Customer Reviews

No Turning Back

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I had followed this story through the media but reading Joanne's story in her own words, as she had experienced it for herself, shed an amazingly different light on things. I cannot believe what this poor girl went through. I read this book in one day. I couldn't put it down. I would strongly recommend it!!

I, for one, am not writing this review because I believe that Joanna Lees had anything to do with the murder. I believe her account- her husband was killed by the man they go in court. I am writing this book because, for all that people claim she "refused to play the victim", this is exactly what she does here and it reeks of bull.

In this book she maligns the media for the image that they have given her, but let's be real: This woman got paid for interviews about her dead husband, paid for interviews she did to "bring awareness." Did she not at once feel remorse for getting paid money to bring awareness about the dead husband she was mourning so sadly? Her affair. Of course she doesn't talk about it here, where she claims she loved her husband so much and acts as if she'll be solitary for the rest of her life (part of the image). Truth is, she was making arrangements to meet with her lover even after her husband was killed. She cherry picks facts and tries to make herself look like the poor good girl in this tale, if she wanted to set the record straight she should have focused on the things that discredited and all the discrepancies in her persona instead of fabricating this sobby little victim of a book- and, of course, cashing on it.

Velvet Ball and The Broken Fairy (Series Novel)


When I saw this book I couldn't wait to read it. I'd been following the case from the beginning. When I first saw Joanne Lees on the news, I immediately felt sorry for her. The stunned look on her face made me immediately believe she was innocent, no matter what the press said. I'd seen a similar look once before - on Lindy Chamberlain. She was also accused of a crime she didn't commit, and I always believed that she was innocent too.

As soon as I got this book home, I began reading. I couldn't put it down, not only did it take you into the mind of this very brave young woman, but I found it extremely well written. I loved her total honesty and her fighting spirit. She even mentions the names of uncaring, and cruel cops - that takes courage. Some of them treated her terribly, but not all ' there were quite a few endearing ones too. But in the beginning, Joanne was given absolutely no care and treated like she was guilty - and she was in a strange country with no one close by to help her, the poor girl.

Although my heart went out to her, once I'd read this wonderful book - which is terrifying in parts - I realised Joanne Lees doesn't need sympathy. She's one of the most courageous and beautiful souls I've ever read about - a genuine heroine. (She's also extremely funny and quick witted.

Some reviewers have said they didn't know why she even wrote the book ' well maybe she wanted to help other victims as well as set things straight. What if another young woman - or man, came across the same situation? The way she escaped was marvellous and brave. Instead of being accused of killing her boyfriend, she should have been praised. I was ashamed to be human after the way she was treated by some people, by some police, and by some of the media.

When I was fourteen, I caught the wrong train and ended up stranded at a deserted railway station. There were no working pay-phones nearby, and a strange man grabbed me and shoved me into his car through the driver's door. He told me it was too dangerous to be sitting at that station late at night. (I'd been there for a couple of hours, hoping for another train.) He said there weren't any more trains that night, and then he pushed me across the gear stick into the passenger seat. I was terrified. All the doors except for the driver's one were tied together with wire cable from inside the car. I panicked and tried to open the door, but it held tight. I was a prisoner and there was no way out.

The man said he'd had an accident and was getting the doors fixed. I didn't believe him. He asked for my address and said he'd drive me home. I told him the street, but I was shaking with fear. I pretended to be calm and chatted to him as if I trusted him. I was surprised when he pulled into the street next to mine, but he kept driving until he reached a deserted area with no houses. He threatened if I didn't do what he told me, he'd drag me into the scrub close by. As he reached over to kiss me, I panicked ' and without consciously thinking what I was doing, I leaped on top of him and bashed him over the head as hard as I could with my handbag.

Holding his arms over his head, he yelled at me to stop. I think his face was bleeding from the buckle of my bag. As if someone else had taken over my mind, I screamed as loud as I could, climbed over him, opened the door and jumped out. Then I ran for my life.

When I read Joanne Lee's story, the memory of that night came flooding back. I knew what I did probably wasn't the smartest thing to do, after all, he could have overpowered me, but he must have been too stunned to react or it was his first time. He certainly wasn't expecting that and neither was I. Sorry to get off track.

For Joanne Lees to be treated so badly and keep her dignity is a credit to her. After reading her story, she will remain one of my heroes, always. I loved that she can still laugh and joke even in times of stress and despair. What a wonderful spirit she is and a great role model for other young women.

I wish her well and hope she sells millions of her books ' she deserves to. I thank Joanne for sharing her story, and I highly recommend it. It makes you cry, but gives a few laughs too, and you get an idea of how an evil and cunning a murderer thinks when he's planning things. I found the ending satisfying, and although I felt dreadfully sad for Peter Falconio and his poor family, I was happy that Joanne Lee's survived the horrendous things that happened to her. She's one tough lady.

I didn't really follow the story of Joanna & Peter in the press in the UK when it originally came about. I caught bits & pieces here and there, and vaguely remember that the man accused of murdering Peter in the Australian Outback got put in jail, but I do remember Joanna getting portrayed in the UK press in a very bad light.

Then she disappeared, and nothing was said, until recently, when a TV drama came on UK TV, and it her book came out. Apparently she had nothing to do with the TV show (which speaks volumes), and criticised in any interviews for this book.

My mum is a sucker for these kind of books - well, it's either those or Dannielle Steele, or other biographies - so, in order to stop myself reading the stack of books I have to take on holiday with me (ha!) I've resorted to reading my mum's books. Otherwise I'll have no books to take on holida with me. So I read it.

Instead of going straight to bed one night, I read the first couple of chapters, otherwise I would never have got to sleep. Then I read it all in one afternoon. We're talking 317 pages in total here. Apart from a break to phone a friend, and watch two episodes of Quantum Leap, I read it all.

During reading, I went back and forth through what I was lead to believe by the many press reports I remember, to what Joanna was saying, to the conflicting reports in the book. For me, the first half of the book, despite being Joanna's point of view, was very dodgy, and I couldn't decide whether she had murdered her own boyfriend or not. Then the second half, with the court case, left me completely undecided.

I doubt Joanna would have killed her boyfriend, and she must have been really upset, that when giving her statement, all her 'evidence' pointed at her. You do feel for her throughout the book, and it is gripping reading.

I did feel at the end though, that nothing was ever really accomplished. What was the point in writing the book, apart from setting the record straight? Too many people would have already been influenced by the press, and would deliberately look for clues that she was lying etc. But overall, it was an excellent book, well written, and the court case transcripts were a real insight. The only problem is now I've finished it.