This exciting adventure gives fascinating insight into the workings of the Roman legal system in a page-turning court room drama. As always, Caroline Lawrence springs new surprises for all the characters and provides motives, means and opportunity for one determined felon. And, as ever, it's up to the four young detectives to crack the case . . .

Sarah Forsyth has spent most of her life in fear. After overcoming the hurt and heartbreak of a horrific childhood, Sarah managed to build a new life for herself as a nursery nurse. Then, one day, she spotted a newspaper advert for a job in a creche in Amsterdam. Excited by the prospect of a fresh start abroad, she eagerly signed up. But within minutes of stepping off the plane in Amsterdam her life began to fall apart... There was no creche and no job. That night, at just nineteen years of age, her life - her real life, her life as Sarah Forsyth - ended. Fed cocaine and cannabis, and forced at gunpoint to work as a prostitute in the Red Light District of Amsterdam: Sarah was a victim of sex-trafficking. Sarah Forsyth is a survivor. This is her heartbreaking story.

In 1859 twelve-year-old Clotee, a house slave who must conceal the fact that she can read and write, records in her diary her experiences and her struggle to decide whether to escape to freedom.

***Please note: This ebook edition does not contain the photos found in the print edition.*** Secret prisoners behind closed doors, they were real-life Cinderellas-- with no hope of rescue. Nowhere to run...nowhere to hide...nowhere to turn... Enter today's sordid world of slaves and masters, where innocent young girls are sold to the rich, and subjected to horrifying degradation. Beautiful Laxmi was the servant of two Arab princesses who regularly beat her and even yanked out her gold teeth. Bleeding and hysterical, she escaped-- only to be returned to the evil sisters. Helen was allowed two to four hours of sleep a night by the married couple who kept her. Rarely did a day pass that she wasn't slapped, kicked, punched, and beaten by this cruel doctor and his wife. Marita was sold by her husband to his best friend as a sex slave. He forced her to endure horrific beatings-- often locked in wooden stocks. Virtual captives in the mansions of the rich and famous, they risked their lives to tell their stories for the first time, in Wensley Clarkson's Slave Girls.

"Her graphically detailed pictures of tribal life make the novel memorable."-Chicago Tribune

"Life of a Slave Girl" is an autobiographical novel written by Harriet Jacobs, chronicling her life as a slave and her eventual escape to freedom. Published in 1861, it is one of the first personal narratives written by a former female slave, offering a unique perspective on the brutal realities of slavery and the struggles faced by women in this oppressive system. The book begins with a detailed account of Harriet's childhood, growing up as a slave in North Carolina. She describes the happy moments of her early years, but also the constant fear and uncertainty that came with being owned by another person. Harriet reveals the harshness of her master, Dr. Flint, who relentlessly pursued her for sexual favors, leading her to seek refuge in a secret relationship with a white man. This relationship gives her two children, but also puts her in a vulnerable position as she feared that Dr. Flint would use them as leverage to control her. In a desperate attempt to escape the oppressive environment and protect her children, Harriet flees to the North and becomes a fugitive slave. She hides in a cramped attic for seven years, constantly fearing for her safety and the safety of her children. During this time, she struggles with poverty and discrimination, but also experiences the joy of being free and the hope of a better future. However, Harriet's story takes a dark turn when Dr. Flint catches up to her and attempts to bring her back into slavery. In a heart-wrenching decision, she is forced to send her children away to protect them, knowing that she may never see them again. Through her resilience and determination, Harriet eventually makes her way to the North, where she is reunited with her children and able to live as a free woman. Throughout the book, Harriet exposes the brutal and dehumanizing realities of slavery, particularly for women. She vividly describes the physical and sexual abuse she endured, as well as the emotional toll it took on her. She also sheds light on the ways in which female slaves were used and exploited by their masters, often being forced into sexual relationships and bearing children who were still considered property. In addition to her personal experiences, Harriet also speaks out against the institution of slavery as a whole. She reveals the hypocrisy of Christian slaveholders who justify their actions with religion and the irony of a country founded on the principles of freedom and equality still allowing the ownership and mistreatment of human beings. "Life of a Slave Girl" is not only a powerful memoir of one woman's journey to freedom, but also a powerful commentary on the horrors of slavery and the resilience of the human spirit. Harriet Jacobs' brave and honest account serves as a reminder of the injustices of the past and the ongoing fight for equality and social justice. It is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the complex and painful history of slavery in America.

This is a far-ranging study which contextualises both the historical figure of Harriet Jacobs and her autobiography as a created work of art.