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Inside 25 Cromwell St
The two oldest surviving children of Fred and Rosemary West tell the terrifying story of life at 25 Cromwell Street.
How does a serial killer stay concealed within a family for 23 years? What kind of family could allow this to happen? Here Stephen and Mae West tell a compelling story of family life tested to destruction.
Their unpredictable world of brutality, sexual abuse and violence finally came apart with the most shattering series of discoveries any child could be asked to face.
As body after body was removed from 25 Cromwell Street, Stephen and Mae West were forced to confront the truth about their family including, for Mae, the unbearable knowledge that she might easily have been the next victim.
How does a serial killer stay concealed within a family for 23 years? What kind of family could allow this to happen? Here Stephen and Mae West tell a compelling story of family life tested to destruction.
Their unpredictable world of brutality, sexual abuse and violence finally came apart with the most shattering series of discoveries any child could be asked to face.
As body after body was removed from 25 Cromwell Street, Stephen and Mae West were forced to confront the truth about their family including, for Mae, the unbearable knowledge that she might easily have been the next victim.
214 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 2, 2019
I have a vague notion of reading this book a long time ago, but it could be familiar because of the documentaries I have seen about the West family.
Stephen and Mae West take on a big challenge, writing about their family life from when they were small, all the way through to the trials of both Fred and Rosemary. We are also shown some of the letters the pair wrote to their siblings when they were in jail.
It's hard to look at this objectively, because quite early on, Stephen in particular constantly repeats how much he still loves his mother, and Mae says how her father was 'just weird' and couldn't help behaving the way he did. I understand that the love of your parents stays with you forever, but I cannot agree with the steadfast way Stephen and Mae stand by their mother and father regardless of what they have done. They are both vile excuses for human beings, and anyone trying to justify what they did will not get a lot of sympathy in my book. What about feeling sympathy for the numerous girls murdered by their hands and abused for their sexual gratification, or their sister Heather cut up and stashed under the floor in the basement? When do they get their voice back? I understand that both Stephen and Mae were also abused by their parents in numerous ways, and while this is utterly horrendous and disgusting, it makes me wonder why they aren't more angry and broken that they have also been hurt by their own parents. I come to the conclusion that they were brainwashed into standing by them, because what else could the reason be? I find it strange that they would still love them in my opinion, and horrifically unsettling.
Stephen and Mae West take on a big challenge, writing about their family life from when they were small, all the way through to the trials of both Fred and Rosemary. We are also shown some of the letters the pair wrote to their siblings when they were in jail.
It's hard to look at this objectively, because quite early on, Stephen in particular constantly repeats how much he still loves his mother, and Mae says how her father was 'just weird' and couldn't help behaving the way he did. I understand that the love of your parents stays with you forever, but I cannot agree with the steadfast way Stephen and Mae stand by their mother and father regardless of what they have done. They are both vile excuses for human beings, and anyone trying to justify what they did will not get a lot of sympathy in my book. What about feeling sympathy for the numerous girls murdered by their hands and abused for their sexual gratification, or their sister Heather cut up and stashed under the floor in the basement? When do they get their voice back? I understand that both Stephen and Mae were also abused by their parents in numerous ways, and while this is utterly horrendous and disgusting, it makes me wonder why they aren't more angry and broken that they have also been hurt by their own parents. I come to the conclusion that they were brainwashed into standing by them, because what else could the reason be? I find it strange that they would still love them in my opinion, and horrifically unsettling.
October 28, 2016
This book is about as real as it gets. It is told verbatim from interviews with Stephen and Mae West, children of the serial killer parents. It can also be seen in video format as a documentary which was made from these interviews. One needs only to see the brother and sister's faces to know this was their experience inside that house. Yes, it is very graphic, but to hold back on that information would be to ignore what drove the two parents to kill again and again. It is shocking and heartbreaking to think parents could be so disconnected as human beings. A must-read for anyone interested in the psychology of criminality.
August 2, 2011
A truly brilliant read. Really fascinating, and interesting to learn what it was REALLY like to live with the Wests.
October 6, 2019
I've literally read this in just under 3 hours. It's so so interesting and intriguing I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this!
June 15, 2019
There is an endless variety of true crime books that tell us the tales of serial killers; their backgrounds, the murders, the victims, the hunt, the capture,the trials and prosecution - or the getaway if such is the case. What there seems to be far less of are the stories told from the perspective of the killer's family; a snapshot of life at home behind the scenes and the unravelling and discovery of the horrific actions of their loved ones and whatever was to follow. This is an angle I've been looking to explore and I had high hopes for this book.
Inside 25 Cromwell Street reads initially as excerpts from interviews of two of Fred and Rose West's children, later shifting into what seems to be journal entries during the trial of Rose West, followed by a comprehensive timeline of events and examples of letters written to the authors from their parents in jail. Surprisingly short on content, the book is a quick read; there is so much more that can be told about the characters of the deranged pair and life growing up in the West household.
Inside 25 Cromwell Street reads initially as excerpts from interviews of two of Fred and Rose West's children, later shifting into what seems to be journal entries during the trial of Rose West, followed by a comprehensive timeline of events and examples of letters written to the authors from their parents in jail. Surprisingly short on content, the book is a quick read; there is so much more that can be told about the characters of the deranged pair and life growing up in the West household.
May 15, 2019
Where to start with this book? The book is about living with Fred and Rose West, a child's eye view of you like. The style of the book is written in a rather childish way, but when the book was written Stephen and Mae would of been grown up. There are phrases that a things a child would say, rather than a grown up. I think that Stephen and Mae come across as whiney and quite selfish especially towards the end. In parts it's quite hard to keep up with what's going on as the statements keep jumping from one thing to another. Overall the book is badly written. I have read quite a few books on Fred and Rose West, this isn't one of the best. The best but of the whole book is the letters at the back of the book from Fred and Rose to Mae and Stephen.
A better book to read about The West's from their child's view is Love as Always Mum. It's written by Mae West and is a much, much better account.
A better book to read about The West's from their child's view is Love as Always Mum. It's written by Mae West and is a much, much better account.
August 27, 2019
Having read numerous books on this subject now; from various different view points this has an insight into their home life prior to the revelations. However having read books which were obviously published after I had some knowledge of the goings on already, what was nice to hear was Stephens view point in his own words. However I found it slightly difficult at some points as from the answers given and the way in which Mae and Stephen spoke you could clearly see they were not really in any fit state of mind and I felt somewhat guilty toward the end like this was merely published to capitalise from their torment. Not like Maes subsequent book where yes she obviously made another but on her terms in a better mind state some years after.
April 18, 2009
Inside 25 Cromwell street is indeed a very interesting read as it was written by Stephen & Mae West (Two of Fred & Rose West's children). With details of the ordeal the two of them went through throughout and after the time living with their parents, it can be rather harrowing in places. But for those who wish to know the further gruesome details, I would recommend Colin Wilson's 'The Corpse Garden'. Nevertheless, this is a superb chance to try to understand the torture and torment that the West's victims suffered. I just hope that publishing the book helped them in some way with tackling their past.
March 26, 2019
A fairly harrowing insight into the West family! This details everything that went on in the West household from Stephen and Mae's point of view.
It's written more like a brain dump so it's not always chronological.
What went on in the house was truly disturbing, and I can't help but find the pair of them a bit naive, knowing what happened as they do but then genuinely supporting their parents and thinking their mother, Rose was innocent.
How they didn't throw their parents to the wolves after what they did to them I will never understand! Fred and Rose only ever declared love for their kids when they were locked up.
It's written more like a brain dump so it's not always chronological.
What went on in the house was truly disturbing, and I can't help but find the pair of them a bit naive, knowing what happened as they do but then genuinely supporting their parents and thinking their mother, Rose was innocent.
How they didn't throw their parents to the wolves after what they did to them I will never understand! Fred and Rose only ever declared love for their kids when they were locked up.
February 23, 2020
Super interesting to read about something that happened so close to home and strange to recognise a pot of the places written about. I can't even begin to imagine what life was like for Stephen and Mae but glad to read they are starting to rebuild their lives and I hope the victims families are too!
April 23, 2020
I don’t think this was ever meant to be a work of literary genius, but merely a life lived in the home of some of Britain’s worst serial killers. It is heartbreaking as you read the book not only the abuse that Stephen, mae and the other children went through but also the battle Stephen and mae have to go through balancing their loyalty to their parents and what was being said in the media and the trial. For those interested in the case thoroughly recommend.
July 2, 2021
So interesting to get an insight into Fred and Rose West from the people who knew them best. Also fascinating to hear how strong family loyalty can be even after so much abuse.
April 22, 2016
As far as I'm concerned, this is a pure pornographic book. a book of taboos, obscenity and insanity. The title and the note of the writer have nothing to do with the content: the title refers to a given street, the note or the preface of the writer lays the ground for a horror story may be or let's say a story about serial killing, But once you open this book and you start reading it, you discover that you are reading about sex in detail. In a word, I like neither the book nor the way it's writer tries to convince people to read it... It's misleading.
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November 13, 2015Quite an interesting read
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews