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Trapped: A Couple's Five Years Of Hell In Dubai
How Australian Marcus Lee and his wife, Julie, survived wrongful imprisonment, house arrest and five years of trials and tribulations in Dubai.
In 2006 Marcus Lee moved to Dubai with his wife, Julie, to take up his dream job working for Nakheel, the emirate's largest property developer. Everything went swimmingly until one day in 2009 when Marcus was picked up by the state police and imprisoned in solitary over charges of bribery. Marcus managed to get out of prison - and out of Dubai - with the help of Julie, who found her husband and spent five years working to free him - first from one of Dubai's notorious jails, and then from house arrest. In jail she kept his hopes up by smuggling notes and poems to him (she received smuggled diary entries in return).
The tale of a foreign posting gone horribly wrong and a relationship which survived despite enormous odds, this is at heart a love story and a testament to the strength of a marriage.
In 2006 Marcus Lee moved to Dubai with his wife, Julie, to take up his dream job working for Nakheel, the emirate's largest property developer. Everything went swimmingly until one day in 2009 when Marcus was picked up by the state police and imprisoned in solitary over charges of bribery. Marcus managed to get out of prison - and out of Dubai - with the help of Julie, who found her husband and spent five years working to free him - first from one of Dubai's notorious jails, and then from house arrest. In jail she kept his hopes up by smuggling notes and poems to him (she received smuggled diary entries in return).
The tale of a foreign posting gone horribly wrong and a relationship which survived despite enormous odds, this is at heart a love story and a testament to the strength of a marriage.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2014
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About the author
Marcus Lee
54 books13 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
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For other authors of this name, see:
Marcus Lee - Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
For other authors of this name, see:
Marcus Lee - Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 26, 2026
Trapped is a sobering memoir recounting the Lees’ ordeal in the United Arab Emirates, chiefly in Dubai, a city whose polished modernity sits uneasily beside what they portray as an archaic and bureaucratic legal system. Beneath the glittering skyline, they encountered a process that felt rigid, opaque, and alarmingly unforgiving.
A central thread is naivety. Marcus pressed on with an employer despite conspicuous red flags, overriding his instincts until matters spiralled beyond control. The book serves as a cautionary tale about ambition, misplaced trust, and the perils of working in jurisdictions where legal protections may not align with Western expectations.
Told from perspectives sympathetic to the Lees, the account is necessarily one-sided but emotionally immediate. Their pro bono lawyer, John Sneddon, emerges as a figure of integrity and resolve - an encouraging contrast to the institutional indifference they describe.
Not flawless, yet undeniably thought-provoking, Trapped is a stark reminder that outward progress does not always reflect the realities of the system beneath.
A central thread is naivety. Marcus pressed on with an employer despite conspicuous red flags, overriding his instincts until matters spiralled beyond control. The book serves as a cautionary tale about ambition, misplaced trust, and the perils of working in jurisdictions where legal protections may not align with Western expectations.
Told from perspectives sympathetic to the Lees, the account is necessarily one-sided but emotionally immediate. Their pro bono lawyer, John Sneddon, emerges as a figure of integrity and resolve - an encouraging contrast to the institutional indifference they describe.
Not flawless, yet undeniably thought-provoking, Trapped is a stark reminder that outward progress does not always reflect the realities of the system beneath.
May 12, 2021
An incredible account of Marcus and Julie's Dubai horror story. The story flows well between narrators and even with the addition of legal commentary, it doesn't feel dull nor beyond understanding of Marcus' innocence. I felt tears of joy for their arrival back in Australia, including Dudley's eventual return. I sincerely hope both Marcus and Julie have been able to recuperate well in Australia, savouring the bright freedom of today and future tomorrows.
May 21, 2017
Quite chilling if you're living in the UAE... A very good read!
December 31, 2016
A real eye-opener into the possible traps of working overseas. It was well written, and great that the story was told by both Marcus and Julie, as they experienced the anguish of the ordeal on both sides of the prison walls. Julie's persistence and their strength and determination were inspiring. It certainly leaves the reader with questions about the legal system in Dubai, and it is still shocking that Marcus has not been compensated for his salary or expenses.
A quick, fascinating and eye-opening read - would thoroughly recommend.
A quick, fascinating and eye-opening read - would thoroughly recommend.
November 12, 2014
I thought initially I would only be interested in the aspects of Dubai's prison system but found myself quickly engaged with this impressive couple and their unbelievable story. I even found the business law stuff quite interesting!! A satisfying read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews