Tortured

by Victoria Spry

As a child, Victoria Spry was brutally beaten, neglected and starved by the woman she called Mummy. To the outside world, Eunice Spry was a devoted parent, but behind closed doors, she was an evil tyrant. Instead of protecting, loving and caring for Victoria, she forced bleach and urine down her throat, knocked out her teeth, tied her up naked, and made her live in squalor. It took eighteen years of heartache and despair before she found the courage to expose her mum. Tortured is Victoria’s gripping story of survival.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Memoir, Abuse, Biography, Autobiography, Crime

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 9, 2015

Reviews

[Frankie Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Not because I enjoyed what I read, but because the strength of this woman is absolutely incredible. This book is like nothing I have ever read before, and the detail in which her story is told is sometimes just too much to handle.
It sickens me to the core how Eunice Spry could be so evil and I was heartbroken at the way Victoria was treated by some of the people who should have been supporting and helping her. I hope the rest of her life is as happy as it can be. She deserves it more than most.

[Chris Steeden · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘From the age of one, Victoria Spry was abused by her adoptive mother, Eunice Spry. The abuse lasted eighteen years.’

This is truly horrifying. Worse than any horror novel. This is real. It happened to Victoria by her Jehovah’s Witness mother. ‘‘Do not hold back discipline. If you strike him with the rod, he will not die,’ she intoned.’ What the mother did to this child is incomprehensible. The beatings when she was in primary school and even before she started school were brutal. There is also humiliation. A horrible horrible woman. It feels like you are reading something from Victorian times and not the 1990s.

It just makes you want to cry. How can anyone do these things? It is beyond any comprehension. ‘When she beat us, she would often quote the scripture she was so fond of.’ The beatings and torture are like something from a Saw movie. On top of that there is an absolute tragic and just appalling accident just before halfway through the book. I am shaking my head whilst writing this. It is all just so unbelievable. Truly.

Do the beatings stop after the accident? Not a chance. The absolute brutality continues. This so called mother should be locked in padded cell. It just wants to make you cry.

This is an incredible book. It will put you through an emotional wringer. Upset, anger, happiness. Victoria is so strong, so strong. I wish her all the very best.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly moving book. Elicited all kinds of emotions, I had to put it down for a day from the anger and sadness. Amazing story of a horrible church going woman who herself was full of evil. This story makes me taiko a second look at those children who don't make eye contact or those run down houses with the blinds pulled. Makes my stomach turn to think how often this happens to innocent children, likely way more than we know. I enjoyed reading about Victoria's ongoing recovery, reminding us that people don't just walk away and all is good. Shame on anyone that says why don't they just leave, clearly this little girl/ young woman had been told such horrible things about herself for so long and been so sheltered she believed it was normal. I wish everyone could read stories like these and gain empathy for the survivors.

[Tinkerreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das Buch muss ich erst Mal verdauen!

[Emma Compton-Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in just 2 days. I couldn’t put it down. Strange to say really when every page in the first half of the book details such horrific abuse. I can’t quite believe one of those instances of abuse happened, let alone the multiple other moments… time and time again.
How did that poor girl make it through? Not only to survive abuse but a car crash and then alcoholism!
I have thoughts about Victorias mother that I can’t repeat. How can people on this earth be so evil???
I have since read that Victoria passed away in 2020. I’m just glad she got to tell her story and remind us that if we are ever in doubt about a child’s safety… to be the one to pick up the phone to report it and raise awareness. If this book helps just one child escape the cruelty Victoria endured, it will be worth it.

[*RoseyCheeksReviews* · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have been waiting for a long long time for this book... i read a sample of it about maybe 6 months ago and after i read that i have been waiting to read it and finally i have...

Victoria, you may not see this or you may but let me tell you, you are one strong women. The things you went through, i wish i could give you a big hug! You are made out of iron and can not be brought down, you sacrificed so many things and in the end rose up.

I understand the love you had for your mom, oh boy do i ever... Even though she put you through such horrendous things, you still loved her. Although people ask you why in such hateful ways i understand why you do

their was something you wrote in your book that stuck with me... Something Eunice said

" You may will the battle, but i will win the war"

Well victoria, you won the battle she will never be able to touch you again, not physically at least, mentally she will be there but she won't be able to affect you as much as she did.
thank you for sharing this incredible, raw, emotional piece of your soul with us. I know for a fact it will help people, you took something away from Eunice, you took away her power over yourself, christopher and alloma, but not only that but you took her power from doing it it another children.

[Cary Hill]

A very well written horrible account of Torture! Hard to read and hard to put down.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

rest in peace victoria spry. thank you for sharing your heartbreaking story about your childhood. everything about this book is heartbreaking, though some things towards the end made me smile!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seem to have a morbid fascination with these tragic autobiographical accounts, and I downloaded this eBook after having read about Victoria's mother in a newspaper article. I could not believe that anyone could be so cruel, and so decided to read Victoria's whole story.

What unfolds in this account is nothing short of sickening. The things Victoria's 'mother' does to her and her siblings make her a complete and utter monster, and make for very difficult reading at times. It is little wonder that Victoria's life begins a downward spiral into alcoholism. However, I was really pleased that Victoria ended her account with a healthy chunk of writing about how her life changed for the better and the positive changes she has made, as all too often these kinds of accounts end with the perpetrator being jailed, leaving the reader curious to know whether the writer has come out the other side.

It was sad to read that Victoria didn't get professional support right when she needed it, and it is still not clear to me whether she has got enough support in the way of mental health input / therapy / counselling, but I hope she has all the right support in place these days.

This is truly a fascinating read and really does make you thankful for all the 'normal' habits, experiences, learning, and life stages that we so often take for granted with 'normal' parenting. I read this in just over a day, as I was so eager to hear if Victoria got her happy ending.

[Crystal Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abused and neglected by Britain’s most sadistic mom, Victoria shares her story. At times the abuse is so horrendous and unimaginable it makes for a very difficult and emotional read. As a society, Victoria’s abuse went unnoticed for 18 yrs and it is my hope that the “systems” have improved over the last 25 yrs. What I thoroughly enjoyed about this book is that Victoria shared her psychological, social, and emotional difficulties after she had endured the abuse, her story didn’t end with being rescued. We think of a rescue as a happy ending and while it is to some degree, we rarely get to witness the impact of the abusive scars. 5 stars simply for the incredible strength depicted by Victoria Spry!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ganz ehrlich, ich habe keine Ahnung, warum ich dieses Buch angefangen und dann auch noch beendet habe. Die erste Hälfte habe ich mich eigentlich die ganze Zeit geschämt, das überhaupt zu lesen. Lesen zu "wollen". Aber angetrieben hat mich der Gedanke, dass diese Frau, die diese grauenvollen Zeilen über ihre grauenvolle Kindheit verfasst hat, es Wert ist, gelesen zu werden. Gehört zu werden.

Und jetzt, nachdem ich das ein bisschen verarbeiten konnte, kann ich auch sagen, warum ich 5 Sterne vergeben habe: Weil die erwachsene und die kleine Victoria es verdient haben, nach allem, was sie erreicht und was sie (sicher nur mehr oder weniger) hinter sich gelassen haben, die Höchstwertung zu bekommen. Ihre Geschichte zeigt, dass wir nicht sind, was wir erlebt haben. Dass wir es schaffen können, auch aus der Hölle kommend, das Leben zu leben, welches wir uns erhoffen - oder dass wir zumindest jeden einzelnen Tag einen kleinen Schritt in die richtige Richtung gehen dürfen. Eine so unendlich starke Frau. Respekt.

(Und unbedingte Triggerwarnung! Aber das sagt der Titel ja definitiv schon aus...)

[Sarah Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a five star rating for the strength of Victoria, not for the content. I couldn't put it down because I needed to know that she was ok. I couldn't believe that these children were put through so much and survived to tell the tale. Be prepared to be shocked and disgusted as well as a feeling of why!

[Patrycja Zukrowska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional

Thank you for writing this book. It was so emotional. I believe everyone should pick up this book and read it

[Sarah Stirrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was harrowing. Absolutely harrowing. The abuse Victoria went through is horrible and unimaginable. Knowing that she died sadly in 2020 - murdered, in my opinion, by her ‘mother’ is horrible. She was a lovely, loving, gentle young woman who never deserved any of this. She never thinks about herself. Only of others. I’m glad she tasted a bit of freedom and she is truly a brave soul to finally speak out and seek help after two decades of torture.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A devastating read by the child victim of one of Britain's most sadistic and ruthless foster mothers. Like many books of this genre, its difficult to read at times in the way of how graphic it is at times. The author candidly discusses how she came to live with her foster mother and the horrendous abuse she experienced until she was finally able to escape her clutches and see her brought to justice years later.

Unfortunately, the author struggled with mental health issues and alcoholism and ultimately died as as a result of suicide within the last year. Its devastating, but hopefully Victoria is now at peace and free of pain.

[Jesse Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really respected the author's decision to tell the whole story - so many books in this category end with the child in the back of a police car, free, happy ever after etc. before a few pages of vague, "it was hard but I'm putting my life back together" stuff.

Truth is stranger than fiction. Victoria's story is likely the saddest autobiography I've ever read. I almost cried at the happy pictures at end. Good for her.

[Lesewahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puh, eigentlich möchte ich diesen Bericht gar nicht bewerten - denn es geht hier um ein schreckliches Leid, das der Autorin hier widerfahren ist und welches sie hier mit uns teilt. Es mich tief getroffen und fassungslos gemacht, wütend und traurig über die vielen Dinge, die auf unserer Welt falsch laufen und die niemanden passieren sollten. Eindeutig eine Geschichte, die ich so schnell nicht mehr vergessen werde.

[Helen Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read prepare for shocks.

Such a good read, this book shows that even when you are so downtrodden and suffering you can find the courage to speak out. Such a brave little girl who grew into a very brave lady through everything. I could not put this book down.

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing but sad book. I wish her all the best. She deserves it. Unbelievable

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book. Too horrific. God bless this woman for coming out on the other side. As for the person who inflicted such horrible abuse, there's a special place in Hell for her.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So eine emotionale Geschichte habe ich schon lange nicht mehr gelesen. Es war sehr erschreckend und grausam, was Eunice Spry ihren (Adoptiv-)Kindern angetan hat. Dafür gibt es keine Worte.

[Aaliyah Behbehani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always appreciate the life that you’ve got because not everyone has the same privileges and freedom that you have.

[LibreEstVitae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books like Tortured and If you tell written by the victim of a mother's abuse make one lose all faith in humanity. The question of why a mother would abuse their own children, biological or otherwise, is a terrible thing to think about.

Anyone who is mentally healthy would react in this way, so there is littled to be said about much of the book. Victoria Spry has been utterly failed by the justice system, because her mother is now free. The complete absurdity of a 14 year sentence for ruining the childhoods of several children indicates the justice system is entirely broken. Were the punishment to fit the crime, Eunice Spry would have died in prison.

Arguably more useless than the justice system of England are the many people who chastise Victoria for falling into addiction. The fact that she is able to bear the permanent physical and emotional scarring is a testament to the human psyche. Indeed, the horrors she faced during her formative years almost certainly would have driven her to substance abuse.

The fact that she fought to become sober is amazing in its own right. Victoria herself describes the struggle of escaping via alcohol from her own life and slowly dying in the process. She could have descended further into self pity and alcoholism, but she chose to be happy instead.

It is unendingly heartbreaking to know that Victoria took her own life because of her mother. Eunice Spry probably took sadistic pleasure in actually ruining her own child's life, which is extremely saddening.

In the end, Victoria's message is a powerful one. Anyone who notices the subtle signs of abuse is honor bound to report it, no matter how awkward or inconveniencing it might be. It is incredibly difficult to read about the multiple people who had multiple chances to report the abuse, to act on suspicions, to do their jobs. If everyone thinks that someone else will do it, Victoria Spry died for nothing.

[The Novel Vault · Rating 4 out of 5]

As memoirs go, this one was very well written in my opinion,
The 'story' flowed,
It was easy to read in terms of language used, (not in terms of content, very harrowing stuff).

In some ways although this isn't actually a self help book, the third part could easily have been used as a very brutally honest and realistic self help book.
The way Victoria talks about her past and realises that it's caused extreme trauma which was being self medicated, was honest and like taking a therapy journey with her.

I think, maybe Victoria and I are very similar, I can honestly say we think in very much the same way and maybe that meant that when reading it I connected more deeply with her journey then some might,
Maybe I just used this book as a therapy tool myself, maybe it came at the right time for me to realise some truths about myself, maybe I was seeing somethings I hadn't been able to put into words before because clear to me in my mind. Either way, I not only enjoyed this book but I found I connected to the journey on a personal level so in the end I thought it was amazing, which I guess is a good thing because even if other people wouldn't agree, it's helped me to help myself.

[Trisha Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW what a novel. This is a true story of a young girl adopted at a young age who lived through an insurmountable amount of abuse as a child. The mother Eunice has been named the most abusive woman in Britain. The punishments she puts the children through are not something an average person would have any child good, bad, or otherwise endure. The emotion you feel reading this book is unbelievable my heart broke for the children, I cried and felt the heart ache they must have felt. It really goes to show you that people need to be more aware and not be afraid to stand up and take a stand. Mental illness is an integral part of life and this book proves it just because you can't see what's happening it doesn't mean its not happening. The book is well written by one of the children Victoria Spry who was punished at the hands of Eunice Spry. The ending of the book brought tears to my eyes you can't help but feel something for these children.

I highly recommend the read if you are a true stories lover like I am

[J.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chilling and Redemptive.

This was a great book. Please don't misunderstand--the subject matter and circumstances were dreadful--but it is a story that needed to be told. I applaud Victoria Spry for being so forthcoming with her tragic upbringing--rather, the tragic first portion of her life. She is brave beyond words. She is a true survivor. It angers and saddens me that so many people have to go through situations such as these, and it seems as though no one believes them, or treats them as though they are not a priority. People like Eunice do not deserve sympathy, nor do they deserve a second chance. The justice system (American or not, apparently, as they were in the U.K.) is a complete joke. They claim to help innocent people who need the help, but it is a sham. We need more people like Victoria in the world, and in social justice jobs. They understand what it is like, all too well. They have lived the hell Victoria did. I pray, one day, no one else will have to know this type of life either.

[L Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Painfully powerful

I knew this book/story was going to be hard to read and I wasn't wrong. There were times I had to put this book down and walk away as the pure evil that person (I cannot bring myself to say mother as Eunice Spry should never be,called that) did to those poor children was unbelievably heartbreaking. Whats even sadder is that I bought this book a few weeks back and Victoria has since passed away. I actually cried on more than one occasion for her and then to find out her demons finally took over is hard to describe. How could any person be able to live when she was let down so horribly and so many times by the very people who were meant to protect her. RIP Victoria, there are no words I can say other than at least your pain has now ended.

[Bekha Youmans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I havnt given this book 5 stars because I enjoyed the read in fact it’s exactly opposite I have never read something so harrowing in my life before. In all the time of reading have I never had to put down a book and come away from it to take a break because I could stand to see what was written on the page. What this women had to go through as a child is unexplainable, it unimaginable and disgusting and to think Eunice only got 14 years and 2 of them where taken off her sentence. To say that Victoria is a very strong, determined and inspirational women isn’t justifiable I just simply have no words.

[mark goffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So desperately sad

I recently read a newspaper article about the author, Victoria Spry's suicide and cannot imagine how difficult it must have been for her to live with the memories of her childhood. How wrong is it that Eunice Spry is now a free woman? When this poor woman just could not carry on living with the memories of the horrendous abuse that monster inflicted on her. Victoria did so much good, working to protect other vulnerable children, and this book will forever be a document of Eunice Sprys vicious campaign of torture , of Victoria and her foster brother and sister, so it will never be forgotten. Sleep in peace, Victoria.

[Deja Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a solid 5 stars. I couldn't stop reading it for two reasons: first, it was so shocking that I just couldn't put it down. Second, it was so disturbing that I just wanted to get to the end. The abuse you will read about is simply unimaginable and quite nightmarish. The novel makes you think twice about asking others if they need help, and points out flaws in our social services and justice systems. I commend the author on her bravery and ability to tell her story in such intimate detail.