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The Governor: My Life Inside Britain’s Most Notorious Jails
THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER
As seen on This Morning
Back in the day, I was Governor of Security and Operations for HMP Wormwood Scrubs. If you’re easily shocked or offended, you best look away now…
Having worked for 16 years in a high-security women’s prison dealing with the likes of Rosemary West and Myra Hindley, Vanessa Frake thought she’d seen it all. That was until she was transferred to the notorious Wormwood Scrubs.
Thrust into a ‘man’s world’, her no-nonsense approach and fearless attitude saw her swiftly rise through the ranks. From dealing with celebrity criminals and busting drug rings, to recruiting informers and being subject to violent attacks, this hard-hitting but often humorous memoir reveals all about life behind bars in unflinching detail.
Now, for one last time, The Gov opens the prison gates. Prepare for the madness and horror of daily life with the UK’s most ruthless criminals.
As seen on This Morning
Back in the day, I was Governor of Security and Operations for HMP Wormwood Scrubs. If you’re easily shocked or offended, you best look away now…
Having worked for 16 years in a high-security women’s prison dealing with the likes of Rosemary West and Myra Hindley, Vanessa Frake thought she’d seen it all. That was until she was transferred to the notorious Wormwood Scrubs.
Thrust into a ‘man’s world’, her no-nonsense approach and fearless attitude saw her swiftly rise through the ranks. From dealing with celebrity criminals and busting drug rings, to recruiting informers and being subject to violent attacks, this hard-hitting but often humorous memoir reveals all about life behind bars in unflinching detail.
Now, for one last time, The Gov opens the prison gates. Prepare for the madness and horror of daily life with the UK’s most ruthless criminals.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2021
520 people are currently reading
1579 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews
April 24, 2021
Author, Vanessa Frake, was a prison officer at two of the UK’s most notorious prisons in her career spanning some 27 years, eventually attaining the rank of Governor.
In this, her true story, she shares some of her experiences, what it’s like being responsible for some of the country’s most notorious prisoners, taking us beyond the cell doors, and into the minds of those who commit crimes, some of them heinous crimes, and some are high profile, household names, including serial killer Rose West, infamous for her part in the torture and murders of numerous young women, in partnership with her husband Fred. The horrific murders were carried out in their own home, which eventually became known as the ‘House of Horrors’.
Frake’s telling of an incident involving a prison visitor left me stunned - I’m aware that drug mules conceal drugs inside their bodies, but what they find up one woman’s bottom beggars belief!
Frake has a way of relating her experiences in a no nonsense, down to earth manner, calls a spade a spade, nobody’s fool, but beneath that tough exterior, lies a thoughtful person, an animal lover ( bonus points for that)! However, the stress and violence she experienced over the years, were building up unseen, until it all reached a crescendo, leaving her poleaxed. A really interesting and enjoyable read.
* Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, Non fiction , Harper Element for an ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
In this, her true story, she shares some of her experiences, what it’s like being responsible for some of the country’s most notorious prisoners, taking us beyond the cell doors, and into the minds of those who commit crimes, some of them heinous crimes, and some are high profile, household names, including serial killer Rose West, infamous for her part in the torture and murders of numerous young women, in partnership with her husband Fred. The horrific murders were carried out in their own home, which eventually became known as the ‘House of Horrors’.
Frake’s telling of an incident involving a prison visitor left me stunned - I’m aware that drug mules conceal drugs inside their bodies, but what they find up one woman’s bottom beggars belief!
Frake has a way of relating her experiences in a no nonsense, down to earth manner, calls a spade a spade, nobody’s fool, but beneath that tough exterior, lies a thoughtful person, an animal lover ( bonus points for that)! However, the stress and violence she experienced over the years, were building up unseen, until it all reached a crescendo, leaving her poleaxed. A really interesting and enjoyable read.
* Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, Non fiction , Harper Element for an ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
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June 19, 2021This is very good, probably a 5 star, but.... with reservations. The author writes well but... a couple of things have left a bad taste in my mouth. "Wealthy Jews" and "addicts made their choice". Sometimes society's prejudices are so ingrained that although the book has obviously had an editor with an eye to the present woke agenda, they just aren't noticed. Or they don't matter because certain kinds of prejudice are absolutely acceptable.
Unless of course you are in that group or your boyfriend's son and the sons, daughters and friends of many GR people who commented, Killing Season: A Paramedic's Dispatches from the Front Lines of the Opioid Epidemic are in one of them, and then your heart sinks.
It's ok to write about treatment but it's plain she doesn't understand but is kind of a, not really narrow-minded but she does tend to think she's always right or her intuition is (and says so frequently) and so perhaps the sort of person who would not really be receptive to changing her views no matter what people, experts in the field, said. That said, I have to admire the author in many ways for what she did although I don't agree with a lot of her prison policies at all. But that's for the review, this is just 'notes on reading'.
Unless of course you are in that group or your boyfriend's son and the sons, daughters and friends of many GR people who commented, Killing Season: A Paramedic's Dispatches from the Front Lines of the Opioid Epidemic are in one of them, and then your heart sinks.
It's ok to write about treatment but it's plain she doesn't understand but is kind of a, not really narrow-minded but she does tend to think she's always right or her intuition is (and says so frequently) and so perhaps the sort of person who would not really be receptive to changing her views no matter what people, experts in the field, said. That said, I have to admire the author in many ways for what she did although I don't agree with a lot of her prison policies at all. But that's for the review, this is just 'notes on reading'.
September 15, 2021
An interesting and eye-opening account by Former Head of Security and Operations at Wormwood Scrubs, Vanessa Frake.
Vanessa Frake has worked for 16 years in a high-security women’s prison dealing with the likes of Rosemary West and Myra Hindley, Vanessa Frake when she is suddenly transferred to the notorious Wormwood Scrubs Prison.
Her work ethic sees her quickly promoted and here she gives us a glimpse of life behind bars and what it’s like to work on a daily basis with the UK’s most ruthless criminals.
This is slightly outside my comfort zone when it comes to reading, but I have an interest in careers that are outside what I would consider norm and that is why I choose this audio book. I certainly never could never imagine having the ability or the patience to do this job and commend Vanessa and her comrades who work in this sector as it is certainly a demanding and challenging job.
The book is written as a series of recollections of events and people that the author encounters in her time of work, and while some are interesting I found it a little repetitive towards the end. some of the characters she meets in the course of her work have committed horrendous crimes and just to walk by them on a daily basis would be a challenge in itself. I did get a sense of what her work entailed and how she balanced her personal life and work life.
I had the audio version of the book , the narration is done by the author herself and it was just ok. I think the physical book would be a better choice.
An interesting and eve opening read and while not one for my favourites shelf, it certainly gave me a glimpse of a world I want no part of.
Vanessa Frake has worked for 16 years in a high-security women’s prison dealing with the likes of Rosemary West and Myra Hindley, Vanessa Frake when she is suddenly transferred to the notorious Wormwood Scrubs Prison.
Her work ethic sees her quickly promoted and here she gives us a glimpse of life behind bars and what it’s like to work on a daily basis with the UK’s most ruthless criminals.
This is slightly outside my comfort zone when it comes to reading, but I have an interest in careers that are outside what I would consider norm and that is why I choose this audio book. I certainly never could never imagine having the ability or the patience to do this job and commend Vanessa and her comrades who work in this sector as it is certainly a demanding and challenging job.
The book is written as a series of recollections of events and people that the author encounters in her time of work, and while some are interesting I found it a little repetitive towards the end. some of the characters she meets in the course of her work have committed horrendous crimes and just to walk by them on a daily basis would be a challenge in itself. I did get a sense of what her work entailed and how she balanced her personal life and work life.
I had the audio version of the book , the narration is done by the author herself and it was just ok. I think the physical book would be a better choice.
An interesting and eve opening read and while not one for my favourites shelf, it certainly gave me a glimpse of a world I want no part of.
June 16, 2021
Told in a chatty, almost ‘pally with the reader’ way this book was as expected, a huge insight into the world of prisons, mainly Holloway where her 27 year career starts and Wormwood Scrubs where it ends, along the way we discover/hear all about every aspect of her job and prison life and her dealings with the likes of Hindley and West amongst others, there is no doubting her love for the job and her commitment to it and the detail we are given is impressive and stories ranging from escapes to drug dealing inside, bent officers and political wranglings re the service keep you hooked and page turning
I did find her narration slightly irritating at times, she obviously did very well in her career and is unshy of saying so and not afraid of telling you her many successes but then I told myself she has every right to be after what she has done/seen/endured and achieved, still at times it wears thin
I refused to believe her faux squeamishness and farcical horror re anything to do with prisoners nether regions, be it medical or bringing mobiles/drugs in and it was overdone to the point of overkill ( running out of examinations, feeling sick, shuddering etc )
One thing, and I have thought hard about mentioning it, that I found odd was she had a time of PTSD after reading about a prisoners crime, it being so horrific it played on her mind so much, now I wont mention the crime but without warning she did, yes after reading a few words I and any other reader could then skim over the rest ( which I did ) but obviously I had already got the jist of the crime, it seemed odd to me that her reading about it had given her PTSD yet there it was being relayed to the reader who then could also suffer from reading it, hope that makes sense?, I am not a one for trigger warnings or being over sensitive but in this case maybe one was needed before these few paragraphs
It all ended with a whimper tbh after her award from the Queen and I felt quite sorry for her the way she was treated after her allegiance to the service for almost 3 decades but she does seem happier now and working as a cake maker in a cafe in Essex
Definitely eye opening and without doubt memoirs that needed to be told, as much for the author as for us
8/10
4 Stars
I did find her narration slightly irritating at times, she obviously did very well in her career and is unshy of saying so and not afraid of telling you her many successes but then I told myself she has every right to be after what she has done/seen/endured and achieved, still at times it wears thin
I refused to believe her faux squeamishness and farcical horror re anything to do with prisoners nether regions, be it medical or bringing mobiles/drugs in and it was overdone to the point of overkill ( running out of examinations, feeling sick, shuddering etc )
One thing, and I have thought hard about mentioning it, that I found odd was she had a time of PTSD after reading about a prisoners crime, it being so horrific it played on her mind so much, now I wont mention the crime but without warning she did, yes after reading a few words I and any other reader could then skim over the rest ( which I did ) but obviously I had already got the jist of the crime, it seemed odd to me that her reading about it had given her PTSD yet there it was being relayed to the reader who then could also suffer from reading it, hope that makes sense?, I am not a one for trigger warnings or being over sensitive but in this case maybe one was needed before these few paragraphs
It all ended with a whimper tbh after her award from the Queen and I felt quite sorry for her the way she was treated after her allegiance to the service for almost 3 decades but she does seem happier now and working as a cake maker in a cafe in Essex
Definitely eye opening and without doubt memoirs that needed to be told, as much for the author as for us
8/10
4 Stars
August 9, 2021
I couldn't even finish this. I found the author very pretentious and the storytelling boring....
September 25, 2022
I could be wrong but the author felt egotistic and pretentious to me. No chronological order in the book and the writing style not that good. Took 18 days to get through so clearly not that interesting for me.
June 13, 2023
Never really been in to true stories but I do get interested to what goes on in prison
After seeing a few friends read this book anas thought give it a go myself.
Was just brilliant. From the first page. You can see how dedicated Vanessa is to the job. I loved every bit of this book
After seeing a few friends read this book anas thought give it a go myself.
Was just brilliant. From the first page. You can see how dedicated Vanessa is to the job. I loved every bit of this book
October 21, 2024
Loved this, mix of stark reality and a bit of humor. Vanessa Franke is the sort of person you would enjoy having a conversation with and forgetting time. Hard hitting and a real eye opener. Sort of book you can't put down and not wanting it to end
May 30, 2021
Really enjoyed this book. Different to what I would normally go for, but the conversational and engaging writing style, plus the extraordinary stories that the author was able to recount, made this a very enjoyable read. Provides a fascinating insight into the work of the prison service and the issues facing it in the modern day. Highly recommend.
July 15, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I know, I often start my reviews like this which isn't particularly helpful. Vanessa worked in the prison service in the UK. Initially in a women's prison and then moving to a men's prison ( something that was forced on her - not something she chose to do, just part of the job) and she tells a very honest account of her time working in prisons. The changes she made in Wormwood Scrubs she documents and tells us about. The book is really readable, Vanessa comes across as very personable and then she almost just drops in stories that makes you realise what a high intensity, dangerous place it is to work in. Yet it is something that she has normalised (she has to; she's working there day in day out) until she stops working.
August 22, 2023
An access-all-areas pass for all the day-to-day occurrences that go on at HMP Wormwood Scrubs told by the woman at the helm for a number of years. Speaking of her experiences and of the people and cases that she remembers while being one of the Governors, Frake fills the narrative with fascinating, terrifying and gripping detail which cemented my already burgeoning belief that I would be no good in prison and being surrounded by the likes of these career criminals and psychopaths would surely impact anyone's mental health who happens to be reasonably sane. I can never have too much insight into the lives of criminals and/or prisoners as it is just absolutely riveting to me, and this book does it well.
May 10, 2021
Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for sending this to me for review.
This book is what the title suggests it's our authors experience of working at a Governor in Wormwood Scrubs prison in the UK .
I don't really have much to say about this book, although I did find it interesting especially the day to day workings of a prison I found it a bit repetitive, we had multiple chapters about the drug problem in prison and mobile phones being brought in being a huge problem, and also lots of chapters on attempted jail breaks, I know this is what it is like in a prison but I was just looking for something a bit more meaty, we had a few cases of name dropping in here, where she spoke about people she had met such as the priminster or "famous" people she "locked up" there was also a lot about our authors own life and her moving up the ranks within the prison and to me at times it felt a bit self indulgent.
I don't think this is a bad book at all but I was just looking for something with a little bit more meat on its bones I think.
This book is what the title suggests it's our authors experience of working at a Governor in Wormwood Scrubs prison in the UK .
I don't really have much to say about this book, although I did find it interesting especially the day to day workings of a prison I found it a bit repetitive, we had multiple chapters about the drug problem in prison and mobile phones being brought in being a huge problem, and also lots of chapters on attempted jail breaks, I know this is what it is like in a prison but I was just looking for something a bit more meaty, we had a few cases of name dropping in here, where she spoke about people she had met such as the priminster or "famous" people she "locked up" there was also a lot about our authors own life and her moving up the ranks within the prison and to me at times it felt a bit self indulgent.
I don't think this is a bad book at all but I was just looking for something with a little bit more meat on its bones I think.
September 25, 2024
so disappointed by this :/ i watched vanessa frake on a podcast recently and i found her stories to be so interesting but this didn't even slightly transfer to page. i found her to be jarring: narcissistic, with a need to flex on all the Big Names that passed through the prison system without actually telling their stories. every other page was a name drop- "oh i got an MBE! i met the queen," "david cameron visited" all paired with an air of arrogance that rly got under my skin. this was less an "unbelievable story about britain's most notorious jails" and more a highlights reel of all of her achievements.
also, this reeked of racism n judgement, i cannot understand why nobody thinks the same in their reviews: "rifling through their local delicacies - goat and fish curry. yuk!" and "i struggle to feel sorry for addicts, it was their choice to take the drugs" AND "muslim extremists" (lord have mercy). for this reason, i can't give it higher than a 1 :/
also, this reeked of racism n judgement, i cannot understand why nobody thinks the same in their reviews: "rifling through their local delicacies - goat and fish curry. yuk!" and "i struggle to feel sorry for addicts, it was their choice to take the drugs" AND "muslim extremists" (lord have mercy). for this reason, i can't give it higher than a 1 :/
October 9, 2023
Averagely good book, some interesting stories, but the author is pretentious and full of herself. There's far too much about her and what a wonderful job she did, would have liked to have read more indepth stories about prison life.
May 4, 2021
A really interesting book and a look into prison life.
Really enjoyed it.
Really enjoyed it.
January 5, 2024
super interesting
November 3, 2024
A really easy, enjoyable read!
December 21, 2024
Very interesting listen about the prison system.
October 3, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised by this book since I’ve always thought of myself as not being very fond of reading non-fiction. I don’t quite care if this is written by a ghostwriter, I liked the book. I’ve watched a series of interviews with Vanessa Frake and I can say that she definitely has had somewhat of a big part in her book. This is her story, after all.
I wasn’t expecting any humour, since this book is about working in a prison, but I couldn’t help but laugh at some parts like the gross “potting” part, Phones4u’s story or prisoners being sent to sit on the BOSS chair. Something about those parts made me laugh for some odd reason, but I do think that the parts involving the BOSS chair were downright hilarious.
I also loved how as Frake’s story is being told, her vulnerabilities and how comfortable she was about it began to emerge over time. Some parts were deeply personal and even relatable at times, especially when she felt like she had no purpose after her retirement.
The narrative voice was very strong here, which I found very immersive given that we were reading about her slowly climbing up the ranks, where she started off as a a simple trainee, to a senior officer and eventually, a governor. The calm ending following her retirement, where she bakes cakes for a living, is a nice change.
This non-fiction done right, so my thanks goes to Frake and her ghostwriter. I think this was one of the only good non-fiction books I liked, other than Anne Frank’s diary.
I wasn’t expecting any humour, since this book is about working in a prison, but I couldn’t help but laugh at some parts like the gross “potting” part, Phones4u’s story or prisoners being sent to sit on the BOSS chair. Something about those parts made me laugh for some odd reason, but I do think that the parts involving the BOSS chair were downright hilarious.
I also loved how as Frake’s story is being told, her vulnerabilities and how comfortable she was about it began to emerge over time. Some parts were deeply personal and even relatable at times, especially when she felt like she had no purpose after her retirement.
The narrative voice was very strong here, which I found very immersive given that we were reading about her slowly climbing up the ranks, where she started off as a a simple trainee, to a senior officer and eventually, a governor. The calm ending following her retirement, where she bakes cakes for a living, is a nice change.
This non-fiction done right, so my thanks goes to Frake and her ghostwriter. I think this was one of the only good non-fiction books I liked, other than Anne Frank’s diary.
June 11, 2025
A super fascinating insight into the prison system from the perspective of an ex-governor of Wormwood Scrubs!
I listened to this book and really enjoyed that it was narrated by the author - it really brought the book to life. I felt like the author gave a really frank account of what life is really like as a prison officer at both Holloway and Wormwood Scrubs, though as much of the book was set in the late 80s-early 00s, I wonder whether the experiences of current prison officers is the same. The book details Frake's experience through many different stories which gave a real flavour for how varied a day could be for someone in the prison service - from dealing with notorious killers and bent staff (ie. corrupted) and looking after a budgie to trying to crackdown on a drugs epidemic within the walls of a prison, it really gave me a new appreciation for the work that prison officers do!
I would say that some of the language used and ideas in the book were not entirely politically correct, however Frake seems aware of this and tells you at thr beginning of the book that you are likely to hear things you may not agree with. I really appreciated this forewarning, and it set me up to be able to appreciate the book whilst also knowing that the author didn't expect you to agree with everything that was said.
I listened to this book and really enjoyed that it was narrated by the author - it really brought the book to life. I felt like the author gave a really frank account of what life is really like as a prison officer at both Holloway and Wormwood Scrubs, though as much of the book was set in the late 80s-early 00s, I wonder whether the experiences of current prison officers is the same. The book details Frake's experience through many different stories which gave a real flavour for how varied a day could be for someone in the prison service - from dealing with notorious killers and bent staff (ie. corrupted) and looking after a budgie to trying to crackdown on a drugs epidemic within the walls of a prison, it really gave me a new appreciation for the work that prison officers do!
I would say that some of the language used and ideas in the book were not entirely politically correct, however Frake seems aware of this and tells you at thr beginning of the book that you are likely to hear things you may not agree with. I really appreciated this forewarning, and it set me up to be able to appreciate the book whilst also knowing that the author didn't expect you to agree with everything that was said.
May 25, 2021
I am trying to find the words that would do this justice, (no pun intended) but I am not sure I am going to be able too, so I will just have to say this is exceptional memoir of Vanessa Frake, MBE, and her career within the prison service.
This is both entertaining and enlightening, with a behind the scenes account of the forgotten public service, and the work that is carried out on a daily basis, including the risks that are undertaken by simply walking through the gates. As I assumed, this is full of unforgettable individuals, and Vanessa has been able to bring humour into various serious issues throughout. It never ceases to amaze me how the human body allows high amounts of contraband to be concealed within prisoners. (The vivid images of Phones-4-You and the fake solicitor will stay with me for some time!)
This was an easy five star review for me, as I flew through it, my greed for more making me pick this up at every opportunity. This is an ideal read/listen for any one interested in the Prison Service, and/or those that are curious about what really happens behind these solid walls. A monument of nonfiction and after reading this, I have nothing for admiration for anyone who chooses this as a profession. This was a MBE that Vanessa well and truly deserved!
This is both entertaining and enlightening, with a behind the scenes account of the forgotten public service, and the work that is carried out on a daily basis, including the risks that are undertaken by simply walking through the gates. As I assumed, this is full of unforgettable individuals, and Vanessa has been able to bring humour into various serious issues throughout. It never ceases to amaze me how the human body allows high amounts of contraband to be concealed within prisoners. (The vivid images of Phones-4-You and the fake solicitor will stay with me for some time!)
This was an easy five star review for me, as I flew through it, my greed for more making me pick this up at every opportunity. This is an ideal read/listen for any one interested in the Prison Service, and/or those that are curious about what really happens behind these solid walls. A monument of nonfiction and after reading this, I have nothing for admiration for anyone who chooses this as a profession. This was a MBE that Vanessa well and truly deserved!
January 2, 2023
The title sounds like a Martina Cole novel but it is far from that. It is the story of one persons life and dedication to the Prison Service. I don’t often read true life crime / memoirs but I did enjoy this one. This is the writer’s own story from being a rookie prison officer to becoming a Governor in Wandsworth Prison and her subsequent retirement. Please be aware that there are some graphic descriptions.
Perhaps surprisingly it is laced with humour whilst describing the types of criminals locked up and their various schemes from smuggling drugs and phones in up to attempted escape attempts. Corruption was rife and it was shockingly easy for officers to fall into the traps set by the prisoners. The section detailing how she successfully dealt with the drugs and phones being thrown over the walls was brilliant. However, one of the many shocking facts to me was the revelation that HMP Holloway had a swimming pool for the “residents”!
What an extraordinary life. Even her retirement wasn’t easy going. Its got to be hard going from a gritty and at times dangerous job to walking the dogs and cooking for the family. I am now looking forward to a cakes and bakes book or even a ‘stretch’ on Bake Off. Readers will understand why!
Perhaps surprisingly it is laced with humour whilst describing the types of criminals locked up and their various schemes from smuggling drugs and phones in up to attempted escape attempts. Corruption was rife and it was shockingly easy for officers to fall into the traps set by the prisoners. The section detailing how she successfully dealt with the drugs and phones being thrown over the walls was brilliant. However, one of the many shocking facts to me was the revelation that HMP Holloway had a swimming pool for the “residents”!
What an extraordinary life. Even her retirement wasn’t easy going. Its got to be hard going from a gritty and at times dangerous job to walking the dogs and cooking for the family. I am now looking forward to a cakes and bakes book or even a ‘stretch’ on Bake Off. Readers will understand why!
September 21, 2025
This was a riveting memoir about Frake’s career as a prison officer. The writing was very accessible, with a touch of British humour and sarcasm. I was fascinated by her experiences- from riots, to raids, to catching a colleague having an affair with a prisoner. I admired her work ethic and determination to make Wormwood Scrubs a better place.
Having said that, I don’t get the random sequence of chapters. It seems a bit messy and unedited. One chapter, she’s in the men’s prison. Next, she’s in the women’s prison. And the next, it’s “now” (which is when?). Then suddenly it’s 1987 🤦🏽♀️.
There were instances were Frake would share how heinous and disgusting some of the convicts’ crimes were- but doesn’t share what they are. She only goes so far as to say that “I don’t think you can stomach it.”
Really Vanessa, I think you should let us be the judge of that.
A mesmerising read on life in the prison service, although not the most polished.
3.75 ⭐️
Having said that, I don’t get the random sequence of chapters. It seems a bit messy and unedited. One chapter, she’s in the men’s prison. Next, she’s in the women’s prison. And the next, it’s “now” (which is when?). Then suddenly it’s 1987 🤦🏽♀️.
There were instances were Frake would share how heinous and disgusting some of the convicts’ crimes were- but doesn’t share what they are. She only goes so far as to say that “I don’t think you can stomach it.”
Really Vanessa, I think you should let us be the judge of that.
A mesmerising read on life in the prison service, although not the most polished.
3.75 ⭐️
April 19, 2022
I appreciate the authors honest account of detailing the failings of the prison system. I really enjoyed the sense of humour throughout the book as well and Vanessa really is a person who can make change for the better. However I struggled with the the authors obvious disdain in criminals who commit crimes as ‘they have a choice’ this is coming from a place of privilege and of course we know that not all criminals have ‘a choice’ it’s usually commit the crime or be abused, unsafe, dead etc so yeah because of that I give this a low four star rating but overall a good insight into working your way up to the top.
February 28, 2024
This book was okay. You can tell this was mainly a ghost writer and I just didn’t connect to the author of this book.
However, her discussion of institutionalism and leaving a career for a new start was powerful and her MBE was very well deserved by her work in the prison service.
I just feel like the book lacked some excitement and didn’t grab my interest as much as other non fiction books.
2.5 stars for me! ⭐️⭐️💫
However, her discussion of institutionalism and leaving a career for a new start was powerful and her MBE was very well deserved by her work in the prison service.
I just feel like the book lacked some excitement and didn’t grab my interest as much as other non fiction books.
2.5 stars for me! ⭐️⭐️💫
December 30, 2024
Fantastic read, I loved how insightful it was inside the prison service, and reading the lengths prisoners go to get their fix or smuggle things in! I have watched a few interviews of hers on YouTube prior to reading the book and it was nice seeing even more insight on her career. You can for sure say that Vanessa was very dedicated and passionate about her career, having put so much hard work in her 27 years in the Prison Service. For any True Crime fan, it is a must read!
June 20, 2024
Really interesting account of a prison officer’s 27-year service. I enjoyed the way the book jumped backwards and forwards in time whilst still following a general trajectory of focussing on the start of her career at the beginning of the book and the end of her career at the end of the book.
August 11, 2024
I wasn't sure what to expect with this but a friend recommended it to me. I thought it might be full of rules and regulations with a side of true crime but it's actually a fascinating insight into the prison system and the author tells you about it with a good mixture of humour and seriousness. Her blunt no nonsense approach was definitely needed and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in true crime in general
May 23, 2021
One of the best books on prison I’ve read. If you’re a true crime fan read this book!
January 5, 2022
This is a very well-written book, I could hardly put it down. I`ll add it to my collection so as to read it again in future.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews