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Slave Girls #1
The Cutting Girl: Charlotte
Slave Girls, a new series by bestselling author Louise Allen, reveals a shocking modern-day scandal of County Lines – the single most dangerous form of systematic child abuse prevalent today.
Charlotte - The Cutting Girl - comes from a family of high achievers. Her father is a politician, and her mother is a senior medical officer.
When she moves from her prestigious boarding school she is groomed by a girl two years her senior, spiralling into a cycle of drugs, self-harm and sexual abuse.
When she goes missing, five other girls do, too. A nationwide media campaign sets out to track them down, but can Charlotte ever escape the gang behind the abduction and abuse?
Charlotte - The Cutting Girl - comes from a family of high achievers. Her father is a politician, and her mother is a senior medical officer.
When she moves from her prestigious boarding school she is groomed by a girl two years her senior, spiralling into a cycle of drugs, self-harm and sexual abuse.
When she goes missing, five other girls do, too. A nationwide media campaign sets out to track them down, but can Charlotte ever escape the gang behind the abduction and abuse?
- GenresNonfiction
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2025
36 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Louise Allen
17 books114 followersFrom an early age, Louise was adopted into a family who, from the beginning, said they didn’t want her. Her first book, Thrown Away Child, reveals the abuse and neglect she and a fellow adopted child suffered at the hands of their adopted mother, Barbara. Ten years ago, Louise and her family became a fostering family. They have looked after over twenty children, some have stayed long term. This led to the bestselling series, Thrown Away Children, where Louise is inspired by the stories of children in the care system. Within days, the book became a bestseller.
Louise now draws on her experience to write a new series of ‘How to’ books about adoption, fostering and parenting. How to Adopt a Child is the unvarnished truth about adoption. Louise is well known for “saying it as it is,” so not only is it witty and engaging, it also empowers adopters to feel confident and in control and to know where to turn to for help.
Louise now draws on her experience to write a new series of ‘How to’ books about adoption, fostering and parenting. How to Adopt a Child is the unvarnished truth about adoption. Louise is well known for “saying it as it is,” so not only is it witty and engaging, it also empowers adopters to feel confident and in control and to know where to turn to for help.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 11, 2025
I was disappointed that it isn’t like her other books. But it ended up really drawing me in. It’s so very upsetting that this is all based on real events.
June 26, 2025
https://amzn.eu/d/547gFn 🔗
Review: The Cutting Girl by Louise Allen. Book One in the new Slave Girls series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After months in a reading slump when everything felt too loud, too heavy, and too much, The Cutting Girl by Louise Allen found me.
And it didn’t just break through the noise; it silenced it. I devoured it in less than 24 hours. It’s the first time in a long time a story gave me peace, clarity, and something real to hold onto.
This is the first installment in Slave Girls, a bold new series from bestselling author Louise Allen. Known for her unfiltered honesty and fearless storytelling, Louise Allen brings us a shocking, necessary exposé of modern-day County Lines - one of the most dangerous and under-reported forms of systematic child abuse today.
But unlike the Thrown Away series, Cutting Girl is told in a new, biographical style that’s both more intimate and more devastating. Louise isn’t just telling the story she’s telling the whole story.
At the centre of it all is Charlotte , the girl from the perfect family. Charlotte’s parents, a prominent politician and mother a senior medical officer, embody the very picture of success and stability.
On the surface, their high-profile careers suggest an ideal, well-ordered life one where their daughter would be safe, protected, and nurtured. But Louise Allen masterfully peels back the facade to reveal the painful truth: even in the most seemingly perfect families, the signs of abuse can be hidden in plain sight.
Charlotte’s father’s political influence and her mother’s medical expertise only serve to elevate the expectations placed on their family, making it all the more difficult for Charlotte to speak out about the grooming and abuse she faces. Their outwardly perfect lives create a chilling contrast to the dark, dangerous world Charlotte spirals into, where the privilege of her family offers no real protection.
When Charlotte moves from her elite boarding school to a new area, she becomes vulnerable. Groomed by a girl two years her senior, she is slowly drawn into a world of drugs, sexual abuse, self-harm, and silence. When Charlotte disappears, she isn’t the only one — five other girls vanish too. A national campaign erupts. But behind the headlines lies a chilling truth: even with money, status, and privilege, no one is immune.
This book dismantles the myth that County Lines is a London problem or something that only affects the urban poor. It shines a light on how deeply it has rooted itself in rural and suburban areas and how predators thrive in quiet places, where assumptions and appearances protect them.
When Charlotte is placed with the Reynolds family, it’s a stark contrast to her previous life. The Reynolds, a foster family that may not have the prestige or wealth Charlotte’s biological parents possess, offer something far more vital: unconditional love and acceptance.
While the Reynolds aren’t perfect, their care for Charlotte is rooted in something real they see her for who she truly is, not the image of a perfect, well-bred girl from an influential family. They offer a safe haven from the abuse and trauma she’s endured, showing her that home is less about status and more about the people who choose to stand by you.
But even in this sanctuary, Charlotte’s battle is far from over. The scars of her past are deep, and the road to healing is complicated, one that requires courage, trust, and a willingness to confront the darkness that’s followed her.
The Reynolds family becomes the beacon of hope Charlotte desperately needs, a reminder that love and compassion can still exist, even after the worst of what’s been taken from you.
The Reynolds family, they are everything foster care should be: a sanctuary, a safety net, a second chance. They're not perfect, but their love is persistent and unrelenting. They hold space in a world that keeps taking it away. They remind us that home isn't a house it's people who choose you, over and over again.
Louise Allen doesn’t write to entertain she writes to witness. Her voice is direct, transparent, raw. There’s no sugar-coating here, no smoothing the edges. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this new series, but it’s not the traditional trauma narrative. It’s something more urgent, more personal. Louise doesn’t let us look away and I adore her for that.
The Cutting Girl broke my heart open in a way that left me shattered and in a way that reminded me healing is possible. For anyone who has felt lost, silenced, or invisible,this book sees you.
Thank you to Charlotte for being brave enough to share her story. And thank you to Louise Allen for giving her that voice.
Review: The Cutting Girl by Louise Allen. Book One in the new Slave Girls series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After months in a reading slump when everything felt too loud, too heavy, and too much, The Cutting Girl by Louise Allen found me.
And it didn’t just break through the noise; it silenced it. I devoured it in less than 24 hours. It’s the first time in a long time a story gave me peace, clarity, and something real to hold onto.
This is the first installment in Slave Girls, a bold new series from bestselling author Louise Allen. Known for her unfiltered honesty and fearless storytelling, Louise Allen brings us a shocking, necessary exposé of modern-day County Lines - one of the most dangerous and under-reported forms of systematic child abuse today.
But unlike the Thrown Away series, Cutting Girl is told in a new, biographical style that’s both more intimate and more devastating. Louise isn’t just telling the story she’s telling the whole story.
At the centre of it all is Charlotte , the girl from the perfect family. Charlotte’s parents, a prominent politician and mother a senior medical officer, embody the very picture of success and stability.
On the surface, their high-profile careers suggest an ideal, well-ordered life one where their daughter would be safe, protected, and nurtured. But Louise Allen masterfully peels back the facade to reveal the painful truth: even in the most seemingly perfect families, the signs of abuse can be hidden in plain sight.
Charlotte’s father’s political influence and her mother’s medical expertise only serve to elevate the expectations placed on their family, making it all the more difficult for Charlotte to speak out about the grooming and abuse she faces. Their outwardly perfect lives create a chilling contrast to the dark, dangerous world Charlotte spirals into, where the privilege of her family offers no real protection.
When Charlotte moves from her elite boarding school to a new area, she becomes vulnerable. Groomed by a girl two years her senior, she is slowly drawn into a world of drugs, sexual abuse, self-harm, and silence. When Charlotte disappears, she isn’t the only one — five other girls vanish too. A national campaign erupts. But behind the headlines lies a chilling truth: even with money, status, and privilege, no one is immune.
This book dismantles the myth that County Lines is a London problem or something that only affects the urban poor. It shines a light on how deeply it has rooted itself in rural and suburban areas and how predators thrive in quiet places, where assumptions and appearances protect them.
When Charlotte is placed with the Reynolds family, it’s a stark contrast to her previous life. The Reynolds, a foster family that may not have the prestige or wealth Charlotte’s biological parents possess, offer something far more vital: unconditional love and acceptance.
While the Reynolds aren’t perfect, their care for Charlotte is rooted in something real they see her for who she truly is, not the image of a perfect, well-bred girl from an influential family. They offer a safe haven from the abuse and trauma she’s endured, showing her that home is less about status and more about the people who choose to stand by you.
But even in this sanctuary, Charlotte’s battle is far from over. The scars of her past are deep, and the road to healing is complicated, one that requires courage, trust, and a willingness to confront the darkness that’s followed her.
The Reynolds family becomes the beacon of hope Charlotte desperately needs, a reminder that love and compassion can still exist, even after the worst of what’s been taken from you.
The Reynolds family, they are everything foster care should be: a sanctuary, a safety net, a second chance. They're not perfect, but their love is persistent and unrelenting. They hold space in a world that keeps taking it away. They remind us that home isn't a house it's people who choose you, over and over again.
Louise Allen doesn’t write to entertain she writes to witness. Her voice is direct, transparent, raw. There’s no sugar-coating here, no smoothing the edges. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this new series, but it’s not the traditional trauma narrative. It’s something more urgent, more personal. Louise doesn’t let us look away and I adore her for that.
The Cutting Girl broke my heart open in a way that left me shattered and in a way that reminded me healing is possible. For anyone who has felt lost, silenced, or invisible,this book sees you.
Thank you to Charlotte for being brave enough to share her story. And thank you to Louise Allen for giving her that voice.
July 31, 2025
Slave Girls: The Cutting Girl tells Charlotte’s story. The daughter from a wealthy family, attending a prestigious boarding school, not the “typical” sort of girl you’d think of when talking about County Lines gangs, prostitution and drug dealing.
This book is an eye opener as to how gangs operate, infiltrate, recruit and exploit children like Charlotte. This poor child was subjected to neglect, not only from her parents, but her schools, her “friends” and the care system itself.
What this girl goes through in this book is utterly sickening, chilling, heart wrenchingly emotional and thoroughly dark. It’s a struggle to believe this is actually based on a true story.
“Loneliness and the need to belong are a powerful double-act”
Triggers: child sexual abuse, drug abuse, self harm.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror Books for my advanced copy.
This book is an eye opener as to how gangs operate, infiltrate, recruit and exploit children like Charlotte. This poor child was subjected to neglect, not only from her parents, but her schools, her “friends” and the care system itself.
What this girl goes through in this book is utterly sickening, chilling, heart wrenchingly emotional and thoroughly dark. It’s a struggle to believe this is actually based on a true story.
“Loneliness and the need to belong are a powerful double-act”
Triggers: child sexual abuse, drug abuse, self harm.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror Books for my advanced copy.
August 15, 2025
A sad, emotional, and shocking story. An unpredictable page-turner.
I've read a couple of Louise Allen's fostering memoirs, and found them excellent, and very interesting. This latest book is a departure-not about a child she's fostered; here she's helping someone tell their story. For this book, she's named 'Charlotte'.
It starts where she's six. She has a mother, father, grandparents, siblings. Her parents have good jobs. What could go wrong from these seemingly happy beginnings?
A lot is covered all in the first chapter-I like how it's concisely told. There are very sensitive issues, and Louise Allen knows how to tell it, and does it very well.
Even though I enjoyed a couple of books previously by Louise Allen, one of them did take a while to get into (I actually went back and restarted Stella's Story, then it was great after doing so), but I was straight into this book right from the beginning. It was so easy to read, and fast-moving.
Charlotte is drawn into a world completely different to the one she's known. And you can see how this can happen. To anyone; from any background.
I probably wouldn't usually have picked this from the title-hard subject matter, but, I wanted to read it on the strength of the author's other writing. She has made a great job of conveying this poor girl's story; Charlotte's thoughts and feelings, so you see how things happened, then spiralled.
A sad, emotional, and shocking story, very well-told by Louise Allen. A quick and easy, yet uncomfortable read.
I've read a couple of Louise Allen's fostering memoirs, and found them excellent, and very interesting. This latest book is a departure-not about a child she's fostered; here she's helping someone tell their story. For this book, she's named 'Charlotte'.
It starts where she's six. She has a mother, father, grandparents, siblings. Her parents have good jobs. What could go wrong from these seemingly happy beginnings?
A lot is covered all in the first chapter-I like how it's concisely told. There are very sensitive issues, and Louise Allen knows how to tell it, and does it very well.
Even though I enjoyed a couple of books previously by Louise Allen, one of them did take a while to get into (I actually went back and restarted Stella's Story, then it was great after doing so), but I was straight into this book right from the beginning. It was so easy to read, and fast-moving.
Charlotte is drawn into a world completely different to the one she's known. And you can see how this can happen. To anyone; from any background.
I probably wouldn't usually have picked this from the title-hard subject matter, but, I wanted to read it on the strength of the author's other writing. She has made a great job of conveying this poor girl's story; Charlotte's thoughts and feelings, so you see how things happened, then spiralled.
A sad, emotional, and shocking story, very well-told by Louise Allen. A quick and easy, yet uncomfortable read.
July 18, 2025
Wow! What an immensely sad read!!
Cutting Girl by Louise Allen is a gripping and deeply moving start to the Slave Girls series. It shines a light on the hidden horrors of modern-day County Lines and child exploitation, tackling themes of grooming, abuse, privilege, and survival with raw honesty and emotional depth.
At the heart of the story is Charlotte—a girl from a seemingly perfect, influential family. Despite appearances, she becomes vulnerable, groomed, and drawn into a world of drugs, abuse, and silence. Her privileged background offers no protection, exposing the painful truth that abuse can happen anywhere, to anyone.
As Charlotte’s life spirals, she finds unexpected hope with the Reynolds—a foster family who, despite lacking wealth or status, provide the love, safety, and acceptance she desperately needs. Their care reminds us that true family is about people who choose to stand by you, not appearances or prestige.
Louise Allen doesn’t sugar-coat or sensationalise. Her writing is bold, honest, and deeply compassionate. Cutting Girl is a necessary and courageous story that gives voice to the voiceless and sheds light on the darkness too many endure. For anyone who has ever felt lost, invisible, or silenced—this book sees you.
Thank you to Louise Allen, NetGalley and The publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cutting Girl by Louise Allen is a gripping and deeply moving start to the Slave Girls series. It shines a light on the hidden horrors of modern-day County Lines and child exploitation, tackling themes of grooming, abuse, privilege, and survival with raw honesty and emotional depth.
At the heart of the story is Charlotte—a girl from a seemingly perfect, influential family. Despite appearances, she becomes vulnerable, groomed, and drawn into a world of drugs, abuse, and silence. Her privileged background offers no protection, exposing the painful truth that abuse can happen anywhere, to anyone.
As Charlotte’s life spirals, she finds unexpected hope with the Reynolds—a foster family who, despite lacking wealth or status, provide the love, safety, and acceptance she desperately needs. Their care reminds us that true family is about people who choose to stand by you, not appearances or prestige.
Louise Allen doesn’t sugar-coat or sensationalise. Her writing is bold, honest, and deeply compassionate. Cutting Girl is a necessary and courageous story that gives voice to the voiceless and sheds light on the darkness too many endure. For anyone who has ever felt lost, invisible, or silenced—this book sees you.
Thank you to Louise Allen, NetGalley and The publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, couldn't put it down. It was heartbreaking what Charlotte went through and I hated how her parents treated her, especially her mum.
It's different from Louise's Thrown Away Children series but if you enjoyed them, you will enjoy this.
SPOILERS:
I was so pleased that Charlotte was able to go back and live with the Reynolds and for them to be allowed to adopt Charlotte.
I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series when it comes out.
It's different from Louise's Thrown Away Children series but if you enjoyed them, you will enjoy this.
SPOILERS:
I was so pleased that Charlotte was able to go back and live with the Reynolds and for them to be allowed to adopt Charlotte.
I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series when it comes out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2025
Probably my most favorite book of 2025. Excellent writing. Horrifying in its accuracy of slaved children. I enjoyed that this was based on a girl from an affluent family. Usually books pertaining to this subject show children whom live in poverty. Meaning this book goes to show that any child from any background can be groomed and trapped. Could not put this down.
June 10, 2025
what can I say? I was looking forward to reading this as I love the author, but this book is long-winded in too much detail boating in places and a predicable ending. found it hard to get into took almost a month to read .
May 24, 2025
Wow this hurt to read.
June 17, 2025
An Incredibly sad story, but so much to learn from it…
5* and highly recommend
5* and highly recommend
November 17, 2025
The book is well written. Warning: it can be so hard to hear what this poor girl went through. You just want to scream at her "parents" who don't even deserve that title.
September 19, 2025
Slave Girls is the story of Charlotte, a young teenage girl who was groomed and ended up addicted to drugs, self harming and being sexually abused. provided a really interesting insight into how these sex/drug gangs work and how they recruit young people. It showed how easy it is for young people to fall into this way of life without any intention to. It was horrendous how much these young people were failed by various systems and people that should have protected them.
The book was well written and did what it was supposed to do, raise awareness and encourage a desire to help in some way.
I really enjoyed Slave Girls and will be reading the other books in the series.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest opinion.
The book was well written and did what it was supposed to do, raise awareness and encourage a desire to help in some way.
I really enjoyed Slave Girls and will be reading the other books in the series.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews