Holly's hell : seven years in a Thai prison

Deane-Johns, Holly2024

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Summary

Holly's Hell is a remarkable story of trauma and redemption. At the age of 29, Holly Deane-Johns was found guilty of attempting to post 15 grams of heroin to Australia from Bangkok. She narrowly avoided the death penalty but received a 31-year prison sentence. She spent seven years in a notorious Thai women's prison, where she shared a cramped cell with 120 other women and staying alive was a daily struggle. She learnt Thai and formed enduring friendships with Thai women, but faced heartbreak and anguish when some did not survive. Holly also overcame her drug addiction for good. After serving seven and a half years, Holly was transferred to a Perth prison, where she remained for another five years. After her release from prison in 2012, Holly was subsequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. This is the first time she has shared an in-depth account of her life with the world, having shunned media interviews until 2023. In her autobiography, Holly describes her turbulent childhood within a dysfunctional family. She first tried heroin at the age of 16 and several family members died of heroin overdoses. Holly writes with honesty, self-reflection and a complete absence of self-pity. Her story is both shocking and tragic, but it is ultimately a story of resilience and renewal.