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I Let Him Go

By: Denise Fergus
Narrated by: Siân Polhill-Thomas
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Publisher's summary

On 12th February 1993, Denise's life changed forever. As she was running errands at New Strand Shopping Centre, she let go of her two-year-old son's hand to take out her purse. Denise never saw her son again. In this extraordinary and heart-wrenching book comes the unflinching account of that terrible day from James Bulger's mother, Denise. What if she had never taken James shopping? What if she had turned right coming out of the butchers, instead of left? Would she have seen her son being led out of the centre by two children? Denise's initial hope – of seeing her son on CCTV with other kids - quickly turned to devastation when, two days later, James' body was found. His murder shocked the world, as his killers became the youngest convicted murderers in the UK. Denise then took up a tortuous legal battle for James, and it was her astonishing strength and love for her son that ultimately helped to change the way the law treats victims of crime. This is a mother's tale, of finding a way through the despair to remember the happiness and wonderful memories that James brought his family. Above all, Denise doesn't want her son to be remembered as a murdered child, and with this beautifully written book she does just that.
©2018 Denise Fergus (P)2018 Bolinda Publishing
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What listeners say about I Let Him Go

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Great book and awesome narrator

I finished this book quickly, I found I couldn’t stop listening. The story is horrific and heartbreaking. I appreciate the author’s vulnerability and hearing her truth.

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2 people found this helpful

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get all the kleenex

I can only empathize with Denise. She could have been any of us wonderful and loving and attentive parents. She could have been me. I cried so many times listening to this. The narrator was excellent, and the story is heart wrenching. I know that Venables is up for parole this year and I'm just disgusted by it... release his identity and let parents protect their babies from a monster. All my love to you Denise and your family. and despite your wishes, I hope someone kills these two monsters... or that there truly is a hell for them to burn in.

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2 people found this helpful

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Great book

This was a touching story and a great book. It is a book that is worth listening to a second time.

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Such a compelling story

This was such a sad but excellent story. What this family went through was unreal and incredibly heartbreaking.

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Amazing Book

This book is beautifully written. A mother’s love for her child is relentless and this book really shows that.

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2 people found this helpful

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Heartbreaking and infuriating tragedy

I listen in my free time usually, but the heartbreaking and infuriating story of this tragedy had me hooked to this book and I finished it in less than 2 days. I had never heard of James before and am disgusted and disappointed to know this story now. The inhumanity behind his death and the true horror that has taken place since is sickening. How the government can fathom releasing those two monsters and continue to reoffend James family is beyond comprehension. Thank you to his mother for being his voice.

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Very real

This had to be so hard to do, and to advocate for yourself, James, and your family. I hope the UK government gets their act together if, God forbid, this happens to anyone else.

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I am with heavy heart after reading this

I rarely write a review, but this time. I feel I have to.
I am a mom of 3, my youngest is the same age as James Bulger. He is 2 going on 3 in just a few short weeks. I can’t help but feel weak and sickness while reading. There were quite a few times I had to put it down and walk away. But then found myself needing to hear more so my mind wouldn’t wander into “what if scenarios”.

She told the story about her beautiful baby James beautifully. I felt I was with her, watching her relive the moments.
I laughed, I cried, I mourned, I screamed...i felt sick.
I could see him as she described him perfectly. I could feel her pain of loss as she described them amazingly.

I hate to say I loved the book, the narrator, the author, the story. Bc that sounds heartless. It sounds sick.
But I appreciate Denise Fergus, James’ mom, opening up and allowing strangers into her life, her precious life that was stolen.

Wishing this family strength, love and peace.

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Absolutely heart wrenching!

Such an honest, raw and vulnerable account if something no mother should EVER have to experience.

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Heartbreaking tragedy

I hope Denise Fergus found some peace in writing this heartbreaking story of her son, James. No mother should ever have to endure such sadness and no child should have to withstand the terror and pain. A judicial system should protect the innocent. This is a beautifully written and narrated story of love, loss, heartbreak and the strength of a mother’s fight for justice. God bless you, Denise Fergus for sharing your story.

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