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The Lost Boy
The definitive book on the Moors Murders
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
August 19, 2018
Brilliant and heartwrenching. Made me want to reach through the pages of the book and shake Myra Hindley by the throat and say "Just tell the bloody truth."
September 10, 2015
My first Moors Murders book, so difficult to judge, without context.
Nevertheless, I found it a confused read - was it about the search for Keith Bennett? A study of the (cod)psychology of murder? A piece of extended investigative journalism? A biography of Myra Hindley? It seemed to be all of those in places, sometimes within the span of a single page, and at the expense of a coherent and consistent read.
I'll read more accounts no doubt, but it won't be thanks to this book.
Nevertheless, I found it a confused read - was it about the search for Keith Bennett? A study of the (cod)psychology of murder? A piece of extended investigative journalism? A biography of Myra Hindley? It seemed to be all of those in places, sometimes within the span of a single page, and at the expense of a coherent and consistent read.
I'll read more accounts no doubt, but it won't be thanks to this book.
August 26, 2013
Poorly researched - basic facts are incorrect (the date f Keith Bennett's abduction is wrong, for example), though he spends much if the book quoting people telling him how fantastic he is at his job. Awful, dull and really not worth spending any time or money on. The day I dedicated to reading this would have been better spent reading literally anything else.
April 18, 2019
This book details the life of Myra Hindley, who was a felon convicted for the murders of 05 children who were subsequently buried at the Moors near Manchester in England. Very dark and grisly Myra's history explains how she met Ian Brady and was "charmed" into the idea of committing the 05 murders.
What I found the most disturbing, though, was the role of the media. The press, at least in the author's opinion may have been to blame for preventing Hindley from disclosing the location of Keith's burial, the boy who is still missing. By the time she was ready the landscape had changed.
The only thing that really bothered me about the writing / authorship was that the title was very misleading. It appears as if the book will be more about finding Keith's body. It does not indicate that this is actually a history of Myra, one of the murderers.
What I found the most disturbing, though, was the role of the media. The press, at least in the author's opinion may have been to blame for preventing Hindley from disclosing the location of Keith's burial, the boy who is still missing. By the time she was ready the landscape had changed.
The only thing that really bothered me about the writing / authorship was that the title was very misleading. It appears as if the book will be more about finding Keith's body. It does not indicate that this is actually a history of Myra, one of the murderers.
May 10, 2012
Although as grisly and as evil as the moors murders were, this book went right into Myras history and upbringing. It details how she met Ian, how their relationship progressed, and the changes in her while she carried out her sentence.
My heart breaks for Keith Bennetts mother who never found her son, and in a way was used in Myra and Ians games whilst in prison to hold on to that last lead of control. They never accurately gave his location to hold control over each other, the public, and so that their case was never 'over'. Evil.
My heart breaks for Keith Bennetts mother who never found her son, and in a way was used in Myra and Ians games whilst in prison to hold on to that last lead of control. They never accurately gave his location to hold control over each other, the public, and so that their case was never 'over'. Evil.
November 18, 2015
The title is misleading for a start! I found this more to be an account for the horribleness beginning to end account of the woman of pure evil. Although it made a great read, it was slightly poorly written in places and more could have been done to make sure there wasn't moments of nothing to read of any interest. My heart goes out to every victim of this disgusting duo. May they always be remembered.
Read
September 25, 2012An odd book. Good at some issues, awry with others. The reliance on Brady's doctor was irritating ('Hmm, she had a violent upbringing. This means she was violent' etc) as he was used to back up the most basic points. We know that a strong woman met a psychotic man and the world wasn't ready for them. It doesn't take a genius to work that out.
'On Of Your Own' is a far superior book.
'On Of Your Own' is a far superior book.
July 1, 2022
A harrowing, horrific and definitive retelling of the Moors murders. The search for the young innocent victims and the truth about the psychopaths who were the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes. Duncan Staff, the author, is a journalist and documentary maker and has done an excellent job with this book to inform the reader.
March 14, 2020
A fascinating incite to the Moors murderers & their sickening antics. I didn't realise Hindley wasn't involved in all killings but was more an accomplice. Her relationship with Brady was twisted & their evilness is what bound them together. Interesting read.
May 2, 2023
Excellent reading,true story, but so very sad
October 15, 2025
intriguing detail about the murder of Keith Bennett on the Moors by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley
April 18, 2023
Very well written and researched book especially regarding notorious child murderer Myra Hindlay. The continued disappearance of young murder victim Keith Bennett on Saddleworth Moor is a scourge that continues to this day on the Greater Manchester Police department.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2015
Why this book is titled “The Lost Boy” is beyond me. I'm sure I'm not the only person who thinks this contained hitherto unknown information about Keith Bennett, the little boy whose body has never been found. It doesn't. There is absolutely nothing new in this book; it's more a biography – actually almost an autobiography – of Myra Hindley, as the author draws upon her various manipulative writings. The saddest thing in all of this is that because successive governments wanted to keep her behind bars she would not release information which would revealed where Keith's body was buried. She continued to deny any involvement in his death and therefore could not reveal the site of his grave – to do so would have implicated her. The secret died with her.
For those who aren't familiar with the Moors Murders it was, and remains, one of the most horrific murder cases of the twentieth century. During the early 1960's Ian Brady and his besotted girlfriend, Myra Hindley prowled the streets of Manchester and surrounding area, luring children into their van. Once abducted the children were subjected to abuse and then murdered, their bodies finally dumped and buried on Saddleworth moor.
The book is a quick read but the writing is at times clunky.
On a personal note, I was a young teenager, living in the town which housed not only these two lovelies, but Dr Harold Shipman and Dale Cregan (Google if you need more information). Hyde is a small town, now part of Tameside, and I think it's quite bizarre that all these characters ended up within a couple of miles of each other. Anyway – I well remember publicity surrounding the case and the effect they had, and continue to have, on this area. Reading this book – and I have read most books on this case – brings back those memories and still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
I suggest anyone interested in this notorious case should read Emlyn Williams' “Beyond Belief”, one of the earliest, if not the first, account of Brady's and Hindley's activities.
For those who aren't familiar with the Moors Murders it was, and remains, one of the most horrific murder cases of the twentieth century. During the early 1960's Ian Brady and his besotted girlfriend, Myra Hindley prowled the streets of Manchester and surrounding area, luring children into their van. Once abducted the children were subjected to abuse and then murdered, their bodies finally dumped and buried on Saddleworth moor.
The book is a quick read but the writing is at times clunky.
On a personal note, I was a young teenager, living in the town which housed not only these two lovelies, but Dr Harold Shipman and Dale Cregan (Google if you need more information). Hyde is a small town, now part of Tameside, and I think it's quite bizarre that all these characters ended up within a couple of miles of each other. Anyway – I well remember publicity surrounding the case and the effect they had, and continue to have, on this area. Reading this book – and I have read most books on this case – brings back those memories and still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
I suggest anyone interested in this notorious case should read Emlyn Williams' “Beyond Belief”, one of the earliest, if not the first, account of Brady's and Hindley's activities.
December 31, 2018
I have read a lot about The Moors Murderers in the past
Nothing ever changes with them! Still both sadistic and evil!
Now that they are both dead, it makes you wonder if little Keith Bennet will ever be found!
His poor mother Whinnie, went to her grave not knowing the location of her beautiful boy!
I just hope his brother, Alan is able to locate him and lay him to rest.
Sadly since the murders took place the landscape has altered, the peat will have moved, a motorway has been been built.
One thing that never alters, the desolate atmosphere surrounding those moors!
I have driven across saddleworth 3 times in my life, each time being in the height of Summer, yet the sun never quite reaches those moors! It’s like something is saying until he’s found the sun can never shine on these moors! It’s always a very bleak and dreary atmosphere that shrouds the moor locking in the secret it refuses to give up!
Nothing ever changes with them! Still both sadistic and evil!
Now that they are both dead, it makes you wonder if little Keith Bennet will ever be found!
His poor mother Whinnie, went to her grave not knowing the location of her beautiful boy!
I just hope his brother, Alan is able to locate him and lay him to rest.
Sadly since the murders took place the landscape has altered, the peat will have moved, a motorway has been been built.
One thing that never alters, the desolate atmosphere surrounding those moors!
I have driven across saddleworth 3 times in my life, each time being in the height of Summer, yet the sun never quite reaches those moors! It’s like something is saying until he’s found the sun can never shine on these moors! It’s always a very bleak and dreary atmosphere that shrouds the moor locking in the secret it refuses to give up!
August 30, 2022
This book is well researched but the author seeks to ‘explain not excuse’ Hindley. And seems to suggest her upbringing was a major reason for her later actions. But her childhood was not untypical of many poor families. She had the benefit of a stable, loving home and strong female role-model. She was intelligent, had a good job and money as a young women. Her actions were a choice and unforgivable. There is much less detail about Brady but the snipits included show he was a psychopath from a young age. I couldn’t finish this book which wanted to sympathetically explain their actions.
November 7, 2012
This book goes a long way towards trying to understand the murders, and when read with the excellent "One Of Your Own" by Carole Ann Lee you really are as close as you will ever get to the truth... very well written. I really hope one day Keith Bennett is found and laid to rest.
February 13, 2019
Before the body of my review I would just like to comment on the title of this book. ‘The Lost Boy’ conveyed to me it was going to be a story about the still undiscovered body of Keith Bennett. However, the actual premise of the book focuses on mainly on the life of Myra Hindley, her up bringing, how she met Ian Brady, the Moors murders and their arrest and sentencing.
The details within this book were obtained by the BBC documentary maker and journalist Duncan Staff after he received regular letters from Hindley saying she was willing to write her life story for him. Myra Hindley was sentenced to life in 1966 for the murder of three children, with a minimum term of 26 years, later in 1987 admitting to two more victims and her role in the crimes alongside her partner Ian Brady.
After her death on 15 November 2002, Hindley’s lover Patricia Cairns gave Staff papers kept by her, and in Myra’s prison cell, in the hope they would help find the body of Keith Bennett. In studying these papers Staff discovered Myra’s upbringing in Gorton, her family, her attitude, the death of her childhood friend, as well as the most pivotal part of her life; her relationship with Brady and the deaths of five innocent children.
Myra’s description of a smartly dressed intelligent man doesn’t correspond with the sadistic killer we know today. This persona drew Hindley into his grasp and very soon they began to participate in strange activities, culminating in the murders. She details how she did try to escape him but his hold on her was just too strong. This hold continued not just during the murders, but also during their sentence. Coded letters and shared memories kept their heinous acts alive until Hindley met prison warden Cairns. Only then did she ‘break free’ from Brady as her love for Cairns took over. A failed escape and a university degree followed, but however badly Hindley wanted to redeem herself to the public, it would never happen.
A highly detailed and gripping account of a 23 year old woman whose workplace romance turned her into one of the most notorious female serial killers of the 20th century.
The details within this book were obtained by the BBC documentary maker and journalist Duncan Staff after he received regular letters from Hindley saying she was willing to write her life story for him. Myra Hindley was sentenced to life in 1966 for the murder of three children, with a minimum term of 26 years, later in 1987 admitting to two more victims and her role in the crimes alongside her partner Ian Brady.
After her death on 15 November 2002, Hindley’s lover Patricia Cairns gave Staff papers kept by her, and in Myra’s prison cell, in the hope they would help find the body of Keith Bennett. In studying these papers Staff discovered Myra’s upbringing in Gorton, her family, her attitude, the death of her childhood friend, as well as the most pivotal part of her life; her relationship with Brady and the deaths of five innocent children.
Myra’s description of a smartly dressed intelligent man doesn’t correspond with the sadistic killer we know today. This persona drew Hindley into his grasp and very soon they began to participate in strange activities, culminating in the murders. She details how she did try to escape him but his hold on her was just too strong. This hold continued not just during the murders, but also during their sentence. Coded letters and shared memories kept their heinous acts alive until Hindley met prison warden Cairns. Only then did she ‘break free’ from Brady as her love for Cairns took over. A failed escape and a university degree followed, but however badly Hindley wanted to redeem herself to the public, it would never happen.
A highly detailed and gripping account of a 23 year old woman whose workplace romance turned her into one of the most notorious female serial killers of the 20th century.
August 23, 2025
First of all, the first edition of this book was littered with so many factual inaccuracies that it really bothered me (normally I can overlook a few as mistakes do happen). Such mistakes included the date of the 'Lost Boy' Keith Bennett's abduction. In the second printing, they were amended, and it shifted my review from three stars to four.
This is one of the better books on the 'Moors Murders' case for sure, especially in comparison to some authors, whom I won't name. The title is misleading, though; it isn't really a book on 'The Lost Boy' at all. I had hoped, as the author, journalist Duncan Staff, had access to Keith's brother that it would give a voice to the only victim whose body has yet to be found on Saddleworth Moor, and maybe give some background as to who the 12-year-old was and what he was like, so he wasn't just 'part of the story.' His brother has shared some wonderful memories of his sibling, and Staff had the perfect opportunity to share them here. There is very little information about the search for Keith here, and the pain and frustration that his family must feel. As it is, 'The Lost Boy' is essentially another biography of Myra Hindley.
Hindley wrote to staff in the late 1990s when he was doing a documentary, challenging whether she should still be in jail. After she died in 2002, he also had access to her unpublished autobiography, and her writings are the primary source of this book. We only have Hindley's word, and as she was constantly trying to gain parole, anything she wrote must be read with caution, but I think we can believe most of her early years before she met Ian Brady and how she and he began their relationship. You certainly won't find any of this in the earlier books.
But Hindley never could write to Staff about the murder of her and Brady's youngest victim, Lesley Ann Downey, murdered on Boxing Day 1965. Because she was heard on the tape that they made of the ten-year-old pleading for mercy, Hindley couldn't claim she wasn't there right at the scene, like she did with the other victims.
With the help of a psychologist and people close to Hindley, like the former nun who fell in love with her and planned her escape from jail in the 1970s, Staff managed to dissect her writings to try to find and understand the reasons for her behaviour. It's an interesting read, and although unbiased, it does not portray her in a sympathetic light. Lots of rare photographs are included.
The title of 'The Lost Boy' might be misleading, but if you're looking for a more modern Hindley biography as opposed to the worthwhile, but dated, 'Inside the Mind of A Murderess' by Jean Ritchie, well, you should check out Carol Ann Lee's excellent 'One Of You're Out' first, but this one isn't bad at all.
This is one of the better books on the 'Moors Murders' case for sure, especially in comparison to some authors, whom I won't name. The title is misleading, though; it isn't really a book on 'The Lost Boy' at all. I had hoped, as the author, journalist Duncan Staff, had access to Keith's brother that it would give a voice to the only victim whose body has yet to be found on Saddleworth Moor, and maybe give some background as to who the 12-year-old was and what he was like, so he wasn't just 'part of the story.' His brother has shared some wonderful memories of his sibling, and Staff had the perfect opportunity to share them here. There is very little information about the search for Keith here, and the pain and frustration that his family must feel. As it is, 'The Lost Boy' is essentially another biography of Myra Hindley.
Hindley wrote to staff in the late 1990s when he was doing a documentary, challenging whether she should still be in jail. After she died in 2002, he also had access to her unpublished autobiography, and her writings are the primary source of this book. We only have Hindley's word, and as she was constantly trying to gain parole, anything she wrote must be read with caution, but I think we can believe most of her early years before she met Ian Brady and how she and he began their relationship. You certainly won't find any of this in the earlier books.
But Hindley never could write to Staff about the murder of her and Brady's youngest victim, Lesley Ann Downey, murdered on Boxing Day 1965. Because she was heard on the tape that they made of the ten-year-old pleading for mercy, Hindley couldn't claim she wasn't there right at the scene, like she did with the other victims.
With the help of a psychologist and people close to Hindley, like the former nun who fell in love with her and planned her escape from jail in the 1970s, Staff managed to dissect her writings to try to find and understand the reasons for her behaviour. It's an interesting read, and although unbiased, it does not portray her in a sympathetic light. Lots of rare photographs are included.
The title of 'The Lost Boy' might be misleading, but if you're looking for a more modern Hindley biography as opposed to the worthwhile, but dated, 'Inside the Mind of A Murderess' by Jean Ritchie, well, you should check out Carol Ann Lee's excellent 'One Of You're Out' first, but this one isn't bad at all.
September 15, 2019
This book is mainly is written about Myra Hindley's childhood and life and then to meeting Ian Brady and through the relationship to murders of the innocent. Much of this i have read before in other books about this murderous couple, although i did though learn a few things i did not know before reading this book.The main focus should have been about the missing boy Keith Bennett,although this is not revealed until the end of the book about the injustice of the Bennett family not finding their loved one and the politics of the Police department not wanting to search unless they knew the right spot where he is buried and more concerned about keeping Myra Hindley in prison more than anything else rather than finding Keith Bennett.You can only hope that he will be found,so the Bennett family can finally find some peace. I give it 4 stars rating for keeping my interest throughout the book.
July 13, 2020
Baffled as to why this book is called ‘The Lost Boy’ and how it can claim on the cover to be ‘the definitive account of The Moors Murders’.
Keith Bennett, ‘The Lost Boy’, features in maybe one chapter of the entire book. There’s the odd paragraph here and there, but it’s hardly a book based on the search for his body.
And it can’t be described as ‘the definitive account’ when it’s the version of events mainly according to Myra Hindley’s autobiography.
A ‘definitive’ account would at least feature the police force’s perspective, Ian Brady’s side of things, and would certainly have more than two pages dedicated to each of the five murders rather than just a brief summary.
It was fascinating look inside the mind of one half of The Moors Murderers, and at various points the author delivers a real page turner, it just doesn’t do what it says on the tin.
Keith Bennett, ‘The Lost Boy’, features in maybe one chapter of the entire book. There’s the odd paragraph here and there, but it’s hardly a book based on the search for his body.
And it can’t be described as ‘the definitive account’ when it’s the version of events mainly according to Myra Hindley’s autobiography.
A ‘definitive’ account would at least feature the police force’s perspective, Ian Brady’s side of things, and would certainly have more than two pages dedicated to each of the five murders rather than just a brief summary.
It was fascinating look inside the mind of one half of The Moors Murderers, and at various points the author delivers a real page turner, it just doesn’t do what it says on the tin.
June 8, 2024
I’m not sure what I expected from this? Maybe a fluid story about the murders that didn’t jump back and forth? It started off really slow building up the background for Hindley’s upbringing, maybe trying to paint her as a normal person but got interesting once she met Brady. I guess the story telling as well as what they did gauged me. However I felt like this was more a look at what I did book from the author. It’s obviously his life’s work and is clearly proud of it. I’m in no doubt that he’s done well to gain some trust and information from Hindley, but doesn’t he like to tell us about it and ultimately achieves nothing in order to solve the murders. One she tells the police where they are buried to try get in there before Brady and the other is still missing. Interesting read, could have done without the gold star seeking
December 28, 2020
This book is more about the life of Myra Hindley then the search for Keith Bennet. Through personal diaries and autobiographies she wrote, it gives you a glimpse into her upbringing and the role she played in the deaths and murder of 5 children. With the help of psychologists and people close to Myra, the author has managed to dissect all her writings to try and find and understand the reasons for her behaviour. There are certainly aspects where I feel Ian “made” and “helped” make Myra into this evil woman. But also aspects of her upbringing and life have certainly made a huge impact but of course it is no excuse for what she did. It’s very hard to comprehend what they both did and very upsetting to know that Keith is still out there somewhere.
September 30, 2021
This book was very informative about how the two people met and their relationship with each other, it also went into some detail of how MH got on in prison and the strange mind of her and IB. I feel so mad that they would not help with the searches and only did a little to benefit them and not thinking of the effect it had on their victims families.
Through the title I thought it would concentrate more on Keith and his family but it didn’t, I don’t know how it could be titles the lost boy when I feel only a few pages were referred to him, it left me a little saddened
Through the title I thought it would concentrate more on Keith and his family but it didn’t, I don’t know how it could be titles the lost boy when I feel only a few pages were referred to him, it left me a little saddened
October 12, 2018
This is an absorbing study into the mind of Moors Murderer, Myra Hindley, her relationship with Ian Brady, and the children they killed. Written especially to the memory of Keith Bennett, whose body was never found and whose family still search the Moors to this day for his remains. Insight into Hindley's actions are shown via the papers and letters she gave to the author, Duncan Staff, and more recovered following her death.
December 5, 2022
Although an interesting amble through a little extra 'evidence', this makes for a deeply depressing read (no surprise there). I'm not sure why it's called the Lost boy as it doesn't really spend much time on the victim, or his family, or the search for him, more on the idiosyncrasies of two vain, selfish and unrepentant murderers before and after imprisonment. Why not just advertise it and title it as a book about just that?
May 30, 2023
A truly insightful but harrowing account into Hindley’s life before, with and after Brady. For Keith Bennett’s body to be recovered would be a small light of justice cast over the horrific shadow of their evil.
June 30, 2019
Very sad ☹️
August 22, 2019
Interesting read ...extremely sad they never found him but a different view on it all...quite disturbing but detailed from Myra letters
February 13, 2021
A timeline from Myra Hindley childhood to meeting Ian Brady, there progressing relationship into murder and the investigation and lies that followed.
March 3, 2021
Really interesting
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews