Member Reviews
Nothing hurts more than the death of your own child. Death at the hands of a vicious monster hurts double and even triple. Why? Find out by reading Lynnette Williams' harrowing book, Our Georgia: The devastating murder of my daughter by a killer who should have been stopped. It is a shocking story full of pain and tears. I met Linda (mom) and Steve (dad) Williams and others there. The book is dedicated to the memory of Georgia Lynnette Williams. The girl had her whole life ahead of her. It was brutally taken from her. Leaving an open wound in the heart of her entire family. Together with Georgia's parents and the police, I was looking for a live girl. Later, the girl's body was found. Who was the perpetrator? Did he get the punishment he deserved? That's what you'll find out in this book. It's worth reading. Here you will find Georgia's parents' struggle for truth and justice. The guilty should be given the punishment they deserve. The beginning and middle of the book were very good. The end of the book bored me a bit. I don't know why it turned out like that. Nevertheless, I encourage you to read it. Georgia was 17 when she was brutally murdered.
Thank you very much NetGalley for this ebook.
Our Georgia is a personal account of Lynnette Williams' fight for justice after her daughter, Georgia Williams, was brutally murdered by a man with a long history of violence and abuse towards women. Williams takes readers on a journey through her grief and frustration as she navigates the criminal justice system, discovering loopholes and broken policies that allowed the killer to remain free and continue to harm others. The book is a true testament to Williams' strength and resilience as she transforms her pain into a fight for change, tirelessly advocating for improving domestic violence laws and better police training.
One of the standout features of Our Georgia is how Williams highlights the failures and flaws of the criminal justice system. The book cites several instances where the police ignored crucial evidence or failed to act on leads that could have captured the killer earlier. Williams also sheds light on the rampant issue of domestic violence and the lack of resources available to victims. Her story is a stark reminder that the system is far from perfect and there is much work still to be done.
Furthermore, Williams' writing style is both engaging and heart-wrenching. She doesn't sugar-coat her experiences or emotions and instead presents a raw and authentic account of the tragedy. Readers will feel as though they are right there with her through each step of her journey and will have a newfound appreciation for her bravery and strength. This is made even more profound given that her husband was a serving police officer at the time of Georgia’s murder.
In conclusion, Our Georgia is not just a book about loss and tragedy; it's a call to action. Williams' story is a powerful message of perseverance and standing up for what's right. Her book exposes the brokenness of our criminal justice system and shines a light on the issues of domestic violence and lack of resources for victims. Reading this book is not an easy feat, but it's essential to fully comprehend the atrocities that occur in our society and to take action to prevent them from happening in the future. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a meaningful and inspiring read.
Our Georgia is a shocking and deeply emotional true crime memoir regarding the harrowing and brutal murder of British teenager Georgia Williams in 2010 at the hands of disturbing degenerate Jamie Reynolds who had harboured some extremely deviant fascinations since the tender age of 15. Detailing the run-up to the crime as well as the crime itself and its devastating aftermath not only for Williams's family but also that inflicted on the wider community of Wellington as a whole, it rapidly becomes a visceral and truly emotive read throughout.
As a cynic and a true crime enthusiast, these two things often converge when I hear stories such as this which are sadly all too common. Here, the police were not only careless in innumerable instances about Georgia's case, which is bad enough when you often have only one chance to get something correct, but they then decided the way to go, stupidly, would be to then cover up their indiscretions.
To lie, deceive and place the blame on everyone but themselves. This naturally just made them look even worse. This was a case that took over the British headlines at the time due to its detail and severity and the fact that even when your father is a high-ranking member of the police force, and you are murdered, his employers are not immune or averse to lying to you, either.
A horrendous story that has everything - an innocent victim, a twisted murderer, helpless parents and a useless and less-than-truthful police force. I'm pleased the family decided to out the truth and tell their story. It's the least they deserve. A compelling yet ultimately heartbreaking tale of freaks, faults and failures. At once a haunting personal story and a critique of modern policing. I hope the family manage to find some closure.
Gripping true crime account.
This is a memoir by a mum about her daughter's murder. Georgia hadn't quite been 18; she should have had all her life ahead of her.
It was easy to read, no waffle, just hard facts, and fast moving. Horrendous events, but an engaging read. Not just concerning the crime: there's lots of background-Georgia's childhood, family life etc.
A case I'd not heard of before, it was simply, and sensitively written. A terrible tragedy but gripping reading finding out how events unfolded, and how they caught Georgia's killer. An excellent book, but it seems wrong to say that, or that I enjoyed reading it-how could I, it's a family's worst nightmare-but I want to give credit to how Georgia's mum has presented this account of her life.
This book never got going for me. The writing was too slow and I ended up not caring about the story at all.
I am very picky about the books I read. I need them to go at a quick pace and don't care much for a ton of details and this book just bogged down.
I do appreciate how hard it is to write,
I hadn't heard of Georgia before but I certainly won't forget her now this was a very sad read and her poor parents done an amazing job trying to get justice for her
A very sad story of a family's loss of their dear daughter. Their strength and togetherness is seen throughout the book. Unfortunately giving events in recent months the police are loosing the trust from the public still. I wish Georgia's family all the best. Your daughter would be proud of you all.
This was such a powerful and heart wrenching story. Written from the victims mothers point of view, it’s a nice change to hear more about Georgia and what she was like instead of being glossed over as can happen when books on true crime are written and get more focused on the murderer.
Really captivating read tho it did get a little repetitive towards the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.
I am interested in true crime and read lots of books on this subject. This book left me sad and angry that this murder was ever allowed to happen and should if been prevented. Georgia parents went through hell after losing their beautiful daughter.
A well written and powerful read. My heart goes out to her family.
Our Georgia
The devastating murder of my daughter by a killer who should have been stopped
by Robin Eveleigh; Lynnette Williams
Pub Date 12 Sep 2023
Ad Lib Publishers, Mardle Books
Biographies & Memoirs | True Crime
Ad Lib Publishers, Mardle Books, and Netgalley provided me with a copy of Our Georgia for review:
Georgia Williams was murdered at the hands of her college friend Jamie Reynolds in a crime that shocked the nation. The murder was chillingly executed and horrific in its sexual depravity. When Georgia's mother, Lynnette, and father, Steve, questioned the events leading to her death, they discovered that it could have been prevented. In the years leading up to Georgia's disappearance, Steve was - ironically - a highly-respected murder squad detective serving with the West Mercia Police. As Steve and Lynnette discovered, Reynolds had been in the sights of the same force for several years prior to Georgia's murder, but he had escaped capture.
Through Steve's inside knowledge of the police, the couple was able to uncover the multitude of failures that allowed Reynolds to infiltrate the life of their daughter and kill her.
I give Our Georgia five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
An absolutely heartbreaking account by Georgia’s mother of Georgia’s wonderful, but short, life and how police incompetence led to a man being free to take that life. It is surprisingly upbeat read, considering the subject matter, and I highly commend Georgia’s family for writing this book.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A very powerful and gripping story that is difficult to read in some parts but worth sticking with. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work.
The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.
The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.
Thank you to Robin Eveleigh; Lynnette Williams, Mardle Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I warmed to Lynnette from the very first page. As she relayed Georgia’s early years and stand out moments (Georgia’s prom for example/the plane build), it was very hard not to warm to this lovely family whose life was changed beyond recognition following Georgia’s murder.
When a high profile murder case hits the headlines, we of course feel for the family but this book exposes in great detail the truly horrific aftermath. One would expect that the family could move on after the court case but the circumstances surrounding Georgia’s murder meant the family have had the worst possible time as they tried to get the truth exposed. You do read this book in somewhat disbelief. I send my biggest hugs to all of them.
So infuriating, so incredibly sad.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.
Our Georgia by Robin Eveleigh & Lynette Williams is a true crime book that tells the story of Georgia Williams, a young woman from Wellington, Shropshire, who was brutally murdered by a friend in 2013. The book provides an in-depth look into Georgia's life before her tragic death and the events that led up to her murder.
At first, I thought the book was just a typical true crime story, but as I got further into it, I found myself getting more and more emotionally invested in Georgia's story. However, it was easy to forget that it was a true story as I found myself being swept away by the amazing life she led up until that fateful day. The authors do an excellent job of portraying Georgia as a real person with hopes, dreams, and a bright future ahead of her. It is truly heartbreaking to think about what she went through and what her family must have endured.
What struck me most about this book is how easily Georgia's murder could have been prevented. The warning signs were all there, but the authorities failed to take action, resulting in a young woman losing her life. It's frustrating and angering to think that this could happen in our society, and it makes you wonder how many other potential tragedies are going unnoticed. Reading this on the back of the James Bulger books, it is becoming more and more concerning how the criminal system works and how justice is often overlooked in favour of protecting the criminals.
Overall, I would highly recommend Our Georgia to anyone interested in true crime. It is a well-written and engaging book that sheds light on an important issue. While it may be a difficult read at times due to the subject matter, it is an important reminder that we must always be vigilant and take action when we see warning signs of potential harm.
I read this book after seeing so much of the graphic details in the newspapers at the time of the trial. It was heart warming to read about the person Georgia was and clearly so adored by her family before her life was cut short through such a horrific crime.
This heart-wrenching memoir written by her mother begins like this:
"In memory of Georgia Lynette Williams, a beautiful human being, loving, caring, full of life, who would help anyone in need. She deserved a long, happy life, but was let down by the careless."
That is the most succinct, and truthful description of this book that I could hope to provide.
Georgia was born in 1995 - the same year my oldest child was born. I cannot help but think of the milestones her parents and older sister have been deprived of when a disgusting POS (Piece of Shit) murderer cut her life tragically, and horrifically short.
OUR GEORGIA is part true-crime story, part biography, part memoir, and part enumeration of the litany of ways the police and other government officials screwed up.
These were NOT small, harmless screw-ups.
If the police had done their jobs in the days, weeks, months, and years leading up to the night Georgia was murdered, it is an almost certitude that she would be alive today.
I am not just saying that, I truly believe it. Once you read this book, I am convinced that you will agree with my assessment. The fact that Georgia's father was a police detective makes this all the more poignant and inexcusable.
Having Georgia's mother as the author, imbues this book with a special gravitas. Those of us who are mothers and fathers can only imagine how devastating losing a child is, and losing a child to murder is unimaginable. To have that loss compounded by the realization that her death could have, and should have, been avoided.
If you have any interest in True Crime and/or any interest in police and policing, this book must be added to your library.
5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
*** Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book. ***
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Our Georgia is a devastating accounting of the horrible aftereffects of what happens when a family member is murdered.
The author is Georgia's mother. Georgia was brutally murdered by a trusted neighbor, Jamie. The gut wrenching waiting for Georgia to return, then the shock and horror of knowing that Georgia would never return was hard at times to read.
I appreciated the authors insights into what she was feeling, how her family was handling things, etc.
The only part I didn't like was the way that the mother thought that the killer did everything to spite her. I understand about the cell phone, but the court proceedings or the appeal was NOT to spite her and her family. Or to even extend their pain, it was the killers selfish reasons to exploit the court system.
Another drag for me was the constant rehashing of how the courts, police, probation, therapists, etc failed them. The first mention was enough, then there was the report itself, then a constant rehashing of how they failed to keep Georgia safe.
Yet at the same time I wondered, even if everything had been done by the book, would Jamie have still killed? I would say he would have. But if the justice system had worked perfectly Georgia's family would NOT have anyone to blame.
And to be clear, I am not victim shaming nor am I judging them on trying to get answers, I just felt that it was so much of the book and it was repetitive.
Overall, this book is very emotionally charged (as well it should be) and written from the family's perspective on how devastating a murder is to those who remain.
A heartbreaking story about the murder of Georgia Williams written by her mum. Georgia was murdered by her friend with a criminal past that wasn’t revealed soon enough to prevent the tragic death. The story starts with the early life of Georgia, her murder, and the court proceeding. The book is amazingly well written by Lynette Williams.
The Traumatic True Story Of Georgia Williams
Georgia Williams was 17 when she was murdered by a friend called Jamie Reynolds. This book was written by Georgia’s mother, who offers a very unique perspective into the aftermath of losing a child in such a horrific way and her families battle for justice.
Georgia went over to Jamies house thinking she was helping him out with a photo shoot for a portfolio but sadly Jamie had other plans that night. After brutally killing Georgia, he then took photographs of himself sexually assaulting her all over the house which was part as a very dark twisted sick fantasy that he possessed.
Steve Georgia’s dad was a highly commended murder squad detective serving with West Mercia Police and after Georgias death it became obvious things did not add up as the case unraveled. Both Steve and Lynn began to question the events that led up to their daughter’s death. Very early on they found out that Jamie was obsessed with Snuff movies especially if hanging was involved. Sadly, this was how he had killed Georgia. Lynn and Steve found out that Renolds had been in the system years before he murdered Georgia when he loured a girl in his class to his house and tried to strangle her but she got away.
Sadly, it turns out to be a very sad story that could have been avoided as Lynn exposes a system with so many failures, into not only the police taking their eye of Renolds when he was younger and committed his first crime, but also the miss communication between psychiatrists and psychologists that warned agencies including the police that this young man was very dangerous.
All the agencies are at fault and should have seen the red flags that this young psychopath was able to lie, deceive and get away with at such a young age. I was disgusted at how the police treated Steve and Lynn, especially considering Steve was a serving member of the force.
It is a very powerful moving memoir from Lynn and Steve about what an amazing daughter Georgia was her love for life and for all the people around her. The sheer determination this family has shown is amazing, especially, how after a murder this brought the family the powerful strength for the quest for justice. They did not falter in their fight to try and change the future of policing, for future families that become victims of crime. I think after reading this book that Renolds was a chillingly disturb young man whom I think nothing, or nobody could get through to. Plus, it is very important not to forget that there is a family suffering for the rest of their lives due to his actions.
Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.