Letters to Sarah - A Child Lost Forever, A Mother's Grief and a Love That Will Never Die

by Sara Payne

'It has been seventeen years since you went missing, princess. It has been twenty-five years since you were born. There have been too many Christmases without you . . . 'In the summer of 2000, schoolgirl Sarah Payne went missing from a beach where she played with her siblings. The nation waited with her whole family as the search for the little girl touched the hearts of everyone in the country. After Sarah's body was found, abducted and murdered by convicted paedophile Roy Whiting, her mother, Sara, spoke of how she had survived those terrible times.Now, seventeen years later, Sara wants to tell the full story of how she coped then, and how she has survived. Through a series of letters to her beloved daughter, she takes the reader on a heart-breaking but uplifting journey through every parent's worst nightmare in a moving account of the ultimate emotional survival. It is a story for the little girl who was taken, but a reminder to us all that hope never dies – and love never ends.

Genres: True Crime

186 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 13, 2017

Reviews

[Charmaine Saliba · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a remarkable woman, Sara Payne is. Her life and the lives of her family was torn apart when her eight-year-old daughter Sarah was kidnapped and murdered. Through the years she had fought to protect other children by fighting to approve a new law were all paedophiles in the area will be known to the parents, known as Sarah’s law. This book will remain with me forever.

[Jemimah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a phenomenal woman Sara Payne is. This book was a rollercoaster of emotions and she is so strong to share her story with everyone. This book not only tells Sara's story of how losing her daughter has affected her throughout life but it also informs on the laws surrounding child protection. It also begins a conversation about acknowledging a child when they tell you something about someone that may be hurting them. We must begin to help children to be brave and speak up about something that may be happening to them behind their parents back. Sarah's law has established a foundation for the protection of all children since her murder. Through the loss of Sarah, her mother has f#
ought to keep as many children as safe as possible so that no one else will face the same fate as Sarah. This book is so powerful, emotional, beautifully written and really changes your mindset about how short life really is and that no matter what you, mustn't forget how to live and love.

[Deity World · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an emotional read of personal letters to her daughter RIP

[John Pickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mother's Grief Stricken Quest

A heart wrenching story every mother should read. The thought of your child suffering rips your heart and soul out

[Foxy ✨️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the story a harrowing one however, about halfway through, the story focused elsewhere and I'd almost lost interest towards the end.

[Mrs S Ruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book never to be forgotten

Hauntingly honest a mother's story of how her life has been torn apart by the murder of her little girl. How she fought for other children and for families voices to be heard. Her own personal pain and that of her children as they fought to be recognised and the pain of het marriage breakup and her stroke. A lady full of determination and courage.

[Nicole Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hugely moving and emotional, and definitely not what I expected. Reading about the intricate emotions after losing a child was so devastating, but the book has so many positives about Sara’s achievements in loving memory of Sarah.

[Kellen Foord · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very emotional read about a little girl, taken far too soon. A mother who turned a tragedy in to something to help thousands of children, Sarah's Law is used nation wide to help keep our children safe, it all started with one little girl. Gone but never forgotten 👼

[Tracey Hewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing woman.

[teleri · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.

i just couldn’t get on with the mothers writing style, it felt so bizarre.

[steph]

i don't even. how do I rate this i simply can't

[sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good haven’t read a book this quickly in a long while .

[Kayleigh Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sad book about a little girl who should still be here and letters from her mum telling her what is happening. Very sad, was crying when reading this book.

[Caroline Foster-Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Sara (probs won't read this but still feels right to address this to you), Thank you for making such an impactful law out of one of the worst things that could happen to a family. Thank you for being so blunt and honest in this book it has opened my eyes even more to how people and myself need to learn to not pile our emotions and thoughts on to others. I am so sorry that people said things like 'you look like that Sara Payne woman' to you. Wtf did they think was going to come of that comment? The audacity and inability to realise the gravity of what they've said is just gobsmacking. Well done for looking after yourself in more recent years, it doesnt take away any of the hard work or love you have given and still give. I wish you and your family all the best in having that happiness and love you all deserve. Fingers crossed for safer and more aware world x