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April: A Mother and Father's Heart-Breaking Story of the Daughter They Loved and Lost
This is the heartbreaking story of the abduction and murder of five-year-old April Jones, which sparked the biggest police search in UK history. The nation was shocked by her disappearance from the tiny Welsh village of Machynllech in October 2012. Her body was never fully recovered but paedophile Mark Bridger was convicted of her murder and abduction following a month-long trial in May 2013. In this gripping and harrowing book, April's heartbroken parents Coral and Paul speak at length about their beloved daughter and the search for her, their ordeal as they faced Bridger in court every day during the trial, and their ongoing fight against the vile child pornography he viewed in the days leading up to April's abduction. They remember with enduring love the daughter who fought so bravely to survive premature birth and mild disability, and who was enchanted by all the things a little girl finds magical. Paul Jones kept a diary throughout the ordeal, the contents of which are revealed for the first time in this searingly honest account of unimaginable emotional pain. Alongside books such as Madeleine by Kate McCann and Goodbye Dearest Holly by Kevin Wells, April will stand as a poignant reminder of what it means to lose the thing you most love.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2015
27 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 18, 2016
Heartbreaking. Living in Australia, I hadn't heard about this case when I saw the book at the library. I feel completely hollowed out after reading it. I'm so glad that the perpetrator of this nightmare will never have the chance to hurt anyone again and that Microsoft and Google have stepped up in the battle against child pornography as a result of what happened to this sweet little girl.
August 7, 2018
A heart breaking story of a child’s rape and murder and the family’s struggle to get thru the pain. The parents don’t dwell on the terrible event partly because they don’t know what happened in detail as the murderer never gave out any details. It is just a sad story about their lovely daughter being taken never to come home again. They then decided to start a campaign to have child pornography policed more on the Internet. I think what they say is true that it is quite possible to do this but people can’t be bothered or that they are making too much money out of it to stop it. So sad.
May 15, 2022
What a tragic and heartbreaking read this is.
For any parents to have to go through what Paul and Coral Jones have gone through is absolutely unimaginable.
I wasn’t fully aware of the full details of the abduction of little April, but her parents tell everything in this book, and I can’t comprehend just how anyone could be so evil to do such things.
This book gets 5 stars not because I “enjoyed” it, but for the bravery it has taken April’s parents in retelling the horror of what they’ve been through.
For any parents to have to go through what Paul and Coral Jones have gone through is absolutely unimaginable.
I wasn’t fully aware of the full details of the abduction of little April, but her parents tell everything in this book, and I can’t comprehend just how anyone could be so evil to do such things.
This book gets 5 stars not because I “enjoyed” it, but for the bravery it has taken April’s parents in retelling the horror of what they’ve been through.
April 17, 2020
Heartbreaking
I remember exactly what I was doing when the news broke about a missing 5 year old girl in Wales. My own daughter was 4 at the time and my heart went out to April's parents and I had the news on for weeks, waiting and willing April's return.
No sentence will ever be enough for Bridger, instead it's April's family who have to live a life without April in it. This is their utterly devastating account of what happened. It's an emotional read.
I remember exactly what I was doing when the news broke about a missing 5 year old girl in Wales. My own daughter was 4 at the time and my heart went out to April's parents and I had the news on for weeks, waiting and willing April's return.
No sentence will ever be enough for Bridger, instead it's April's family who have to live a life without April in it. This is their utterly devastating account of what happened. It's an emotional read.
April 17, 2022
APRIL - Paul and Coral Jones
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is the true story of the disappearance and murder of April Jones in 2012.
The account is written so poignantly by both her parents who remained dignified throughout the whole process.
As a mom a daughter the same age, I remember following this story through the media.
No parent should let their child out to play for them to never come home.
Mark Bridger needs to rot in hell.
This story is heartbreaking, raw and deverstating.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is the true story of the disappearance and murder of April Jones in 2012.
The account is written so poignantly by both her parents who remained dignified throughout the whole process.
As a mom a daughter the same age, I remember following this story through the media.
No parent should let their child out to play for them to never come home.
Mark Bridger needs to rot in hell.
This story is heartbreaking, raw and deverstating.
June 29, 2017
This book is utterly heart breaking. I'm not sure I've ever cried so much reading a book.
This is definitely a book to read with tissues beside you. It's so very well written and completely draws you in. What they went through will touch anyone especially a parent and it must have taken so much courage to relay it all once again for this book. such a sad but well written book.
This is definitely a book to read with tissues beside you. It's so very well written and completely draws you in. What they went through will touch anyone especially a parent and it must have taken so much courage to relay it all once again for this book. such a sad but well written book.
December 18, 2021
A very sad and heartbreaking read. Accounts from both Coral and Paul give provide a picture of the sheer hell they were and are still put through by an evil depraved creature!
My heart goes out to them and their beautiful doughier April! And their children Jasmine and Harley!
The courage and integrity they have shown is beyond admirable!
My heart goes out to them and their beautiful doughier April! And their children Jasmine and Harley!
The courage and integrity they have shown is beyond admirable!
October 29, 2017
Very sad story but very well written by Aprils parents.
May 4, 2019
Written from the broken hearts of a loving MUm and Dad
Written from the broken hearts of a loving Mum and Dad. A moving read a d interesting insight into the legal proceedings.
Written from the broken hearts of a loving Mum and Dad. A moving read a d interesting insight into the legal proceedings.
June 24, 2019
Sad book to read
Very sad book to read I have cryed. Reading about April she was a sweet lovely child with her hole life a hearing her god bless April
Very sad book to read I have cryed. Reading about April she was a sweet lovely child with her hole life a hearing her god bless April
June 29, 2022
Heartbreaking
Nothing but love and healing prayers for such a beautiful family , that pure evil entered and shattered, I hope he suffers daily.
Nothing but love and healing prayers for such a beautiful family , that pure evil entered and shattered, I hope he suffers daily.
August 4, 2022
Brilliant but so sad
Really emotional book, so sad what happened to april. Made me cry a few times with what her mum and dad wrote. #AprilsLaw
Really emotional book, so sad what happened to april. Made me cry a few times with what her mum and dad wrote. #AprilsLaw
September 14, 2016
April a star in our sky
A well written book that is the saddest I've ever
Read or want to ever read .
The family are so missing april
and will grieve for the rest of
their lives.
To lose a child in this way
I cannot think of anything
worse .
My heart goes out to you xxxx
A well written book that is the saddest I've ever
Read or want to ever read .
The family are so missing april
and will grieve for the rest of
their lives.
To lose a child in this way
I cannot think of anything
worse .
My heart goes out to you xxxx
June 14, 2016
Very similar vein to Goodbye Dearest Holly and Bye Mam, I Love You that I've also read. In this case so little is known about what really happened to April and where her remains ended up, so I didn't find out much more that I'd already gathered in the press at the time of the case.
It was a good, fast read, but of course heartbreaking. I think I'm done with my true crime phase for a bit!
It was a good, fast read, but of course heartbreaking. I think I'm done with my true crime phase for a bit!
June 30, 2015
I have been really emotional at times while reading this book. But it is unbelievable how a family's life can change so much. It has now been nearly 4 years since coral and Paul Jones plus their other family members and friends had lost their beautiful and precious daughter at only 5years old was taken from them. It was also nice and touching that they helped Tia sharps family to get the internet to block child poronography so that it can and will never happen again to another family.
R.i.p April sue-lynn Jones and Tia sharp r.i.p
R.i.p April sue-lynn Jones and Tia sharp r.i.p
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2015
I chose this book after watching Paul and Coral being interviewed on this morning. Very moving and insightful account of how each of them was feeling at every turn of event. Throughout the book I felt all sorts of emotions. With regards to the presentation I like the way the print changes for each parent so that you know who is saying what. The book left me questioning why someone can lie so much and deny responsibility for doing such a horrendous crime.
April 26, 2015
I read this book more quickly than I usually manage. It hard to find the words to review this book to do it justice. One can't imagine the life they have been living since April was taken. Very well written and a great effot by Paul and Coral. Absolutely heart-breaking as the title suggests. Although shedding plently of tears myself I am glad I read it.
May 4, 2015
Hard to review. A heartbreaking and sad read.
June 8, 2015
Heartbreaking. I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember being glued to the news and social media and praying that April would be found safe and well. A truly heart wrenching read.
June 23, 2015
Every parents worst nightmare - this book was so honest and heartfelt it really touched my heart
April 11, 2016
heartbreaking story told by the mother and father of little april jones
December 5, 2016
Fantastic book
This book is a heart breaking book of a little girl taken to early in her life. Such brave people telling their story.
This book is a heart breaking book of a little girl taken to early in her life. Such brave people telling their story.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews