Sold in Secret: The Murder of Charlene Downes

by Karen Downes

'1st November 2003 started so unremarkably that I wish I had appreciated the normality of it. Because I would never, ever know peace again.' Charlene Downes was 14 when she went missing in Blackpool's seedy underbelly. Once a happy-go-lucky schoolgirl, she had become a truant - hanging out with the wrong crowd by the takeaway shops and pier. But Charlene's mum, Karen, always knew her typical teenage daughter would come home.Until one day she didn't.Karen has been searching for 15 years, campaigning for the truth of what happened to her daughter. To this day, Karen and her family have no body, no convictions and no answers. Arrests were made and a murder trial took place, but no one has ever been brought to justice.On the 15th anniversary of Charlene's disappearance, Karen shares this heartbreaking account of every parent's worst nightmare.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2018

Reviews

[Robin Ramone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sold in Secret is about the 2003 disappearance of Charlene Downes told from her mother Karen’s point of view. This case is disturbing on many levels - how the police poorly handled the case, how the defendants were paid £250,000 each instead of being convicted, and how the family didn’t pick up on obvious signs of grooming. I am not maliciously blaming the parents. There were obvious signs, but in 2003 many police and councils were under the influence of the PC gone wrong brigades who were desperately working to sweep grooming gangs under the rug. Charlene once came home with £70 and refused to tell anywhere where she got this money. She was bullied on the school bus. I highly suspect she was being bullied by her peers for the company she was keeping after school. She also had a UTI.

Karen goes on to compare her daughter’s case against high profile cases. She wonders why her daughter’s case wasn’t showcased on the news like these other cases. The biggest reason was the other cases were not results of type II gang grooming in which 85% of all convicted share common ground. There is minimum press coverage on these cases until they get too big and it’s only then when the vile details spill over do people get to know what is going on in their communities. Big networks like the BBC or Sky News will not dare utter a word of the underlying cause of why these girls are targeted by these men.

Not much has changed in the U.K. at this point they are just waiting for the newest city to break with this horrible crime so they can add it to the list of cities of gang grooming scandals.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this really painful to read. Having a daughter myself, I could not even begin to imagine the horror Karen felt at discovering her daughter had gone missing. Let alone surviving 14 years with absolutely no news. My heart goes out to Karen and her family and I truly hope she finds peace and that Charlene is returned to her.

[Gabriella Simons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Undoubtedly failed by the police, the media and other services. An interesting read in terms of Karen's perspective and her defence in the face of the scrutiny around her personal life. I found. the focus was not as much on Charlene as I expected. I also don't know that Karen Downes is a reliable narrator from what I knew about the case before reading the book.

[Susanne Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart breaking story and it is only an hour away from where I live. I cried and laughed through this book, some parts were so much like my family but I can’t imagine the pain that they faced. Horrific story but one that deserved to be told.

[Stacey Louise Crehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragedy....

I read this book as a favour to someone who has been through something very similar in Blackpool around the same time, she wanted to see if the book would give her any answers to what she had been through. I can’t say I enjoyed this book because of what a tragedy the story is. I feel so much for Charlene’s family as I feel they will never have the answer they seek. I hope they find peace somewhere a long the line. I know a lot of people will have followed this case so will be an interesting read for people to hear for Charlene’s mothers point of view.

[Sarah Rawcliffe · Rating 1 out of 5]

A truly disturbing case and heartbreaking story of a poor girl who was let down first and foremost by her very own parents. After researching this case, this book is full of lies. Karen did not report her daughter missing until the Monday after she went missing on the Saturday. The channel 5 documentary plays the audio tape of the 999 report.
Charlene was abused by the very men that her father invited back to their family home not only in Blackpool but in the Midlands and had been in contact with not one but 16 different paedophiles in her own home.
I hope that one day justice is found for this poor girl and it starts at home.

[Stuart Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this quite and idealised view of Charlene's life, though it is from her mothers perspective. If you are unfamiliar with the case then further reading/research is advised.
There are facts which cannot be argued with such as the complete failure of the police in the initial and later investigations into her disappearance. It is doubtful that what really happened in her last hours will ever be known or that justice will ever be done for her.
Also highlighted is the difference in attitude by the media, the police and to some extent the public with other cases of missing children such as that of Madeleine McCann.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad but....

I found the book was overly sickly and written in an almost sugary way which put me off.

The story was and Will always be tragic but I got the impression that some things just didn't add up.

Way too sugary for me sorry.

[Hannah May Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 35 of 2019 📚
October Read: 2 📖

Title: Sold in Secret
Author: Karen Downes
Pages: 311
My Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:

Karen Downes' daughter Charlene was 14 when she went missing in Blackpool. She was once a happy go lucky child but she had attitude and become a taunt when she starting to hang around with the wrong crowd. Despite this Karen knew her daughter would always return home until one day she didn't. 15 years later there is still no answers and no convictions.

Review

It is very rare I read true story books so this read was very different to me and at times I did find it difficult to connect with.

Despite this, the story was quite powerful and brought to life how serious Child Sexual Exploitation is and the impact it can have on families for years after.

I can't imagine how the family felt not getting the answers they wanted and I am left feeling quite frustrated about this.

After looking up the case after reading the book, there is things that have not been written about which has me questioning what to believe and why this may not have been included.

Despite this, Sold in Secret is a powerful story about a child who has been let down by our justice system and has still not been given the justice she deserves.

[Louise Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's difficult for me to say a book is well-written and emotive when it is memoir and the reason for its existence is the tragic disappearance and suspected murder of the authors daughter, but this book is objective as well as personal, offering the reader glimpses of research and highlighted information missed by police and I really hope was used to change policy practices afterwards. I pray Karen finds the answers she desperately needs for herself, her husband (who by the sound of it is a nasty piece of work she seems to have forgotten in the midst of grieving her daughters loss) and her other children. I hope they find peace, and I really hope her daughter is laid to rest somewhere peaceful and that she is never forgotten by the community or her friends.

[Leona Pilbeam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the true story of a 14 year old girl, Charlene Downes, who disappeared from her home in Blackpool in the November of 2003.
Through her Mum, Karen's words you are immersed in her pain and her desperate, still ongoing, fight to get the answers of what happened to Charlene.
This book literally had me sobbing. The broken family were failed by police, the media and the community of Blackpool. It is truly heartbreaking and a hard read.
I pray that one day, Charlene is bought home and that justice be served.
I literally finished this book in a day, I couldn't put it down.
⚠️ Please check for trigger warnings ⚠️

[tina adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say I know exactly how the Downes family feel. I am hoping that some day they will find the body of Charlene and that she can be laid to rest.
I have no faith in the police or Social Services either, I have read too many books that show how these authorities let down families and young children.
To Mr & Mrs Downes and their family, keep the faith & hope alive; I for one will think and hope for you in equal measure xxXxx

[mrs karen neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mixed emotions

Charlene vanished whilst I was living in Blackpool, stories were rife at the time as to how she was killed, the men who killed her from the takeaway were freed under a technicality evidence was leaked and the case collapsed. A sorry story, and a girl a few years younger than my own daughter. Blackpool is a very dark place . A sad story of a life wasted.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting and heartbreaking at the same time, I have always wondered about the back story to this case. Do get the impression it’s not the full picture though (obviously as it’s just Mum’s story) and the EDL/BNP involvement definitely left a bad taste. All in all, just so sad.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justice for Charlene

A sincerely heartbreaking read. A young girl let down not only by the justice system but a bustling town as a whole. Someone somewhere knows or has information on the disappearance of Charlene. This family is owed closure.

[Tric Marland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreaking read but very frustrating that no help was given to the family when they needed it. Still no answers to this day & after the recent TV documentary is there more closer to home than it suggests? X

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlene

What can I say my heart breaks for you your family and Charlene I was hoping you would have closure of bringing her home I honestly don't know how you cope I hope in time Charlene is found and brought home to you

[Jane Maddison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I really got into this book . I was eager to read the next page and see what direction the book went in ,

[Dayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok but very long

I thought this book was ok but a lot of what was written didn't need to be included very slow

[Dorota · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Rachael Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tragic story but the writing fell flat for me and I couldn't empathise as much as I wanted too. I did listen to the Audio book version so that may be why.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read , couldn't put it down

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartbreaking read, I was truly saddened and shocked.

[Kelly]

Listened to this on audio. My heart breaks for Charlene’s family. They were let down by the police and media. I’m hoping one day they will get justice for Charlene.

[Kryssy Claremont · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dont have any kids and this book made me feel what it would be like to live that horror. I appreciate that this book showed mistakes made too, showed hoe human we all are.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen has been very brave to write her story because it must be hard enough to live it once in reality, let alone twice through writing about it.
The story is tragic and upsetting, not just that a young girl goes missing, presumed murdered, but also because of the desperation, the disappointment, the helplessness of those family members left behind - left wondering, worrying and heart broken, with imaginations running wild over what may have happened.

I hadn’t heard of this absolutely shocking case prior to picking up the book, so I asked myself why do some missing children cases get repeat and saturated coverage by media and others get zero? (Think William Tyrell And Madeleine McCann) Karen would also, eventually ask these questions Too. Is the non-coverage of this case a result of the prejudices of police and/or the profiling of victims and their families by police and the media? Then there was the fact that an inquiry found the original investigation was poorly conducted, which was another harsh blow to a family in turmoil.

I do beIieve there is a possibility that this missing persons case is related to a grooming gang, like those seen in Rotherham, Rochdale, Oxford, Telford, and other areas in Britain, Holland and Finland because having read about those cases, there is just too many similarities.

Despite reading Karen’s first hand account, I’ll never understand how the family of any missing or murdered person can get through and go onto live with such a tragedy.

[Christalla Ta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking

So disturbing. Over 70 children identified as been groomed and called prostitutes rather than groomed children…this woman and her family are hero’s…how everybody labelled groomed children as prostitutes with more than one murdered linking children that knew each other is unbeilable. Did they even bother scouting the deep web and dark net…two or more children murdered connected is by law is a serial killer child exploitation ring. I hope they get answers one day and how this case has not been passed on to the NCA is incredible to me.

UPDATE: finally they have reopened the case after decades…hopefully they finally get justice

[Milly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very hard to read this being a mum and thinking about my own children! I can't imagine this ever happening - it must be the worst feeling. I thought the book was good and well written although after researching more about it I'm not really sure how I feel about the whole thing. There are a lot of unanswered questions