With Hope in Her Heart - Anne Williams

by Sara Williams, Dan Kay

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

I have two mysteries out, THE DON JUAN CON, optioned by Robert Evans, Paramount Studios and THE SERENOA SCANDAL, a PBS/FL radio and magazine feature. My third novel, ONE BIG ITCH is scheduled to release in '08. My popular talks include IS IT A MYSTERY?(just why this genre is so popular,) and THE DON JUAN CON: Any woman with a heart can be swindled out of it. Look for my book reviews at WritersareReaders.com. I'm a member of Mystery Writers of America and Novelists Inc."

Reviews

[Mirjam · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I'd like to just preface this by saying that this is not an objective, balanced review. I'm a massive Liverpool fan and have gone to a decent number of games. The mere thought of something remotely similar to the tragedy at Hillsborough happening to myself or a loved one horrifies me and as a law student, the subsequent injustice is just baffling. This is my mindset, my review is as follows:

This is a story about death, gross miscarriage of justice and immense suffering. This is not pleasant to read about and it shouldn't be.
But this also needs to be seen for what it is. It's not an objective, investigative account of what happened at the Leppings Lane end on that April day in 1989. This isn't a level-headed factual report. It's a biography, a memoir and most of al an hommage to Anne Williams. A lady who challenged a corrupt system that did everything it could to obscure the facts and hide the evidence.
As such it's written in a very colloquial style and there's a visible effort to keep the account conversational. This helps to preserve both the Scouse accent and humor.
The timeline at the back proves very helpful to keep track of the years that have elapsed and the legal roads pursued by Anne.
For what it is, it's a lovely book. A great way to pay tribute to Anne and a monument to her cause.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Hope in Her Heart - Anne Williams, this book moved me to tears in more ways than one. A Mother saying goodbye to her fifteen year old son Kevin who is on his way to Hillsborugh to watch his beloved football team but never to return home.

Then the Hillsborough disaster happens 730 fans were injured and 96 died when fans were let into the pens which were already full capacity thus leading to crushing of bodies and fatalities. This could have been prevented if Chief Duckinfield had exercised better care in the first place. Only fourteen injured made it to hospital even though there were forty-four ambulances withing 300 yards. There was a big cover up by the Police as they did not want the blame falling on themselves.

Anne fought for justice for Kevin for 24 years to see justice done. Real radio Christian Spooner said "From the minute I first me Anne, three things shone through - determination, anger and love. Anger for the injustice she had endured for so many years. Determination that she would finally get justice for Kevin and an overwhelming sense of love every times she smiled while mentioning 'Our Kevin.'.

Sadly Anne died from cancer in 2013 aged only 62 with her brother by her side. Anne had married twice and she divorced her first husband on the grounds of cruelty. Sadly her second marriage to Steve Williams, stepfather to Kevin, broke down after a couple of years since Hillsborough.

Liverpool singer-songwriter, Dominic Dunn released a charity record in honour of the late Anne Williams called The Angel Song and the proceeds were given to the "For Justice' charity for Hillsborough survivors which is really moving.