Holly's Hell: Seven Years in a Thai Prison

by Holly Deane-Johns

Holly's Hell is a remarkable story of trauma and redemption.

At the age of 29, Holly Deane-Johns was found guilty of attempting to post 15 grams of heroin to Australia from Bangkok.

She narrowly avoided the death penalty but received a 31-year prison sentence.

She spent seven years in a notorious Thai women’s prison, where staying alive was a daily struggle.

She learnt Thai and formed enduring friendships with fellow inmates, but faced heartbreak and anguish when some did not survive.

Holly overcame her drug addiction for good while she was in prison.

After a lengthy battle to obtain a prison transfer, Holly was transferred to a Perth prison in 2007, where she remained for another five years.

After her release in 2012, Holly was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

This is the first time she has shared an in-depth account of her life with the world, and it begins with a childhood home that turned violent and dysfunctional.

‘Not since 'Bangkok Hilton' has a book documented the nightmarish conditions endured by female inmates in a Thai prison. Holly’s Hell is a gripping read. It is also a testament to the strength of the human spirit, and how a life can be rebuilt.'

– Jessica Mudditt, founder of Hembury Books and author of Our Home in Myanmar

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Memoir

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 8, 2024

Reviews

[Maggie Walters]

It was a real privilege to read this book, and appreciate the tenacity and amazing spirit Holly Deane-Johns had to survive her time in the Thai prison. I love that she doesn't apologize for her life, but rather simply seeks to understand the journey that she was on, and learn to live with the consequences of those choices today. This is a raw book, edgy and in-your-face. It is a reminder of how fortunate we are here in the West. Her ability to stay centered, to make brave choices to ensure her safety, and to simply survive is astounding. This book will open your eyes.

[A.B. Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drugs are not something I am familiar with. Sure, I smoked weed for a brief time when I was a teenager, there was that one day that I snorted coke, and my brief issues with Vicodin. But aside from all of that… it is not something I am familiar with. Luckily, I never got heavily addicted to anything like that.
It was a pleasure to read this story. I applaud Holly for her open honesty. Not only with her struggles, but also with her comeback. What I really love about this story is that she doesn’t apologize for her life. This is what she lived though, whether we like it or not. She had an upbringing that none of can even fathom unless we lived it directly or something similar. I have not. Most of us haven’t. That is the beauty of independent lives. Despite maybe a thread here or there of similarities from person to person, we all have different stories. No two of us are exactly the same. Nothing is cookie cutter or black and white.
Holly’s story is a tragic beauty that shows that you can come back from the depths of hell. The odds were stacked against her, and yet she got out and changed her life.
This story gives me hope. Because no matter what I am going through… it isn’t as bad as this.

[Hembury Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviews shared by Hembury Books, publisher of Holly's Hell:

Speed read this one as I had hotly been awaiting delivery after I heard it was finally being published. Holly’s story is wonderfully written and will move you.
Grab the book. Consume it. Then lend it to a friend you love.
Amazon reviewer.

Holly's bravery in sharing her story is something to behold. Captivating from the beginning, it'll draw you in and leave you speechless at what she and other prisoners have endured. The book teaches compassion and forgiveness, as its the only way Holly could continue on and even be sharing her story now. A must read.
Amazon reviewer.

I pre ordered this book, and from the moment it arrived in the mail I struggled to put it down. This was such an amazing book to read, I don’t have words to describe how I feel after reading this. I wish I could change lives like you have by sharing your story with the world. Thank you for being such an inspiration, you have a beautiful soul.
Amazon reviewer.

[Kelly Kennell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid read. A great comeback story of being against the odds and getting through hell. Holly does a good job at telling her story, it is disjointed and oddly narrated at points but it adds to the character of the book. Is it the most eloquently written book? No. But that isn't the point. The point Holly wanted to get across was to give a warning and to help people. I think she achieved that.

[Jessica Mudditt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure - I worked with Holly in publishing her book. That said, I love her book. It's the first time since Bangkok Hilton that a female prisoner has documented conditions inside a women's prison in Thailand. She doesn't make excuses and she isn't trying to evoke our pity. What Holly demonstrates is an enduring humanity in some of the worst possible conditions on the planet.

[Aurelie Jammes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Her story is interesting but I didn't like how the book was built up. It's not in the chronological order and it's going back and forth. Each chapter could be read individually but at the end, I couldn't wait to be done. It's a shame cause her story is worth reading...

[Alicia Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Very sad though! Very eye opening though, I loved her strength.

[Debmeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read, a friend recommended this to me.
Thank you for sharing your story, Holly!
Found the book to interesting, honest, inspiring, and easy to read with the short chapters.