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Letting Go
The stunning and heartbreaking story of the young son of Rachel Nickell - who witnessed the brutal attack on his mother and whose childhood was shaped by the media storm that followed. A coming-of-age story that begins with a tragedy but ends in optimism, forgiveness and peace.
On a beautiful July morning in 1992, just three weeks before his third birthday, Alex Hanscombe and his young mother, Rachel Nickell, went walking on Wimbledon Common. Life was never the same again. Shortly after ten o’clock that morning, Alex was discovered by the side of his mother’s body – she had been assaulted, stabbed forty-nine times in a frenzied attack, and left dead. Alex was the only witness to the attack.
Letting Go is Alex’s heartbreaking account of that morning, the aftermath, and the devastating effect on his father, the extended family and the wider community. Alex tells the story of the resulting media storm, the legal cases following and the peace and understanding that he has now found, as a young man. In telling his story, and the truth, this is the last stage of Alex’s incredible journey to letting go.
On a beautiful July morning in 1992, just three weeks before his third birthday, Alex Hanscombe and his young mother, Rachel Nickell, went walking on Wimbledon Common. Life was never the same again. Shortly after ten o’clock that morning, Alex was discovered by the side of his mother’s body – she had been assaulted, stabbed forty-nine times in a frenzied attack, and left dead. Alex was the only witness to the attack.
Letting Go is Alex’s heartbreaking account of that morning, the aftermath, and the devastating effect on his father, the extended family and the wider community. Alex tells the story of the resulting media storm, the legal cases following and the peace and understanding that he has now found, as a young man. In telling his story, and the truth, this is the last stage of Alex’s incredible journey to letting go.
272 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2014
21 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 16, 2019
The true life recollections of Alex Hanscombe whose mother was Rachel Nickell ,who was brutally murdered on Wimbledon Common.
This case shocked the nation in 1992 .... as photos of Rachel Nickell filled the news.
Alex was the only witness to this brutal murder and he was not even three years old.
He paints a picture of his early life with his mum and dad before the tragedy happened. It was a life of being loved very, very much by his parents and the close relationship he had with his mother.
After his mother's murder Alex was eventually taken abroad to live, mainly due to press intrusion and to give him a chance to rebuild his life and live without the spotlight always shining on him.
His father was a single parent for many years after the death of his wife and father and son had a close but volatile relationship as Alex grew up.
Alex speaks with clarity and I find it remarkable the depth of forgiveness he shows to his mother's killer. I feel his mother would be very proud of him.
Quote.
Of this I am convinced; when a seismic event changes the course of our lives, it's impressions are marked upon us forever,and the day I watched my mother's soul leave her body, on the morning of Wednesday, 15th July 1992, is one I will never forget. Twenty-four years have passed, but through the fog of time I can still see the film running inside my mind as if it were only yesterday.
pg 2
This case shocked the nation in 1992 .... as photos of Rachel Nickell filled the news.
Alex was the only witness to this brutal murder and he was not even three years old.
He paints a picture of his early life with his mum and dad before the tragedy happened. It was a life of being loved very, very much by his parents and the close relationship he had with his mother.
After his mother's murder Alex was eventually taken abroad to live, mainly due to press intrusion and to give him a chance to rebuild his life and live without the spotlight always shining on him.
His father was a single parent for many years after the death of his wife and father and son had a close but volatile relationship as Alex grew up.
Alex speaks with clarity and I find it remarkable the depth of forgiveness he shows to his mother's killer. I feel his mother would be very proud of him.
Quote.
Of this I am convinced; when a seismic event changes the course of our lives, it's impressions are marked upon us forever,and the day I watched my mother's soul leave her body, on the morning of Wednesday, 15th July 1992, is one I will never forget. Twenty-four years have passed, but through the fog of time I can still see the film running inside my mind as if it were only yesterday.
pg 2
February 9, 2021
I must say what this man went through as a child was horrific beyond comprehension. He was the only witness to his mother's violent murder where she was stabbed 49 times and sexuality assaulted.
The book tells you the life he has led since that moment. Everything him and his father and family had to endure and the truths about the tabloids and how much true they caused.
My heart totally broke for them all but the only criticism I have is the inconsistencies between his account and the people that found him. It's only a minor thing but it just throws in the questions of which is truth. He says he ran out of the wooden area and cried for help but the newspaper and police reports say he was found by a passer-by clinging on to his mother's body.
Like I say only something small but at the same time big.
I would recommend this to anyone who is fascinated by true crime and the victims side of the story
The book tells you the life he has led since that moment. Everything him and his father and family had to endure and the truths about the tabloids and how much true they caused.
My heart totally broke for them all but the only criticism I have is the inconsistencies between his account and the people that found him. It's only a minor thing but it just throws in the questions of which is truth. He says he ran out of the wooden area and cried for help but the newspaper and police reports say he was found by a passer-by clinging on to his mother's body.
Like I say only something small but at the same time big.
I would recommend this to anyone who is fascinated by true crime and the victims side of the story
July 1, 2017
Gripping story, sad and evocative.
August 4, 2017
An interesting read.
I remember this tragic event very well, as I was a young mother with two sons, who were just a little older than Alex at the time. It felt very close and it affected me quite deeply. I read his father's book and I felt very deeply for them both.When I saw this book I felt I had to read it, to see how this young man had grown and coped with this dreadful event.
However, I struggled with the first few chapters and almost gave up on it. Obviously, he has relied heavily on his father's memories and book as, given that he was not quite 3 years of age at the time, he would not have detailed memories. However, he provides remarkable detail and insight into how he felt at that time, which I could not find credible and, as a result, it felt more like a novel, a piece of fiction. I can totally believe that he would have a detailed recollection of the traumatic event, but having very detailed memories of what happened, and the way he felt about the events that happened in the following days, weeks and months, stretched credibility.
I am glad that I persevered with it though, as it did give me an insight to where his life took him and I got a definite 'feel' for the man that he has become. I did enjoy reading it, and it was a very easy read. However, I feel that he skirted over the details of their life during his teenage years and, whilst he alluded to family rifts and some girlfriends that his father had, there was absolutely no detail or analysis of events or his feelings. This was very odd, given the deep analysis in the first half of the book. I have seen some interviews that he has given and he provides a little more detail there that was not even mentioned in the book.
He is quite candid in the book and I feel that he demonstrates that he has indeed 'let go' . Perhaps he feels that the details of his and his father's personal life are not under the remit of this book, and that is fair enough, but I feel that I didn't really learn a lot about his life and the impact on him and his father. Things were alluded to but not explored.
I think that Alex has had a difficult life but he has demonstrated that he has grown into a thoughtful, articulate young man, and I wish him well.
I remember this tragic event very well, as I was a young mother with two sons, who were just a little older than Alex at the time. It felt very close and it affected me quite deeply. I read his father's book and I felt very deeply for them both.When I saw this book I felt I had to read it, to see how this young man had grown and coped with this dreadful event.
However, I struggled with the first few chapters and almost gave up on it. Obviously, he has relied heavily on his father's memories and book as, given that he was not quite 3 years of age at the time, he would not have detailed memories. However, he provides remarkable detail and insight into how he felt at that time, which I could not find credible and, as a result, it felt more like a novel, a piece of fiction. I can totally believe that he would have a detailed recollection of the traumatic event, but having very detailed memories of what happened, and the way he felt about the events that happened in the following days, weeks and months, stretched credibility.
I am glad that I persevered with it though, as it did give me an insight to where his life took him and I got a definite 'feel' for the man that he has become. I did enjoy reading it, and it was a very easy read. However, I feel that he skirted over the details of their life during his teenage years and, whilst he alluded to family rifts and some girlfriends that his father had, there was absolutely no detail or analysis of events or his feelings. This was very odd, given the deep analysis in the first half of the book. I have seen some interviews that he has given and he provides a little more detail there that was not even mentioned in the book.
He is quite candid in the book and I feel that he demonstrates that he has indeed 'let go' . Perhaps he feels that the details of his and his father's personal life are not under the remit of this book, and that is fair enough, but I feel that I didn't really learn a lot about his life and the impact on him and his father. Things were alluded to but not explored.
I think that Alex has had a difficult life but he has demonstrated that he has grown into a thoughtful, articulate young man, and I wish him well.
June 9, 2017
Some of us are of an age to remember the breaking news that a beautiful young Mum had been attacked and murdered on Wimbledon Common on a July morning in 1992. Her young son Alex, just three weeks short of his third birthday was with her and watched the brutal attack. Alex was found covered in his mummy's blood, she had been stabbed forty nine times.
Letting Go is written by Alex now a young man. It's his heartbreaking account of that day and life for himself and his father following this tragedy. Alex describes hiding from the media and the extraordinary steps his father took to protect him and the love between the father and son. He also describes endless meetings with child psychologists and he criticises the police in the handling of the case and the handling of himself and his father following the conviction.
This book is written beautifully and is a sad account of the tragedy that day and the impact it had on Alex and his fathers lives.
I would recommend this book.
I received this book from the author and Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
Letting Go is written by Alex now a young man. It's his heartbreaking account of that day and life for himself and his father following this tragedy. Alex describes hiding from the media and the extraordinary steps his father took to protect him and the love between the father and son. He also describes endless meetings with child psychologists and he criticises the police in the handling of the case and the handling of himself and his father following the conviction.
This book is written beautifully and is a sad account of the tragedy that day and the impact it had on Alex and his fathers lives.
I would recommend this book.
I received this book from the author and Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
June 15, 2017
I received this book free from Good Reads.
The story seems to have been remembered by lots of people. The publicity must have been enormous, to be remembered by so many people. So, it is understandable, that father & son left this country to find some sort of normality in another country.
I found it rather difficult to believe that a 3yr old boy had so many remembrances of his early years.
He seemed like a highly intelligent little boy, with a pleasant personality & able to make friends very easily.
As an older child, he seemed to go off the rails quite a bit.
I found the treatment given to his maternal grandparents, very harsh & out of proportion to something like cutting their grandsons hair.
The sections about the police treatment of the murder had obviously been very well researched & I can understand the anger & frustration that he felt about this.
All in all, it is a well researched, easy to read story about a murder that affected many people on all sorts of different levels.
The story seems to have been remembered by lots of people. The publicity must have been enormous, to be remembered by so many people. So, it is understandable, that father & son left this country to find some sort of normality in another country.
I found it rather difficult to believe that a 3yr old boy had so many remembrances of his early years.
He seemed like a highly intelligent little boy, with a pleasant personality & able to make friends very easily.
As an older child, he seemed to go off the rails quite a bit.
I found the treatment given to his maternal grandparents, very harsh & out of proportion to something like cutting their grandsons hair.
The sections about the police treatment of the murder had obviously been very well researched & I can understand the anger & frustration that he felt about this.
All in all, it is a well researched, easy to read story about a murder that affected many people on all sorts of different levels.
May 29, 2017
Just read Letting Go by Alex Hanscombe, the son of Rachel Nickell. For those of us familiar with the terrible murder of his mother on Wimbledon Common and those who are not, this is an excellent memoir of that day and Alex's road to recovery. His father also features significantly in the book and it is a tribute to their father and son relationship. Alex comes across as an intelligent and sensitive man who has strong feelings of empathy and forgiveness. He is, however, critical of the police and the child psychologists assigned to him. When you read his account, one can only share his views. The real tragedy is that his beautiful mother should still be alive today and would be if the "professionals" had done their jobs properly. Sometimes, though, apologies are not enough ! This book flows along effortlessly and could not have been written better. Excellent. Highly recommended.
June 18, 2017
I found this book very interesting because this case sticks in my mind so much. Having read Paul Britton's book, many years ago, about the case, he was so sure that Colin Stagg was guilty, I feel he had a major part in the errors that then took place culminating in so many rapes and the other awful murder too. He had convinced me! He also spoke about the other murder with no reference to any thoughts of a link.
I find it so shocking that so many errors were made and it was swept under the carpet.
I have lived through a family experience too where the journalists pretended to be friends to try and track relatives down to get a story and it is absolutely sickening.
Good luck to Alex and the rest of the family for the future.
I find it so shocking that so many errors were made and it was swept under the carpet.
I have lived through a family experience too where the journalists pretended to be friends to try and track relatives down to get a story and it is absolutely sickening.
Good luck to Alex and the rest of the family for the future.
August 10, 2019
Very good true crime memoir.
I read this, not having heard about the case before. Well, just one name rung a bell, but really I was completely new to this, so I had no idea how things would work out-would they find the killer etc?
Alex was just a few weeks away from his 3rd Birthday when his mum was attacked and killed. Alex had been out walking with her and saw it all. What a terrible thing, especially for someone so young. Rather than being allowed to grieve, he and his father had to attend endless child psychologist appointments, hoping Alex's descriptions would reveal the identity of her killer. It also has travel elements as Alex and dad move first to France, then Spain to try to make a new life away from everything.
I read this, not having heard about the case before. Well, just one name rung a bell, but really I was completely new to this, so I had no idea how things would work out-would they find the killer etc?
Alex was just a few weeks away from his 3rd Birthday when his mum was attacked and killed. Alex had been out walking with her and saw it all. What a terrible thing, especially for someone so young. Rather than being allowed to grieve, he and his father had to attend endless child psychologist appointments, hoping Alex's descriptions would reveal the identity of her killer. It also has travel elements as Alex and dad move first to France, then Spain to try to make a new life away from everything.
June 3, 2021
Very reflective and insightful story of one of the most famous children
This book is very insightful into a side of the story we have never heard, my only criticism was the level of details on the discussions, thoughts etc made me think how as a child you or your family could remember such details so it felt a bit like a non-fiction book rather than a true crime story. Luckily Alex does acknowledge this in the beginning but that's how it felt at times and I had to remind myself it was a true story. What was revealing was the police errors and how the family were treated by the press. On the whole a very good read and reflective of hopefully a time that won't be repeated
This book is very insightful into a side of the story we have never heard, my only criticism was the level of details on the discussions, thoughts etc made me think how as a child you or your family could remember such details so it felt a bit like a non-fiction book rather than a true crime story. Luckily Alex does acknowledge this in the beginning but that's how it felt at times and I had to remind myself it was a true story. What was revealing was the police errors and how the family were treated by the press. On the whole a very good read and reflective of hopefully a time that won't be repeated
July 22, 2017
A touching and deeply emotional book written by the son of a murdered mother who actually witnessed the murder . This book is very well written and isn't just about the act of the murder but about how it affected the loved ones of the murdered women. Very interesting and definitely worth a read ! I received this book free from Goodreads in exchange for a honest review and I'm very glad I did ! One of the best true life books I have read in long time
August 4, 2017
This is a remarkable story of survival. I was heartened by the father's care for his son, the author. I was disheartened by the press and how they jeopardized the safety of the author on more than one occasion. The act of forgiveness is hardly easy and the author's ability to find peace after learning the truth surrounding his mother's death is an incredible accomplishment. Very well written.
June 24, 2018
Well written
I found the book interesting but very sad. Alex seems to have turned out to be a very good person considering losing his mum in the worst way when he was so young. Luckily he had a father that loved him very much, Alex surprisingly didn't show any bitterness or hatred towards his mother's killer. I wish him and his father happiness in their future lives.
I found the book interesting but very sad. Alex seems to have turned out to be a very good person considering losing his mum in the worst way when he was so young. Luckily he had a father that loved him very much, Alex surprisingly didn't show any bitterness or hatred towards his mother's killer. I wish him and his father happiness in their future lives.
February 4, 2023
Such a heartbreaking read and such a horrific way for Alex to lose his mum. He should be proud of the man he has become and this book was so special to read his thoughts and his side of the story. His dad did a amazing job bringing Alex up. I have followed this case for years and I am so glad the family has Justice for Rachel xx
September 30, 2017
wonderful with some very poignant messages as the book draws to a conclusion it became very moving indeed, head him on Radio 4 and felt impelled to read.
August 22, 2018
Very good book, written by Alex and his memory of what happened and most importantly the affect the media and police attention had in him growing up
May 3, 2020
Very honest and deep.
did-not-finish
February 10, 2021Will return to this at a later date possibly.
June 20, 2021
Such a tragic event and the remarkable ability for a child to grow into such an inspirational adult with the right support.
October 27, 2022
Amazing book about the murder of Rachel Nickell as was witnessed by her three year old son.
The press don’t come out of this smelling like roses. Same with the police.
Highly recommended.
The press don’t come out of this smelling like roses. Same with the police.
Highly recommended.
June 12, 2017
Letting Go - A True Story of Murder, Loss and Survival
By Alex Hanscombe
Rachel Nickell was sexually assaulted and stabbed a total of forty nine times one July morning in 1992, whilst out walking with her two year old son and dog.
This heartfelt story centres around her son Alex, now in his 20's - he gets a chance to tell his story.
The book is beautifully written. It starts by explaining Alex's deep connection he had with his mother, and then, that fateful day, which saw Rachel tragically taken from her precious son, and loving partner.
With Alex being the only witness to his mothers murder, he was gently questioned by his father, and able to give quite a good description of the attacker. He was questioned by police and psychologists, and the family were relentlessly hounded by reporters.
Unable to cope with the lack of privacy and wanting to start the process of healing, Alex and his father moved to France. They were happy there for a couple of years and Alex's nightmares gradually started to wane.
Colin Stagg was eventually arrested for Rachel's murder, but there was little proof. He was acquitted of her murder in 1994.
With Rachel's murderer still loose, Alex's dad did everything he could to protect his son, by keeping their past a secret in France, but eventually reporters had found out where they were living. So again, they upped sticks and this time moved to Spain.
Alex saw out his childhood in Spain. He had a bit of a rebellious patch! And father and son locked heads a few times, but they equally had an incredibly close relationship.
In 2008 Robert Napper was convicted of Rachel's murder. He had killed again after Rachel's murder. Killing and raping a mother and child. He was also responsible for a series of brutal rapes called The Green Chain rapes.
With his fathers love and guidance, Alex has developed into a well adjusted man with a great positive outlook on life. His mother would be incredibly proud of him.
By Alex Hanscombe
Rachel Nickell was sexually assaulted and stabbed a total of forty nine times one July morning in 1992, whilst out walking with her two year old son and dog.
This heartfelt story centres around her son Alex, now in his 20's - he gets a chance to tell his story.
The book is beautifully written. It starts by explaining Alex's deep connection he had with his mother, and then, that fateful day, which saw Rachel tragically taken from her precious son, and loving partner.
With Alex being the only witness to his mothers murder, he was gently questioned by his father, and able to give quite a good description of the attacker. He was questioned by police and psychologists, and the family were relentlessly hounded by reporters.
Unable to cope with the lack of privacy and wanting to start the process of healing, Alex and his father moved to France. They were happy there for a couple of years and Alex's nightmares gradually started to wane.
Colin Stagg was eventually arrested for Rachel's murder, but there was little proof. He was acquitted of her murder in 1994.
With Rachel's murderer still loose, Alex's dad did everything he could to protect his son, by keeping their past a secret in France, but eventually reporters had found out where they were living. So again, they upped sticks and this time moved to Spain.
Alex saw out his childhood in Spain. He had a bit of a rebellious patch! And father and son locked heads a few times, but they equally had an incredibly close relationship.
In 2008 Robert Napper was convicted of Rachel's murder. He had killed again after Rachel's murder. Killing and raping a mother and child. He was also responsible for a series of brutal rapes called The Green Chain rapes.
With his fathers love and guidance, Alex has developed into a well adjusted man with a great positive outlook on life. His mother would be incredibly proud of him.
Read
July 31, 2017A very moving account, sometimes a distressing read. Obviously I remembered the murder of Alex's mum Rachel when it was in the news. It's an interesting read as to what has happened to Alex and how a murder affects a whole family.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews