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Behind Closed Doors: The true and heart-breaking story of little Nancy, who holds the secret to a terrible crime
It's okay, lovely,' I soothed. 'You let it all out.'
She sobbed and sobbed as all the fear came tumbling to the surface.
Foster carer Maggie Hartley is finally enjoying a well-earned holiday from fostering, savouring time with her brand new baby granddaughter. One night, though, the peace and quiet is interrupted by an urgent call from Social Services. A man has been stabbed, and Social Services need to find an emergency placement for his little girl.
Maggie is used to children arriving on her doorstep at all times of the day and night, but nothing can prepare her for the sight of eleven-year-old Nancy. The little girl arrives in her pyjamas, covered in blood, and mute with shock. With her mother missing and her father in intensive care, the police are desperate for answers.
Who stabbed Nancy's father? Where is her mother? And what is Nancy hiding about her seemingly perfect family? The longer Maggie spends with her little girl, the clearer it becomes that all is not as it seems. Can Maggie discover the terrible truth of what's been happening behind closed doors?
A true story of hope from Sunday Times bestselling author Maggie Hartley, a foster carer for over 20 years.
'A moving read, very well-written' 5* Amazon reader review
She sobbed and sobbed as all the fear came tumbling to the surface.
Foster carer Maggie Hartley is finally enjoying a well-earned holiday from fostering, savouring time with her brand new baby granddaughter. One night, though, the peace and quiet is interrupted by an urgent call from Social Services. A man has been stabbed, and Social Services need to find an emergency placement for his little girl.
Maggie is used to children arriving on her doorstep at all times of the day and night, but nothing can prepare her for the sight of eleven-year-old Nancy. The little girl arrives in her pyjamas, covered in blood, and mute with shock. With her mother missing and her father in intensive care, the police are desperate for answers.
Who stabbed Nancy's father? Where is her mother? And what is Nancy hiding about her seemingly perfect family? The longer Maggie spends with her little girl, the clearer it becomes that all is not as it seems. Can Maggie discover the terrible truth of what's been happening behind closed doors?
A true story of hope from Sunday Times bestselling author Maggie Hartley, a foster carer for over 20 years.
'A moving read, very well-written' 5* Amazon reader review
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
February 1, 2022
Maggie takes in Nancy, who arrive in her pyjamas, covered in blood and mute with shock. Nancy's father has been stabbed and her mother is missing. Nancy has had a perfect life and the Police want answers, which only Nancy can answer. The more she talks to Maggie the more things unfold. A good insight into a controlling relationship. The mother was pushed to the edge of her sanity. Her daughter Nancy thought it was a normal parental relationship. I am glad that mother and daughter consented to Maggie sharing their heartbreaking story. The general public need greater knowledge and understanding.
January 7, 2022
Another great book by this author. Maggie clearly cares for every child she looks after. If she were not so experienced the truth may never have come out and Nancy and her mother could have ended up in a far worse situation. A very mixed ending but glad Nancy got the outcome she deserved.
January 6, 2022
Behind Closed Doors. by Maggie Hartley.
Nancy is a 11 year girl who comes to Maggie after a traumatic time in her life. A very polite but quiet girl who is not the normal type that is sent to Maggie. She is such a easy child to look after … even to the point of asking can she use the toilet! As the days and months pass Maggie is hear some things that don’t seem to add up individually but putting it all together makes her question what everyone was thinking. A thought provoking story that will make you consider what you think is right if it really is!
Great book …. Recommend it …. You will enjoy it.
Nancy is a 11 year girl who comes to Maggie after a traumatic time in her life. A very polite but quiet girl who is not the normal type that is sent to Maggie. She is such a easy child to look after … even to the point of asking can she use the toilet! As the days and months pass Maggie is hear some things that don’t seem to add up individually but putting it all together makes her question what everyone was thinking. A thought provoking story that will make you consider what you think is right if it really is!
Great book …. Recommend it …. You will enjoy it.
January 9, 2022
recommend
I enjoyed the book very much and I understand Helen. In the shoes she is in so many people say just leave when anyone in the same shoes say something. It’s not easy to leave. What people who are not in the shoes don’t get is these guys look innocent but are pure evil. I could say more but since everything is on the net my lips must be sealed as normal. This is my life.
I enjoyed the book very much and I understand Helen. In the shoes she is in so many people say just leave when anyone in the same shoes say something. It’s not easy to leave. What people who are not in the shoes don’t get is these guys look innocent but are pure evil. I could say more but since everything is on the net my lips must be sealed as normal. This is my life.
February 21, 2022
Amazing as always. Read in 24 hours couldnt put it down .
December 31, 2025
Shared on our Facebook group : Fostering, memoirs and fiction book club.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📕 Behind Closed Doors by Maggie Hartley
🔗 https://amzn.eu/d/9hA6Kvt
This is a quiet but deeply unsettling book about how abuse can exist in plain sight.
From the outside, the family at the centre of the story appears comfortable, respectable, and intact. There are no obvious warning signs. It’s only when you look closer at who has been cut off, who is shrinking, and who is being quietly controlled that the damage becomes visible. Maggie Hartley shows how coercive control often hides behind normality, protected by appearances and by our reluctance to question what looks like a “good” family.
The story follows Nancy, an eleven-year-old foster child, alongside her mother Helen and her father Martin. Nancy is not portrayed as a problem to be fixed, but as a child shaped by prolonged uncertainty and adult decisions beyond her control. Helen’s experience illustrates how psychological and sexual abuse can operate without overt violence, slowly isolating and eroding someone while remaining plausibly deniable.
What makes this book powerful is its restraint. There are no sensational moments or neat resolutions just an honest exploration of control, silence, and the long shadow these dynamics cast over children and families.
This is not an easy read, but it is an important one. It gives language to experiences that are often minimised and challenges the idea that harm always looks dramatic.
It stays with you quietly, but persistently.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📕 Behind Closed Doors by Maggie Hartley
🔗 https://amzn.eu/d/9hA6Kvt
This is a quiet but deeply unsettling book about how abuse can exist in plain sight.
From the outside, the family at the centre of the story appears comfortable, respectable, and intact. There are no obvious warning signs. It’s only when you look closer at who has been cut off, who is shrinking, and who is being quietly controlled that the damage becomes visible. Maggie Hartley shows how coercive control often hides behind normality, protected by appearances and by our reluctance to question what looks like a “good” family.
The story follows Nancy, an eleven-year-old foster child, alongside her mother Helen and her father Martin. Nancy is not portrayed as a problem to be fixed, but as a child shaped by prolonged uncertainty and adult decisions beyond her control. Helen’s experience illustrates how psychological and sexual abuse can operate without overt violence, slowly isolating and eroding someone while remaining plausibly deniable.
What makes this book powerful is its restraint. There are no sensational moments or neat resolutions just an honest exploration of control, silence, and the long shadow these dynamics cast over children and families.
This is not an easy read, but it is an important one. It gives language to experiences that are often minimised and challenges the idea that harm always looks dramatic.
It stays with you quietly, but persistently.
May 26, 2024
Amazing book. This is the first I’ve read of Maggie’s true stories of being a foster carer and she truly is phenomenal. You really sense her warmth and kindness throughout the book and highlights just how crucial foster carers are.
The story of her fostering Nancy after her mother, Helen, killed her father was very emotional throughout, with Nancy battling feelings of loving her mother and hating her for killing her father. Throughout the book you see Nancy say things like they’re normal that her dad did to her mum like write down every time she went to the toilet, control what she ate and more.
Then Helen finally broke down and confessed all the ways he had abused her in a truly coercive controlling relationship. I actually shed a tear when Helen told Nancy about everything and how unhappy she was and Nancy ran over to her and hugged her. She stabbed him in defence when he had taken the money she’d been secretly saving to escape and he was about to sexually assault her again.
Nancy finally got stability at the end when Helen’s parents came from France and agreed to look after her in her own home - after Helen had been forced to cut them off by her husband.
Helen’s sentencing of 5 years (reduced to 3) was very upsetting to see when this was clearly coercive control and a matter of self defence.
Maggie is an amazing person and writer and the relationship she built with Nancy was beautiful.
The story of her fostering Nancy after her mother, Helen, killed her father was very emotional throughout, with Nancy battling feelings of loving her mother and hating her for killing her father. Throughout the book you see Nancy say things like they’re normal that her dad did to her mum like write down every time she went to the toilet, control what she ate and more.
Then Helen finally broke down and confessed all the ways he had abused her in a truly coercive controlling relationship. I actually shed a tear when Helen told Nancy about everything and how unhappy she was and Nancy ran over to her and hugged her. She stabbed him in defence when he had taken the money she’d been secretly saving to escape and he was about to sexually assault her again.
Nancy finally got stability at the end when Helen’s parents came from France and agreed to look after her in her own home - after Helen had been forced to cut them off by her husband.
Helen’s sentencing of 5 years (reduced to 3) was very upsetting to see when this was clearly coercive control and a matter of self defence.
Maggie is an amazing person and writer and the relationship she built with Nancy was beautiful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2022
I enjoy reading foster carer stories every now and then when I need a shorter read. Also, I like to learn about the British foster system through the lens of someone who's worked in it for decades.
This one, however, was a bit disappointing. Not only were there several small editorial mistakes that interrupted my reading, e.g. while the whole books is written from Maggie's point of view, suddenly a sentence is: "Maggie picked her up from school". I found three or four small mistakes like this one and while I acknowledge it's not the end of the world, it's just not necessary to find those in a published version of a story. But also, the foster carer herself comes across as a bit too naive. It's hard to describe without spoilers, but I am sure that when you've fostered children from different backgrounds for many years, you know that there often is more to an incident than what's visible at first sight. For me as a reader, it was quite clear what actually was the matter in the child's family, whereas the forster carer still seemed to be rather clueless. Maybe this case would have worked better as a short story.
Still, for me it's always captivating to read about a child's journey in forster care.
This one, however, was a bit disappointing. Not only were there several small editorial mistakes that interrupted my reading, e.g. while the whole books is written from Maggie's point of view, suddenly a sentence is: "Maggie picked her up from school". I found three or four small mistakes like this one and while I acknowledge it's not the end of the world, it's just not necessary to find those in a published version of a story. But also, the foster carer herself comes across as a bit too naive. It's hard to describe without spoilers, but I am sure that when you've fostered children from different backgrounds for many years, you know that there often is more to an incident than what's visible at first sight. For me as a reader, it was quite clear what actually was the matter in the child's family, whereas the forster carer still seemed to be rather clueless. Maybe this case would have worked better as a short story.
Still, for me it's always captivating to read about a child's journey in forster care.
October 23, 2022
Another Amazing Read
I am an avid fan of these foster care books - And This Was Another Amazing Read From Maggie Hartley. I haven't read a book so quickly in a long time; I was enthralled by the situation unravelling, personally and deeply touched and upset by some sad incidences, and delighted with both small steps & big leaps and bounds taken by the child involved and her family's situation.
I really loved this story, about a young girl who's whole world's been turned upside down, and so then she is taken to Maggie. What happened to this child and what she has to experience and ensure isn't unique, unfortunately, but luckily it is rare.
Maggie herself does well to navigate this delicate, complicated, emotionally-charged set of circumstances, to help the child move on from an overwhelming, complex and traumatizing situation.
The aim moves from helping the girl cope with what's happened, to trying to navigate the everything and find best and most stable outcome possible!e for the girl.
Maggie Hartley does it again and writes another Unputdownable Read of a child's fight for a stable, loving life.
I am an avid fan of these foster care books - And This Was Another Amazing Read From Maggie Hartley. I haven't read a book so quickly in a long time; I was enthralled by the situation unravelling, personally and deeply touched and upset by some sad incidences, and delighted with both small steps & big leaps and bounds taken by the child involved and her family's situation.
I really loved this story, about a young girl who's whole world's been turned upside down, and so then she is taken to Maggie. What happened to this child and what she has to experience and ensure isn't unique, unfortunately, but luckily it is rare.
Maggie herself does well to navigate this delicate, complicated, emotionally-charged set of circumstances, to help the child move on from an overwhelming, complex and traumatizing situation.
The aim moves from helping the girl cope with what's happened, to trying to navigate the everything and find best and most stable outcome possible!e for the girl.
Maggie Hartley does it again and writes another Unputdownable Read of a child's fight for a stable, loving life.
April 10, 2025
The story told in this book is a true reminder that looks can be deceiving. A family can appear to have it all and it be the opposite. This poor innocent polite little girl whose entire world got changed. Everything she thought to be true and to be what she knew, gone, but a true family bond was created in the process. Maybe it wasn’t all for naught. As always, Maggie’s way of writing brings you back to that time and makes you feel as if you are living it right alongside her. The way Louisa took to Nancy in this story is touching, allowing a bond to be created between Nancy, herself, and her own daughter in such a sweet endearing way. I love how the relationship between Charlie and Louisa could help Nancy through such a confusing time. Go read to find out why I say these things and let me know what you think!
September 15, 2022
This book is about a young girl who has to go into care as an emergency when she comes downstairs in the night to find her father dying on the kitchen floor and her mother nowhere to be found. Maggie Hartley takes her in and tells of the conflicting emotions 11 year old Nancy experiences and the difficulty the social services have in working out just what has happened and why. It gradually becomes clear that her mother has been a victim of coercive control by her father, who has cut his wife and daughter off from all their friends and relations, including Nancy's maternal grandparents who did not know of her existence.
I think this book gives an excellent picture of how easy it is for outsiders to completely miss noticing coercive control and of how damaging it can be to its victims.
I think this book gives an excellent picture of how easy it is for outsiders to completely miss noticing coercive control and of how damaging it can be to its victims.
April 5, 2022
I absolutely love Maggie Hartleys books I really admire what foster carers do for children in the care system and the sacrifices they make to keep the children in care safe.i find these kind of books inspiring all the love, support and passion and care these amazing foster carers give to children they give them a chance to feel loved and help them with any issues that may occur.rhese foster carers really deserve more recognition for what they do.i highly recommend these books I find they help me to understand as I had a very difficult childhood and it makes my heart melt knowing about the second chances and a better lifestyle these children deserve
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2025
Another powerful read by Maggie, I absolutely love reading her books as each child has a different story and each are very heartbreaking. This story was very hard to read just like her other books, it had a lot of emotional abuse with a controlling abusive relationship from the husband.
The part that breaks my heart is that Nancy thought all of her father’s abuse to her mother was the way he was showing “love” and that it was perfectly normal to behave like that in a relationship which definitely wasn’t the case🥺
No child should ever go through this and the fact that it does happen in real life is absolutely devastating!
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The part that breaks my heart is that Nancy thought all of her father’s abuse to her mother was the way he was showing “love” and that it was perfectly normal to behave like that in a relationship which definitely wasn’t the case🥺
No child should ever go through this and the fact that it does happen in real life is absolutely devastating!
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 10, 2024
I always struggle to star rate these types of books as it is someone’s life.
However it was a very interesting read I did enjoy it even though it was very sad in some places.
It’s great to highlight emotional and psychological abuse and books like this I hope will help others to come forward or recognise the signs.
I think it’s really sad that people can be estranged from their families but even in the worst types of situations I find it uplifting that families can still come together and support each other.
However it was a very interesting read I did enjoy it even though it was very sad in some places.
It’s great to highlight emotional and psychological abuse and books like this I hope will help others to come forward or recognise the signs.
I think it’s really sad that people can be estranged from their families but even in the worst types of situations I find it uplifting that families can still come together and support each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2023
Maggie has done it again another amazing book. Not only is she an amazing foster carer but also an amazing author this is her second book I’ve read in so many days both of her books I’ve read in a day each once I start reading I just can’t stop. Only problem I have now is which one I’m going to read next. Thank you Maggie for a little insight to this sad world that we live in. If you have children hug them a little bit tighter today tomorrow and always because I know I’m going to xxx
September 8, 2026
Definitely behind closed doors
Maggie does it again :) I admire her and the work she does. Once again, I couldnt keep the book down. Poor girls, unfortunately this happens more than we realize... psychological abuse. That log book is what saved that case, otherwise its so hard to prove.
Also happy to hear about Louisa and her family thriving! I love how much love Maggie has to give, shes in her right calling.
On to my next Maggie book :)
Maggie does it again :) I admire her and the work she does. Once again, I couldnt keep the book down. Poor girls, unfortunately this happens more than we realize... psychological abuse. That log book is what saved that case, otherwise its so hard to prove.
Also happy to hear about Louisa and her family thriving! I love how much love Maggie has to give, shes in her right calling.
On to my next Maggie book :)
January 9, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ oh my. Maggie's latest fostering memoir tells the sad story of Nancy, an 11 year old who finds her father stabbed on her kitchen floor and get mother is missing. Can Maggie help Nancy come to terms with everything? I read this book in one sitting, as usual I couldn't put it down! I wish I was in a position to be able to foster and help young people in need. Heartbreaking.
January 11, 2022
A Powerful Story
I am glad that mother and daughter consented to Maggie sharing their heartbreaking story. The general public need greater knowledge and understanding and victims would benefit from social services, such as safe houses and counseling. Victims need a strong network of social support.
I am glad that mother and daughter consented to Maggie sharing their heartbreaking story. The general public need greater knowledge and understanding and victims would benefit from social services, such as safe houses and counseling. Victims need a strong network of social support.
January 16, 2022
Excellent
I love Maggie's books, they are so well written, very thought provoking, moving stories of real life. It's very heart warming to know there are people like Maggie out there doing such a great job helping children to come to terms with what they've had to endure and build a new life, going on to hopefully become better adults.
I love Maggie's books, they are so well written, very thought provoking, moving stories of real life. It's very heart warming to know there are people like Maggie out there doing such a great job helping children to come to terms with what they've had to endure and build a new life, going on to hopefully become better adults.
May 3, 2026
Nancy is found outside our house with her dad stabbed in the kitchen. She goes to stay with Maggie and despite hospital treatment her dad passes away. The police end up searching for her mum who they eventually find and she confesses to murdering the father.
Nancy adapts to living in foster care which I found really moving and the entire story was a lot to process.
Nancy adapts to living in foster care which I found really moving and the entire story was a lot to process.
January 19, 2022
An incredible story of how a young girl's life turned upside down
Thoroughly recommend this book. I cried quite a bit at how sad Nancy was feeling. As the story unfolded i couldn't put the book down. I was moved by it.
Thoroughly recommend this book. I cried quite a bit at how sad Nancy was feeling. As the story unfolded i couldn't put the book down. I was moved by it.
February 4, 2022
Amazing
Never in a million have I ever read a fostering story like this one
I have read many over the years and those is the first domestic violence one
Great story Maggie
Look forward to your next book
Cheryl Lockhart
Never in a million have I ever read a fostering story like this one
I have read many over the years and those is the first domestic violence one
Great story Maggie
Look forward to your next book
Cheryl Lockhart
March 18, 2022
Definitely recommend
This was an incredible story and I really felt for mother and daughter. Maggie is just amazing, as usual, for how she dealt with this situation. She definitely has a gift. Excellent writing!
This was an incredible story and I really felt for mother and daughter. Maggie is just amazing, as usual, for how she dealt with this situation. She definitely has a gift. Excellent writing!
June 10, 2022
Behind Closed Doors
This was another amazing book by Maggie Hartley. I love all her books & own every single one.Each one keeps me reading into the wee hours of morning.I can't wait for the next.
This was another amazing book by Maggie Hartley. I love all her books & own every single one.Each one keeps me reading into the wee hours of morning.I can't wait for the next.
July 8, 2022
Behind Closed Doors
This Book was well written and I read through it in just a few hours. It was hard to walk away from . Praise to Maggie Hartley, I am looking forward to reading more of her stories.
This Book was well written and I read through it in just a few hours. It was hard to walk away from . Praise to Maggie Hartley, I am looking forward to reading more of her stories.
January 29, 2023
This story restores my faith in humans! Although there is awful people out there, maggie proves to be a wonderful human who does a great job of caring for the foster children who come to her! A sad yet interesting story, definitely recommend
September 16, 2023
Incredible as always.
This one was, I think, the saddest one I’ve read to date. It just goes to show that you really don’t know the full story of what goes on behind closed doors (title drop totally intentional).
A very easy 5 stars.
This one was, I think, the saddest one I’ve read to date. It just goes to show that you really don’t know the full story of what goes on behind closed doors (title drop totally intentional).
A very easy 5 stars.
February 13, 2024
Maggie is such a wonderful caring loving woman!
a little girl covered in blood wearing her pyjamas and in complete shock, Maggie took the time to show this child she was safe and spent so much time and love with this child.
such a good read can't wait to read more of maggies books.
a little girl covered in blood wearing her pyjamas and in complete shock, Maggie took the time to show this child she was safe and spent so much time and love with this child.
such a good read can't wait to read more of maggies books.
January 7, 2022
Good read
Maggie's books are always good I'm always on the look out for new books from her. I hate that this requires a certain amount of words,that's stupid
Maggie's books are always good I'm always on the look out for new books from her. I hate that this requires a certain amount of words,that's stupid
January 8, 2022
Excellent book and a sad story
Another good read from Maggie Hartley.
Excellent book and a sad story.
Hope mother and daughter now have a better life.
Another good read from Maggie Hartley.
Excellent book and a sad story.
Hope mother and daughter now have a better life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews