Secret Slave: Kidnapped and abused for 13 years. This is my story of survival.

Anna Ruston

Dec 2016 · Bonnier Publishing Ltd.

About this eBook

The Sunday Times top ten bestseller...


You're not going home. You're not going anywhere. You're mine now.

Growing up in a deeply troubled family, 15-year-old Anna felt lost and alone in the world. So when a friendly taxi driver befriended her, Anna welcomed the attention, and agreed to go home with him to meet his family. She wouldn't escape for over a decade.

Held captive by a sadistic paedophile, Anna was subjected to despicable levels of sexual abuse and torture. The unrelenting violence and degradation resulted in numerous miscarriages, and the birth of four babies... each one stolen away from Anna at birth.

Her salvation arrived thirteen years too late, but despite her shattered mind and body, Anna finally managed to flee. This is her harrowing, yet uplifting, true story of survival.

Ratings and reviews

I don't mean to discredit the author or the horrific experiences, but its really hard to believe the level of violence and abuse. Some of it like the bottle brush and cucumber and that she is raped repeatedly a day after she gives birth is really too sadistic and appears far fetched. No woman can endure that and survive. Body will give away way before that. Really, if true would be extremely disturbing. All those violent beatings and everything.

Yes, this child's story is horrifying and tragic, starting with maternal neglect, who passed her daughter to her grandmother and back, never enrolling her in school or getting her healthcare. Mom also reads that she obviously sold her daughter to that "gypsy cab driver" and walked away. It seems to be apparent that she has never received an education or wanted to, even after rescue. Honestly, this is quite possibly the worst book of survivability I have ever read. After three chapters I yelled out loud, "NO ONE PROOF READ THIS!!! HOW WAS THIS PUBLISHED??" 🤨😠😡🤬 I gave it several more chapters, but unfortunately, the fact that she was not even given a ghostwriter and that the publishing company DID NOT PROOFREAD THE FINAL MANUSCRIPT, forced me to give up.

I'm really surprised that so many people do not find a problem with this book. It just doesn't even resemble true crime. It seems more like a book describing graphic rape and violence with no other point. Nothing rings true. I have read many true crime books, and this is book is an exaggerated, questionable mess with way too many contradictions and questions left by the end. She was only able to escape after finding out she would be going to Pakistan? She went home with this taxi driver with no back story of their friendship? Where is the corroboration from anyone at all??

About the author

Anna is now building a normal happy family life for herself and children. This is her first book.