlene did not warrant the same care and consideration given to the McCanns. I truly hope you and your family get some answers x

Heartbreaking

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews