My Brother the Killer: A Family Story

In the docklands of south-east England, Alix Sharkey grew up with his younger siblings under the shadow of their charismatic yet violent father, a vicious alcoholic. His kid brother Stuart became the family's protector at home, school, and on the streets, and their bond was deep and powerful. When Alix moved away from their rough hometown to become a journalist, cosmopolitan and bilingual, Stuart remained behind and descended into a hidden life of sexual violence against teenage girls, interspersed with prison sentences. Twenty years ago, Stuart was convicted of the kidnap and murder of his 15-year-old niece Danielle. He remains incarcerated in Britain's most notorious high-security prison. Despite his conviction and a lost appeal, Stuart has refused to reveal where he disposed of his victim's remains, leaving her parents in unresolved grief. This memoir explores how two brothers took such divergent paths and examines what factors may have contributed to Stuart's crimes. Sharkey confronts difficult questions about family loyalty, responsibility to truth, and the childhood and adolescent experiences that shaped his brother's later actions.