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The Unthinkable

A Story of Control, Violence and My Mother

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About this listen

 'David is one of the most courageous men I know . . . His book is one that everyone should read to understand coercive control, and what it is like to be a child growing up in a house where there is domestic abuse' Melanie Brown MBE, aka Mel B

'Unthinkable stares down horror and heartbreak. A story told with unflinching courage and a compelling drive for the truth' Laura Kuenssberg

'Beautifully written and deeply moving, I found David's book so compelling I read it in one sitting. It is a powerful call to action as much as a very personal memoir' Samira Ahmed

'A devastating portrayal of coercive control as depicted by a son' Irish Independent

"When my mum struck, it was with the cumulative rage of thirty years of hurt."

David Challen grew up in the perfect home with the model family.

He also grew up inside a house which concealed his father's manipulation and control.

One Saturday in 2010, David's mother struck more than twenty blows to the back of her husband's head with a hammer after thirty years of abuse. She then washed the dirty dishes from the lunch she had just cooked and left the house. In those few minutes, David's life was changed forever.

Over the next decade, he led the fight to overturn her conviction; and in doing so he not only freed his mother and helped change the legal system, but also became a voice for the countless victims of coercive control across the country.

This is a powerful story of a son's love for his mother; of an insidious form of abuse that must be better understood if we are to truly tackle it; and fight that reshaped how society understands domestic abuse.©2022 David Challen Abuse Domestic Partner Abuse Dysfunctional Families Law Parenting & Families Relationships True Crime Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Emotionally Gripping

Critic reviews

'a devastating portrayal of coercive control as depicted by a son'
'Unthinkable stares down horror and heartbreak. A story told with unflinching courage and a compelling drive for the truth.' (Laura Kuenssberg)
'David is one of the most courageous men I know, and I met him when he was campaigning for his mum while she was still in prison. His book is one that everyone should read to understand coercive control, and what it is like to be a child growing up in a house where there is domestic abuse.' (Melanie Brown OBE, aka Mel B)
'Beautifully written and deeply moving, I found David's book so compelling I read it in one sitting. It is a powerful call to action as much as a very personal memoir.' (Samira Ahmed)
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A story most of us don’t have to tell. David explains his childhood and mother’s abuse in a way that reveals to the reader, how the deep complexity behind the personalities of both his mother and father both contributed to their disastrous relationship. His telling is in no way sensationalised. He is remarkable!

Read from the heart

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A tough read, so I had to do it in stages. So powerful, just as David's vulnerability and ability to make the reader comprehend coercive control is absolutely extraordinary. I have so much respect and admiration for David and the powerful activism he does. This book is a beacon of hope in educating society about domestic violence. Thank you, David, for sharing so much of you!

This book is a beacon of hope in educating society about domestic violence.

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big plot twist and i found it overall really gripping beginning to end really !!

loved the story line!

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From a mother with a very young son, I thank you for shining an uncompromising spotlight on this unbearable crime. As a victim-survivor, I listened carefully to Sally’s words as she gave her own press interviews “tell someone, so they can help you leave, get out before its too late”. They made me realise how lucky I was to realise this, before it was too late. How lucky I am to be out. This book will help any woman, especially those that have child victims, to hear the alarms if they haven’t managed to escape. And to those that have escaped and are still a victim and/or surviving, it will firmly reaffirm why leaving was one of the most important decisions of their life. Thank you for being brave enough to share your story.

Piercing honesty

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This heartfelt and tragically true story of a son's unwavering love and devotion to his mother deeply moved me, beautifully illustrating their strong and unbreakable bond in the face of extraordinary adversity. It also stands as an inspiring testament to the power of perseverance in the fight for justice and healing.

Captivating

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