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Hunting Ghislaine
'A cracking read ... Ghislaine Maxwell's story has had endless column inches, but John gives such a great overview, and has mined so many sources that it still feels fresh and compelling.' Mail on Sunday
Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess who suffered a tragedy, the death of her father, a war hero, a philanthropist, a good man, in suspicious circumstances. She fled to New York where she made a new life with a brilliant mathematician. Her name is Ghislaine Maxwell and her lover was Jeffrey Epstein. Through Jeffrey, and her family name, Ghislaine became friends with some of the most powerful people on earth, ex-President Bill Clinton and President-to-be Donald Trump and the second son of the Queen of England, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.
But this is no fairy tale. HUNTING GHISLAINE sets out the other side of the story, and it's one of the darkest you will ever read.
Ghislaine's father, Robert Maxwell, was a sadist, a war criminal, a monster. His cruelty deformed Ghislaine Maxwell long before she met Jeffrey Epstein. Her one-time lover was convicted for being a paedophile. So Ghislaine's life has been spent serving not one monster but two.
In HUNTING GHISLAINE , legendary investigative journalist John Sweeney uncovers the truth behind
this fairy tale story in reverse.
Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess who suffered a tragedy, the death of her father, a war hero, a philanthropist, a good man, in suspicious circumstances. She fled to New York where she made a new life with a brilliant mathematician. Her name is Ghislaine Maxwell and her lover was Jeffrey Epstein. Through Jeffrey, and her family name, Ghislaine became friends with some of the most powerful people on earth, ex-President Bill Clinton and President-to-be Donald Trump and the second son of the Queen of England, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.
But this is no fairy tale. HUNTING GHISLAINE sets out the other side of the story, and it's one of the darkest you will ever read.
Ghislaine's father, Robert Maxwell, was a sadist, a war criminal, a monster. His cruelty deformed Ghislaine Maxwell long before she met Jeffrey Epstein. Her one-time lover was convicted for being a paedophile. So Ghislaine's life has been spent serving not one monster but two.
In HUNTING GHISLAINE , legendary investigative journalist John Sweeney uncovers the truth behind
this fairy tale story in reverse.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published March 14, 2023
31 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
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John Sweeney
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 30, 2026
changing it to 1 star because I have read better 2 star books than this.
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I would recommend anyone who has an interest in knowing more about this case and those related to it to watch the Netflix documentary - or maybe some other book that I am not aware of. This book "ain't it".
The title is misleading, as there is no "hunting" involved. A big portion of the book is on Ghislaine's father, which is only interesting if you want to engage in a weird pocked diagnosis - which this author does multiple times. "Oh, her father was a monster" (and then goes on to mostly talk about his appearance) "oh, she was the daughter of a narcissist and so her personality was shaped by this", "oh, she had an interest in sex so she might've been autistic, and her father too!" (?????). Of course, all these are not actual quotes, but this is basically the gist of it.
This book was not an attempt at an unbiased or journalistic account. This was as dramatised as one of those supermarket magazines or tabloids. There was only a regurgitation of information aside from this surface-level drama, which I think is almost disrespectful to the actual importance of this case. I'm giving this 2 stars only because there are relevant aspects to this story, even if they have been already mentioned in other, more appropriate and relevant mediums.
---
I would recommend anyone who has an interest in knowing more about this case and those related to it to watch the Netflix documentary - or maybe some other book that I am not aware of. This book "ain't it".
The title is misleading, as there is no "hunting" involved. A big portion of the book is on Ghislaine's father, which is only interesting if you want to engage in a weird pocked diagnosis - which this author does multiple times. "Oh, her father was a monster" (and then goes on to mostly talk about his appearance) "oh, she was the daughter of a narcissist and so her personality was shaped by this", "oh, she had an interest in sex so she might've been autistic, and her father too!" (?????). Of course, all these are not actual quotes, but this is basically the gist of it.
This book was not an attempt at an unbiased or journalistic account. This was as dramatised as one of those supermarket magazines or tabloids. There was only a regurgitation of information aside from this surface-level drama, which I think is almost disrespectful to the actual importance of this case. I'm giving this 2 stars only because there are relevant aspects to this story, even if they have been already mentioned in other, more appropriate and relevant mediums.
August 22, 2024
The source material is inherently interesting, morbidly so. However, Sweeney's supposed Hunt, not so much! Nor is it a great introduction to the Epstein saga itself.
Simply put, he over-inserted himself into the narrative, often leaving little to no room for the reader to reach their own conclusions. It's also bloated with random and quite often irrelevant quotes and hot-takes, including someone calling him a fat c*nt 😭. Sweeney, for the life of him, cannot pass on a name drop or a personal plug—I lost track of the sheer number of times he mentions his other (UNRELATED) projects, including his book on Belarus called "Big Daddy".
He also loves playing the psychiatrist, frankly, he should stick to journalism. He diagnoses Ghislaine along with the rest of her family with autism. Ghislaine for her "sexual deviance" and issues with anorexia, her brother because he's good at maths and socially awkward (I can't even tell?), and her dad due to his eating disorder. 🤡
I'll cut him some slack for the last few chapters that documented Ghislaine's trial. They were fairly original, and I didn't mind hearing his personal observations, especially since he attended it himself. But not a fan of the rest, sozzie!
Simply put, he over-inserted himself into the narrative, often leaving little to no room for the reader to reach their own conclusions. It's also bloated with random and quite often irrelevant quotes and hot-takes, including someone calling him a fat c*nt 😭. Sweeney, for the life of him, cannot pass on a name drop or a personal plug—I lost track of the sheer number of times he mentions his other (UNRELATED) projects, including his book on Belarus called "Big Daddy".
He also loves playing the psychiatrist, frankly, he should stick to journalism. He diagnoses Ghislaine along with the rest of her family with autism. Ghislaine for her "sexual deviance" and issues with anorexia, her brother because he's good at maths and socially awkward (I can't even tell?), and her dad due to his eating disorder. 🤡
I'll cut him some slack for the last few chapters that documented Ghislaine's trial. They were fairly original, and I didn't mind hearing his personal observations, especially since he attended it himself. But not a fan of the rest, sozzie!
November 9, 2022
Copy received from Hachette Australia for an honest review
This is not an easy book to read (the content, not the writing). It took me over a week of picking it up and putting it down to get through it.
I knew Ghislaine Maxwell was a monster, but just how much of a monster I did not know.
This is a heartbreaking, and sickening tale, and I can't help but be so proud of the women who spoke out, who were vilified for so long. I can not even imagine the toll the past 30 years have taken on these now women.
John Sweeney delves behind the media stories to to give us the Ghislaine Maxwell from birth to her incarceration (yay!). And yes, behind the spoiled rich girl, her upbringing was horrible and abusive, and if she had grown to be a different kind of woman you would feel sympathy for her. But that is not who she is and she deserves everything she gets in my opinion.
However to me he did insert himself a bit too much into the story, giving his thoughts and opinions on things, and at times it (which is all good, but to me it was too often,but this could just be me).
The more I learn about Maxwell, the more disgusted I am and the sadder I feel for all of her victims.
This is not an easy book to read (the content, not the writing). It took me over a week of picking it up and putting it down to get through it.
I knew Ghislaine Maxwell was a monster, but just how much of a monster I did not know.
This is a heartbreaking, and sickening tale, and I can't help but be so proud of the women who spoke out, who were vilified for so long. I can not even imagine the toll the past 30 years have taken on these now women.
John Sweeney delves behind the media stories to to give us the Ghislaine Maxwell from birth to her incarceration (yay!). And yes, behind the spoiled rich girl, her upbringing was horrible and abusive, and if she had grown to be a different kind of woman you would feel sympathy for her. But that is not who she is and she deserves everything she gets in my opinion.
However to me he did insert himself a bit too much into the story, giving his thoughts and opinions on things, and at times it (which is all good, but to me it was too often,but this could just be me).
The more I learn about Maxwell, the more disgusted I am and the sadder I feel for all of her victims.
December 13, 2022
Fall: The Mystery of Robert Maxwell was the best of the 70 non-fiction books I finished last year. Maxwell is a fascinating character, a spider who preyed on his fellow species. I treated this book as a sort of sequel, although it's not intended to be and it's obviously by a different author.
Hunting Ghislaine skims through the first part of Maxwell's daughter's life, up to around the time of her dad's death. It's not biographical as such, everything is written through the prism of what happened with Epstein much later.
It then skips forward to her meeting Jeffrey Epstein and the bulk of the book is about the years spent grooming his victims. Finally comes the conclusion which is basically the court case and the damning verdict.
I approached this book with an interest in Maxwell Sr and was not hugely familiar with this case, although had read and seen reports on her trial. It is a thorough work of investigative journalism which filled in a lot of gaps in my knowledge and the whole background of the case. Quite a bit of the book is inevitably about Jeffrey Epstein, who is a worthy successor to her dad as the arch-villain in her life.
Maxwell Sr and Epstein are obviously the real monsters in this story, but Ghislaine is an accessory to both their terrible crimes. It's hard not to have some sympathy for her, and although she certainly deserves to spend a good few years in jail, I'm not sure she deserves to spend the rest of her life behind bars.
Was she evil, unlucky, foolish, naive, or sociopathic herself to fall under the clutches of two such terrible men? Read the book and make your decision.
Hunting Ghislaine skims through the first part of Maxwell's daughter's life, up to around the time of her dad's death. It's not biographical as such, everything is written through the prism of what happened with Epstein much later.
It then skips forward to her meeting Jeffrey Epstein and the bulk of the book is about the years spent grooming his victims. Finally comes the conclusion which is basically the court case and the damning verdict.
I approached this book with an interest in Maxwell Sr and was not hugely familiar with this case, although had read and seen reports on her trial. It is a thorough work of investigative journalism which filled in a lot of gaps in my knowledge and the whole background of the case. Quite a bit of the book is inevitably about Jeffrey Epstein, who is a worthy successor to her dad as the arch-villain in her life.
Maxwell Sr and Epstein are obviously the real monsters in this story, but Ghislaine is an accessory to both their terrible crimes. It's hard not to have some sympathy for her, and although she certainly deserves to spend a good few years in jail, I'm not sure she deserves to spend the rest of her life behind bars.
Was she evil, unlucky, foolish, naive, or sociopathic herself to fall under the clutches of two such terrible men? Read the book and make your decision.
January 7, 2023
This is a book on the same subject as a podcast made by John Sweeney. Though I'm not familiar with the podcast, Sweeney is a well-known and pretty fearless investigative journalist, who seems to be particularly drawn toward exposing wanton abuses of power, money, and influence. While he has famously lost the plot on camera while being taunted by a senior member of the Church of Scientology, he does his research meticulously and his heart is in the right place. He doesn't care about the optics for himself - he cares about getting at the truth. (Senior members of the church who have defected have since actually said that the taunting is something they're trained to do in order to discredit critics and make them lose the plot.)
This book covers a lot of ground. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of it is around the early life of Ghislaine Maxwell, which was pretty much dominated by the larger-than-life, obnoxious, narcissistic figure of her father Robert Maxwell until his death in 1991. He famously fell overboard his luxury yacht the Lady Ghislaine, named after his daughter, who was the only one of his large number of children he seems to have had any time for. Speculation still occurs as to whether he was pushed, fell, or committed suicide. As he was aware that the house of cards that was his business empire was crumbling and he could end up in jail for fraud, the most likely explanation is suicide.
Like many people interviewed in documentaries about the Epstein/Maxwell underage trafficking saga, who knew Ghislaine Maxwell in her youth, Sweeney believes her relationship with her father is key to understanding why she was drawn to Epstein after Robert Maxwell's death. She seems to have been the only Maxwell child to buy fully into the mythology of her father, and the pattern of her entire life was one of attempting to please him.
When Ghislaine Maxwell's mother Betty met Robert Maxwell, he was a dashing young soldier who had fought the Nazis and lost his entire family in the Holocaust. However, he was also a war criminal, who had shot the mayor of a German town who had already surrendered, in punishment for the actions of others. She promised to help him rebuild his family by having as many children as possible. There is a definite sense that the shadow of the Holocaust hung unspoken over the family also, as its patriarch morphed into a morbidly obese, brutish tyrant, in business and domestic life, over the decades. Perhaps the reality of his early life was just too much to bear, and unresolved issues do have a habit of rearing their heads in ugly ways later on in life. Indeed, some of the descriptions of his behaviour toward business associates and family are a bit too disgusting to read at times, including the stories about his boorish toilet habits.
Suffice to say that Ghislaine Maxwell had developed all the skills needed in childhood and young adulthood to appease the appetites and wants of a greedy narcissistic conman, and to do so was a matter of survival to her. It's no surprise that she repeated these patterns in her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein by providing him with underage girls to abuse. The fact that he wanted something was justification in itself - just like the role she played with her father.
The similarities between the two men are quite striking. Robert Maxwell's wealth was a sham in the end, and Epstein was essentially a failed maths teacher, who later managed to talk wealthy people into believing he could manage their money (and possibly also blackmailed them by implying he had tapes of them having sex with underage girls he provided). They were both accomplished bullshitters, who were self-conscious about their relatively impoverished upbringings and wanted to be well connected.
This book is littered with insights and quotes from people who knew Ghislaine Maxwell socially back in the '80s and '90s. Some people liked her, while others found her to be a social climber who preferred the company of men, and only associated with women if they were somehow useful to her (we've all met that type, so nothing striking in there). However, certain anecdotes from her earlier pre-Epstein years do hint at a certain deviancy and tendency to take pleasure in sexually humiliating other women.
Sweeney also provides a first-hand description of the trial in New York, which is very detailed and telling. I chose to read this book because it wasn't by an associate of Maxwell and was therefore more likely to be impartial than books by ex-friends. That said, Sweeney was aided by his media contacts, some of whom have met Maxwell, and the fact that he seems to know a lot of people who were able to provide information and documentation.
The book also provides some telling details on Jeffrey Epstein's interests, including his obsession with something called transhumanism. This seems to be a new euphemism for eugenics, or at least in Jeffrey Epstein-land, this is what it amounted to. Apparently, such was the vastness of Epstein's ego that he had planned on impregnating women at his remote ranch in order to pass on his genes and thus further evolve the human race. Not a creepy egomaniac at all, then (!) It's also deeply scary how many tech billionarires were associating with Epstein even after his 2007 conviction: not only Bill Gates, but Elon Musk, Sergey Brin, and Jeff Bezos also.
Some tiny irritants suggested to me this book was hastily copy-edited, such as the description of a college friend of Ghislaine Maxwell's called Nicholas Coleridge, who provides some insight into her days at Oxford, as an 'ancestor' of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Unless the time-space continuum has become warped in some manner, surely Sweeney means 'descendant'? Despite that, I'd recommend this book as a really good overview of the Epstein/Maxwell industrial-scale child trafficking case and the background to the forces that created that relative rarity, a prolific female sexual predator.
This book covers a lot of ground. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of it is around the early life of Ghislaine Maxwell, which was pretty much dominated by the larger-than-life, obnoxious, narcissistic figure of her father Robert Maxwell until his death in 1991. He famously fell overboard his luxury yacht the Lady Ghislaine, named after his daughter, who was the only one of his large number of children he seems to have had any time for. Speculation still occurs as to whether he was pushed, fell, or committed suicide. As he was aware that the house of cards that was his business empire was crumbling and he could end up in jail for fraud, the most likely explanation is suicide.
Like many people interviewed in documentaries about the Epstein/Maxwell underage trafficking saga, who knew Ghislaine Maxwell in her youth, Sweeney believes her relationship with her father is key to understanding why she was drawn to Epstein after Robert Maxwell's death. She seems to have been the only Maxwell child to buy fully into the mythology of her father, and the pattern of her entire life was one of attempting to please him.
When Ghislaine Maxwell's mother Betty met Robert Maxwell, he was a dashing young soldier who had fought the Nazis and lost his entire family in the Holocaust. However, he was also a war criminal, who had shot the mayor of a German town who had already surrendered, in punishment for the actions of others. She promised to help him rebuild his family by having as many children as possible. There is a definite sense that the shadow of the Holocaust hung unspoken over the family also, as its patriarch morphed into a morbidly obese, brutish tyrant, in business and domestic life, over the decades. Perhaps the reality of his early life was just too much to bear, and unresolved issues do have a habit of rearing their heads in ugly ways later on in life. Indeed, some of the descriptions of his behaviour toward business associates and family are a bit too disgusting to read at times, including the stories about his boorish toilet habits.
Suffice to say that Ghislaine Maxwell had developed all the skills needed in childhood and young adulthood to appease the appetites and wants of a greedy narcissistic conman, and to do so was a matter of survival to her. It's no surprise that she repeated these patterns in her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein by providing him with underage girls to abuse. The fact that he wanted something was justification in itself - just like the role she played with her father.
The similarities between the two men are quite striking. Robert Maxwell's wealth was a sham in the end, and Epstein was essentially a failed maths teacher, who later managed to talk wealthy people into believing he could manage their money (and possibly also blackmailed them by implying he had tapes of them having sex with underage girls he provided). They were both accomplished bullshitters, who were self-conscious about their relatively impoverished upbringings and wanted to be well connected.
This book is littered with insights and quotes from people who knew Ghislaine Maxwell socially back in the '80s and '90s. Some people liked her, while others found her to be a social climber who preferred the company of men, and only associated with women if they were somehow useful to her (we've all met that type, so nothing striking in there). However, certain anecdotes from her earlier pre-Epstein years do hint at a certain deviancy and tendency to take pleasure in sexually humiliating other women.
Sweeney also provides a first-hand description of the trial in New York, which is very detailed and telling. I chose to read this book because it wasn't by an associate of Maxwell and was therefore more likely to be impartial than books by ex-friends. That said, Sweeney was aided by his media contacts, some of whom have met Maxwell, and the fact that he seems to know a lot of people who were able to provide information and documentation.
The book also provides some telling details on Jeffrey Epstein's interests, including his obsession with something called transhumanism. This seems to be a new euphemism for eugenics, or at least in Jeffrey Epstein-land, this is what it amounted to. Apparently, such was the vastness of Epstein's ego that he had planned on impregnating women at his remote ranch in order to pass on his genes and thus further evolve the human race. Not a creepy egomaniac at all, then (!) It's also deeply scary how many tech billionarires were associating with Epstein even after his 2007 conviction: not only Bill Gates, but Elon Musk, Sergey Brin, and Jeff Bezos also.
Some tiny irritants suggested to me this book was hastily copy-edited, such as the description of a college friend of Ghislaine Maxwell's called Nicholas Coleridge, who provides some insight into her days at Oxford, as an 'ancestor' of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Unless the time-space continuum has become warped in some manner, surely Sweeney means 'descendant'? Despite that, I'd recommend this book as a really good overview of the Epstein/Maxwell industrial-scale child trafficking case and the background to the forces that created that relative rarity, a prolific female sexual predator.
July 27, 2025
Well researched and presented.
Some thoughts.
Evidence relating to sex related crimes can be difficult. As far as I read about each witness in the Ghislaine case there is reliance on the person's testimony "only". Rolf Harris' second trial a private investigator was hired which found challenges to testimonies in all the three trials. But in Jule K. Brown's book the investigation into Epstein's first trial in Florida there was good solid evidence. The police worked hard as well due the collecting evidence like notes in rubbish etc. A lot opportunities were missed for other solid evidence due to the police reluctant to investigate. Like many other celebrities the stories were well and truly over the top, but could of been true. But I found myself wondering if any crime happened at all on hearing about Netflix clips and other sources of all sorts of stories, like videos and photos everywhere. But nothing there. I found in general Brown's book like this book well researched etc like this book. The other thing I found I think overlooked was "logistics".
1. It appears the girls and later girls who became recruiters themselves etc. all answered direct to Epstein. Maxwell worked on the ground floor and in this big house some distance from the entry the girls used, who went up to Epstein's area directly.
2. And verifiable testimonies missing at Maxwell's trial.
3. Defense could of learnt from the Rolf Harris trial of hiring private investigators.
Agree with the idea that Maxwell lied. She may be a liar. Or a liar due to believing her own version of things. For example re Virginia Roberts at the 2016 deposition Maxwell had the mother bringing Virginia. She just went on up the stairs to Epstein rooms. Maxwell was talking to the mother. Nothing about inviting Virginia.
Virginia said she came with her father and Maxwell had invited her. Did Virginia lie?
The truth is out there????
Some thoughts.
Evidence relating to sex related crimes can be difficult. As far as I read about each witness in the Ghislaine case there is reliance on the person's testimony "only". Rolf Harris' second trial a private investigator was hired which found challenges to testimonies in all the three trials. But in Jule K. Brown's book the investigation into Epstein's first trial in Florida there was good solid evidence. The police worked hard as well due the collecting evidence like notes in rubbish etc. A lot opportunities were missed for other solid evidence due to the police reluctant to investigate. Like many other celebrities the stories were well and truly over the top, but could of been true. But I found myself wondering if any crime happened at all on hearing about Netflix clips and other sources of all sorts of stories, like videos and photos everywhere. But nothing there. I found in general Brown's book like this book well researched etc like this book. The other thing I found I think overlooked was "logistics".
1. It appears the girls and later girls who became recruiters themselves etc. all answered direct to Epstein. Maxwell worked on the ground floor and in this big house some distance from the entry the girls used, who went up to Epstein's area directly.
2. And verifiable testimonies missing at Maxwell's trial.
3. Defense could of learnt from the Rolf Harris trial of hiring private investigators.
Agree with the idea that Maxwell lied. She may be a liar. Or a liar due to believing her own version of things. For example re Virginia Roberts at the 2016 deposition Maxwell had the mother bringing Virginia. She just went on up the stairs to Epstein rooms. Maxwell was talking to the mother. Nothing about inviting Virginia.
Virginia said she came with her father and Maxwell had invited her. Did Virginia lie?
The truth is out there????
February 13, 2023
Let's see, what can we say about the most infamous prisoner in the world that isn't anything new? Not a great deal and neither can John Sweeney in HUNTING GHISLAINE. Despite his credentials and they are many.
And he's a tyke. A tyke that isn't afraid of a bit of controversy, if you know his history. He doorstepped Putin and other dictators and lived to tell the tale. So as good as I found this book, it did seem a bit reserved. And he doesn't actually 'hunt' Maxwell at all. But it is a great account of events, but that's all.
Who along with Amber Heard, has taken down the whole #metoo movement quite in such a spectacular fashion than these two let-downs of sisterhood. Because, fucking shocker, women lie and are perverts too. They are, sorry. Spoilers. And those women, if they break the law, need to be punished.
I really enjoyed it as it is. A timeline and reminder of the situation, but nothing else. I didn't get pleasure out of the downfall of a woman, but a serial trafficker and abuser of under-age girls. And despite her eforts, she is staying in prison for a long time.
And he's a tyke. A tyke that isn't afraid of a bit of controversy, if you know his history. He doorstepped Putin and other dictators and lived to tell the tale. So as good as I found this book, it did seem a bit reserved. And he doesn't actually 'hunt' Maxwell at all. But it is a great account of events, but that's all.
Who along with Amber Heard, has taken down the whole #metoo movement quite in such a spectacular fashion than these two let-downs of sisterhood. Because, fucking shocker, women lie and are perverts too. They are, sorry. Spoilers. And those women, if they break the law, need to be punished.
I really enjoyed it as it is. A timeline and reminder of the situation, but nothing else. I didn't get pleasure out of the downfall of a woman, but a serial trafficker and abuser of under-age girls. And despite her eforts, she is staying in prison for a long time.
July 29, 2025
I got as far as his glib, arrogant diagnosis of Ghislaine and her father with autism and gave up. I am autistic. Our lives are very hard. We don't need this ignorant man talking about us having shallow interior lives and loving bizzare sex, stigmatising and pathologising us We don't need any more Dr Googles telling us what autism is. He uses the word "narcissistic" so many times. He needs to apply it to himself. Name dropping impresses fools only.
The bit I did read was a horror story of the UK press being run by rich men who didn't give a damn about anything but money. Oh but let's have another unfunny anecdote about one of the writer's pals.
And I don't care how charming the spoilt children of the rich were at Oxford. Just woefully useless, wasteful people. Hey, Dr Google, maybe privilege was the problem! Go write about that.
The bit I did read was a horror story of the UK press being run by rich men who didn't give a damn about anything but money. Oh but let's have another unfunny anecdote about one of the writer's pals.
And I don't care how charming the spoilt children of the rich were at Oxford. Just woefully useless, wasteful people. Hey, Dr Google, maybe privilege was the problem! Go write about that.
October 27, 2022
A thought-provoking look at one of the most intriguing characters in recent history. What kind of a monster would act as a pimp for a paedophile? By examining the entire life of Ghislaine Maxwell, the author shows that she was raised by a father who was a monster, in a level of the English class system that doesn't produce overly empathetic people.
Investigative journalism is my favourite form of non-fiction. However, the author inserts himself in the story, whether with asides or personal references, quite a bit and it was disconcerting. It's clear no love is lost between him and Maxwell's father but I expected a more dispassionate narrative. However, the research and history he details is so compelling I read this in one day.
Thanks to Hachette AU for sending me a review copy.
Investigative journalism is my favourite form of non-fiction. However, the author inserts himself in the story, whether with asides or personal references, quite a bit and it was disconcerting. It's clear no love is lost between him and Maxwell's father but I expected a more dispassionate narrative. However, the research and history he details is so compelling I read this in one day.
Thanks to Hachette AU for sending me a review copy.
July 22, 2025
Right now the news and social media are full of information about Trump and Epstein. It's like a wreck. We don't want to see it, but we can't look away.
Some of the information in this book has been available for a long time. There isn't a lot that we don't already know for those who've been paying attention. There were a few things, however, I didn't know. One is Bill Clinton was possibly on Epstein's plane because of Ghislaine. Maybe they were having an affair. I also didn't know much about Ghislaine's father, Robert, except that his death was mysterious.
There are times, I’ll admit, that I felt some sympathy for Ghislaine. Then I realized that she’s arrogant, feels superior to her victims, and is basically unrepentant. She, like Epstein and other abusers of children (girls and boys), are monsters.
Some of the information in this book has been available for a long time. There isn't a lot that we don't already know for those who've been paying attention. There were a few things, however, I didn't know. One is Bill Clinton was possibly on Epstein's plane because of Ghislaine. Maybe they were having an affair. I also didn't know much about Ghislaine's father, Robert, except that his death was mysterious.
There are times, I’ll admit, that I felt some sympathy for Ghislaine. Then I realized that she’s arrogant, feels superior to her victims, and is basically unrepentant. She, like Epstein and other abusers of children (girls and boys), are monsters.
January 29, 2023
I didn't finished the book but that's probably not the book's or author's fault.
I like reporting style of John Sweeney but this book got me tired in the first 30-40%. It covered life of people and what led the to the point which I realized is completely out of interest for me.
But I've learned an important thing from this book: I SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE RICH AND /OR FAMOUS.
I did it anyway, but this book ensured me that literally there is little of interest there and life and personalities of so called "ordinary" people is much more interesting.
Thank you for this ... book :)
I like reporting style of John Sweeney but this book got me tired in the first 30-40%. It covered life of people and what led the to the point which I realized is completely out of interest for me.
But I've learned an important thing from this book: I SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE RICH AND /OR FAMOUS.
I did it anyway, but this book ensured me that literally there is little of interest there and life and personalities of so called "ordinary" people is much more interesting.
Thank you for this ... book :)
May 12, 2023
I found the title of this book really misleading, since I thought that it would provide more insight into the disappearance of Ghislaine Maxwell after child trafficker Jeffrey Epstein's death in prison. Although it did explore her tumultuous childhood in terms of her father, the book almost left me with more questions than answers. Where did Ghislaine Maxwell hide before being tried and going to jail? Who has stayed loyal to her besides one of her brothers? What about the prison where she lives?
March 29, 2023
This was a fairly comprehensive look at a couple of very nasty people. I would think that she could write a book that would blow the top off the white house along with some other very big houses. It is amazing how people so evil can attract the people of such high standing and by no means morals to attend their events to be subjected to such press. Then again, it is not surprising at all who they attracted until you get to the end and hear some new names that made my head rattle.
December 4, 2022
A tragic story and the perfect illustration of how money corrupts. Epstein is dead, Ghislaine is rotting in prison, but a lot of very rich and powerful people who were "entertained" by Epstein are walking free without a single black mark against their name.
January 31, 2023
Brilliantly analytical book
Read this book today - could not put it down, in fact.
Love the style and the humour, even in dark subject matter.
So perceptive - what a superb journalist!
Truly excellent read. Thank you.
Read this book today - could not put it down, in fact.
Love the style and the humour, even in dark subject matter.
So perceptive - what a superb journalist!
Truly excellent read. Thank you.
August 22, 2023
Pretty pissed off I used an Audible credit on this. If you have listened to the podcast then don’t bother as they’re basically identical, right down to the exact phrasing.
(The podcast is great, by the way but do one or the other - either read this or listen to the podcast)
(The podcast is great, by the way but do one or the other - either read this or listen to the podcast)
July 5, 2024
good information but the writing could be better
Good information was presented however the writing seemed disjointed and unclear at times . The writer was passionate about the subject .
Good information was presented however the writing seemed disjointed and unclear at times . The writer was passionate about the subject .
November 12, 2025
I'm fascinated by the activities of Maxwell and Epstein, having only really becoming aware of them through the Andrew Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, scandal.
This book is a great insight that has opened even more intrigue for me.
This book is a great insight that has opened even more intrigue for me.
February 16, 2026
3.5 I think if he'd waited a couple of years to write this it would've been better but I did like "his [Andrew's] denials were as convincing as a gimp photographed in a gimp suit, denying that he's a gimp"
March 7, 2026
Ghislaine
Enjoyed the book -I don’t think she is bad or evil- I think she is a victim also- people can be brainwashed and I think Epstein did that to her- and not fair she is the only one paying for his crimes-
Enjoyed the book -I don’t think she is bad or evil- I think she is a victim also- people can be brainwashed and I think Epstein did that to her- and not fair she is the only one paying for his crimes-
December 2, 2022
The other side of the Epstein story. A typical John Sweeney reading. Seems to be mostly based on his podcast overing the same topic.
January 29, 2024
A great, disgusting book. Get a peak behind the curtain…….
December 31, 2024
Just bonkers
October 13, 2025
Grotesque.
March 7, 2026
Interesting read. It seems this woman has her claws into everyone.
March 20, 2026
Well written and researched but as you would expect, it's disturbing
March 9, 2026
A strong DNF.
I am going to finish this badly written and poorly researched journalistic embarrassment. The author is a Ghislaine sympathiser and seems more focused on what shaped her father and family dynamics and appears to miss the point of the scale of the global conspiracy and abuse . Oh yes, and he misuses the words monster and narcissist a gazillion times, making the writing overly repetitive. The title says hunt but that is to detract from the author's actual motives. In victimology there are blurred lines between victim and perpetrator and perpetrators usually not always (think Dahmer) start off as victims. Maybe when Ghislaine was a child she was abused but she outgrew that as an adult and became an abuser herself without that making her an adult victim of Epstein's.
I am going to finish this badly written and poorly researched journalistic embarrassment. The author is a Ghislaine sympathiser and seems more focused on what shaped her father and family dynamics and appears to miss the point of the scale of the global conspiracy and abuse . Oh yes, and he misuses the words monster and narcissist a gazillion times, making the writing overly repetitive. The title says hunt but that is to detract from the author's actual motives. In victimology there are blurred lines between victim and perpetrator and perpetrators usually not always (think Dahmer) start off as victims. Maybe when Ghislaine was a child she was abused but she outgrew that as an adult and became an abuser herself without that making her an adult victim of Epstein's.
July 31, 2023
Nowhere near as good as Killer in the Kremlin. A lot too much speculation and theorising
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