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Goodbye, Dearest Holly
On 4 August 2002 Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman disappeared. As their families, the police, and local community searched for them, the nation watched in horrified suspense. Almost two weeks after Holly and Jessica went missing, their bodies were found. Two days later Ian Huntley was charged with their murders.
In the terrible weeks that followed, Holly's father Kevin started to make notes, fearful that he might forget important details. 'Goodbye, Dearest Holly' tells the story of the nightmare that began when it became clear that Holly and Jessica were missing, through the long investigation and its aftermath.
An unflinching tale of surviving tragedy, Kevin's diaries tell of battles with the media, police bureaucracy and the legal system; they also include a gripping account of the trial and convictions of Huntley and Maxine Carr. Above all, 'Goodbye, Dearest Holly' is a loving act of fatherhood.
In the terrible weeks that followed, Holly's father Kevin started to make notes, fearful that he might forget important details. 'Goodbye, Dearest Holly' tells the story of the nightmare that began when it became clear that Holly and Jessica were missing, through the long investigation and its aftermath.
An unflinching tale of surviving tragedy, Kevin's diaries tell of battles with the media, police bureaucracy and the legal system; they also include a gripping account of the trial and convictions of Huntley and Maxine Carr. Above all, 'Goodbye, Dearest Holly' is a loving act of fatherhood.
277 pages, Hardcover
First published March 11, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
August 19, 2009
In the summer of 2002 in a small town in England, 2 ten year old girls vanished without a trace. Holly Well and Jessica Chapman's frantic families spent two tortuous weeks searching and praying for their daughters to come home, until their 2 little bodies were found murdered in a ditch a few miles from their homes.
This is a crime that stunned the UK and whipped the media into a frenzy, turning their heartbroken parents into public property while they grieved for thier little daughters. I remember it so well: I remember the shock and disbelief and the public anger against the two later convicted perpertrators.
Kevin Well, Holly's father has written a very frank and honest account of the hell that his family and friends descended into that day in August 2002. He tells us what it was like to live through the not knowing and the endless waiting and hoping and the grieg that he and his family suffered. He writes clearly and passionately without ever sensationalising this event any more than it needs to be. He doesn't give any unecessary gratuitous detail, just the facts and the feelings of himself and those around him. He is incredibly respectful of the Chapman family, who prefered to stay out of the media, and only ever mentions them when absolutely necessary and never once puts word into their mouths.
I didn't want to read this book when it first came out. Maybe because I didn't want to get caught up in the frenzy surrounding the crime, but 7 years later I finally felt I wanted to pick this book up. I'm glad I did. Kevin Wells and his family are still living through this, and it's important that we don't forget that.
This is a crime that stunned the UK and whipped the media into a frenzy, turning their heartbroken parents into public property while they grieved for thier little daughters. I remember it so well: I remember the shock and disbelief and the public anger against the two later convicted perpertrators.
Kevin Well, Holly's father has written a very frank and honest account of the hell that his family and friends descended into that day in August 2002. He tells us what it was like to live through the not knowing and the endless waiting and hoping and the grieg that he and his family suffered. He writes clearly and passionately without ever sensationalising this event any more than it needs to be. He doesn't give any unecessary gratuitous detail, just the facts and the feelings of himself and those around him. He is incredibly respectful of the Chapman family, who prefered to stay out of the media, and only ever mentions them when absolutely necessary and never once puts word into their mouths.
I didn't want to read this book when it first came out. Maybe because I didn't want to get caught up in the frenzy surrounding the crime, but 7 years later I finally felt I wanted to pick this book up. I'm glad I did. Kevin Wells and his family are still living through this, and it's important that we don't forget that.
November 3, 2025
Harrowing and courageous are words that spring to mind after reading this book.
Kevin Wells has done a magnificent job in paying tribute to his daughter who was taken from him in a gross act of cruelty. He pulls no punches in relating the events as they happened on a day-by-day basis.
The read brings many tears because the story is such a sad one but Kevin keeps it all together, on the page at least as he sometimes stuggles in everyday life to come to terms with the situation.
He relates the search, the arrests, the lead up to the trial and the trial itself and, as with many readers I imagine, he struggles to come to terms with how the law operates on occasions. but he does so and overall presents a vivid picture and a lasting tribute to a wonderful daughter.
Kevin Wells has done a magnificent job in paying tribute to his daughter who was taken from him in a gross act of cruelty. He pulls no punches in relating the events as they happened on a day-by-day basis.
The read brings many tears because the story is such a sad one but Kevin keeps it all together, on the page at least as he sometimes stuggles in everyday life to come to terms with the situation.
He relates the search, the arrests, the lead up to the trial and the trial itself and, as with many readers I imagine, he struggles to come to terms with how the law operates on occasions. but he does so and overall presents a vivid picture and a lasting tribute to a wonderful daughter.
September 24, 2017
Not easy to articulate thoughts for a review of this stunning account, 'Goodbye, Dearest Holly' by Kevin Wells. (2005)
From page one we are swept into the maelstrom, reading the hour by hour, almost minute by minute horrors as they unfold in this tragic murder case. From the moment Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman are discovered missing (4th August 2002) every heart rending development is documented, day by day, for the following month.
The ordeal continues through a further thirty months, enduring police investigations, media intrusions, an emotive service at Ely Cathedral, crank calls and the harrowing murder trial.
Kevin Wells and his family face the eternal void with the loss of his lovely daughter Holly, and clearly nothing can compensate, but he should gain some small satisfaction from these memoirs, a five star read, from someone who cleans windows.
What to make of the paranormal activity? The work of the spiritual mediums in this case is quite fascinating. When reading this book I noticed that I began on Kevin Wells' birthday and I also share my birth date with his wife Nicola.
From page one we are swept into the maelstrom, reading the hour by hour, almost minute by minute horrors as they unfold in this tragic murder case. From the moment Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman are discovered missing (4th August 2002) every heart rending development is documented, day by day, for the following month.
The ordeal continues through a further thirty months, enduring police investigations, media intrusions, an emotive service at Ely Cathedral, crank calls and the harrowing murder trial.
Kevin Wells and his family face the eternal void with the loss of his lovely daughter Holly, and clearly nothing can compensate, but he should gain some small satisfaction from these memoirs, a five star read, from someone who cleans windows.
What to make of the paranormal activity? The work of the spiritual mediums in this case is quite fascinating. When reading this book I noticed that I began on Kevin Wells' birthday and I also share my birth date with his wife Nicola.
April 16, 2020
Not my usual fare. Wife bought it for ten English pence from a charity shop and it got caught up in my 'to read' shelf somehow. That said, I enjoyed reading it, not because of the content (let's face it, who want's to fill their head with so much second-hand grief) but because it lays out the facts and emotions about the murder of two young girls so very well. I had to keep reminding myself that this is a factual account of the father of one of the girls and not a fictional story to be enjoyed and discarded at the end.
I feel uncomfortable writing any kind of review of such things and so I think I'll stop here.
Read it if you can remember that it's true and that real lives were ended and torn apart.
I feel uncomfortable writing any kind of review of such things and so I think I'll stop here.
Read it if you can remember that it's true and that real lives were ended and torn apart.
Read
May 31, 2013Rating feels inappropriate in this case, but given that Kevin Wells is a window-cleaner who'd never written a book in his life before this, it is an astounding piece of work, expressed in agonising but clear detail wherever he was permitted to do so. I am 6 years older than Holly, and was wrapped up in a family tragedy of my own towards the end of 2002, but I remember seeing the last photograph of Holly and Jessica all over the place. I remember the hunt, the desperation and despair that affected thousands of people who had never even met them. And here, it's documented both for those who didn't and with details the rest of us weren't privy to at the time. I cried several times while reading this.
March 13, 2014
This was a very difficult read but a very well written and honest account by one of the fathers of the girls, Kevin Wells. Although extremely heartbreaking, it was a most insightful account of their experience with the community, the police, police procedures, the media, the justice system and their own experience as a family unit, definitely a very thought provoking read, fair play to Kevin Wells for having the courage to write it and share his experience
April 14, 2011
Just finished reading the Dutch translation of Goodbye Dearest Holly.
This is the story written by the father of 10 year old Holly Wells. She and her also 10 year old friend Jessica Chapman were murdered by Ian Huntley on my Birthday in 2002.
This is a very good book. The author does not shy from showing his emotions, anger, sadness, his need to control to keep himself sane after his girl disappeared. He starts out by giving a day to day account of what he, his wife, son and family and friends had to go through from the day, August 4th 2002, the 2 girls disappeared,when their bodies were discovered on August 17, the funeral, the press, the cops and the lack of communication. He is very candid with his feelings and even manages to add a touch of humour. It is very hard to read especially when you are a parent cause this is a parent's worst nightmare but it is worth to read the authors very courageous telling of his story. Highly recommend. 4.5 stars.
This is the story written by the father of 10 year old Holly Wells. She and her also 10 year old friend Jessica Chapman were murdered by Ian Huntley on my Birthday in 2002.
This is a very good book. The author does not shy from showing his emotions, anger, sadness, his need to control to keep himself sane after his girl disappeared. He starts out by giving a day to day account of what he, his wife, son and family and friends had to go through from the day, August 4th 2002, the 2 girls disappeared,when their bodies were discovered on August 17, the funeral, the press, the cops and the lack of communication. He is very candid with his feelings and even manages to add a touch of humour. It is very hard to read especially when you are a parent cause this is a parent's worst nightmare but it is worth to read the authors very courageous telling of his story. Highly recommend. 4.5 stars.
January 5, 2015
On the 4th August 2002, Holly Wells and her friend Jessica Chapman disappeared from her home in Red House Gardens in Soham. In 2005 her father Kevin Wells published a book in memory of his daughter Holly and how he coped with her murder, the police investigations, the trial and the media. His book was updated with an additional chapter in 2012 to give his perspective on the 10 years following the death of Holly.
I am pleased that Kevin has updated his book as it makes for a fascinating read. I got an awful lot from reading this book because Kevin is very open and you get the full picture of how he coped with the disappearance and murder of his daughter Holly. The level of detail Kevin gives the reader is tremendous and the whole story is told strictly according to the timeline. There are no flashbacks in this book, which is one of my pet hates in regular crime thriller novels. Yet this is not a novel, it is a true story and is very raw. Kevin writes so clearly and I got so involved with his book that I had to consciously remember that this was not a novel but a true story.
With each chapter I learned more and more in the same way that Kevin did as everything was new and he did not know what was around the corner.
Goodbye Holly is a memorable book to read, I learned a lot about things that were not covered in the newspaper reports at the time. Kevin gives you the inside story which in places made me cry. Kevin is not a professional author, he is a window cleaner yet his writing quality is very high indeed and has a similar style to the popular British crime thriller author Peter James. Like in Peter’s novels, Goodbye Holly has lots of police procedure to inform the reader about the inner workings of the judicial system plus some paranormal experiences to make you wonder.
Throughout this book, Kevin keeps his perspective on things. He is not alone in his grief and misfortune because other parents who have lost a child contact him. Kevin tells the reader how his loss fits into the great scheme of things and how much genuine support he has received from the public. Goodbye Holly is a real eye opener and at the end I understood fully just what Kevin has gone through. I got so much out of this book which creates a valuable historical record of a crime that captured the hearts of our nation. Kevin’s book is so good and created such an impression upon me that I will vote it the top score of 5 stars. Goodbye Holly draws a line under the death of Holly and thankfully Kevin and Nicola’s marriage survived the trauma unlike the failed marriages of 98 per cent of couples who lose a child through murder.
I am pleased that Kevin has updated his book as it makes for a fascinating read. I got an awful lot from reading this book because Kevin is very open and you get the full picture of how he coped with the disappearance and murder of his daughter Holly. The level of detail Kevin gives the reader is tremendous and the whole story is told strictly according to the timeline. There are no flashbacks in this book, which is one of my pet hates in regular crime thriller novels. Yet this is not a novel, it is a true story and is very raw. Kevin writes so clearly and I got so involved with his book that I had to consciously remember that this was not a novel but a true story.
With each chapter I learned more and more in the same way that Kevin did as everything was new and he did not know what was around the corner.
Goodbye Holly is a memorable book to read, I learned a lot about things that were not covered in the newspaper reports at the time. Kevin gives you the inside story which in places made me cry. Kevin is not a professional author, he is a window cleaner yet his writing quality is very high indeed and has a similar style to the popular British crime thriller author Peter James. Like in Peter’s novels, Goodbye Holly has lots of police procedure to inform the reader about the inner workings of the judicial system plus some paranormal experiences to make you wonder.
Throughout this book, Kevin keeps his perspective on things. He is not alone in his grief and misfortune because other parents who have lost a child contact him. Kevin tells the reader how his loss fits into the great scheme of things and how much genuine support he has received from the public. Goodbye Holly is a real eye opener and at the end I understood fully just what Kevin has gone through. I got so much out of this book which creates a valuable historical record of a crime that captured the hearts of our nation. Kevin’s book is so good and created such an impression upon me that I will vote it the top score of 5 stars. Goodbye Holly draws a line under the death of Holly and thankfully Kevin and Nicola’s marriage survived the trauma unlike the failed marriages of 98 per cent of couples who lose a child through murder.
August 19, 2017
This is an extremely sad and difficult book to read and even though some 15 years have passed since the brutal and callous murder of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman the events still remain fresh in my mind. Who can ever forget that last picture of the two little girls wearing their Manchester United tops the clock behind them showing the time at 17.04. How could loving parents ever guess that within a matter of hours their two beautiful daughters would have their lives taken from them by the evil monster Ian Huntley. Kevin and Nicola were exemplary parents and had instilled in Holly the need to be always vigilant and aware when out on her own. No one could have anticipated that someone employed as a school caretaker and who together with his girlfriend, and teaching assistant, Maxine Carr, could oh so callously murder two such innocents. The sad fact is that it took such an evil event to happen before the laws concerning the vetting of individuals (especially those employed in the company of children) would be drastically overhauled. If the background of Huntley had been known and in particular his history of sexual relationships with minors he would never have found himself in the trusted position of school caretaker and so it follows that the lives of Holly and Jessica would have been spared and their date with destiny avoided on that warm summer evening in 2002.
The safeguarding vulnerable groups act 2004 was introduced following the Bichard inquiry into the Soham murders The Act introduced a ‘Vetting and Barring” scheme for people working with children, whereby a new independent safeguarding authority (‘ISA’) must maintain lists of people who are barred from certain kinds of work with children and adults. That list includes those who are convicted of, or admit to, certain specified criminal offences, including various sexual offences, and those involving violence or the mistreatment of children. Once barred, the restrictions on work last from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 10 years. One of the greatest failings of the police was their inability to retain, store and pass information to neighbouring forces and colleagues throughout the UK. If only the residents of Soham had been aware that Huntley had in the past been accused of rape and sexual assault ( a charge that was later dropped due to lack of evidence) then the events that unfolded in Soham need never have occurred and the families of Jessica and Holly would not have had their lives altered in such a sad and callous way.
The safeguarding vulnerable groups act 2004 was introduced following the Bichard inquiry into the Soham murders The Act introduced a ‘Vetting and Barring” scheme for people working with children, whereby a new independent safeguarding authority (‘ISA’) must maintain lists of people who are barred from certain kinds of work with children and adults. That list includes those who are convicted of, or admit to, certain specified criminal offences, including various sexual offences, and those involving violence or the mistreatment of children. Once barred, the restrictions on work last from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 10 years. One of the greatest failings of the police was their inability to retain, store and pass information to neighbouring forces and colleagues throughout the UK. If only the residents of Soham had been aware that Huntley had in the past been accused of rape and sexual assault ( a charge that was later dropped due to lack of evidence) then the events that unfolded in Soham need never have occurred and the families of Jessica and Holly would not have had their lives altered in such a sad and callous way.
February 10, 2014
Such a sad true crime story about two young girls that got murdered by a predatory paedophile.
Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. This book is written by Holly's father.
They were only ten years old and friends. They did a lot together, even dying.
On August 4 2002, they both disappeared, somewhere in England, only to be found two weeks later. Dead, burned, left in a ditch as if they were garbage. The perpetrator tried to get involved in the search and investigation of disappearance and later their murder. That happens more often, because such killers want to know what the police already have found out. He got arrested two days after the small girls were found. His name is Ian Bradley.
A very moving story, an insight in the grief of parents as well.
Definitely worth the read.
There is a follow up on this story.
Holly's dad has written a second book ten years after the murder of his daughter.
It's called Goodbye, Dearest Holly: ten years on
Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. This book is written by Holly's father.
They were only ten years old and friends. They did a lot together, even dying.
On August 4 2002, they both disappeared, somewhere in England, only to be found two weeks later. Dead, burned, left in a ditch as if they were garbage. The perpetrator tried to get involved in the search and investigation of disappearance and later their murder. That happens more often, because such killers want to know what the police already have found out. He got arrested two days after the small girls were found. His name is Ian Bradley.
A very moving story, an insight in the grief of parents as well.
Definitely worth the read.
There is a follow up on this story.
Holly's dad has written a second book ten years after the murder of his daughter.
It's called Goodbye, Dearest Holly: ten years on
April 19, 2020
I read a second-hand first edition of this book. I suspect it was a rushed publication and can only hope a decent proof reader (with a healthy contempt for overuse of the comma) was employed for the reprints.
Be prepared to cry. The Wells' family story is heartbreaking and you will feel so frustrated by the way 'the system' seems to work against them at every turn in their search for justice for Holly...keeping them in the dark and relegating them to 'also-rans' in the ranks of the important.
Kevin Wells writes with honesty and dignity and you feel for him when he quite rightly lets rip with a few well chosen expletives.
My one concern was the (understandable) tendency to put Holly on a pedestal over her big brother.
How did young Oliver feel when he read: "...we have lost the one individual capable of rising above the mediocrity which surrounded [them]?"
"Oh, cheers Dad!"
How I wish this book had not been necessary...but it should be mandatory reading for all Police Officers.
Be prepared to cry. The Wells' family story is heartbreaking and you will feel so frustrated by the way 'the system' seems to work against them at every turn in their search for justice for Holly...keeping them in the dark and relegating them to 'also-rans' in the ranks of the important.
Kevin Wells writes with honesty and dignity and you feel for him when he quite rightly lets rip with a few well chosen expletives.
My one concern was the (understandable) tendency to put Holly on a pedestal over her big brother.
How did young Oliver feel when he read: "...we have lost the one individual capable of rising above the mediocrity which surrounded [them]?"
"Oh, cheers Dad!"
How I wish this book had not been necessary...but it should be mandatory reading for all Police Officers.
March 6, 2016
I find it difficult to leave any sort of negative review for this book as it is by a father who has suffered the Almighty loss in terrible circumstances . I have read all books that have been published about the Soham murders. I read this book quite a few years ago and thought this book would be different with it being ten years on. There is just an added chapter at the end of the book. Its a harrowing read learning what these two little girls went through ...however the book itself can be very repetitive at times, I also struggled to understand why Holly's father would choose to write a book just as the trial was going ahead knowing this could affect the case , which luckily didn't
January 31, 2008
Such a sad thing when kids are taken by strangers, I liked this book because it was a complete account of the emotions and feelings that go with families as they go through such horrific trials. I was interested in this book because here in New Zealand we followed through the media the disappearence of Holly Wells and her friend Jessica Chapman through the early stages of their disappearence through to the final conclusion. To read the story from Holly's father's perspective made it an interesting read.
October 22, 2011
Heartbreaking yet brilliant. The horrendus crime committed against these two beautiful girls is described in suprising detail by Holly Wells' father, which must have taken such courage to do.
It highlites the evilness of Ian Huntleys crime and allows a rare view inside the workings of families who are victims of such crimes, how they cope, the impact of the liaison officer and police and also how they rebuild their lives.
Very upsetting at times, not only due to the actual offence but due to the raw, honest and descriptive writting of Kevin Wells.
It highlites the evilness of Ian Huntleys crime and allows a rare view inside the workings of families who are victims of such crimes, how they cope, the impact of the liaison officer and police and also how they rebuild their lives.
Very upsetting at times, not only due to the actual offence but due to the raw, honest and descriptive writting of Kevin Wells.
December 18, 2010
Very moving book which at times was difficult to read but I was drawn in by the workings of the police and the insight into how they deal with a kidnapping that became something that the world waited on the outcome of
April 19, 2012
Written by the father of Holly Wells - one of the two girls murdered in Soham by Huntley and Carr in 2002. This book is as you'd expect a tear jerker. It is very well written and gives a good insight into how the families were treated at the time.
July 29, 2012
Absolute Tragedy! I think this book was really well written, honest and personal. My heart goes out to the family's of Jessica and Holly I can't imagine the heartbreak they've endured. Very moving and a tear jerker.
March 11, 2014
A heart-breaking true account written by Holly's dad, regarding the murders of two friends and the way in which the family coped etc. It was so heart rendering that I had to put down as I couldn't read through my tears.
September 2, 2007
Very sad but worth reading :0(
January 25, 2008
Absolutely heartbreaking, although very interesting regarding the trial of Ian Huntley. Have read half the book already in just two days - kind of don't want to finish it.
August 7, 2016
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Debs
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Debs
January 15, 2011
Very interesting, but heartbreaking to read
Read
August 7, 2011very very sad, honestly written
April 16, 2012
Very poignant and well written. Just to the point and facts, no dramatisation in here.
Gives an insight into how the law works.
Gives an insight into how the law works.
July 1, 2012
A harrowing, but brilliant book.
August 9, 2012
An honest but harrowing account. Hard to read at times.
January 29, 2013
Emotional to read how a family moves on from such tragedy & extremely insightful as to how the police/legal system works..... A great read
May 27, 2013
Beautifully written and an incredible tribute to his beloved daughter
August 24, 2013
Heart rending is all I can say. Sleep tight Holly and Jessica x
September 15, 2013
upsetting,but interesting
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews