Midnight Return

by Billy Hayes

For Billy Hayes, being arrested in 1970 and sentenced to life in a Turkish prison was both the worst and best thing that ever happened to him. As chronicled in the book and film, Midnight Express, and now in the sequel book, Midnight Return, this fascinating journey into peril, fame, and fortune was a strange voyage of discovery that extended far out beyond the bars--from the isolation of a prison cell to worldwide notoriety. Midnight Return takes us on that ride, using photos, maps, and old handwritten letters in this vivid portrait of a most unusual experience.

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 19, 2012

Reviews

[Joan Fun · Rating 1 out of 5]

Struggled to finish this, the author is a complete misogynist. The way he speaks about women is quite extraordinary.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Billy Hayes, escaping the Turkish prison system was not the end of his story. In 'Midnight Return', he relates the culture shock of returning to America as a minor celebrity.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1970, Billy Hayes an English major wants to write about his adventures. He had a rude awakening when he was arrested at the Istanbul Airport with 4 pounds of Hashish he planned to take with him to the United States. He was given a life sentence for his mistake. He served 5 years of his sentence with the hope of being released. Turkish lawyers kept promising that since he was a model prisoner the judge may grant him a release. None of that materialized. His family desperately were also trying to get him his freedom. His harrowing experience was expressed in a worldwide novel and an Academy Award winning film. After several escape plotting schemes he does indeed pull off one of the most daring escapes possible.

This novel Midnight Returns, picks up where Midnight Express left off. Billy Hayes chronicles his escape in detail and the harrowing feat and desperation and determination to get out of Turkey and eventually on U.S soil. This book explores his struggles and triumphs with the transition of being a prisoner to a free life. The novel weaves the heart breaking effort of trying to get his friend Harvey that still remained in the hell hole released. That too, was problematic for both Billy and Harvey but their undeniably friendship that kept both of them alive while in prison was still unbelievable strong even though Billy was a free man. Billy and Harvey did keep in contact by letters which helped Harvey pass the endless time away.

We are shown through out the novel the ride of stumbling with celebrity notoriety, self discovery and self knowledge while healing from a horrific ordeal. Those lessons he learned were probably the worst and best humbling ones that has helped his self healing process.