A widow dares not utter her husband’s name. A prisoner of war buries the memories of his ordeal. A child hostage is rendered mute. What happens when trauma goes unspoken?

The pioneering psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr Gwen Adshead invites us to witness her work with patients struggling in the wake of a range of distressing and painful life events. Drawn from over thirty years of clinical practice, Unspeakable illuminates how language – and silence – can dramatically affect the quality of our recovery after disaster. Sometimes the hardest words to say out loud are the very ones to set us free and with Adshead’s assistance and extraordinary insight, these courageous people step out of the darkness of shame and fear to discover new possibilities.

This is not a book about trauma, it is about survival. In challenging prevailing misconceptions around trauma and by charting the transformation of patient identities, hearts and minds, Unspeakable makes a powerful case for hope.

From the 2024 BBC Reith Lecturer

‘Compassionate and fascinating.’ GUARDIAN
‘Extraordinary.’ THE TIMES
‘Recalibrated my empathy dial.’ NEW STATESMAN
‘Fascinating.’ SUNDAY TIMES
‘Deeply humane.’ IRISH TIMES
‘Exceptional.’ VAL McDERMID
‘Extraordinary.’ SEBASTIAN FAULKS
‘Enlightening.’ PHILIPPE SANDS
‘Beautifully written.’ CHRISTIE WATSON

A perspective-shattering work into the minds of violent criminals that reveals profound consequences for human nature and society at large.

Dr Gwen Adshead is one of Britain’s leading forensic psychiatrists. She treats serial killers, arsonists, stalkers, gang members and other individuals who are usually labelled ‘monsters’. Whatever their crime, she listens to their stories and helps them to better understand their terrible acts of violence. Here Adshead invites the reader to step with her into the room to meet twelve patients and discover how minds can change. These men and women are revealed in all their complexity and shared humanity. Their stories make a powerful case for rehabilitation over revenge, compassion over condemnation. The Devil You Know will challenge everything you thought you knew about human nature.

Readers are saying:
‘Remarkable and humane . . . compassionate and full of wisdom.’ ?????
‘Empathy and understanding shine through . . . not just informative but also deeply moving.’ ?????
‘Shows us how to be human, how to be empathetic in the most challenging of circumstances . . . essential reading.’ ?????
‘Can’t really think of a downside at the moment . . . a gem of a read.’ ?????
‘I was gripped . . . I am left full of admiration.’ ?????
‘Thoughtful, thought-provoking and challenging . . . I really enjoyed this.’ ?????
‘Personal and candid . . . This will stay with me for a long time.’ ?????

Gwen Adshead and Eileen Horne’s book The Devil You Know was a Sunday Times Bestseller w/c 02-07-2022
Gwen Adshead and Eileen Horne’s book The Devil You Know was a Sunday Times Bestseller w/c 09-07-2022