Cellar Girl

Josefina Rivera

Jan 2014 · Random House

About this ebook

'I stood there for a moment, silently speaking to myself: Josefina, you will survive this. You are strong. You are a fighter. You adapt.'

As a young mum-of-three, Josefina Rivera was determined to get her troubled life back on track. But then she met Gary Heidnik and the next four months became a living nightmare.

Along with five women Josefina was held captive in a cellar where she was starved, beaten, and repeatedly raped to fulfil Heidnik’s desire of creating a ‘family’ of ten children.

Cellar Girl is the shocking but ultimately inspiring story of how one brave, young woman saved herself and others from a life worse than hell.

Ratings and reviews

this was a really good book!!! heartbreaking obviously, but it definitely gives you a more grateful perspective on life knowing this women suffered over and over yet she continuesly fought hard to keep going. it's really inspiring!!

This was a great read and as a Philadelphia native, I could picture the neighborhoods and intersections referenced throughout the book. It's disturbing to think that something so horrific could happen in my hometown just months after I was born. I wish this book was published in the US because the British spellings, words and phrases (yoghurt, loo, had a row) took away from the integrity of the book in my opinion, but I still give the book 5 stars.

I cried at the end of this book for her children mostly. It's brilliantly written and I read in a day and half ! Says it all ..

About the author

Josefina Rivera now lives a happy and contented life in Atlantic City, New Jersey.