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- Title: Secret Slave: Kidnapped and abused for 13 years. This is my story of survival
- Author: Anna Ruston
- Narrator: Faye Adele
- Length: 07:54:28
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 30/01/2018
- Publisher: Tantor Media
- Genre: Biography & Memoir, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellness, Marriage & Family, Memoir, Social Science, Women
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
As someone who has spent years collecting oral histories from survivors around the world, I approached Anna Ruston’s ‘Secret Slave’ with both professional curiosity and personal trepidation. What I found was not just another memoir of suffering, but a masterclass in the resilience of the human spirit, made even more powerful through Faye Adele’s nuanced narration.
The story unfolds like a slow-motion nightmare that gradually tightens its grip. Fifteen-year-old Anna, vulnerable from her troubled home life, falls prey to a predator masquerading as a friendly taxi driver. Ruston’s account of her subsequent 13-year captivity is so visceral that at times, listening to it while driving through the Arizona desert (where I first experienced this audiobook), I had to pull over to collect myself. The scorching landscape outside my rental car window became an eerie parallel to Anna’s internal hell.
Faye Adele’s performance is nothing short of extraordinary. She captures Anna’s youthful innocence at the beginning with such authenticity that it reminded me of the Oaxacan grandmother’s storytelling – that same ability to make you feel like you’re hearing a secret meant just for you. As the narrative progresses, Adele’s voice subtly transforms, mirroring Anna’s psychological journey. The way she delivers the line ‘You’re mine now’ still haunts me; it’s whispered with such casual malevolence that it made my blood run colder than the Patagonian winds I’ve written about so often.
What makes this audiobook experience particularly powerful is Ruston’s unflinching yet never gratuitous account of her abuse. The descriptions of her miscarriages and stolen babies are delivered with a raw honesty that transcends mere shock value. I found myself thinking of the women I’ve interviewed in war zones and refugee camps – that same quiet dignity in the face of unimaginable trauma. Ruston’s ability to find shards of light in the darkness (like her fleeting moments of connection with other captives) reminded me why I became a storyteller in the first place.
The production quality deserves special mention. The audio engineers made brilliant choices – no distracting music or sound effects, just Adele’s voice and carefully placed silences that speak volumes. There’s one particular pause after Anna describes holding her newborn for the last time that lasted just long enough to make me hold my breath along with her.
While undeniably difficult to listen to at times, this isn’t trauma porn. Ruston guides us through her healing process with the same care she might show a fellow survivor. The final chapters, where she reclaims her identity, had me cheering out loud in my hotel room in Lisbon, much to the confusion of the housekeeping staff.
For those considering this audiobook, I’d recommend preparing emotionally as you would for a challenging journey. Take breaks when needed – I found myself pausing frequently to process what I’d heard. But like all important journeys, this one changes you. It’s changed how I interview survivors for my own work, making me more attentive to the spaces between their words.
With hope for all survivors,
Marcus Rivera
