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Strangeways Unlocked
- The Shocking Truth About Life Behind Bars
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble, Neil Samworth
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, True Crime
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Summary
A darkly funny, harrowing and heartbreaking look at the reality of prison life, with first-hand accounts from men who found themselves on the wrong side of the cell doors.
Neil ‘Sam’ Samworth spent 11 years as a prison officer at HMP Manchester, better known as Strangeways. He has seen it all: from notorious criminals, dangerous gangsters and repeat offenders to those who simply made the wrong decisions. In this shocking book, he tracks down former prisoners and staff, and uncovers the inside story of what life is really like in one of the UK’s most infamous high-security prisons.
We’ll see a prisoner whose unwanted feud with an inmate ends in a fight and the loss of his eye, another who is convicted for theft but leaves addicted to spice and many who become victims of the IPP system where they find themselves serving indefinite sentences for petty crimes. We’ll see the dark underworld of the prison system, where riots can occur at any time, where the worlds of gangbangers suddenly collide, where class A drugs and contrabands roam. On the other side, we’ll see staff grappling with a failing prison system, while dealing with an inmate who records the highest ever psychopath rating and caring fully for another they suspect is feigning handicap.
In brutally raw and gripping detail, Strangeways Unlocked gives voice to the people behind the bars and exposes a prison system that is failing them, providing an unforgettable account of a life that many can only imagine.
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What listeners say about Strangeways Unlocked
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Anonymous User
- 19-07-22
After reading and listening to many books , I’ve never heard such a self conceited and high and mighty person in my life
This guy thinks he’s famous after blowing the whistle on everyone apart from himself , now it’s about him and only him , don’t read !!
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- Anonymous User
- 05-07-22
Thoroughly Enjoyed
excellent read, enjoyed both of this chaps books so far and looking forward to trying the Podcasts real porridge.
excellent narration too, set the scenes well
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- Den
- 24-05-22
Bleak
I'm from Manchester and knew all the places and many of the problems associated with those areas. I found the 'first hand' recounts of former prisoners, their up bringing, lives
and prison careers, somewhat bleak. I count myself very fortunate to have had no exposure to those experiences. That said it was still compelling listening and I enjoyed it overall.
This is the first book of Neil's bought and I'll be buying others. I watch his YouTube content which led me here. I hope what drives him to do what he does leads to real, tangible changes in our prisons and look forward to listening to his other works.
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- Stephen Lightfoot
- 12-05-22
again brilliant
as in the first book by Mr samsworth what a book to listen to can't wait for the next book if he has one coming out listen to his podcast on YouTube to brilliant
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- John wright
- 05-05-22
Worth a listen
Not as good as the first book but is an interesting listen.
I look forward to the next book
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- Dog Walker Sussex
- 16-04-22
A story with a difference
I loved this book and the narration was first class. I didn't want it to end!
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- Kindle Customer
- 11-04-22
A must, great work from Neil Sam worth
If you enjoyed his first book this is a must, i can't wait for his 3rd book, why more authors don't commit there work to Audio i will never know, basically brilliant
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- crochetdiva
- 09-04-22
Rrank and eye opening!
I got this audio book because I was curious. I had already read the first book, and enjoyed this one just as much. Neil Sam worth is down to earth and honest. Some of the things I heard in the book were shocking, and it's time for some reforms. Murderers, rapists and terrorists should be in prison for a very long time, in fact life should mean life. However, petty criminals on their first or second offence should be given a xhance. Well worth a listen, and the interview with Jonathan Keeble at the end is also worth listening to.
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- Anderson Silva
- 03-04-22
Great stuff.
Great book. It almost takes an interview format, with different characters appearing in order and having a dialogue with Sam. It's a bit of a strange format but I'm used to watching the podcast so it was normal for me.
I really enjoyed it and recognized some of the characters Sam mentions, even though the names were changed.
Keep it coming Sam.