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Howard Sounes
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Fred & Rose: The Full Story of Fred and Rose West and the Gloucester House of Horrors Kindle Edition

by Howard Sounes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 2,400 ratings
The definitive account of one of Britain’s most notorious killer couples, who loved, tortured, and slayed together as husband and wife.

Updated with a new afterword from the author on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the arrests

From the outside, 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester, England, looked as commonplace as the married couple who lived there. But in 1994, Fred and Rose West’s home would become infamous as a “house of horrors” when the remains of nine young women—many of them decapitated, dismembered, and showing evidence of sexual torture—were found interred under its cellar, bathroom floor, and garden. And this wasn’t the only burial ground: Fred’s first wife and nanny were unearthed miles away in a field, while his eight-year-old stepdaughter was found entombed under the Wests’ former residence.
 
Yet, for more than twenty years, the twosome maintained a façade of normalcy while abusing and murdering female boarders, hitchhikers, and members of their own family. Howard Sounes, who first broke the story about the Wests as a journalist and covered the murder trial, has written a comprehensive account of the case. Beginning with Fred and Rose’s bizarre childhoods, Sounes charts their lives and crimes in forensic detail, constructing a fascinating and frightening tale of a marriage soaked in blood. Indeed, the total number of the Wests’ victims may never be known.
 
A case reminiscent of the “Moors Murders” committed in the 1960s in Manchester by Myra Hindley and Ian Brady—as if Hindley and Brady had married and kept on killing for decades—Fred & Rose “is a story of obsessive love as well as obsessive murder” (The Times, London).
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  1. Print length
    411 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Open Road Media
  4. Publication date
    March 14, 2017
  5. File size
    6.7 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Howard Sounes (b. 1965) who was born in Welling, a suburb of South East London, was working as a news reporter for the Sunday Mirror in 1994 when he broke the first major stories in the case of Frederick and Rosemary West. Sounes went on to cover the West story extensively for the Sunday Mirror, then the Daily Mirror, up to and including Rose West’s trial in the autumn of 1995. Fred & Rose was first published shortly after Mrs. West’s conviction on ten counts of murder. A bestseller at the time, it has remained in print ever since, becoming one of the most widely read true crime books.

Shortly after Fred & Rose was published, Sounes resigned from the Daily Mirror to pursue a career as a full-time author. His subsequent books have included a biography of American writer Charles Bukowski (Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life); biographies of musicians Bob Dylan (Down the Highway), Paul McCartney (Fab), and Lou Reed (Notes from the Velvet Underground); a book about Amy Winehouse and other musicians who died at the age of twenty-seven (Amy, 27); a history of the arts in the 1970s (Seventies); and Heist: The True Story of the World’s Biggest Cash Robbery.

For more information visit www.howardsounes.com.
 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06WGXM9RW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media (March 14, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 14, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6.7 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 411 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 2,400 ratings

About the author

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Howard Sounes

Howard Sounes

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Books include This Woman, Fred & Rose and Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan.

www.howardsounes.com

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
2,400 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well worth reading and appreciate its detailed, well-researched content, particularly for forensic psychologists. The writing is easy to follow despite the difficult subject matter, and while the story keeps readers interested, some find it disturbing. Customers describe the book as not for the faint of heart, with one customer noting it puts fear into the reader. The reading pace receives mixed reactions.

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47 customers mention "Readability"47 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well worth reading and describe it as insanely good, with one customer noting it's the best written true crime novel they've read.

"...to ask to review this book as I found it to be one of the best written true crime novels I have read in sometime...." Read more

"First off, bravo to the author for the amazing amount of time, detail and dedication it took to write this book...." Read more

"A very good chronicle of the notorious deeds of Fred & Rose West. You will not believe some of the things these people did...." Read more

"...I would definately read it if you like true crime and a good read, you may need some tissues as it is a little heart breaking." Read more

41 customers mention "Detail"38 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's detailed and well-researched approach, with one customer noting how it effectively describes the crimes and consequences, while another highlights its extensive background information.

"...The facts are laid out explicitly but not sensationally making this an informative, well written, interesting account. I recommend this book." Read more

"First off, bravo to the author for the amazing amount of time, detail and dedication it took to write this book...." Read more

"...The book arrived 11 days earlier than expected, it is well written, detailed, and it even has actual pictures from the case...." Read more

"This is a very detail oriented book relating to the many horrific crimes of married couple Fred and Rose West...." Read more

37 customers mention "Writing quality"30 positive7 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting it is very well written and an easy read of a difficult subject.

"...out explicitly but not sensationally making this an informative, well written, interesting account. I recommend this book." Read more

"...The book arrived 11 days earlier than expected, it is well written, detailed, and it even has actual pictures from the case...." Read more

"The book was very well done considering the subject matter...." Read more

"More well-written than most true crime...." Read more

41 customers mention "Story quality"28 positive13 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the story quality of the book, with some finding it highly interesting and well-researched, while others describe it as disturbing.

"...but not sensationally making this an informative, well written, interesting account. I recommend this book." Read more

"...The British author does a superb job of telling the sordid saga of how these two wretched creatures were raised, how they met, and the carnage that..." Read more

"...The book is very overwhelming and you'll find yourself putting it down to just make it stop. I read the book and had to pray after...." Read more

"...I really like the recap at the end. It did help to wrap my mind around the events and fill in some of the blanks." Read more

26 customers mention "Spooky content"8 positive18 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's spooky content, with some finding it disturbing and gory, while others appreciate its honest portrayal of the appalling life and crimes.

"...If you are looking for a scary, disgusting, bloody, sickening rapes, and murder than this book is for you...." Read more

"Fred & Rose West.. This book is one of the scariest books I've ever read ever!!..." Read more

"As many true crime books I have read, this is one of the most horrendous books I have read...." Read more

"...The accounts of abuse from their children are heartbreaking they literally had no one to protect them, the system failed them greatly...." Read more

10 customers mention "Reading pace"4 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the reading pace of the book, with some finding it engaging while others describe it as boring.

"This book read's like fiction. So hard to believe that all of it really happened. If you like true crime then you must read this book." Read more

"...The facts are laid out explicitly but not sensationally making this an informative, well written, interesting account. I recommend this book." Read more

"...Sad, sad reading." Read more

"...But it was well-written, & not grisly just for the sake of being grisly...." Read more

9 customers mention "Heartbreak"0 positive9 negative

Customers describe the book as heartbreakingly disturbing, noting it is not suitable for the faint of heart.

"...crime and a good read, you may need some tissues as it is a little heart breaking." Read more

"Not for the faint of heart. It is very graphic, which I expected. I read it as a recommendation from a podcast...." Read more

"Sick, and not in the good way. Fascinating what humans are capable of. So unbelievable. Not the best crime book ever written but pretty good...." Read more

"Compelling could not. Put it down. Also heart retching, the mostt horrific story even worse than Jeffery Dahmer. Not for the weak" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Getta
    5.0 out of 5 stars A true Crime you must read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I have been waiting to ask to review this book as I found it to be one of the best written true crime novels I have read in sometime. Never thought I would say this but this author is as good as Ann Rule. if you are a reader of True Crime you would know there are few that can compare to her detail and research of true Crime. I wish every child and young girl could read some of these novels only to know and be aware there are some awful people, men and woman that will do them harm. So they may report and stand trial against these monsters and save others. This book does detail the torture and sexual abuse these young woman endured, but did not tell all. In Ann Rule books she certainly describes the crime scene in more detail and does not leave anything to the imagination. From
    statements which Fred must have made in his confessions to the police. I think there was much more the author could have told it readers. . I think this author told some of the details of the crime but left out the full details. It is such a shame that the police and social services did not take all the porn and prostitution in this house seriously enough when there were at least 4 children in the house. That an ex-wife and her child turned up missing and no one cared enough to report or the authorities thought so little of these people that no one looked into Fred and Rose and their awful house of horrors, so much there that even the average person would have seen that was discusting much less a legal authority or social service person., . All life Is precious and we need to train all that school in law enforcement and social services to remember that and treat them the same as any middle class suburban crime. Maybe when it is a crime against Children and woman we as a society should innst that for every male on the scene should be eqaaled b

    some but not all. Wish Ann could have written this book. It also shows how little many police stations and social services, paid by their citizens, here in the United States and Europe place so little on the poor people who report these crimes do not really do anything until it is a serial killer That the ones involved will not tell all. This book shows that this husband and wife killed not only their own wives and Children in the most awful ways imaginable, buried them in their home, and was reported on more than one time, with tons of porn and prostitution with no further search or action from polices or social services with at least 4 children in the home. The author only goes into some detail but not enough to disturb readers of other crime books. Worth the read but will leave you wondering what do pay our police for and social services for. Not traffic tickets or lazy social workers that do little to protect the children that not only come from sad homes, but end up in ever sadder homes. Maybe we should insist for every sexual crimes that involves woman and children that an equal female presence be on hand for all calls and investigation. Although this happened years ago I think some of the same lax investigations applies today as there have been many more after and more to come .
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Bella Foxx
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good neighbors, horrible parents
    Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Three things stand out to me in this book, (1) the utter depravity of Fred and Rose West; (2) the horrible failure of the Gloucestershire Social Services; and (3) the amazing tenacity of one Detective Constable Hazel Norma Savage, without her involvement, the bodies might never have been found.

    Fred and Rose were married for about 25 years, but the killing had started before, both had killed on their own, and then together, they knew each others secrets and covered up for each other. In the end, Fred tried to protect Rose, who when she felt he had failed her turned from him. He took his life and there are now questions that will never be answered. Such as, why were finger and toe bones missing, are there more victims and if so where are they buried? Rose maintains her innocence. These are things we may never find out.

    Howard Sounes is a journalist, he covered the story when it broke and the trial of Rosemary West, much of the information in this book is from that. There is also extensive background information and he includes speculation on what caused Fred and Rose to become such twisted individuals. He delivers accounts of what probably happened to the victims, based on the condition of the bodies and accounts from other victims that survived. One of the victims that lived is Fred and Rose’s daughters. Two of the victims that were killed were also their daughters.

    The facts are laid out explicitly but not sensationally making this an informative, well written, interesting account. I recommend this book.
    25 people found this helpful
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  • Rebecca Strange
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very unforgettable story and one I'll never forget
    Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    First off, bravo to the author for the amazing amount of time, detail and dedication it took to write this book. I was 15 when this was in the news headlines everywhere, but for some reason I didn't remember ever hearing about it. After reading this book, I know that I will never forget it. Being a mother of a 9 year old daughter, a lot was very difficult to get through, let alone comprehend how anyone could ever be able to do such things to another person - let alone a child. I doubt that these surviving children will ever read these reviews, but if they do, I hope they know that I will always remember them and their story. It's a shame that both parents weren't able to really face their fate.... But goodness knows they'll both pay for it all eternally.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • HP
    3.0 out of 5 stars Intense and scary
    Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    It's not the book's fault but my own. If you are looking for a scary, disgusting, bloody, sickening rapes, and murder than this book is for you. My friend and I were looking at crazy serial murder stories and I picked the West story. Since i live in America and I'm a young adult i never heard of Fred and Rose West. I did not do any earlier research on the story and ordered the book. The book is very overwhelming and you'll find yourself putting it down to just make it stop. I read the book and had to pray after. I even surrounded myself with sage smoke after to clean my energy.
    The book arrived 11 days earlier than expected, it is well written, detailed, and it even has actual pictures from the case.
    The reason i gave the book only 3 stars is because I personally don't like it. I've been having nightmares for 2 days.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Mr. Paul D. Watson
    5.0 out of 5 stars To the point, disturbing, interesting, but don’t try to understand why
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    You will need a strong stomach to read this. What you’ve heard in the news isn’t half of what happened, and this book does not shy away from the detail. You’ll also be shocked at how they got away with it for so long, and how easily they could have never been caught.

    Very well written and easy to read. With a case this complex, mentions of multiple victims, their family members and the Wests family members, it is surprisingly easy to follow.

    My only grumble is that the author tries to understand (not excuse) some of the Wests lude behaviour by making connections to their childhoods, and personally I don’t buy it.
    A lot of people have awful upbringings, a vast majority don’t end up as the Wests, including their own siblings.

    Again, the author is not in any way trying to excuse the Wests, but I’d rather they’d just included the details and not tried to draw any understanding from them. This is something I don’t think we’ll ever understand.
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  • C. Nielsen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in Germany on November 30, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    A well researched and well wriiten book about Fred and Rose West, the infamous husband and wife who murdered a dozen young women between them, including their own children.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in Australia on December 13, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This has to be the best true crime book that I have read. I could not put it down! I loved the writing style and how the true story unfolded. The book was written with no sensationalism added just the facts about these horrific crimes. I really felt that I knew the characters of Fred and Rose West which made the book even more shocking. Highly recommended.
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  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars must have
    Reviewed in Italy on September 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    this is a must have for everyone who is passionate by true crime.
    This is an incredible, dreadful story, very well written and full of interesting details
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  • Amazon Kunde
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gutes Buch, verstörende Story
    Reviewed in Germany on May 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Das Buch ist gut geschrieben. Es informiert auf unterhaltsame Weise und gibt Einblicke in die Gesellschaft der damaligen Zeit. Die Taten des Ehepaars West werden ausführlich beschrieben, was einer empfindsamen Seele Alpträume beschehren kann.
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