DON’T TELL MUMMY: A True Story of the Ultimate Betrayal: A True Story Of The Ultimate Betrayal

I’ve read several books in this genre, and without doubt, this is the most beautifully and intelligently written of all. Ms Maguire takes us on a journey through her childhood, where the young girl has no choice but to accept the changes thrown at her. The injustices and prejudices against a child being forced into horrible situations with no one to support her filled me with anger and made me wish I could reach back in time to hug her. She lived in a “mysterious adult world where children’s feelings are not real” but made it through, and I look forward to the sequel to discover how Toni deals with fresh challenges. This book was so well written that I felt like I knew her. I also enjoyed the references to places in Northern Ireland, which made me long for a Morelli’s ice cream and a stroll along Portstewart Strand.

Good read

This is author Toni Maguires true story of her harrowing childhood in Belfast in the 1950's, at the hands of a sexually abusive father. It runs along side of the story of her sitting in a nursing home as an adult, with her terminally ill mother. As she keeps her vigil, her memories come back to her and she begins to tell her story of her childhood. This is not a story of neglect in a material sense as is usually the case, but a fairly average childhood in all other respects, interspersed with horrendous sexual abuse. As we find out, the damage caused lasts a lifetime for Toni. This is another book I couldn't put down until finished. How a parent can do such things to a child is totally beyond my belief! It highlights the fact that so many families can hide such hideous secrets behind a cover of "normality" and "respectability". Well worth a read. Don't Tell Mummy: A True Story of the Ultimate Betrayal

This book had me in tears in various places throughout the account of Toni Maguire's childhood and adolescence. It is the emotional account of her relationship with her physically and sexually abusive father and the mother who stood by him through it all. Antoinette was 6 when her father first sexually abused her and the abuse continued for nine years. She was told, and believed, that any admission to anyone would result in her being blamed, that is if anyone believed her in the first place. This story is so well told that I can only assume that it must have taken an enormous amount of courage to write. Having said that, it is written so well that the reader almost becomes a fly on the wall through it all. I can't say that I enjoyed reading this story, but I am glad that I did. It is an amazing story written by an amazing woman.

So hard to put down makes you want to read the rest of her books straight away really good book

A hard hitting story of the lacking of humankind. One child betrayed by so many when love and support should have been their response. This book was hard to read purely because it tells of so much evil. It's extremely well written and honest.

The most despicable ‘father’....how could he call himself a dad! I cannot imagine what this child went through. How I wish somebody had known enough to have gone to the police. Her mother knew. I cannot believe this mother ever truly loved her child. A mother’s instinct is always to protect her child at all costs....but this mother never did. This poor child’s life was ruined, in childhood and later as a teenager. I found it hard to read. This man should have spent the rest of his life behind bars. The mother simply turned a blind eye. Well written but so very sad.

Beautifully written, a truly shocking tale, full of suspense and as the sub-title says the ultimate betrayal. The descriptions of nature alongside the horrors of what happened work really well. Brilliant!

Wow.. this book broke my heart ♥️ the book is well written. I couldn’t put the book down, well detailed, I feel so sick to my stomach reading the book.. I’m sorry that you went to all of this Hell in your parents house. I’m hoping that your life is much better now after all of this years..

Very sad, well-written and hard to stop reading

This book is for everyone. Child abuse should be written about, talked about and stopped. Victims should be encouraged to speak and understand they are not alone. Toni's book was well written and I felt her pain in every line. It's amazing how today, victim blaming, which Toni experienced, is sadly still widespread. I look forward to reading her other books. Highly recommended!

This is a wonderful book for many who think they are alone in their abuse and suffering. As they say, there is always someone worse than you! Sad story. But, with courage and resilience you too can survive the abuse with determination and speaking out! I recommend this well written book!

A tremendous and heart-wrenching narrative. The author engages the reader immediately and you follow her childhood trauma which is described in such a deeply authentic and reflective manner. It leaves you numb wondering how adults, including people in authority, could have been so blind or cold-hearted and assessed blame to a child. The author awakens and inspires the reader to look about and take more notice of the children or vulnerable around us.