I Let Him Go: The heartbreaking book from the mother of James Bulger- updated for the 30th anniversary, in memory of James Paperback – 19 Jan. 2023

‪I Let Him Go was a difficult read in places, but I can only applaud and feel deep admiration and respect for Denise Fergus in sharing her story. Over the years so much has been written about her which is simply untrue and here she has been able to set the record straight. She has only ever fought for justice for her son, and put everything else aside and attempted to have a happy life with her husband and children. She is a remarkably brave and inspirational woman and this book has only proven that further. ‬‪I am just a few months older than James Bulger would be now. My mum and me would go shopping each week to the Strand shopping centre where the abduction took place, even days before it happened and James’s resting place is just down the path from where my grandad’s is. Even as a young child I was told and was aware that this resting place was for a very special boy. Whilst there aren’t many people in the UK that don’t know about this case, there’s certainly nobody in Liverpool that doesn’t know about it and I think everybody (at least those of us with feelings and sanity) shares in the disgust and disbelief at the government cover-up still to this day to protect these two evil killers, one of whom continues to find himself back in prison. How is it justifiable to let this man read evidence from Denise and see her via video link and yet she must remain oblivious about his protected life? At times the book made me shake with anger at what I was reading, but ultimately the message to be taken is how much work is still to be done on changing the law and that is what Denise will continue to fight for and I find it extremely admirable. ‬‪This is a highly emotional read throughout that brought me to tears multiple times. Denise talks with searing honesty and having watched her in multiple interviews, and only days ago on Loose Women, I found myself reading this book with her voice in my head. Denise talks about meeting Ralph, falling in love and having James and despite heartbreak with delivering their daughter who had sadly died, they went on to have James who just sounded the most delightful child (however Denise does point out how incredibly mischievous he could be!) At times I could have been reading stories from my own mum so similar were they to the mischief I used to cause at that age. It’s even more heartbreaking reading about her joy at being a mother to James when I knew what was coming up in subsequent chapters. Reading about those scenes, the disappearance and then the arrest of two children and then their trials just filled me with dread, made me feel sick and just made tears stream down my face.‬‪It’s remarkable to read about how Denise coped and got through a time no person should ever have to face. The strength and determination shone through and it was wonderful to read about how her life was effectively saved when she found out she was pregnant with Michael. I loved the parts of the book where Michael spoke about the love and protectiveness he feels towards his mum, and about how they as a family talk about James everyday. How she met and fell in love with Stuart is wonderful too. Denise has said she doesn’t want James to be remembered as a murdered child but to be remembered for the happy and loving boy that he was, and that’s certainly what I have taken from this book. The love she has for James, her family, her children and her husband just shines through throughout the whole book and I feel incredibly happy that she has been able to achieve this within her life after such a tragedy. Despite not knowing Denise personally it’s hard not to be affected by something like this that happened so close to home. ‬‪The story of James Bulger is one that people will never forget, but I think it’s important that people really support Denise and her family in raising awareness and in following her campaigning work and to sign petitions where they can. To sign a petition takes not even 5 minutes but it can have such a huge impact on what Denise is fighting for. Look her up on Twitter, follow the case and put your name to the fight. It can be achieved and with the determination of people like Denise and her family it will one day be achieved. She also has a charity set up in James’s name and I am already thinking of ways that I could perhaps fundraise for it and make some small impact. I love everything that it stands for. I know that a small portion of proceeds from the sale of this book will go towards it and so I highly recommend that people go out and purchase this book. Yes it is an emotional read but it is so much more than that. Denise and her family are remarkable people and through the writing of this book she has ensured that the memory of her beautiful son will live on and that he will never be forgotten.

its a bit less gory this book although Denise didnt know what really happened to her baby boy. its good that she done a memorial in jame's name though

I , for one of millions remember the murder of James twenty five years ago. As a parent myself I often wondered how I could have dealt with such horrific outcome that Denise had to endure since her baby was cruelly snatched from her.I recall I wanted to contact her many times but could not impose on the grief I could never imagine she was suffering. Like many others I felt those two boys were far cleverer than any adult, were compulsive liars; that they were a danger to the public and should never be released. Their cunning, manipulation earned them their freedom by fooling those in charge to let them out into society. No one it seemed was looking at the pain and suffering those two vile creatures bestowed upon the family of James, the thoughts to maintain their comforts throughout their 'sentence' was the be all and end all of the Politically Correct society we are forced to live in, with no thoughts whatsoever on the pain James' family have had to endure- not only the shock horror of the crime against their tiny, beautiful child; but the on going dismissal of their fight to obtain justice for their son.This book written by Denise tells how her world was torn apart on that dreadful day when unknowingly in that Shopping Centre there were two boys lurking around to find a young child to kill....any child, it didn't matter to them (they had failed three hours earlier to abduct another small toddler to kill)...this book tells all. The suffering, none of us can imagine, through to the trial and beyond, none of us knew this crime tore apart James' parents...and Denise was dealing with her grief alongside the loss of her husband too. Two people who were forced to endure heartache and their grief in their own way. An absolutely heart breaking book from a tiny, frail young woman who has fought tirelessly within her grief to bring justice for her son, and to this day continues to battle with those who should support the family, not the perpetrators. I am so glad I ordered this book, which Denise has shown in her own words the strength she found throughout the years to fight the establishment who had failed her innocent little boy. It shows how she wanted those boys to be punished in a prison for what they did to her child, and nothing more. She and her family were issued with a life sentence the day two ten year olds chose James to lure away, yet instead of hatred and wishing them ill, ( which I for one have wished over the last twenty five years) she has found a loving husband who has been supportive since the day they met, and enjoy happiness with their family, James' brother's. Her on going campaign for justice, and fund raising for James' Trust, set up in memory of this happy little boy, and in support of other children who have suffered abusive relationships , or bereaved- a safe haven to visit as a holiday home; this woman is an inspiration to us all, and has given me the confidence to write to her after all these years, from one mother to another. An amazing, heartfelt read, you will not regret purchasing this book.

I think most people in the UK and beyond will always know the name Jamie Bulger. Heartbreaking read by a heartbroken Mum. This poor mum will always blame herself, but a good insight into the thoughts, feelings and how Denise carries on fighting for her son

Denise you are a great women and mother!You’ve fought tooth and nail for your beautiful baby James, and it’s my belief, the people in authority made your grief, and your families grief, much worse to bare. I honestly think these people couldn’t accept that two 10 year olds were capable of such an awful crime!Denise, we’ve never believe you were out thieving. It’s now clear the papers sensationalised this story to sell more copies of their paper…. They cared for nobody but themselves and the paper they were writing for.Denise, I send you and your family my warm wishes for the future… you been a proper mother who fought tirelessly for their child (I really don’t know how you kept your sanity).God bless you, your family and extended family xMay baby James rest in eternal peace xP.S. I vividly remember signing the national paper petition and sending back

Well we all know the story so no surprises. Well written