Jennifer Gibson’s life takes a horrifying turn just before her thirteenth birthday when she is forcibly taken and sold into the clutches of a ruthless gang, marking the beginning of an intense kidnapping crime drama. Stripped of her innocence and freedom, Jennifer fights relentlessly to preserve her identity and safeguard the flickering flame of hope within her.

As Jennifer unravels the chilling truth behind her abduction, the foundations of her existence crumble, plunging her into a world even more tumultuous and treacherous than she could have ever imagined. This gripping kidnapping psychological thriller forces her to confront not only her deepest fears but also the devastating reality of her shattered past.

‘Jennifer Gibson – I am a Survivor’ is the debut novella by Beth Nicks in association with Rhiannon Evans and is written in the form of a lengthy statement from Jennifer, who was kidnapped and trafficked. Jennifer tells her story in the first person and the past tense. As a twelve year old girl, she was kidnapped whilst walking home from school and held captive for four years. This is the account of her ordeal, survival and rehabilitation.

As this haunting tale is short in length, no time is wasted in preamble and the action starts with Jennifer’s kidnapping. I wasn’t sure of the country in which the tale was set or the nationality of the protagonists but this became clear at a later stage.

Whilst we are spared any details of the sexual abuse suffered by Jennifer, we are made aware of her bleak surroundings, physical injuries and drug addiction. Certain routines, along with limited contact with other captives, became very important to her as she employed coping strategies and mechanisms to survive her ordeal. A novella doesn’t allow much opportunity for character development; whilst her foils inevitably had small roles, Jennifer herself comes across as someone with whom the audience can empathise and sympathise.

Taking into account the horrifying abuse she suffered for years, the outcome of Jennifer’s story is realistic. At 94 pages, this book is concise and impactful in spite of being light on detail in places. There is little respite from the darkness of Jennifer’s harrowing experiences but readers should be prepared for this from the synopsis. There is a sting in the tail which maybe wasn’t totally shocking as, like Jennifer, the reader at this point might well be desensitised to brutality. I liked the fact that she breaks the fourth wall at the end for anyone who could be suffering in silence.

This wouldn’t be a book I would have chosen to read but there is no doubt that the authors have tackled a very emotive subject with care and sensitivity. Objectively, I award 4.5 stars.