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Charles Bronson: Inside And Out: The Charles Salvador And Irene Dunroe Story
A monster who should be locked away for good?
The product of a broken system?
A man who deserves a second chance?
The never-before-told story of who the real man is behind the title ‘Britain’s most violent prisoner’, Charles Bronson.
Bronson and his first wife, Irene, take you back, in their own words.
Using her psychology and criminology background, in Inside and Out, Julie Shaw tells the full story of Charles Bronson, Britain’s most notorious and longest serving prisoner.
Told from the unique perspective of both his wife Irene Dunroe and Bronson himself – originally called Michael Peterson and now known as Charles Salvador.
From drinking Cherry B and cider and dancing the night away to postcards from prison, this is the untold story of the infamous criminal and the woman he never stopped loving. But how much was their doomed love the catalyst for his violent crimes?
Now, more than 40 years after divorcing and both in their 70s, they tell their full story for the first time.
The product of a broken system?
A man who deserves a second chance?
The never-before-told story of who the real man is behind the title ‘Britain’s most violent prisoner’, Charles Bronson.
Bronson and his first wife, Irene, take you back, in their own words.
Using her psychology and criminology background, in Inside and Out, Julie Shaw tells the full story of Charles Bronson, Britain’s most notorious and longest serving prisoner.
Told from the unique perspective of both his wife Irene Dunroe and Bronson himself – originally called Michael Peterson and now known as Charles Salvador.
From drinking Cherry B and cider and dancing the night away to postcards from prison, this is the untold story of the infamous criminal and the woman he never stopped loving. But how much was their doomed love the catalyst for his violent crimes?
Now, more than 40 years after divorcing and both in their 70s, they tell their full story for the first time.
- GenresTrue Crime
201 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2025
2 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Julie Shaw
62 books25 followersPen name for author Lynne Barrett-Lee:
Born in London and now based in Wales, Ghostwriter Lynne Barrett-Lee has been a full time author since the mid nineties. Having enjoyed several years of success as a short story writer, with her fiction appearing in almost all of the UK’s leading women’s magazines, she had her first novel, the acclaimed Julia Gets a Life, published by Bantam in 2000. She has since written seven further novels, including her 2006 work, Barefoot in the Dark, which was shortlisted for the inaugural Melissa Nathan Award. Lynne was also approached to write one of the first titles in the Quick Reads series for emergent readers, and went on to ghost a further title for TV presenter Fiona Phillips.
Lynne began ghostwriting full length non-fiction in 2007, when approached to co-author paraplegic Melanie Davies' incredible story, Never Say Die, and since that successful collaboration has been ghostwriting full time. Her 2010 title, for Faith Scott, I Won’t Forgive What You Did, enjoyed seven weeks in the UK Sunday Times Bestseller list, as did the 2012 memoir The Baby Laundry. She also ghosted the acclaimed memoir Giant George: life with the World’s Tallest Dog a bestselling title in both the UK and US.
More recently, Lynne ghosted two bestselling titles which were published in the spring of this year. The first, Mum’s Way, is the story of mum of eight, Angie Millthorpe, who died of breast cancer, aged 48, in 2010. The second, The Girl With No Name, was published in May 13, and relates the story of a young girl abandoned in the jungles of Colombia, and has already been sold in eighteen countries, with film rights being negotiated and a National Geographic documentary being shown in December 13.
Lynne also co-writes a major non-fiction series for one of the world's leading publishers, under a pseudonym. The first seven titles have also all been Sunday Times bestsellers, with three more being published in 2013/14. The series was launched in the USA in 2013, and the first ebook in the series was a NY Times bestseller.
Lynne also writes about writing, as she teaches the craft weekly, at Cardiff University - her ebook NOVEL being the written distillation of her popular novel writing course.
Born in London and now based in Wales, Ghostwriter Lynne Barrett-Lee has been a full time author since the mid nineties. Having enjoyed several years of success as a short story writer, with her fiction appearing in almost all of the UK’s leading women’s magazines, she had her first novel, the acclaimed Julia Gets a Life, published by Bantam in 2000. She has since written seven further novels, including her 2006 work, Barefoot in the Dark, which was shortlisted for the inaugural Melissa Nathan Award. Lynne was also approached to write one of the first titles in the Quick Reads series for emergent readers, and went on to ghost a further title for TV presenter Fiona Phillips.
Lynne began ghostwriting full length non-fiction in 2007, when approached to co-author paraplegic Melanie Davies' incredible story, Never Say Die, and since that successful collaboration has been ghostwriting full time. Her 2010 title, for Faith Scott, I Won’t Forgive What You Did, enjoyed seven weeks in the UK Sunday Times Bestseller list, as did the 2012 memoir The Baby Laundry. She also ghosted the acclaimed memoir Giant George: life with the World’s Tallest Dog a bestselling title in both the UK and US.
More recently, Lynne ghosted two bestselling titles which were published in the spring of this year. The first, Mum’s Way, is the story of mum of eight, Angie Millthorpe, who died of breast cancer, aged 48, in 2010. The second, The Girl With No Name, was published in May 13, and relates the story of a young girl abandoned in the jungles of Colombia, and has already been sold in eighteen countries, with film rights being negotiated and a National Geographic documentary being shown in December 13.
Lynne also co-writes a major non-fiction series for one of the world's leading publishers, under a pseudonym. The first seven titles have also all been Sunday Times bestsellers, with three more being published in 2013/14. The series was launched in the USA in 2013, and the first ebook in the series was a NY Times bestseller.
Lynne also writes about writing, as she teaches the craft weekly, at Cardiff University - her ebook NOVEL being the written distillation of her popular novel writing course.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 1, 2025
A very truthful, gritty and heartbreaking story of Michael Peterson, who later became the infamous Charles Bronson.
I found the book very engaging and was interested to learn about their early lives and what actions led to their incarceration. That this man is still in prison after 58 years for a crime that came with a sentence of 7 years is astonishing. And whilst he has committed various crimes in prison, the way he has been treated or more so mistreated by the system, is terrible. I found it very interesting that the things that caused his backlashes against other inmates or indeed prison staff were generally from things happening in the outside world, which were out of his control. And generally, him having to look over his shoulder all the time, waiting to be attacked not just by other prisoners, but by prison staff who are meant to help protect him within the environment. He has literally been living in defence mode his whole life and has become a product of his environment. The book is written thruthfully with him never one did he excusing his behaviour or actions.
It does beg the question, how can a man be released back into society if he is kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day?!
The author Julie is obviously very passionate about the subject matter and shows compassion whilst writing. Giving both Charles and his ex-wife Irene a voice. Being trained in both Psychology and Criminology, her own professional summaries are also an interesting addition to the book.
I hope that Mick and Irene are reunited in this life or the next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found the book very engaging and was interested to learn about their early lives and what actions led to their incarceration. That this man is still in prison after 58 years for a crime that came with a sentence of 7 years is astonishing. And whilst he has committed various crimes in prison, the way he has been treated or more so mistreated by the system, is terrible. I found it very interesting that the things that caused his backlashes against other inmates or indeed prison staff were generally from things happening in the outside world, which were out of his control. And generally, him having to look over his shoulder all the time, waiting to be attacked not just by other prisoners, but by prison staff who are meant to help protect him within the environment. He has literally been living in defence mode his whole life and has become a product of his environment. The book is written thruthfully with him never one did he excusing his behaviour or actions.
It does beg the question, how can a man be released back into society if he is kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day?!
The author Julie is obviously very passionate about the subject matter and shows compassion whilst writing. Giving both Charles and his ex-wife Irene a voice. Being trained in both Psychology and Criminology, her own professional summaries are also an interesting addition to the book.
I hope that Mick and Irene are reunited in this life or the next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2025
Charles Bronson: Inside And Out - Julie Shaw
Irene
Irene Kelsey, 1952 - The Wirral.
Irene’s back story about her father and her childhood brought back memories of my own Dad. He called me Babbie, then I was “Girl” as I got older. (My Dad was a northerner too!) Some may even say he was a ‘Scally’ in his own right.
Irene put up with a lot of shit and not knowing what Mick was up to or where he was most of the time must have been so difficult not just for her but for her to have to explain to their little boy too.
He vanished, she roamed the streets with her young son and thought something might have happened to him… Weeks later she found out from her father-in-law he’d been locked up!
“I looked at the doc, the same doc that a few years previously Myra Hindley and Ian Brady had been standing in waiting to be sentenced. Why is my Mick in the same doc? They were bloody child killers! I thought. My Mick hasn’t killed or harmed anyone.”
“The danger these days is more toward him than from him, and he simply wants to live out whatever years he has left with dignity and in peace.”
Mick
Born Michael Gordon Peterson, 1952 - Luton.
“I tried my hardest to do well at school because that’s what my parents wanted for me, but you know what I couldn’t stand? Bullies! I hated them with a passion and I couldn’t stand it if I saw some unfortunate getting picked on or being battered by some bigger kid. I couldn’t help myself but charge in and sort the big bastards out.”
Michael Peterson was arrested and sentenced to 7 years in prison, which turned into 13 years of abuse and being moved from place to place, to the worst prisons imaginable. Released as Michael Peterson, worked as an unlicensed fighter and changed his name. He really wanted to propose to his on/off girlfriend so took a shotgun to a jewellers and stole the ring. Not only was he shocked when she rejected him, but to top it all he was arrested for the job within days. He was charged under his new name - Charles Bronson (“After the tough guy movie star.”) and sentenced to a further 7 years.
Years passed, many more prison moves and then Charles Bronson met a salt of the earth officer (Mr Mick O’Hagan) who changed his life - and his name. Charles Bronson became Charles Salvador (Salvador - someone who helps sinners and was a name for a man of peace) but to Irene, he was still Mick and she refuses to call him anything else.
50 years and counting for a robbery, that started out as a 7 year sentence, wtf? Guess luck hasn’t been on his side, same can’t be said for some who only do “my 7” for an armed robbery which later lead to a death. 🤔 Makes me wonder how the fuck these sentences are worked out, seriously! Our legal system is broken, shot to shit.
Seriously!?, This man should have been released decades ago!
Irene
Irene Kelsey, 1952 - The Wirral.
Irene’s back story about her father and her childhood brought back memories of my own Dad. He called me Babbie, then I was “Girl” as I got older. (My Dad was a northerner too!) Some may even say he was a ‘Scally’ in his own right.
Irene put up with a lot of shit and not knowing what Mick was up to or where he was most of the time must have been so difficult not just for her but for her to have to explain to their little boy too.
He vanished, she roamed the streets with her young son and thought something might have happened to him… Weeks later she found out from her father-in-law he’d been locked up!
“I looked at the doc, the same doc that a few years previously Myra Hindley and Ian Brady had been standing in waiting to be sentenced. Why is my Mick in the same doc? They were bloody child killers! I thought. My Mick hasn’t killed or harmed anyone.”
“The danger these days is more toward him than from him, and he simply wants to live out whatever years he has left with dignity and in peace.”
Mick
Born Michael Gordon Peterson, 1952 - Luton.
“I tried my hardest to do well at school because that’s what my parents wanted for me, but you know what I couldn’t stand? Bullies! I hated them with a passion and I couldn’t stand it if I saw some unfortunate getting picked on or being battered by some bigger kid. I couldn’t help myself but charge in and sort the big bastards out.”
Michael Peterson was arrested and sentenced to 7 years in prison, which turned into 13 years of abuse and being moved from place to place, to the worst prisons imaginable. Released as Michael Peterson, worked as an unlicensed fighter and changed his name. He really wanted to propose to his on/off girlfriend so took a shotgun to a jewellers and stole the ring. Not only was he shocked when she rejected him, but to top it all he was arrested for the job within days. He was charged under his new name - Charles Bronson (“After the tough guy movie star.”) and sentenced to a further 7 years.
Years passed, many more prison moves and then Charles Bronson met a salt of the earth officer (Mr Mick O’Hagan) who changed his life - and his name. Charles Bronson became Charles Salvador (Salvador - someone who helps sinners and was a name for a man of peace) but to Irene, he was still Mick and she refuses to call him anything else.
50 years and counting for a robbery, that started out as a 7 year sentence, wtf? Guess luck hasn’t been on his side, same can’t be said for some who only do “my 7” for an armed robbery which later lead to a death. 🤔 Makes me wonder how the fuck these sentences are worked out, seriously! Our legal system is broken, shot to shit.
Seriously!?, This man should have been released decades ago!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2025
A really insightful and heartbreaking book showing the true man behind the media portrayal. The book is filled with love between Irene and Charlie/Mick and shows what an amazing relationship they have, despite the sad circumstances keeping them apart. I particularly enjoyed the way that Irene and Charlie share each of their points of view on identical time periods, a really clever and enjoyable concept.
Julie has put her heart into this book and it shows throughout. Brilliantly written with such compassion. Well done Julie.
Julie has put her heart into this book and it shows throughout. Brilliantly written with such compassion. Well done Julie.
July 14, 2025
Having read other books by the man himself was not sure what to expect from this however it was really interesting and showed the perspective from his first wife Irene and in turn analysed by Julie Shaw.
The style of writing is very easy to get into and you get a real feel for the times and characters involved. You cannot help but question a system which allows someone to be kept inside for 53 years without a form of rehabilitation and which has probably contributed to the issues that Bronson now has to deal with.
A worthy read if you like real life gritty crime books.
The style of writing is very easy to get into and you get a real feel for the times and characters involved. You cannot help but question a system which allows someone to be kept inside for 53 years without a form of rehabilitation and which has probably contributed to the issues that Bronson now has to deal with.
A worthy read if you like real life gritty crime books.
September 6, 2025
As far as celebrity convicts go, I have a bit of a soft spot for Charlie Bronson. I've read quite a few books by and about him so it was refreshing to read the story from the perspective of his ex wife Irene too.
The author has done a fabulous job with this story, getting right to the heart of the relationship between Charles and Irene. You can see, by how much they disclosed to her, the trust they both had in Julie Shaw to write an honest and unbiased account of their lives.
The author has done a fabulous job with this story, getting right to the heart of the relationship between Charles and Irene. You can see, by how much they disclosed to her, the trust they both had in Julie Shaw to write an honest and unbiased account of their lives.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews