You'll Never See Daylight Again

by Michaella McCollum

The gritty prison memoir of Michaella McCollum, one half of the infamous 'Peru Two', imprisoned in a Peruvian jail for attempting to smuggle 11kg of cocaine from Peru to Madrid in August 2013. She was just a regular girl, spending the summer working at a bar in Ibiza, until she was approached by a man who asked her if she'd like to make some quick, easy money...and it would change her life forever. This is the truth of her time in prison, told through her own diaries and letters to her mother, family and friends, recounting tales of vicious guards, psychotic inmates and horrendous prison conditions.A brilliantly affecting tale of a nave young girl who starts out in the Ibiza party scene and comes of age in the dark heart of Peru, before finally emerging into the sun a stronger, more confident, mature young woman.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime, Audiobook, Biography, True Crime

Paperback

Published June 24, 2021

Reviews

[Forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stupidity leads to suffering.

I really enjoyed this book and the author did a fantastic job. The story is about, Michaella a young Irish woman who, along with another girl, gets herself entangled with a few degenerate people involved in the international trade of cocaine as a drug mule attempting to transport the drug to Europe. She ends up being arrested and imprisoned in Peru. The story is similar to 'Orange is the New Black" (that book was awful), yet Michaella's experience is obviously far more troubling, terrifying, and yet she doesn't pity herself and blame the system and prison guards nearly to the extent the other author did, even though she had every good reason to do so.

Michaella provides great detail of what prison life is like in Peru, she blames herself for her predicament and seems to be grateful and positive despite the horrors she faced in Peruvian prison.

[Guy Strangways · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting read to the follow up documentary that was aired on BBC several years ago and shows the dangers of getting into drug smuggling across the globe.

[Mariah DS · Rating 5 out of 5]

After watching the documentary on BBC, I was SO invested in MM’s story, I needed more!! This book gave me all the details I was craving. MM is truly incredible, I felt everything she was feeling through her words. She went through a truly traumatic experience but she got through it and totally turned her life around. I don’t even know her but I feel like I do and I just hope she is at peace and has found true happiness in her life. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an interesting read but i felt that she never took responsibility for her actions, she knew what she was getting into but it seemed like it was always someone else's fault.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting memories by Michaella who was one half of the infamous Peru Two. She describes her early life as one that she can't wait to escape. Like many others before her, heads to Ibiza aged 19 for a wild summer. Working in bars, taking drugs and boozing was the norm for her during those weeks, until she met a man with a proposal; smuggle a package to Barcelona and you'll be 5 grand richer.

Michaella acknowledges that she knew what she was smuggling but that she thought Peru was in Spain! I'm not convinced that part is true but whatever, the outcome was she was caught and sentenced to years on squalid conditions in maximum security in a Peruvian jail.

I have to admit to having some admiration for her in what she did ; she learnt the language, kept our of trouble, did classes, had therapy and helped other women in prison. She ended up being voted a delegate in prison, something like a prisoner representative. She helped to get clean water and was in a position of responsibility. She never gave up hope of an early release and she showed determination to achieve that. She had her own business in prison, doing hair and nails.
She did eventually secure an early release. The book gives a good insight into what it's really like to be held in an inhumane environment, bring shame on your family and run the gauntlet of the media.
A very interesting read, I recommend.

[Anita Horan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am from Australia and had not heard of this case, so was interested when I saw it on Audible.

An interesting journey of a young woman who was enjoying the partying and drug scene, having fun with like minded people. But then she was sucked into the vortex of the bad and dangerous aspects of that lifestyle. She made a very bad decision that set her on a journey that very quickly escalated out of control and climaxed with her being arrested with kilos of drugs in her suitcase in a very dangerous country.

It was interesting to read her experience in prison, the challenges that needed navigating and the disturbing behaviour she witnessed. She was no longer a bystander in her situation and was fully invested in her surroundings and navigating her way to freedom.

To me it is a lesson in not making decisions lightly, even if you are in a fun setting, not trusting people who ask a favour in return for something, and the grief we can cause our loved ones by our lifestyle.

Michaela seems to have learnt much from her experience and I hope she lives a long happy life.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no expectations coming into this book so was pleasantly surprised. Listening on audio definitely helped I would say. I did find the insight into life in the Peruvian jail interesting, as well as the politics of the legal system and among inmates. It will certainly help put people off attempting to smuggle drugs.

While Michaella is very upfront about what happens when you’re caught, I would have loved for her to acknowledge the impact that those drugs would have had on society if she wasn’t caught and they’d have hit the streets. I think that would have helped the message hit home all the more.

[Sagar Acharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a ex holiday rep who lived in Ibiza for 2 years when this happened it didn't surprise me at all.
I must say I did enjoy reading this book cause yes she made a mistake but when your 19 and enjoying the life of Ibiza you can be naive and egotistical.
Having watched her documentaries last summer I picked this book for a better insight and I was not disappointed.Yes her jail life was hard in a foreign country but she learned courses and Spanish whilst inside and when she came out she's building her life and moving on.
Good luck to her in the future.

[Mick Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.the detailed minute of prison life from getting caught with the drugs to every day life surviving prison.it should be made reading in schools to point the misfortune that awaits anybody wanting to make money fast,while those at the top get away with it and let's not call our prison service in the UK or the judicial system,when openy corrupt countries are still back in the dark ages the author makes no excuses about what she did,but came out a better person.has nobody seen midnight express?well worth a read.

[Laura Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a difficult one to describe, well written and quite addictive but after half way I struggled to stay focused on it. I have no idea how someone could survive all of this but not all of it was believable, maybe because not many people can relate I don't know, but it was a good story well written about how your life can implode with one wrong decision, great read if your into prison drama.

[Rebecca Zinie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting read about the corruption in police in other countrys. This young lady never once takes responsibility for her actions. She never acknowledges what she put her family and others through. She is a very selfish human being. It surprises me that she has never committed another crime.

[Shane Colton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. Gave a great insight into the barbaric, political and corrupt prison and judicial system in a very far away land Peru. At times I felt the prison life chapters were a little repetitive and difficult to follow the various character and prisoner names introduced throughout. Still highly recommended for any biography/true crime lovers

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit when I first started this book I really judged her ! Her teen years were quite colourful to say the least …. I do feel tho that what she went through in prison shaped her as a person and she went through so much, it’s such a interesting and quite scary story of what a young girl went through when she made some wrong decisions 😢

[abby ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly found it so good, I watched the documentary and I was invested in the story but the program didn’t include any of the details. The book was amazing. It had all the details in between and it was so well written.

[Annie Maloney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very honest account of her time as part of the Peru 2 and navigating the justice system. The final chapters and acknowledgements left a lump in my throat. Would recommend as a page turner and summer read.

[Darren-lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - Pretty much what you'd expect...

[Shauna Persse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book!

[gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

High... 💥💥💥💥💥

Loved every part of the book. As much as its hard to read that you went through what you did and to come out a completely different person is amazing

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at life inside a Peruvian prison. I saw a documentary on netflix about Michaella, so I got her book.

[Gail murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written if only prisions in the UK could be like the ones in Peru crime would be less

[Rosie Whitmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! You get to learn much more about her time in prison and some of the things she had to go through. If you have seen the bbc series you should defo read!!

[Susan Rossiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an eye opener ! I listened to this on Spotify Audio.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened on audio. Gave an honest, interesting insight into life in a Peruvian prison.

[Annie Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read, a strong woman who turned her life around , really enjoyed this book

[Hannah Sutcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so good!! I’ve been a fan of shows like Banged up Abroad for years so I was excited to check this one out, and did not disappoint. Michaella McCollum along with her accomplice smuggle drugs from Spain to Peru and find themselves caught up in the Peruvian prison system. Violence is a big theme in this book beginning in McCollum’s life in Ireland to her years-long stint in a South American prison. At times it was anxiety-inducing and it’s unbelievable that she was able to survive for as long as she did. I appreciate that she takes responsibility for her actions and makes steps towards improving her life, including learning Spanish and becoming a prison hairstylist!
I’m really happy I chose to read this! Despite its dark and disturbing details, I found this book to be rather inspiring in that McCollum is clearly a positive and ambitious person who refuses to let her past define her future. Would definitely recommend checking this one out if you can stomach it!