There but by the grace of God....

As Amanda Brown says in this excellent follow-up to The Prison Doctor, and illustrates so powerfully with the anonymised stories of some of the female inmates she has treated, the lives of any one of us have the potential to take a wrong turn, resulting in incarceration. For many of the female residents - not prisoners - as she explains compassionately and compellingly, it is no surprise that they have ended up inside and, sadly, no surprise that so many return, often with near certainty.
There were two key take home messages for me. First, that for many of the patients she supports prison is a place of welcome safety, given the physical and mental abuse to which many of the women have been subjected in the outside world. Second, that the sentences received by many are simply far too short for them to receive effective support in helping them recover from substance abuse. An issue whose effects are exacerabted and multiplied by the lack of effective support and housing once released.
The power and strength of the book is that each chapter focuses on the situation and circumstances of one resident, ranging from a Romanian migrant duped in to prostitution by brutal pimps to a middle-class professional who snapped after years of coercive control and then found herself inside after stabbing her husband with a near-at-hand bread knife. Her story was very similar to that of a client when I was doing my articles, a delightful and very gentle lady whose life was turned upside down when, in self-defence, she picked up her husband's shotgun, left permanently loaded inside the kitchen door so he could take a pop at rabbits on their forest-gladed lawn, to avoid yet another beating. Unbeknown to her the safety latch was off and a split second later both their lives were irrevocably changed forever.
My one criticism of the book is Sophie Aldred's narration. Although very good for the most part, her delivery of Amanda Brown's praise for a resident's achievement is somewhat gushing. This is, however, a minor quibble for an otherwise riveting deeply disturbing, yet somehow life-affirming read. Life-affirming because one is full of respect and admiration for the work that Dr Brown and her colleagues do andfull of even greater admiration for the resilience, humanity and determination of the extraordinary residents she describes.
Don't get me wrong, this is not some soft, limp-wristed paean to prisoners - although it would've been better to acknowledge that there are clearly some real wrong'uns in the female prison population. It's a profoundly moving exposition of the particular challenges faced by many female inmates and a call for more considered,coherent support that enables fragile, shattered lives to be rebuilt.

2 people found this helpful

Sn unrealistic portrayal of reality at Bronzefield

This book paints a falsely over rosy picture of life in Bronzefield. There is an inconsistency, the Dr says she often hasn't time for the ten minute consultation, yet listening to the book, the consultations often seem longer contradicting herself.
If you want a more realistic account of Bronzefield and life on release, read Breakfast at Bronzefield by ex inmate Sophie Campbell. Prisoners are antagonised my officers. They are often deprived of medical care. Water supply is turned off in cells. Drugs are rife. The prisoners in the mental health are doped up. Rehabilitation is denied. On release prisoners can be recalled for breach of license if they cannot find somewhere to live. Many prisoners are released homeless. I won't give the book away. As for this one, the Doctor seems to talk often about how good the prisoners think she is. Prisoners who come in addicted to benzodiazepines are taken off cold turkey. This is dangerous, while prisoners are given drugs to prevent seizures, cold turkey benzodiazepines can result in psychosis, this book even one lady mentioned being blinded temporarily and was sectioned on release. They claim benzodiazepines are not allowed in prison, because of addiction, yet all drugs are easier to get hold of in prison. Psychosis is dangerous as people can do anything, putting themselves, each other, and officers at serious risk. I feel this book is a totally unrealistically rosy account of prison life.

1 person found this helpful

Stupid accents ruined it

Good stories, although there is no way she could remember such detailed conversations. But it was ruined by the ridiculous put on cockney accents, as though everyone in prison sounded like Nancy from Oliver Twist. So cringey.

1 person found this helpful

A book I didn’t want to end

Loved Dr Brown’s first book and this is equally excellent. Easy to listen to, heartwarming and relatable

1 person found this helpful

Great interesting stories

Narrator is great the voices really make this audio book and it is written so well. just really enjoyed it. you want Dr Brown to be your doctor she seems so good and non judgemental.

Fairly interesting but found the tone unsettling

It was a fairly interesting insight into female prisons and female prisoners. I struggled with the tone of the language. I felt that the author relished their insight into the personal lives of the prisoners but did not quite acknowledge the privilege they had to know this. Some comments felt slightly judgemental and some of the commentary highlighted shock at some of the situations which I feel only reinforces the shame for people who live in such difficult circumstances. This really spoilt it for me.

very insightful

excellent how it covers some nasty realities but is interesting, not upsetting. Very much enjoyed

learned almost nothing

I liked the narrator, but didn't really take anything away from this story. As others already said, it seems really self-gratifying and there's no insight into the medical reality of prison life (which it should be all about??)

A worthwhile listen, tragic, heartwarming, head in hands with despair for some of these poor woman.

I had really enjoyed listening to the first book by Dr Amanda Brown, so naturally was thrilled when I saw this was coming out. This story focuses much more on the just the woman’s stories, which although there are some heartwarming moments it really does make you feel so sad that some of these woman are in these situations, of course they have committed crimes, but the life’s they have lead, usually controlled, manipulated and abused by family or by partners and drug addiction usually follows as a way to escape the hell they are trapped in. The whole system is wrong .

Easy listen ans insightful

Easy listen about inmates stories from confessions made to a prison doctor, interesting, worth a read.