Innocent: The True Story of Siblings Struggling to Survive

Innocent

by Cathy Glass

Innocent is the shocking true story of little Molly and Kit, siblings, aged 3 years and 18 months, who are brought into care as an emergency after suffering non-accidental injuries.

Aneta and Filip, the children’s parents, are distraught when their children are taken into care. Aneta maintains she is innocent of harming them, while Filip appears bewildered and out of his depth. It’s true the family has never come to the attention of the social services before and little Kit and Molly appear to have been well looked after, but Kit has a broken arm and bruises on his face. Could it be they were a result of a genuine accident as Aneta is claiming? Both children become sick with a mysterious illness while, experienced foster carer, Cathy, is looking after them. Very worried, she asks for more hospital tests to be done. They’ve already had a lot. When Cathy’s daughter, Lucy, becomes ill too she believes she has found the cause of Kit and Molly’s illness and the parents aren’t to blame. However, nothing could be further from the truth and what comes to light is far more sinister and shocking.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Fostering, Audiobook, Abuse, Biography, Adult

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 5, 2019

About the author

Cathy Glass is a bestselling British author, freelance writer and foster carer.
Her work is strongly identified with both the True Life Stories and Inspirational Memoirs genres, and she has also written a parenting guide to bringing up children, Happy Kids, and a novel, The Girl in the Mirror, based on a true story.
Glass has worked as a foster career for more than 20 years, during which time she has fostered more than 50 children. Her fostering memoirs tell the stories of some of the children who came in to her care, many of whom had suffered abuse.
The first title, Damaged, was number 1 in the Sunday Times bestsellers charts in hardback and paperback. Her next three titles, Hidden, Cut and The Saddest Girl in the World, were similarly successful, all reaching the bestseller charts.
The name "Cathy Glass" is a pseudonym for author Lisa Stone.

Reviews

[C. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually like Cathy Glass's books, but this one was too transparent from the beginning and thus didn't hold much interest for me.
It was obvious from the beginning that the reason the children were ill so frequently was because the mother suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy (or FDIA), and I wondered why no one had picked up on it earlier.

The ending saddened me as a psychiatric illness cannot be cured that quickly and I'm not sure if the children were actually safe being returned to their parents .

I was really looking forward to this but was gravely disappointed when I finally read it.

Audiobook: DeNica Fairman does a good job narrating the book as she has done with all of Glass's previous books.

[Erica⭐ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually figured out what was going on almost right away- why the children were always getting sick, even at Cathy’s house, and I picked up on the subtle clues, things that were just casually mentioned. I was very surprised that Cathy wasn’t immediately aware of what was really going on, as it was the very first thing I thought of. This was an excellent book, with a very disturbing story. The way Aneta and Filip treated Cathy at the very end was disgusting, and it made me question whether or not everything else they claimed was actually true, or, if their lawyer was just that good. Especially Filip, who I actually believed was genuinely a decent person, but not after what happened at the end. I wonder if he was just as cold and calculating and manipulative all along.

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio version.

A true story about Molly and Kit who were put into foster care as a result of suspected non accidental injuries.

A distressing story. Those poor kids.

After a short time the mother was well enough to…… I’m sorry but you can’t fix a mental illness that quick.

A very sad ending.

For anyone who has read this story you can go to Cathy’s Website for an update on how the children are doing.

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Innocent

This book really upset me at the way Cathy was treated by the parents heartbreaking and I only hope the judge made the right decision but I've got my doubts. Those children shouldn't of been returned to there parents .Cathy and Tess both had doubts ĺ think it was all down to the solicitor the parents hired .5 STARS. This book didn't have the happy ending it should of had .

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathy Glass is amazing at how she writes all her books and this one is heartbreaking and heartwarming to and will the truth come out and will the children be safe or not. Cathy is a remarkable lady and love reading all her different stories and this is worth far more than five stars.
Cathy gets a phone call to urgently take in a brother and a sister. There is kit is 18 months and has a broken arm and they are worried that both him and his sister Molly who is 3 are always being sick and so withdrawn and scared as always being sick. The parents say they have done nothing wrong but can social service prove this or are they wrong. The truth will come out and how will the children change while with Cathy.
Fantastic read.

[JanieH · Rating 2 out of 5]

Warning... review contains spoilers. Rating actually 1.5

This is my first (and probably last) Cathy Glass book. Her series came recommended to me from a friend and I was able to get this title as a 1.99 Kindle deal so I took a chance.

I was able to figure out that the cause of the children being I'll almost immediately. The clues that it was Munchausen by Proxy (FDIA) were very obvious. I find it hard to believe that no one caring for these 2 little ones could not figure it out more quickly.

The writing was too stilted and some of it felt contrived.

I am told I should try another one of her books, but I think I will pass for now.

[helwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and beautiful like all her books. Love them all. Kit and Molly soundso adorable and I really felt for them and for Cathy every step of the way. I’d heard of FDIA Before though it was called something different, however it was crazy to read about two young children experiencing it in real life. This book made me feel every type of emotion (happiness, sadness, frustration, indignation, love/pride, anger) - the mark of an awesome writer. Keep it up your amazing!!!

[Karlie Teis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually can't believe the way this book ended. The last paragraph actually made me gasp out loud with horror. Those awful people to treat someone who cared and loved their children was heartbreaking.

[Emmie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to admit, I wasn't that impressed by this book. It was written in a very detached way. I felt as if I was studying a case file

[Julie Haigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read-one of her best.

I've read quite a few of this author's fostering memoirs now-this was one of her best.

I pre-ordered this-but didn't read it as soon as it came out. I kept seeing comments in groups where people were wanting to discuss the happenings-and I avoided looking at them as I didn't want to spoil it for when I read it. I saved this book for the Christmas and New Year holiday-when I would be able to just sit and read and read, and be able to really get my teeth into it. I'm so glad I did. It was fantastic, intriguing, and shocking. One of her best books in a while, I think, and highly recommend it.

Two young children are removed from their parents' care, and come to stay with Cathy and her family. The case is very intriguing. I thought I had guessed what might be going on-due to reading a few medical and true crime memoirs, and seeing some true crime documentaries on the TV-but I really wasn't sure, and it kept me guessing, and totally engrossed. I read it in just a couple of days.

Cathy Glass usually puts updates on her site so I resisted peeking there until I'd finished the book. Some people who'd read the book had said things about the ending. I suppose, as it's real life-we don't always get the ideal ending, everything rosy etc. I thought I'd see when I got to that bit. That's what made it totally unpredictable and involving. I did look on the author's website afterwards, and she has put a bit of update information, so I think it's a must to take a look there to complete the reading experience.

A great read.

[Ian Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another really good book by this author, I have to say i was concerned about the condition that the mother had. I agree it's good that she realised she'd been in the wrong and did something about it. However this is a serious condition and I would question weather it's a condition you can truely recover from. I really hope in this case that the write choice was made and that these children will be ok.

[Steph💕 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always feels weird giving star reviews to these books because they’re memoirs, they’re true stories, so it feels weird to rate it. I don’t even know how to write a written review for this 😅
It was a sad story, and I kinda guessed from the start what was happening but didn’t want to jump to conclusions. It’s so sad what happened to those kids.
The ending was so heartbreaking and unsatisfying! It’s horrible that she didn’t even get to say goodbye to the kids she’d fostered for months :( that must have been awful.
Can’t believe how ungrateful the parents were. I get they’d been through a lot but they could have been a bit nicer, and at least allowed a goodbye, jeez.

[Lee Loomis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly this book is a log that contains multiple depictions of two children and the visits by the biological parents under controlled conditions. It presents a feeble mystery early on but labors for most of the book in a dessert of weak dialog which is quite boring. I plowed through it in search of a twist or some glimmer of intrigue. Unfortunately, it never happened. The story as told deserved about one-third of the ink that was used.

[Bree · Rating 1 out of 5]

Listened to the audio book from Audible. Not so much a novel as a play by play of the minutiae of fostering these children and a description of how the foster care system works. Sorry to say it’s tedious and predictable. The lead character is given no depth or complexity and the narrator added to the lack of complexity. I’d be reluctant to read another novel from Cathy Glass.

[Dan Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous story of courage by this wonderful family! Despite having a sense of where the story was going...I couldn’t put it down!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shocking, with a heartbreaking ending.

[Meg Hoodcamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully written account of a loving foster career and two children she cared for. Loved this book. Cathy lets us peek into the world of foster care and also family struggles.

[LindaL · Rating 2 out of 5]

How can nonfiction seem formulaic?

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another moving memoir from one of my favourites - Cathy Glass. Here we meet siblings, 3 year old Molly and 18 month old Kit. Both are bought to Cathy after it’s discovered that the children have been hospitalised due to suspicious illnesses and injuries many, many times. The mother is suspected. As always with Cathys books, this was well told and the level of detail was really useful in determining what these poor children had been through. I really felt for Cathy at the ending too.

[Sarah Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t my usual type of book but I found that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It gave me an insight into the great work that foster carers do. I have some more of Cathy Glass’ books and I look forward to reading them

[Victoria White · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Take a shot every time she says ‘Food diary’!!
I like that these stories are true.
The writing is incredibly repetitive but it’s easy to read.
The ending of this story was tough. It feels unfinished which I guess it did for the writer herself, too.

[Tumhara Sar · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very captivating and well written book.

[Naaz]

Unrated due to subject matter.

[Maryshell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Excellent Read by Cathy Glass

Cathy Glass is one of my absolute all-time favorite authors. I have every one of her books, & have read most of them twice. In this book, I actually figured out what was going on almost right away- why the children were always getting sick, even at Cathy’s house, and I picked up on the subtle clues, things that were just casually mentioned. I was very surprised that Cathy wasn’t immediately aware of what was really going on, as it was the very first thing I thought of. This was an excellent book, with a very disturbing story. The way Aneta and Filip treated Cathy at the very end was disgusting, and it made me question whether or not everything else they claimed was actually true, or, if their lawyer was just that good. Especially Filip, who I actually believed was genuinely a decent person, but not after what happened at the end. I wonder if he was just as cold and calculating and manipulative all along.

[Mrs. Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Innocent is the third book of Cathy Glass’s that I’ve read, enough, surely, to make up my mind about her work in general, so here it is:

⬇️ Glass is an adequate writer, not someone you’d look to for a polished phrase.
Either she or her writing or her editor projects an image that’s just not believable. She utters virtually no criticism of anybody (with the exception of her scummy ex-husband) even though she obviously has to deal with unreasonable and even obstructive people regularly.

⬆️ The cases she describes are genuinely difficult. There are literally no easy or obvious answers, and people’s lives at stake. Foster care is not a “solution.” My own observation is that very few foster children end up in the kind of home Glass provides - note that the the histories she recounts usually include at least one prior very bad experience with foster care.

As for this particular book, Innocent, as others have noted the diagnosis of the “mysterious” illness plaguing these two toddlers is obvious long before the Child Protection system catches on. One has to believe that for plot/drama reasons the timeline in this account was at least partially fictional. That said, I recommend the book, even for people like me who would likely reject it out of hand. Try it. It might prove surprisingly interesting.

[Laura C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Cathy Glass and I really enjoyed it. It’s well written and read like a story. I like the way she added information regarding rules for foster carers as they were required throughout the book rather than a full explanation at the beginning.

I did find Cathy to be very naive even though she has over 20 years of experience of being a foster carer. Otherwise it could be that she didn’t want to seem like she is quick to judge. I notice that she mostly seems to be patient with the children and manages to say the right thing whereas the parents don’t. I feel that’s a little biased. I feel she has only written about her positives while omitting any negatives.

The book ended very abruptly and unfortunately felt unfinished but I understand it’s unfinished for Cathy as well. I’m not sure if this will happen with most of her books but I look forward to finding out.

[Sofia Ophelia 🍉 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this in one sitting! After doing so, I rushed onto Cathy’s website to see the updates on the foster children, Molly and Kit. In this particular (real life!) account, I feel bad not only for the poor children but for Cathy too. The hostile and cold behaviour from the parents (particularly at the end and with the mother, Aneta) was completely uncalled for. I was rooting for the children to stay with Cathy. My theory is that the father (Filip) is under the influence of his wife Aneta and she told him to get the kids back living with them and that’ll be that. No contact, no gratitude, nothing to Cathy. I was disappointed in him, for he seemed decent, but I guess he was plotting it all with his wife. God knows. The ending was utterly heartbreaking for a reader, so I can’t imagine what Cathy went through.

[Me · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually like a read of a Cathy Glass book. They are usually and interesting and highly detailed book. This particular book however did fall short of my expectations. It was quite clear from early on this was a case of FDIA, and even more transparent that the mother was continuing to poison the children through the drinks she was giving them at contact. The entire book read as rushed, with little detail provided and chucks of time just skipped over. The ending was very anticlimactic and boring. To be blunt this read more like a blunt, first attempt at fiction than the usual heart rendering tale I’d expect from Cathy Glass.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself very interested in these foster care stories. Gonna read more and more of Cathy Glass's books!

I just felt like the book could be a little more concise, I imagine it would be as rich if it was about 1/3 shortened in length, with some trivial details removed.

I kind of knew what was going on before Cathy did, I thought it was pretty obvious what/who the cultprit was from quite early on. Maybe I have read about this Munchausen syndrome by proxy not long before. I felt for Cathy at the end of the book... the heartless goodbye was uncalled for.

Anyway, it was an engaging good read. Have enjoyed the book tremendously.

[Rebecca Drewe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sad but moving story from Cathy Glass. Detailing the story of 2 children who develop mystery illnesses and non-accidental injuries. It was clear from the beginning that the parents were involved in harming these children and that rightfully they had been put into foster care. I always enjoy Cathy Glass’ books although the ending of this one was frustrating. I wanted to know whether the children safe going back to their parents? I suppose the book gives a realistic idea of how a foster parent feels when children are moved on.