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#MeToo
A woman is caught in a web of deceit when her ex is convicted of rape in this British psychological thriller based on true events.
When Billie receives a desperate letter from the man she loves, she returns home to Manchester, determined to help him. Convicted of a crime he swears he didn't commit, Stan is trying to make his case from prison. Meanwhile, his accuser, Kelly, is struggling to cope after an ordeal that has left her traumatized and isolated.
A private detective is looking for vital evidence that would set Stan free--and Billie is enlisted to help. Then her faith in Stan begins to waver when she hears Kelly's version of events. There may be two sides to every story, but there's only one truth. Unfortunately for Billie, the deeper she digs, the more lies are unearthed.
When Billie receives a desperate letter from the man she loves, she returns home to Manchester, determined to help him. Convicted of a crime he swears he didn't commit, Stan is trying to make his case from prison. Meanwhile, his accuser, Kelly, is struggling to cope after an ordeal that has left her traumatized and isolated.
A private detective is looking for vital evidence that would set Stan free--and Billie is enlisted to help. Then her faith in Stan begins to waver when she hears Kelly's version of events. There may be two sides to every story, but there's only one truth. Unfortunately for Billie, the deeper she digs, the more lies are unearthed.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2020
306 people are currently reading
353 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Dixon
21 books171 followersPublished by Bloodhound Books
Author of -
Over My Shoulder, They Don't Know, The Secrets of Tenley House, Liars, #MeToo, Blame. The Other Woman, Coming Home, Resistance, Birthright, Venus Was Her Name, A Good Mother, Rosie and Ruby, Anna, Tilly, Grace, Destiny, The Complete Destiny Series Box Set, The Suspense Boxset.
All titles available on Amazon -
amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00I1YV2RM
Author of -
Over My Shoulder, They Don't Know, The Secrets of Tenley House, Liars, #MeToo, Blame. The Other Woman, Coming Home, Resistance, Birthright, Venus Was Her Name, A Good Mother, Rosie and Ruby, Anna, Tilly, Grace, Destiny, The Complete Destiny Series Box Set, The Suspense Boxset.
All titles available on Amazon -
amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00I1YV2RM
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
September 13, 2020
Audio 4.5 Stars
Story 4.5 Stars
Story 4.5 Stars
May 22, 2020
I honestly don't know where to start with this review, other than to say, 'Wow!'
#MeToo follows the story of Billie, Stan and Kelly. Stan is in prison for a crime he says he didn't commit. Kelly is his victim and we first meet her at a support group for abused women. Billie is Stan's ex-girlfriend. Stan has contacted her, desperately wanting her help in clearing his name. Who is guilty? Who is innocent? As Billie is drawn deeper in her search for the truth, the facts become muddier.
This is the fourth book I have read by this author and it is easily the best. She has a way of drawing you right into the story and making you feel the emotions of every character. You know you are in a safe pair of hands. And unlike so many other books, the story builds, the tension mounting, to a truly satisfying denouement.
This is a tale of victims and, as the cover and foreword explain, it is based on true events, which makes it all the more heartbreaking to read. The #MeToo hashtag has gained momentum over the last few years and given the nature of the story, there really isn't a more fitting title for the book.
#MeToo follows the story of Billie, Stan and Kelly. Stan is in prison for a crime he says he didn't commit. Kelly is his victim and we first meet her at a support group for abused women. Billie is Stan's ex-girlfriend. Stan has contacted her, desperately wanting her help in clearing his name. Who is guilty? Who is innocent? As Billie is drawn deeper in her search for the truth, the facts become muddier.
This is the fourth book I have read by this author and it is easily the best. She has a way of drawing you right into the story and making you feel the emotions of every character. You know you are in a safe pair of hands. And unlike so many other books, the story builds, the tension mounting, to a truly satisfying denouement.
This is a tale of victims and, as the cover and foreword explain, it is based on true events, which makes it all the more heartbreaking to read. The #MeToo hashtag has gained momentum over the last few years and given the nature of the story, there really isn't a more fitting title for the book.
February 3, 2021
Well this was 100% different to what I was expecting
This is a story of menace and abuse, threats, injustice and revenge and is as the book suggests all covered under the metoo umbrella
It is a really cleverly done book that tells the story from 3 sides, the victim, Kelly, the accused, Stan, and Billie, who had to decide who is telling the truth and what she has to do about it
Part of the story is done via a letter to Billie and this was really good, poignant and then the rest of the story was built on and from this
The characters were superb, 2 I was unsure of at the beginning until the story became clearer and one I admired all the way through
The despair, for very different reasons, of all 3 was emotive and felt very real
Interesting to note the author says this story although a work of fiction is built on her and others real life experiences and that always adds another dimension to what you are reading
I felt I was living the characters experience throughout the story and as it came to a conclusion the tenseness got tense!
Excellent read that wont forget
10/10
5 Stars
This is a story of menace and abuse, threats, injustice and revenge and is as the book suggests all covered under the metoo umbrella
It is a really cleverly done book that tells the story from 3 sides, the victim, Kelly, the accused, Stan, and Billie, who had to decide who is telling the truth and what she has to do about it
Part of the story is done via a letter to Billie and this was really good, poignant and then the rest of the story was built on and from this
The characters were superb, 2 I was unsure of at the beginning until the story became clearer and one I admired all the way through
The despair, for very different reasons, of all 3 was emotive and felt very real
Interesting to note the author says this story although a work of fiction is built on her and others real life experiences and that always adds another dimension to what you are reading
I felt I was living the characters experience throughout the story and as it came to a conclusion the tenseness got tense!
Excellent read that wont forget
10/10
5 Stars
July 18, 2020
To me capitalizing on the hundreds of stories of abuse that the #metoo movement shone a light on to bring up the RARE incidents of false allegations is disgusting. Hate that I read this book.
January 9, 2024
I would rather have read an article about the true story on which this was based. This was a little basic for me unfortunately.
December 25, 2020
I can't say too much about this without giving away what happened. However, I can say this story is based on a subject that needed to be spoke about. It shows how hard it can be to determine the truth, especially on such important things. Really good read, very easy to follow and kept me completely gripped.
May 21, 2020
Billie goes to prison to visit Stan, her ex after receiving a letter from him saying he is innocent even though he’s been found guilty.
Billie doesn’t believe Stan could possibly be guilty and promises to help. She even teams up with a private investigator and becomes ‘Beth’ to help uncover the truth.
Kelly is the victim and is still struggling so she goes to domestic abuse support groups. There she becomes friendly with ‘Beth’.
I found this to be a difficult but compelling read, partly because it is inspired by true events. It is an emotional read and I found myself unable to put the book down, I had to know the outcome. Where will fact and fiction lead to?
Billie doesn’t believe Stan could possibly be guilty and promises to help. She even teams up with a private investigator and becomes ‘Beth’ to help uncover the truth.
Kelly is the victim and is still struggling so she goes to domestic abuse support groups. There she becomes friendly with ‘Beth’.
I found this to be a difficult but compelling read, partly because it is inspired by true events. It is an emotional read and I found myself unable to put the book down, I had to know the outcome. Where will fact and fiction lead to?
May 26, 2020
I am actually finding it hard to put into words how brilliant this book is.
This is the first book I have read highlighting this subject matter and hopefully it won’t be the last.
This is the first book I have read highlighting this subject matter and hopefully it won’t be the last.
June 14, 2020
SPOILERS: This was more about domestic violence than sexual assault
POTENTIAL SPOILERS:
And actually should be billed as ANTI- metoo. The whole book focused on the injustice of this poor guy jailed for a sexual assault. The accused is unlikable and the book spends hundreds of pages making her to be a total bitch. Do false accusations occur? Yes, of course and if you wanted to write that book it's fine. But the author clearly adopted the hashtag to sell books, not because she cared in any way about the issue. I keep reading hoping she would prove me wrong but I was mistaken. Note this is also a British book so some vocabulary and slang may be unfamiliar. The characters were very one dimensional throughout --even the "tortured" protagonist. It also was not thrilling or necessarily "psychological" since it didn't waste any time on details like motivation.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS:
And actually should be billed as ANTI- metoo. The whole book focused on the injustice of this poor guy jailed for a sexual assault. The accused is unlikable and the book spends hundreds of pages making her to be a total bitch. Do false accusations occur? Yes, of course and if you wanted to write that book it's fine. But the author clearly adopted the hashtag to sell books, not because she cared in any way about the issue. I keep reading hoping she would prove me wrong but I was mistaken. Note this is also a British book so some vocabulary and slang may be unfamiliar. The characters were very one dimensional throughout --even the "tortured" protagonist. It also was not thrilling or necessarily "psychological" since it didn't waste any time on details like motivation.
June 7, 2020
If your partner had been accused and found guilty of a serious sexual crime, would you believe them when they tell you they are innocent? This is the problem facing Billie as her boyfriend, Stan, could be facing 6 years in Strangeways for rape.
This is fiction, yet seemed so real. It was as if I were an observer of things as they happened, and at times it was quite uncomfortable. The book is written in a very clever way so that my opinion on the characters and sequence of events kept changing.
I think this is an important book that should be read by both men and women as the issues within it could apply to either sex. It tackles a difficult subject in a sensitive, non-sensationalist way, and will make readers think about the consequences of the their words and actions.
Very often books don't live up to their promise, but in this case the sub-title is correct. This is a must read.
This is fiction, yet seemed so real. It was as if I were an observer of things as they happened, and at times it was quite uncomfortable. The book is written in a very clever way so that my opinion on the characters and sequence of events kept changing.
I think this is an important book that should be read by both men and women as the issues within it could apply to either sex. It tackles a difficult subject in a sensitive, non-sensationalist way, and will make readers think about the consequences of the their words and actions.
Very often books don't live up to their promise, but in this case the sub-title is correct. This is a must read.
January 1, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Quite a simple plot but it flowed really well and kept me intrigued throughout
June 30, 2020
Well... I’m not sure where to start with this novel. The problem I have with stories that grip me like this is the writing of the review. I always feel my words can’t do the storyline justice. Frankly, I am absolutely blown away.
It tells a very powerful story of Stan, Billie and Kelly. A mixture of both fact and fiction is interwoven to create this fictionalised masterpiece that managed to confuse me as to which characters were truthful in their story. My thoughts flitted a few times, as I started to believe one thing, doubt crept in and I wondered if my suspicions were actually right or not, causing confusion.
What I found most intriguing was the letter written by Stan to Billie. It was frank, open and made me feel on edge as I read, but also enthralled by their story as I felt both empathy and anger for the various characters as truth and lies interwove.
The character profiles were so well written and being based on true events they really were well formed you could really feel the angst, judgement and pain the characters went through.
It was always in the back of my mind that this book was very much based on true events of the author, I feel this is an element that made the story come alive with the truth that’s filtered through the chapters.
The #MeToo movement has been evident in the news for the last few years and knowing the injustice victims go through, this book covered it in a frank but sensitive way. The storyline was shocking and truthful but the fictional element of the novel still managed to pull punches with twists throughout.
A note for the author:
Patricia, your storytelling, although based on your life, was both a pleasure and painful to read. If I could, I’d award you many stars as they were very much earned. Thank you for opening up your painful past with us.
It tells a very powerful story of Stan, Billie and Kelly. A mixture of both fact and fiction is interwoven to create this fictionalised masterpiece that managed to confuse me as to which characters were truthful in their story. My thoughts flitted a few times, as I started to believe one thing, doubt crept in and I wondered if my suspicions were actually right or not, causing confusion.
What I found most intriguing was the letter written by Stan to Billie. It was frank, open and made me feel on edge as I read, but also enthralled by their story as I felt both empathy and anger for the various characters as truth and lies interwove.
The character profiles were so well written and being based on true events they really were well formed you could really feel the angst, judgement and pain the characters went through.
It was always in the back of my mind that this book was very much based on true events of the author, I feel this is an element that made the story come alive with the truth that’s filtered through the chapters.
The #MeToo movement has been evident in the news for the last few years and knowing the injustice victims go through, this book covered it in a frank but sensitive way. The storyline was shocking and truthful but the fictional element of the novel still managed to pull punches with twists throughout.
A note for the author:
Patricia, your storytelling, although based on your life, was both a pleasure and painful to read. If I could, I’d award you many stars as they were very much earned. Thank you for opening up your painful past with us.
August 21, 2022
I picked up this book because of the title. I'm a #metoo as well so I had to read this. I can't say it was a stellar book. The writing wasn't great and there was too much British slang for my American understanding. I didn't know what they were saying a lot of the time, but it's set in Britain and I assume Dixon is a British writer so she's under no obligation to make it user-friendly for foreigners.
I can't say I really liked this book. I felt little sympathy for any of the characters. They weren't fleshed out as much as they could have been and some were just stereotypes, which I think is lazy writing. The story wasn't as gripping as I'd hoped. I really felt like I had to slog through the book. It didn't hold my interest as much as such a timely and newsworthy subject should have. I expected to identify strongly with the storyline but I didn't. *** Spoiler alert *** I feel the writer took an important subject and cheapened it by turning it around so that the man was the hero instead of the woman. I get it, it's a plot twist and maybe she felt she needed it to keep the story from being predictable, but in my opinion what she did took away the story's potential power. A better writer could have pulled it off with the man being the bad guy, as is the case in nearly all the real #metoo stories that still happen with alarming frequency.
I recommend giving this book a pass. Hopefully someone else will write a story worthy of the importance and power of the subject.
I can't say I really liked this book. I felt little sympathy for any of the characters. They weren't fleshed out as much as they could have been and some were just stereotypes, which I think is lazy writing. The story wasn't as gripping as I'd hoped. I really felt like I had to slog through the book. It didn't hold my interest as much as such a timely and newsworthy subject should have. I expected to identify strongly with the storyline but I didn't. *** Spoiler alert *** I feel the writer took an important subject and cheapened it by turning it around so that the man was the hero instead of the woman. I get it, it's a plot twist and maybe she felt she needed it to keep the story from being predictable, but in my opinion what she did took away the story's potential power. A better writer could have pulled it off with the man being the bad guy, as is the case in nearly all the real #metoo stories that still happen with alarming frequency.
I recommend giving this book a pass. Hopefully someone else will write a story worthy of the importance and power of the subject.
May 22, 2020
This is a great read that had me hooked from the first few pages.
The story begins with a heartfelt letter from Stan to Billie.
Stan is in prison and has poured his heart out to Billie regarding what happened and hopes she’ll come to visit him.
We then join Billie on her way to visit him and get a glimpse into her thoughts.
As the book progresses we learn that Stan is imprisoned for the rape of Kelly, but he is trying to appeal the charge.
Billie and Stan were apart for a year or so and this is when he met Kelly but Billie has never forgotten Stan.
This is a gripping read that really makes you think. As the story develops it makes you question both Stan and Kelly, until the truth is finally revealed.
I loved the character of Billie and her true determination to stand by her man is one that really shines through.
If you enjoy a great psychological thriller then this is the book for you
Thanks to Patricia Dixon for sending me a copy to read.
The story begins with a heartfelt letter from Stan to Billie.
Stan is in prison and has poured his heart out to Billie regarding what happened and hopes she’ll come to visit him.
We then join Billie on her way to visit him and get a glimpse into her thoughts.
As the book progresses we learn that Stan is imprisoned for the rape of Kelly, but he is trying to appeal the charge.
Billie and Stan were apart for a year or so and this is when he met Kelly but Billie has never forgotten Stan.
This is a gripping read that really makes you think. As the story develops it makes you question both Stan and Kelly, until the truth is finally revealed.
I loved the character of Billie and her true determination to stand by her man is one that really shines through.
If you enjoy a great psychological thriller then this is the book for you
Thanks to Patricia Dixon for sending me a copy to read.
July 5, 2020
It was the cover and the title that first drew me to this book. I wasn't too sure what to expect, but wanted to give it a go. Without going into the finer details, the story tells the lives of a collection of people in the Manchester area, coming to terms with what has befallen them.
Gritty and compelling, you are drawn into their lives, wanting justice for all, which you'll have to figure out for yourselves.
What I loved, is the realism of the story. Set in a murky Manchester, with dank prison cells and a constant rain-soaked England illustrated with ease and considerable craft.
All of the characters were worthy additions, playing out their lives, which further enhanced the realism of the book. I especially liked Bille, who is torn from the first moment we meet her, wondering what to do for the best. Will she do that? Will she help the ones that need her most? Read and find out what this talented author has in store for her and the others too.
A very accomplished book that hits all the right notes in all the right places. This would make a great movie or mini-series. Highly recommended.
Gritty and compelling, you are drawn into their lives, wanting justice for all, which you'll have to figure out for yourselves.
What I loved, is the realism of the story. Set in a murky Manchester, with dank prison cells and a constant rain-soaked England illustrated with ease and considerable craft.
All of the characters were worthy additions, playing out their lives, which further enhanced the realism of the book. I especially liked Bille, who is torn from the first moment we meet her, wondering what to do for the best. Will she do that? Will she help the ones that need her most? Read and find out what this talented author has in store for her and the others too.
A very accomplished book that hits all the right notes in all the right places. This would make a great movie or mini-series. Highly recommended.
May 28, 2020
It's a subject women are ashamed to discuss. It's a topic that makes men cringe. Rape...an ugly word. A word that cripples victims. A word sometimes tossed around too easily.
#MeToo captures three perspectives in an emotionally gripping, mind-bending story based on true events. As he sits in a jail cell, Stan claims he didn't do it. As she continues to point the finger, Kelly says he did. In a he said/she said unraveling of what really happened, author Patricia Dixon crafts a clever and gripping plot as Billie attempts to find out the truth. Could a man she's known for years be capable of such an act? Or is Kelly an attention-seeking liar? But the truth isn't always simple. Sometimes it will shock you, just as this book shocked me.
If you're looking for a glimpse into the #MeToo movement, read this. If you're a woman who understands the reality of rape, read this. If you're a man looking to understand it, read this. If you want a heart-wrenching and page-turning book that tackles a tough topic, read this. Just...read it. You won't walk away unchanged in some way. We all could use a little change in our lives.
#MeToo captures three perspectives in an emotionally gripping, mind-bending story based on true events. As he sits in a jail cell, Stan claims he didn't do it. As she continues to point the finger, Kelly says he did. In a he said/she said unraveling of what really happened, author Patricia Dixon crafts a clever and gripping plot as Billie attempts to find out the truth. Could a man she's known for years be capable of such an act? Or is Kelly an attention-seeking liar? But the truth isn't always simple. Sometimes it will shock you, just as this book shocked me.
If you're looking for a glimpse into the #MeToo movement, read this. If you're a woman who understands the reality of rape, read this. If you're a man looking to understand it, read this. If you want a heart-wrenching and page-turning book that tackles a tough topic, read this. Just...read it. You won't walk away unchanged in some way. We all could use a little change in our lives.
May 21, 2020
I’m going to make my very best attempt to keep this review vague so not to spoil it but I’m bursting at the seams to let everyone know that this fast paced thriller kept me hooked from the very beginning!
What do you do when the man you love is convicted of a heinous crime and he swears he’s innocent? This is the exact situation Billie finds herself in with Stan. Although they had been living apart and lost contact over the last year, Billie is compelled to come to Stan’s rescue after she receives a letter from him outlining exactly what happened that dreadful night. Even more so now, she’s prepared to stand by Stan’s side but the one thing she is not prepared for is getting close to Kelly, his victim. How far is Billie willing to go to protect Stan’s reputation and why does she feel like her trust in him is wavering?
Patricia Dixon has a wonderful way of building a story through her strong characters and it truly hooks you in. The story is real and unsettling.
What do you do when the man you love is convicted of a heinous crime and he swears he’s innocent? This is the exact situation Billie finds herself in with Stan. Although they had been living apart and lost contact over the last year, Billie is compelled to come to Stan’s rescue after she receives a letter from him outlining exactly what happened that dreadful night. Even more so now, she’s prepared to stand by Stan’s side but the one thing she is not prepared for is getting close to Kelly, his victim. How far is Billie willing to go to protect Stan’s reputation and why does she feel like her trust in him is wavering?
Patricia Dixon has a wonderful way of building a story through her strong characters and it truly hooks you in. The story is real and unsettling.
May 21, 2020
I just loved this book! It is another fabulous read from one of my favourite authors, filled with emotion and hard truths.
It is a difficult story to read, and it really makes you think. What makes it even more heart-wrenching to read is the fact that it is based on a true story...
it makes you wonder about the legal system and the people let down by it; how their lives could be ruined and everything taken away from them. It also makes you think
a bit about violence and rape within a relationship, and how many people may be experiencing something like that without speaking out for fear of not being believed.
While all of the above might seem depressing, this story also opened my eyes to why it is good to hold onto hope and to keep trusting in the people you love. It is a story of hope and thankfully, after a roller-coaster of emotions, it has a happy ending.
A five star read!
It is a difficult story to read, and it really makes you think. What makes it even more heart-wrenching to read is the fact that it is based on a true story...
it makes you wonder about the legal system and the people let down by it; how their lives could be ruined and everything taken away from them. It also makes you think
a bit about violence and rape within a relationship, and how many people may be experiencing something like that without speaking out for fear of not being believed.
While all of the above might seem depressing, this story also opened my eyes to why it is good to hold onto hope and to keep trusting in the people you love. It is a story of hope and thankfully, after a roller-coaster of emotions, it has a happy ending.
A five star read!
May 21, 2020
This will pull you one way then another in your feelings and beliefs.
It’s an up & down, a rollercoaster of who to believe.
So well put together, when the truth begins to unravel, well unreal is how my head took it.
But this sort of thing happens out there, who did what, to who, why, real life as this book can be scary.
A very good read
It’s an up & down, a rollercoaster of who to believe.
So well put together, when the truth begins to unravel, well unreal is how my head took it.
But this sort of thing happens out there, who did what, to who, why, real life as this book can be scary.
A very good read
June 24, 2020
Oh my what a read from Patricia Dixon and once again a book to get your heart rate going. I love this book. Billie needs to know who's telling the truth between stan and kelly. Full of twists are in store as you keep reading and you keep changing your mind. I just couldn't put it down. Harrowing accounts are added right till the end . Then boom this book will hit you and knock your emotions all over the place. This is definitely a best seller for me who side are you going to take in the end. A cracking best seller in the making
September 26, 2020
Meh. Mediocre at best. An awful. Lot of filler in the middle that wasn't needed. Other than that it was OK.
June 25, 2020
Spoilers ahead! Perhaps more of 3.5 star book
More focus on false accusations and domestic assault then sexual assault.
Throughout this book I kept going back and forth between my opinions of the book and it’s impact on the big issue at hand, the #MeToo movement. I knew when picking this book that it could be a tough read and that it would either be great for the movement or disastrous, but I think this book sits somewhere in the middle. I teetered between a 3 star and 4 star rating. It was a tough choice but in the end I think it was the authors acknowledgements at the beginning and end of the book that sold me (plus some of the very important statements made in the closing chapters). Even whilst writing this review I keep changing my rating from 4 stars to 3, then back again. This book does require you to suspend a lot of belief with some of the events. One key example is being able to afford a private investigator (amongst many other things)
However, I think what’s important to remember is that the author herself is a victim and has drawn upon her own experiences (as well as the experiences of others she knows, both me and women) in a fictionalised account. I think to truly understand this book and my conflicted opinions you just have to read the book, and decide if you wish to continue reading first. What helped me make that decision was reading the forward and acknowledgments before actually reading the book.
Whilst reading the book, I thought of the victims and the movement as whole. I think this book makes an important statement that men can be victims too and that there are false accusations and those who really are innocent of what they were accused of. This book was very conflicting. On the one had the book does great justice to the issue, making very important statements, but on the other I think it can be damaging in some ways by focusing on one issue in particular, false accusations.
False accusations are dangerous to any movement, especially this one. Whilst I understand the importance of speaking up for those who have been falsely accused, I think it can also be dangerous because it gives those who are already disbelieving further “proof” that they are “right”.
There are more types of victims than one, and I think this book highlights that in so many ways, especially through the “ripple effect”.
I don’t know if my words can completely describe my feelings towards this book (both positive and negative), so the parts that I have highlighted will have to do most of the talking for me.
My option of the mother is that she’s a manipulator who is quite controlling, but this “view” is from Billie’s perspective and it is very clear she does not get on with her mum.
As for Stan, he actually has many faults and perhaps isn’t always the most likeable character. And as for what he did at the end, I can’t justify it really. I understand it, I understand wanting revenge and for them to suffer, but thinking and acting on it are two different things. Of course people want revenge for wrongdoings, I know I do, but wanting it and making it happen are two different things. And I don’t think making her a victim (of sorts) at the end was right.
However, one thing I do agree on is that the victims of all types of assault (and their families) deserve support and justice. The justice system in England (and other parts of the world) needs reforming. People are punished for crimes they didn’t commit. And some of those who commit crimes (of all sorts) are free to continue going and torturing their victims further because there’s not enough evidence, hasn’t happened enough times or nothing “serious” has happened yet. The system is fucked in more ways than one, but that said it’s not always the officers fault sometimes there’s just not enough time or funding.
More focus on false accusations and domestic assault then sexual assault.
Throughout this book I kept going back and forth between my opinions of the book and it’s impact on the big issue at hand, the #MeToo movement. I knew when picking this book that it could be a tough read and that it would either be great for the movement or disastrous, but I think this book sits somewhere in the middle. I teetered between a 3 star and 4 star rating. It was a tough choice but in the end I think it was the authors acknowledgements at the beginning and end of the book that sold me (plus some of the very important statements made in the closing chapters). Even whilst writing this review I keep changing my rating from 4 stars to 3, then back again. This book does require you to suspend a lot of belief with some of the events. One key example is being able to afford a private investigator (amongst many other things)
However, I think what’s important to remember is that the author herself is a victim and has drawn upon her own experiences (as well as the experiences of others she knows, both me and women) in a fictionalised account. I think to truly understand this book and my conflicted opinions you just have to read the book, and decide if you wish to continue reading first. What helped me make that decision was reading the forward and acknowledgments before actually reading the book.
Whilst reading the book, I thought of the victims and the movement as whole. I think this book makes an important statement that men can be victims too and that there are false accusations and those who really are innocent of what they were accused of. This book was very conflicting. On the one had the book does great justice to the issue, making very important statements, but on the other I think it can be damaging in some ways by focusing on one issue in particular, false accusations.
False accusations are dangerous to any movement, especially this one. Whilst I understand the importance of speaking up for those who have been falsely accused, I think it can also be dangerous because it gives those who are already disbelieving further “proof” that they are “right”.
There are more types of victims than one, and I think this book highlights that in so many ways, especially through the “ripple effect”.
I don’t know if my words can completely describe my feelings towards this book (both positive and negative), so the parts that I have highlighted will have to do most of the talking for me.
My option of the mother is that she’s a manipulator who is quite controlling, but this “view” is from Billie’s perspective and it is very clear she does not get on with her mum.
As for Stan, he actually has many faults and perhaps isn’t always the most likeable character. And as for what he did at the end, I can’t justify it really. I understand it, I understand wanting revenge and for them to suffer, but thinking and acting on it are two different things. Of course people want revenge for wrongdoings, I know I do, but wanting it and making it happen are two different things. And I don’t think making her a victim (of sorts) at the end was right.
However, one thing I do agree on is that the victims of all types of assault (and their families) deserve support and justice. The justice system in England (and other parts of the world) needs reforming. People are punished for crimes they didn’t commit. And some of those who commit crimes (of all sorts) are free to continue going and torturing their victims further because there’s not enough evidence, hasn’t happened enough times or nothing “serious” has happened yet. The system is fucked in more ways than one, but that said it’s not always the officers fault sometimes there’s just not enough time or funding.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2021
What can I say about this book? Victims come in all shapes and sizes, and Patricia Dixon includes a number of these, as both characters major and minor, in #MeToo, to examine the issue of abuse from all angles. Who is the abuser/attacker in the case at the centre of the tale? Who the victim? The author employs many tactics to cause the reader to doubt what is being presented to them, after having gotten wholeheartedly behind it, making them think, always a good thing, in my view. The deus ex machina which turns the tide in the right direction is clever, even if it does rather stretch the suspension of disbelief needed to accept it; maybe it doesn’t fit too well in a story which is so real, and could be happening somewhere in a neighbourhood near you as I write this. I won’t damn Ms Dixon over that one little quibble, though, and will give this a thoroughly-deserved five stars.
June 25, 2020
This is the first book I've read by this author and I was instantly attracted to the book by A) the title and B) the story itself. I was glad I picked it up now, because it's a story that will ring true for so many. At times I did wonder who was telling the truth, but I was a stan believer most of the way.
Will there be a second book?
Will there be a second book?
July 20, 2020
#MeToo Apt title for the book....
"me" is universal, genderless...
Me is everyone ❤️
"me" is universal, genderless...
Me is everyone ❤️
December 6, 2022
I wish I could give this more than 5 stars. Amazing book read it in 2 sittings. Highly recommend it
May 26, 2020
Billie was in a long term relationship with Stan until a violent event during her shift in the police made her reconsider her future and realise they wanted different things at that time. She tried to put things right but it appeared Stan had already moved on and so Billie fled to an island in the sun and a job with an old friend. The next year and a half prove tumultuous for both of them in very different ways. Then Billie receives a letter from Stan pleading with her to come home and help him prove his innocence. What follows is a twist on the "he said/she said" scenario as Billie, Stan's family and a private detective battle to prove that Stan's accuser Kelly is a blatant liar and that Stan has been let down by the justice system.
It's difficult to say much more without giving away any spoilers. The book is extremely well written by a fantastic story teller and was very hard to put down once started. I read it in a day. When I started reading it I straight away thought I knew who to believe but as I read further on, things became more unclear and I started to wonder who was telling the truth. It's easy to see how these type of cases can appear so confusing to a jury if and when they come to court, and when there is not definitive evidence things are really not clear cut at all. Bad people can still be victims and good people can still make mistakes. This story is based on true events. Read it for yourself and see who you believe! 4.5*
It's difficult to say much more without giving away any spoilers. The book is extremely well written by a fantastic story teller and was very hard to put down once started. I read it in a day. When I started reading it I straight away thought I knew who to believe but as I read further on, things became more unclear and I started to wonder who was telling the truth. It's easy to see how these type of cases can appear so confusing to a jury if and when they come to court, and when there is not definitive evidence things are really not clear cut at all. Bad people can still be victims and good people can still make mistakes. This story is based on true events. Read it for yourself and see who you believe! 4.5*
May 30, 2020
This is a real page turner about whether Stan who is serving his sentence is actually innocent, as he claims, of the charge he was found guilty of. His ex partner, Billie, believes him and she sets about proving his innocence along with Aiden a private detective. Real fast paced book and finished it in a couple of sessions
May 21, 2020
Billie is living on a beautiful island when she gets the letter from Stan ..Stan the man she has known since childhood , the love of her life ,is in Strangeways prison..convicted of a brutal rape.When Billie goes to see him,she sees a broken ,angry man who swears he is innocent..A man whose friends have all but deserted him ..It seems only his mother and his brother believe him , but is he telling the truth ? Sometimes a lie and a truth are indistinguishable in the dark ..Kelly Langston is a dental assistant, she is pretty ,articulate and well liked.She attends rape survivor groups ,she speaks openly to the press...but is she telling the truth ? When Billie meets Aiden a Private Investigator that Stan has hired, they both have to work fast against the clock to find out what really happened that night..Because sometimes a lie, a thought with deception is more brutal than a truth could ever be..For when the truth suddenly hits Billie ,it will come bellowing in all it's dark thunderous ways..A Heartpounding Gripping story of Truth Lies and Evil ..Absolutly brilliant ..
May 22, 2020
Never has a book made me change my mind on a storyline so much before or how I felt about the main characters.
This book is based on a terrible act of violence and it is incredibly emotional as a result, however it has been written in such an amazingly sensitive way that you are able to take in all aspects of the situation. As someone who has been on the receiving end of such behaviours I appreciated the sensitivity used throughout the story.
The characters were so powerful and the tension was constant. I struggled to stop reading, so caught up in the web of storytelling, I was absolutely invested into finding out the truth.
Such a clever and thought provoking book that totally took my life over until I turned the last page over.
Just utterly brilliant!
This book is based on a terrible act of violence and it is incredibly emotional as a result, however it has been written in such an amazingly sensitive way that you are able to take in all aspects of the situation. As someone who has been on the receiving end of such behaviours I appreciated the sensitivity used throughout the story.
The characters were so powerful and the tension was constant. I struggled to stop reading, so caught up in the web of storytelling, I was absolutely invested into finding out the truth.
Such a clever and thought provoking book that totally took my life over until I turned the last page over.
Just utterly brilliant!
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