If I am Missing or Dead - Tapa dura

In April 2002, Janine Latus's youngest sister Amy wrote a note and taped it to the inside of her desk drawer. 'If I am gone or dead', it read, 'question Ron'.

By the time the letter was found, Amy was already missing. Helicopters and 'missing' posters went up and search dogs were sent out. It took more than two weeks to find Amy's body, wrapped in a tarpaulin and buried at a building site. Ron had been Amy's boyfriend. He is now in prison for her murder.

Since childhood, Janine and Amy had been sexualised and belittled. As adults the sisters, trapped in a cycle of abuse, ended up in a series of violent relationships. Finally, Janine faced her demons and, with Amy's support, escaped in time. But Amy was keeping a terrible secret of her own ...

Amy never escaped. She died in silent fear and pain. Janine has resolved to break that silence so that her sister didn't die in vain.

'In April 2002, Janine Latus’s youngest sister, Amy, wrote a note and taped it to the inside of her desk drawer. ‘If I am gone or dead’, it read, ‘question Ron’. (could this be brought up a bit, maybe in bold, or dark red or something, to work as an introductory paragraph)

Since childhood Janine and Amy had been sexualised and belittled. As adults the sisters sought familiarity, ending up in a series of abusive relationships. Finally, Janine confessed the truth to Amy, and with her support, escaped in time. But Amy was keeping a terrible secret of her own and by the time the letter was found ten weeks later, she was already missing ...

MEMOIR

ISBN 9781846050800