The Girl Behind the Gates: The gripping, heartbreaking historical bestseller based on a true story

***TOP TEN BESTSELLER***

'Compelling. Poignant. Haunting. Heart wrenching. Just beautiful. Everyone needs to read this wonderful book.' - Renita D'Silva, bestselling author of The Forgotten Daughter

1939. Seventeen-year-old Nora Jennings has spent her life secure in the certainty of a bright, happy future - until one night of passion has more catastrophic consequences than she ever could have anticipated. Labelled a moral defective and sectioned under the Mental Deficiency Act, she is forced to endure years of unspeakable cruelty at the hands of those who are supposed to care for her.

1981.
When psychiatrist Janet Humphreys comes across Nora, heavily institutionalised and still living in the hospital more than forty years after her incarceration, she knows that she must be the one to help Nora rediscover what it is to live. But as she works to help Nora overcome her past, Janet realises she must finally face her own.

Based on a true story, The Girl Behind the Gates is perfect for fans of The Girl in the Letter and Philomena.

Further praise for THE GIRL BEHIND THE GATES:

'The Girl behind the Gates absorbed me from the start. A haunting, heart-wrenching but ultimately heart-warming novel.' - Gill Thompson, bestselling author of The Oceans Between Us

'The Girl Behind the Gates is a powerful, emotional novel. I was moved to tears by the ending and will certainly not hesitate to recommend it.' - Jill Childs, bestselling author of Gracie's Secret

'A powerful story of trust, compassion, healing - and the transforming power of love, that can give new life to a broken spirit.' - Sharon Maas, bestselling author of The Violin Maker's Daughter

Readers LOVE The Girl Behind the Gates!

'The best book of the year. I read 125 books a year and this is the best I have read' - 5 STARS
'I can't stop crying having just finished the book. It's an incredible piece of literary genius' - 5 STARS
'A story that needs to be told' - 5 STARS
'An inspirational and very moving story' - 5 STARS
'Just brilliant. I wholeheartedly recommend this book' - 5 STARS
'I hardly ever write a review but if you read one book this year this is it' - 5 STARS
'A very moving and heartbreaking story' - 5 STARS
'I would have given this book 10 STARS if I could' - 5 STARS
'This book is beautifully written and captivating in every way' - 5 STARS

BUY THE BOOK

Published May 10, 2022

352 pages

Average rating: 7.07

67 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Sooster27
Apr 15, 2025
10/10 stars
Powerful story of the mistreatment of women and early psychiatry. Difficult at times to read - took me longer than normal to read - tough subjects based on a true story. Beautifully written - highly recommend.
Emz perz
Dec 06, 2025
9/10 stars
Very good, but terribly sad
JT Penguin
Oct 21, 2025
10/10 stars
I expected this book to be sad and to shock me, knowing the time period it was set in. But it has been awhile since a book made me cry and especially make me cry multiple times!! I am not a parent but it ripped at my heart. Such a moving and empowering story of resiliency. To know this is based on a true story is even more astounding. Definitely recommend!
Claremarie
Feb 02, 2023
9/10 stars
Beautiful but heart wrenching!!!!! Nora, the main character spends forty years in an institution/hospital incarcerated. Such cruelty she endured. So eerie and just haunting.

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