The Lost Girl

by Caroline Roberts, Stephen Richards

When Caroline Roberts accepted a job at 25 Cromwell Street, the infamous address of Fred and Rose West, she was only 16. Realizing that there was something very malevolent about the couple, she left their employment soon after, glad to be rid of them. The story should have ended there, but a month, later she was abducted by the Wests and suffered violent sexual abuse at their hands before being told that she would be killed and buried. Through a combination of luck and quick thinking, depite the trauma of what had happened, Caroline managed to escape to freedom. This is her story of those fateful days and the appalling aftermath.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Biography, Crime, True Story, Memoir

278 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

About the author

There is more than one author by this name on Goodreads. Born in Goucester in 1955, Caroline Roberts (formerly Caroline Raine) became the live-in nanny to Fred and Rosemary West's three daughters when she was 17-years-old.

Reviews

[Redfox5 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll start by saying something horrible. I really didn't like Caroline. Usally when I read these kinda books, I'm rooting for the victim. I usally like the victim! I'm not saying that she deserved the things done to her. Because they were horrendous and the way she was treated by the police afterwards was awful. If I had read this as two stories, One being what happened with Rose and Fred West and the other being the rest of Carolines life you would get two different reviews from me. With what happened with the Wests, she gets my every sympathy. But if I had just read about the rest of her life I wouldn't have anything nice to say.

[Natz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love True Crime books but I'm afraid this one wasn't for me. Caroline talks more about her own life and doesn't say much about the time she spent with Fred and Rosemary West. You only get one chapter about her working as a nanny, one chapter about the abuse and a few chapters about the media and the trial. The rest is about her lifestyle; boyfriends, drugs and lots of drama and self pity. Don't get me wrong though, I feel deeply sorry for Caroline and I can't believe everything she's been through. It's just that most people will most likely buy this book because they want to read about the Wests, but it doesn't say much about them at all. In other words the description of this book is very misleading. Disappointing.

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

can't sympathise with Caroline as a person, only with her ordeal.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh

I got through the whole thing? other then that not a lot to recommend it. about 30 pages about the Wests that was interesting, other then that I give it a D-.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was difficult to rate this book as obviously what the author went through is absolutely awful and should not be wished on anybody. The writing, however, was lacking.

[Kms · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good and Caroline seemed to come out the other side a much stronger person than when she started. It was nice to read a book that started with such horror and then read it through to find that it ended on a good note however I really didn't understand Caroline's way of thinking.

She was raped and abused by Fred and rose west but weeks later hitchhiked with a stranger to get from her boyfriends house. Surely you wouldn't make the same mistake again when you'd just been subjected to an horrific ordeal. Wasn't this young woman scared that they'd come for her again? I know I would have been.

She also seemed to find herself in situations where abuse could happen over and over again. When she mentions she went to a married mans house with her friends only later to go into a bedroom with a man she didn't know and lay in bed with him. he ended up assaulting her. Is it just me that thinks that she was silly for even being in a room with a strange man after everything that had happened?

I'm not saying she deserved it. She didn't. Nobody deserves what this woman went through but I can't help thinking when I read it that she certainly put herself in risky situations. Why wasn't she more cautious??

[Barbra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read although I can't understand how someone can knowingly go back to a couple who she knew were evil. I know they duped her into getting into the car but why didnt she just run when she saw them.

Back Cover Blurb:
When Caroline Roberts accepted a job at 25 Cromwell Street, the infamous address of Fred and Rose West, she was only 16. Realising that there was something very malevolent about the couple, she left their employment soon after, glad to be rid of them. The story should have ended there.
A month later she was abducted by the Wests and suffered violent sexual abuse at their hands before being told that she would be killed and buried. Through a combination of luck and quick thinking, despite the trauma of what had happened, Caroline managed to escape to freedom.

[Shelley Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this book down

This book pulls on your heartstrings really makes you feel for all those that lost their lives at the hands of The Wests. Caroline is such a brave and inspiring woman for all victims of rape and abuse "don't be afraid of speaking out against the abusers"

[Karen Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

surviver

This gave the reader an insight into the horrific events that took place in that house. A remarkable real step by step a count into the life of a survivor of Cromwell street
Thank you

[Roxanne Rampage · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm going to Gloucester Prison for an Investigation, where Fred West was held in remand, so I wanted to read a bit more about the awful crimes he committed. I started with this book as I 'enjoy' true crime.

Unfortunately it's not we'll written. I appreciate that Caroline lived through the most awful experiences at the hands of Fred and Rose and feel desperately sorry. I also appreciate that there needs to be a little background into Caroline's life.... but this is very overdone. The actual experiences she suffered is rushed before we go back to her life and troubles. I understand this is a horrendous memory but then why write a book about it?

I admire her honesty about her sex life, taking other girls boyfriends, children with different fathers, drinking and drug taking but it does make her a rather unlikeable person. I can understand why the barrister asked her if she was in court for the money... as he explained, he needed her to be human and show that she was indeed there to get justice for the poor victims and not for her own selfish needs.

Of course an experience like this leaves scars (mental and physical) and I'm glad she has comfort from the spiritual world and the church.... but the book itself only warrants 2 stars I'm afraid.

I hope those poor victims are indeed now 'happy' and at peace.

[Deborah C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

As other reviewers wrote, Caroline doesn’t initially present as an especially likeable person, but I feel that maybe these perceived flaws in her character, certain deceptions and poor choices in relationships, actually provided her with the skills she needed to evade the West’s. Congratulations on that. Later in the book, she describes a more likeable and developed self, though, as a book, this seemed like a quick add-on and didn’t integrate especially well with the rest of the account. I had concerns, as well, about the experience of her co-author, given the grammatical errors throughout. All in all, Caroline provided insight and it read quickly.

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually my second attempt at reading this one. For some reason I just found it a bit hard to get into, but once I got to the third chapter I didn't want to set this book down. Caroline basically describes her childhood, the effect the Wests attack had on her, and her healing process.
Caroline is suppose to be writing another book and I wouldn't mind checking that one out. She got really into spiritualism and that's something that interests me. If I remember right her next book is going to either involve spiritualism or be about it.

[Lynsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book but found it covered more about her life after her time with Fred and Rose West and not so much about her time during working for them as a nanny. I also noticed there were quite a few typos, which although didn't spoil the read thought it could have been proof read a bit better.

[Dee brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The One That Got Away: My Life Living With Fred and Rose West (Paperback)
I absolutely loved this book!! It didn't deal much with the Wests, but rather the after effects of her ordeal with them. If you're looking for blood and guts, this isn't for you. If you're looking for a survivor who comes out on top, then by all means pick up this incredible read!

[Nisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book, her experiance was so tragic.. It makes me think that I'm so blessed I might have a better teenage life than her..And in the last page of her book, she said, "Life is jerk but we will survive". Good point!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finding reviewing biographies of this kind difficult. Understandably not the best writing, and not an easy story to read or comprehend. I can only really give it a middle of the road rating as it wouldn't be fair to analyse it in a literary sense.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read and gave a great indication of what this experience was really like for Caroline. Not a real scary or shocking read however was good to get a victims story straight from the victim. Would recommend.

[Karen Osment · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story from the survivor of Fred and Rose West, which went into more detail of her life rather than just focus on the abuse by these evil people. Could have gone more in-depth in places and wasn't too into the 'spiritual' ending, but worth a read anyway.

[Maddison Rae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably could have spent more time writing about the abduction, the abuse, the trial, murders etc etc
This book barley touched on that and was basically based around her life and how she slept around, had children to different men and abused her partners..

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was terrible the whole West story, and I've read all the books on them and found them all very interesting but this book was a bit disappointing! Glad I've read it though

[Dawn Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Would recommend you read, I couldn't put it down.

[Tracy Bethell · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting in parts

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very predictable, and talks about superfluous history

[Andrea Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read,but towards the end it was more about Spiritualism, which I was not expecting,still a good read.

[Fitri Pakpahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kisah nyata ini menceritakan tentang perjalanan pencarian jati diri seorang perempuan yang mengalami pelecehan seksual ketika remaja. Ia tumbuh dengan dibayangi oleh kejadian itu. Caroline adalah perempuan pemberani dan kuat. jelas tergambarkan dari cerita ini. Caroline juga benar-benar hilang (Sesuai dengan judul). bagaimana pikiran2 nya sendiri membuat dirinya semakin kacau. Pikiran2 yang kontradiksi dengan hati dan kemaunya. Kemauanya adalah mengingkan kebebasan. sedangkan hatinya (baik hati) cenderung mudah iba dan ingin menolong orang lain. Namun seiring bertambahnya umur dan ia bertumbuh dewasa. ia menjadi semakin bijak dan kuat. seperti perkataanya di akhir buku ini "Hidup memang brengsek, namun anda harus bertahan"

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read.. I picked it up from the library and had high hopes, then read reviews and dropped my expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised. As some others have said, the title makes you think that the main focus is her time with the Wests. A more appropriate title may be My Life After Escaping, or similar. This really is her life story and how her experiences have affected her and created the person she is today.
The grammar and spelling was sometimes a distraction, as was her somewhat vain opinion of herself, but I couldn't put it down.

[Maxine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off very much disliking Caroline and thought the first few chapters were poorly written but became easier to read as it went on. A few chapters focused on the West’s but the bulk was her life before and after which didn’t make me warm to her much however the last few chapters I felt she had grown as a person and was genuinely trying to make a change and create something positive in her life I hope that that continues for her.

[Kirsty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very raw book. The author does not hold back on herself. I respect that. It is very brave.
It is amazing to see that is she is a survivor and she has made something of herself.
However I do have to agree with a lot of the other reviews and say I don't think I like the person. Some of her behaviour makes it so hard to like her but this is the raw side to this book.
I do find the writing style to be very basic but that is to be kind of expected.

[Mrs M Coates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

I enjoyed reading this book. Caroline should be very proud of herself for writing about her terrible experiences with the Wests. Nice to know that she has been able to move on and enjoy her life at last. Hopefully it will help others who have gone through similar experiences.

[Lisa Gatts · Rating 4 out of 5]

The One Thar Got Away

5his book 2as pretty good.It kept my 8ntrest.i feel horrible for the victims.I decided to buy this book after watch8ng Deadly Women and seeing the Wests on the tv.The author was also in that program. The Wests are monsters and unfortunately there are many monsters like that who just haven't gotten caught yet.good job on your story Caroline.