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My Brother the Killer: How a Boy Became a Murderer
In this remarkable memoir, a harrowing true story of family, violence, guilt and atonement, a journalist reflects on his own journey to come to terms with his brother's terrible crimes--and to find justice for the young girl he killed.
In the gritty docklands of south-east England, Alix Sharkey and his younger siblings grew up in awe of their charismatic yet violent father, a vicious alcoholic. Yet it was Alix's kid brother Stuart--button-cute and fearless--who defended his siblings at home, at school and on the streets. Their fraternal bond was deep and powerful until Alix moved away from their rough hometown. Stuart remained--and slid into a furtive life of sexual violence against teenage girls, punctuated by prison time.
Having started out inseparable, their paths diverged radically. Alix became a journalist, cosmopolitan and bilingual, working for upmarket media in London, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles. Today, Stuart remains incarcerated in Britain's most notorious high security prison, awaiting imminent parole. Twenty years ago, he was convicted of the kidnap and murder of his 15-year old niece Danielle, daughter of his wife's brother. Despite his conviction, a lost appeal, and repeated pleas by her parents, Stuart has steadfastly refused to reveal the location of his victim's remains, condemning the girl's parents to two decades of unresolved grief.
How do two brothers choose such different paths? Could anything have prevented Stuart from becoming a killer? What factors contributed to his fall? What does Alix owe to Stuart--the fiercely protective kid brother--and what does he owe to the truth? With the clock ticking, can he convince Stuart to do the right thing and give the victim's family the closure and peace they've sought for so long? Or will Stuart walk free, unrepentant and defiant?
In this piercing and unforgettable memoir, laced with bleak irony and heartrending honesty, Alix tackles these questions and confronts a harsh reality: that the younger brother he once adored not only deceived their own family for decades, but destroyed another with his truly heinous crime.
In the gritty docklands of south-east England, Alix Sharkey and his younger siblings grew up in awe of their charismatic yet violent father, a vicious alcoholic. Yet it was Alix's kid brother Stuart--button-cute and fearless--who defended his siblings at home, at school and on the streets. Their fraternal bond was deep and powerful until Alix moved away from their rough hometown. Stuart remained--and slid into a furtive life of sexual violence against teenage girls, punctuated by prison time.
Having started out inseparable, their paths diverged radically. Alix became a journalist, cosmopolitan and bilingual, working for upmarket media in London, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles. Today, Stuart remains incarcerated in Britain's most notorious high security prison, awaiting imminent parole. Twenty years ago, he was convicted of the kidnap and murder of his 15-year old niece Danielle, daughter of his wife's brother. Despite his conviction, a lost appeal, and repeated pleas by her parents, Stuart has steadfastly refused to reveal the location of his victim's remains, condemning the girl's parents to two decades of unresolved grief.
How do two brothers choose such different paths? Could anything have prevented Stuart from becoming a killer? What factors contributed to his fall? What does Alix owe to Stuart--the fiercely protective kid brother--and what does he owe to the truth? With the clock ticking, can he convince Stuart to do the right thing and give the victim's family the closure and peace they've sought for so long? Or will Stuart walk free, unrepentant and defiant?
In this piercing and unforgettable memoir, laced with bleak irony and heartrending honesty, Alix tackles these questions and confronts a harsh reality: that the younger brother he once adored not only deceived their own family for decades, but destroyed another with his truly heinous crime.
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Published July 22, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 13, 2022
“What exactly makes someone a killer? Nature, nurture? Both?”
✮✮✮
This is the true crime memoir of Stuart Campbell, his brother and the murder of Danielle Jones. Alix Sharkey writes about their lives growing up, his own feelings, and thoughts now about his these could have affected his brother if he’d only known. The tale of family secrets, abuse and deception, and how a little innocent boy can grow up to be a murderer…
This was a really interesting true crime novel. I’d never actually heard of this case before, and I wonder if that’s because I was only 4 years old when it happened. I just can’t believe I didn’t hear it in the news last year. I liked the way this was written by Alix, he would flip back between the events of Danielle’s disappearance, and their childhood, and Alix managed the switch in his writing really well.
I love to read true crime mainly from a psychological perspective, as that’s what I’m studying at university. I like to see how crimes have affected not only the people involved, but the families too, and Alix really did show how this affected him. However, as much as I loved reading his thoughts and feeling, especially surrounding his own daughter, Fiona, finding out as well as during the trial, his life seemed to be way more inserted than his brothers. Some of which I felt was unnecessary to the background.
Overall, this was a really good piece of true crime writing, especially if you love to know about the background behind why his brother may have killed.
✮✮✮
This is the true crime memoir of Stuart Campbell, his brother and the murder of Danielle Jones. Alix Sharkey writes about their lives growing up, his own feelings, and thoughts now about his these could have affected his brother if he’d only known. The tale of family secrets, abuse and deception, and how a little innocent boy can grow up to be a murderer…
This was a really interesting true crime novel. I’d never actually heard of this case before, and I wonder if that’s because I was only 4 years old when it happened. I just can’t believe I didn’t hear it in the news last year. I liked the way this was written by Alix, he would flip back between the events of Danielle’s disappearance, and their childhood, and Alix managed the switch in his writing really well.
I love to read true crime mainly from a psychological perspective, as that’s what I’m studying at university. I like to see how crimes have affected not only the people involved, but the families too, and Alix really did show how this affected him. However, as much as I loved reading his thoughts and feeling, especially surrounding his own daughter, Fiona, finding out as well as during the trial, his life seemed to be way more inserted than his brothers. Some of which I felt was unnecessary to the background.
Overall, this was a really good piece of true crime writing, especially if you love to know about the background behind why his brother may have killed.
May 13, 2023
Oh I really liked this story and the fact that it was written by someone so close to the actual killer. It puzzles me what must be going on in Stuarts mind . Hopefully one day he will finish the story
April 22, 2024
This story really is remarkable and having been told by his brother give you sense of true sentiment.
Well worth a read
Well worth a read
March 17, 2023
I tried to finish, and I almost made it.
But this book is about the author, not about his brother. It is very self-centric. You'd say, fine? But it is isn't. The book covers everything supericially, except for the author's life. And not his emotions towards his brother, but about his career!
There are other possibilities:
A Father's story, by Lionel Dahmer, is a better example of s family's memoir. And it isn't self-centric, but full of love and horror.
But this book is about the author, not about his brother. It is very self-centric. You'd say, fine? But it is isn't. The book covers everything supericially, except for the author's life. And not his emotions towards his brother, but about his career!
There are other possibilities:
A Father's story, by Lionel Dahmer, is a better example of s family's memoir. And it isn't self-centric, but full of love and horror.
July 24, 2022
Funny enough this is a hard review to write. I remember reading about Danielle Jones going missing in the papers and seeing it on the news, recently I heard it again recently on a podcast. I can't begin to imagine how the families have coped over the past 2 decades, Each time it resurfaces in the media or as in this case a new book it must feel like a plaster being ripped off for both families..
Alix Sharkey tells us about growing up as a child in the 70's, it was rife with bigotry and racism., life with a brother who was "normal" whatever that is until puberty. had issues and an unhealthy, but unknown predilection for young girls, not to mention an abusive, alcoholic dad and how his mother mum enabled both the father and the brothers behaviour. At some point his mum finally threw her husband out, who then went on to become a hapless drunk.
Stuart Campbell was a healthy, happy child but I think at some point the alluded to event did happen in turn this changed him, he became harder, more secretive. Although it didn't make it the person he became there's opinions that it could have contributed to it. Stuart was Danielle's 'Uncle', someone that Danielle should have been able to trust. It's believed that he abducted her and ultimately murdered her, but Stuart has never publicly admitted guilt or had the decency to tell the family where Danielle's body is. It seems unbelievable that he could keep that deviant and violent side of himself a secret so well and for so long, bearing in mind that he served 2 previous prison terms.
I struggle a little with how gullible that Alix was with regard to his brothers previous sentences and he took what he was told at face value. I think that as a journalist you'd need to have a curious nature as well as an inquisitive mind, that need to know spark so I'm surprised that he never checked it out., There's an awful lot of anxiety about how this would affect his daughter, worry about the way her peers would react to the news. I guess its expected and warranted to some extent, but I think he had a few missed opportunities to sit down and explain it to her.
I tend to agree with what I read and hear that without full disclosure of both guilt and the location where Danielle's body is to allow her parent the opportunity lay her to rest Stuart should not be given the luxury of parole.
Thank you to the author Alix Sharkey and #Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are mine and mine alone.
Alix Sharkey tells us about growing up as a child in the 70's, it was rife with bigotry and racism., life with a brother who was "normal" whatever that is until puberty. had issues and an unhealthy, but unknown predilection for young girls, not to mention an abusive, alcoholic dad and how his mother mum enabled both the father and the brothers behaviour. At some point his mum finally threw her husband out, who then went on to become a hapless drunk.
Stuart Campbell was a healthy, happy child but I think at some point the alluded to event did happen in turn this changed him, he became harder, more secretive. Although it didn't make it the person he became there's opinions that it could have contributed to it. Stuart was Danielle's 'Uncle', someone that Danielle should have been able to trust. It's believed that he abducted her and ultimately murdered her, but Stuart has never publicly admitted guilt or had the decency to tell the family where Danielle's body is. It seems unbelievable that he could keep that deviant and violent side of himself a secret so well and for so long, bearing in mind that he served 2 previous prison terms.
I struggle a little with how gullible that Alix was with regard to his brothers previous sentences and he took what he was told at face value. I think that as a journalist you'd need to have a curious nature as well as an inquisitive mind, that need to know spark so I'm surprised that he never checked it out., There's an awful lot of anxiety about how this would affect his daughter, worry about the way her peers would react to the news. I guess its expected and warranted to some extent, but I think he had a few missed opportunities to sit down and explain it to her.
I tend to agree with what I read and hear that without full disclosure of both guilt and the location where Danielle's body is to allow her parent the opportunity lay her to rest Stuart should not be given the luxury of parole.
Thank you to the author Alix Sharkey and #Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are mine and mine alone.
July 30, 2025
I enjoyed this book but it did go and forth quite a lot. brothers had the same up bringing
A lot of red flags before danielle was murdered the parents trusted the uncle too much considering he had a key to the house and access to Danielle's bedroom many unanswered questions as danielle never came forward of the grooming and abuse her life could of been saved evidence didn't come to light till after she was murdered where love letters were found from her uncle
His wife hid from everything and everyone she stood by her husband, did she know what was going on? Who knows, considering they were living in the same house and he was taking under age girls there to take explicit photos and had previous convictions of pedophilea
He will never admit to murder or where the body is buried as he's a person who likes to be in control the same as brady with Keith bennett I hope he rots and dies in prison I hope all his future parole applies get denied
There is no remorse or empathy towards danielle what so ever this poor girl was abused neglected and murdered and her body has never been found her parents are still going through this nightmare this poor girl was crying out for help and didn't know how to come forward and parents blamed the hormones
A lot of red flags before danielle was murdered the parents trusted the uncle too much considering he had a key to the house and access to Danielle's bedroom many unanswered questions as danielle never came forward of the grooming and abuse her life could of been saved evidence didn't come to light till after she was murdered where love letters were found from her uncle
His wife hid from everything and everyone she stood by her husband, did she know what was going on? Who knows, considering they were living in the same house and he was taking under age girls there to take explicit photos and had previous convictions of pedophilea
He will never admit to murder or where the body is buried as he's a person who likes to be in control the same as brady with Keith bennett I hope he rots and dies in prison I hope all his future parole applies get denied
There is no remorse or empathy towards danielle what so ever this poor girl was abused neglected and murdered and her body has never been found her parents are still going through this nightmare this poor girl was crying out for help and didn't know how to come forward and parents blamed the hormones
December 12, 2022
This was a really well written and interesting true crime novel. I hadn't heard of this case before even on Youtube so was really interested to find out what had happened in the case.
I liked how the author narrates the reader through the events of Danielle's disappearance while also recounting his childhood and the linkage. It seemed very evidence that the abusive home life as a child had an impact on Stuart and his behavior and actions he would perform later in life. It was also interesting to see how two brothers from the same home could end up in different lives but also the impact that Stuart's crime had on Alix.
Some parts where written in quite a slow narrative and I sort of wish the writer has started with the childhood leading to the events that would occur to make the story flow better for the reader and understand it better. I also wish the writer had used speech marks when people talked.
I liked how the author narrates the reader through the events of Danielle's disappearance while also recounting his childhood and the linkage. It seemed very evidence that the abusive home life as a child had an impact on Stuart and his behavior and actions he would perform later in life. It was also interesting to see how two brothers from the same home could end up in different lives but also the impact that Stuart's crime had on Alix.
Some parts where written in quite a slow narrative and I sort of wish the writer has started with the childhood leading to the events that would occur to make the story flow better for the reader and understand it better. I also wish the writer had used speech marks when people talked.
March 12, 2023
I was given a free copy of this book through NetGalley in return for an honest review
3.5 stars
Before reading this book I had never heard about this case. The book is well written and shares the boys childhood and the conditions that they grew up in along side the disappearance of Danielle Jones but I wish it hadn’t flicked backwards and forwards so much.
I found it difficult to believe that Alix didn’t know about the extent of his brothers previous crimes and didn’t know how devious he was and in some ways abetted his crimes.
It must be difficult for both families involved especially Danielle’s who still have no proper closure as they still do not know where their daughters body is.
I went into this book in a bit of a slump so struggled to make it half way, once I passed the 50% mark I flew through the rest of the book and although it was an upsetting and difficult read I would recommend this book to people who enjoy true crime.
3.5 stars
Before reading this book I had never heard about this case. The book is well written and shares the boys childhood and the conditions that they grew up in along side the disappearance of Danielle Jones but I wish it hadn’t flicked backwards and forwards so much.
I found it difficult to believe that Alix didn’t know about the extent of his brothers previous crimes and didn’t know how devious he was and in some ways abetted his crimes.
It must be difficult for both families involved especially Danielle’s who still have no proper closure as they still do not know where their daughters body is.
I went into this book in a bit of a slump so struggled to make it half way, once I passed the 50% mark I flew through the rest of the book and although it was an upsetting and difficult read I would recommend this book to people who enjoy true crime.
September 21, 2023
There are times where I really wished Goodreads would do half star rating increments. This would be a 3.5
Well written, well narrated, a horrible topic of course. But it calls to my fascination with personalities and behaviours that sit outside the norm; dysfunctional families and how people survive (or not); what drives people to do the unthinkable... Yes, it jumps all over the place in time and place (that didn't bother me, I didn't find it hard to keep up), yes the answers aren't all there, its not all wrapped up in a nice neat bow (that's what makes it real). I do admire the courage it must have taken to dig into memories, to question family behaviours, to challenge family protocol as would have been required to write this. Enjoyable, no, but a good read/listen.
via audible.
Well written, well narrated, a horrible topic of course. But it calls to my fascination with personalities and behaviours that sit outside the norm; dysfunctional families and how people survive (or not); what drives people to do the unthinkable... Yes, it jumps all over the place in time and place (that didn't bother me, I didn't find it hard to keep up), yes the answers aren't all there, its not all wrapped up in a nice neat bow (that's what makes it real). I do admire the courage it must have taken to dig into memories, to question family behaviours, to challenge family protocol as would have been required to write this. Enjoyable, no, but a good read/listen.
via audible.
July 14, 2025
A 14 year old girl is groomed by her uncle for sexual exploitation. At some point in the process he kills her and hides her body, never revealing its whereabouts, The killer's brother has written this memoir of his own life and his brother's, in an attempt to understand what turned Stuart into a killer, and why Alix experienced the same upbringing and though he was a flawed individuals most of us are, he was not a pedophile or a murderer. Both brothers were brutally beaten by their alcoholic father. While the book is as much about Alix as about Stuart, Alix's life is interesting and does not seem as futile and bitter as his brother's.
January 3, 2024
The book was lacking something. I enjoyed the read but had a hard time finishing it. I really appreciated the background on their upbringing and the personality growth with the brothers, it really pointed a picture of Stuart becoming a murderer. I will say I wish the book spent more time on his brother’s story with the author rather than a lot of details on the authors career and moving about. Still it was a well written book and a good one to add to the collection
May 6, 2022
3.5 stars.
This was an interesting read and gave good insight into what kind of childhood both boys had.
I felt it was quite Frank and honest but for me it didn't go deep enough.
I would recommend this book and I am glad I have read it but I feel its left me with more questions than answers around How the boy became the murderer.
This was an interesting read and gave good insight into what kind of childhood both boys had.
I felt it was quite Frank and honest but for me it didn't go deep enough.
I would recommend this book and I am glad I have read it but I feel its left me with more questions than answers around How the boy became the murderer.
April 30, 2022
This book is so insightful. Listening to the background and the story behind it. It’s sad too to think that something has caused this man to commit this awful crime. But to also then leave his family sorting the issues.
So brave sharing your story.
So brave sharing your story.
May 20, 2023
Took me longer than usual to read a book. W
It was interesting to understand the feelings of Alix Sharkey about his killer brother. I just felt it lacked something. The chapters going back and forward back and forward in time did not make it enjoyable to read.
It was interesting to understand the feelings of Alix Sharkey about his killer brother. I just felt it lacked something. The chapters going back and forward back and forward in time did not make it enjoyable to read.
September 4, 2022
I love the true crime books that give you a glimpse of the twisted psychology of the killer in question. This is one such book.
I hope Mr Sharkey writes more books. I love his writing style.
I hope Mr Sharkey writes more books. I love his writing style.
June 26, 2023
Fascinating insight into the relationship between 2 brothers when one of them turned out to be a child molester and murderer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2023
This was such a sad book but so interesting. It was great to read the lead up to this terrible event and how childhood impacted this tragedy.
Read
May 17, 2024Interesting book, had done it as an audiobook, was hoping for a bit more reflection on the subject matter
dnf
October 31, 2024DNF at 47%
June 1, 2025
Such a shocking and sad story.
July 7, 2023
I was really excited to read this book but I found it hard to get into and finish. It took me a while to process what I had read. It didn’t really describe Alix Sharkey’s brother but more on his feeling towards his brother and felt there was some parts that didn’t really need to be in the book.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews