Little Girls Lost: The Stories of Four of Australia's Most Horrific Child Murders, and Their Families' Fight for Justice

by Helen Reade

Presents the stories of the murders of four girls and their parents' battles to bring about changes in the law. This title focuses on the changes to NSW criminal laws after these murders.

16 b&w photos

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read books like these, I always struggle with the review. On one hand, we would all prefer crime books simply didn't exist, that people didn't go around and murder one another. We'd prefer to never hear one of these stories again. But the simple fact is these people do exist, and it's important that the families of the victims never get forgotten. Some people think it's a bit morbid, to watch or read things that are shocking or sad. I don't turn away because I feel it's disrespectful to forget.

This book covers the murders of four well known cases in Australia. Almost all of them I had read about before, or seen interviews on TV with the family members etc. It is well written, giving you an emotional stand point as well as exploring the legal side of things, and what changed because of these cases.

I always find it weird how some books seem to follow you, and this was the case here. I actually bought this at the Op Shop a few weeks back, then went on a shopping trip recently and bought a second copy without realizing I already owned it (I do that a lot, but never tell me I have too many books) I guess I was meant to read it. I'm glad I did, even if it will probably cause nightmares.

[~Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

this took me a long time to read which sucked because I don’t want to be reading about little girls being tortured and murdered for that long but I needed breaks from this book. It’s hard to read rightfully so. It should be hard for anyone to read. It was slow paced which sucked but it was also so informative on how law works.

The Australian law system sucks ass. Australia is seen as a safe place but that’s only because no one gets convicted.
I live in a popular city in New South Wales and everyone knows a rapist here. Rapists never get convicted here and there crimes are known but they’re allowed to walk free and PEOPLE ARE STILL FRIENDS WITH THEM. There’s barely any murder here, maybe one murder every 15 years? The last 5 years there has been 2 murders, one boy killed his girlfriend and lived with her body for a while. The other murder was just the other week, someone shot someone in their home. When murders happen it’s hard to process because of how safe our city is but it’s crazy knowing how bad the murders were in the 80s and 90s. Knowing I’ve lived 5 minutes away from some of these child killers is hard to process.

I get told I’m wrong for this and “have no morals” but I personally think that anyone who assaults a child should be locked up for LIFE or be sentenced to death. Child killers/abusers/sex offenders are the lowest of the low and deserve to be tortured for life. Let the other prisoners go HAM on them

[Bee Rehling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I played netball with ebony, and will never forget what it felt like to be so young and mourning the death of your friend.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched. Tough read.

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good, very sad read about the positive changes four families made in Australian law and social services after the system failed them completely in the wake of their children's murders. The author does a very good sense of filling you in on the children's lives rather than just their deaths.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely well written book on a very difficult subject. I found it to be 'easy' reading with a good mix of facts and also effects on family members. At the conclusion there is an update on changes to the laws in life sentencing together with a chronological list of events.

[Tess Carrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not for the fainthearted!
If you don't like cruelty at all then this is not for you.
However it is very well written and its purpose is to demonstrate how laws can be changed by us for us. In this case the influence that four families had on changing the laws relating to sentencing of perpetrators of murder.
I was worried that his book maintains the myth of stranger danger and in the last chapter she does mention that 75% of murder victims know their assailant.
Also it highlights how the law and society is still failing women and children who are overwhelming the victims.

[Sandy Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quite simply an extremely sad book. These children should be leading a happy life instead of being murdered to fulfil someone’s fantasy.

[Amy Burch · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Tracy Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book an interesting read. The author had done her research and she told the stories in a way that the reader could follow the stories

[javi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well-written, well-researched book about an incredibly difficult subject.

[Karen Mckew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad

A very hard book to read I had to put it down a couple of times. I feel extremely sad for the victims and their families. Thank you Helen for writing this book. It is one I will remember.

[Jen Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very sad book

[Sandra Mackintosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that touches your heart,enjoyed it throughly.

[Fi · Rating 3 out of 5]

sad, disturbing, important

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found the book very sad and disturbing but important to read. Well written and researched, good book.