Trapped Life: A Year with the Mandem on a London Estate

by Ebony Reid

‘The roads don’t forget, and old reputations cling on, drawing trouble even when someone’s trying to start fresh.’

Take a step into the heart of the British inner city with Trapped Life, a searingly candid narrative that shatters sensationalist headlines to reveal the authentic lives of the mandem on the infamous Northville Estate in London. Dr Ebony Reid, through personal and professional insights, offers a raw and intimate look at a vibrant and complex community, often misunderstood by wider society. In a year spent on her childhood estate, Reid's powerful storytelling blends reality with creative narrative, taking you through The Cotch, The Block, and even to the Bookies – some of the prominent landmarks of Northville. This urgent and dignified account exposes the devastating socio-economic disparity in urban Britain, making Trapped Life not just a book, but a call to understand and change the lives of those trapped by their circumstances.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 16, 2026