The Governor cover art

The Governor

My Life Inside Britain’s Most Notorious Prisons

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Governor

By: Vanessa Frake
Narrated by: Vanessa Frake
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $25.99

Buy Now for $25.99

About this listen

The Sunday Times top 10 best seller.

As seen on This Morning.

Back in the day, I was governor of security and operations for HMP Wormwood Scrubs. If you’re easily shocked or offended, you best look away now....

Having worked for 16 years in a high-security women’s prison dealing with the likes of Rosemary West and Myra Hindley, Vanessa Frake thought she’d seen it all. That was until she was transferred to the notorious Wormwood Scrubs.

Thrust into a ‘man’s world’, her no-nonsense approach and fearless attitude saw her swiftly rise through the ranks. From dealing with celebrity criminals and busting drug rings, to recruiting informers and being subject to violent attacks, this hard-hitting but often humorous memoir reveals all about life behind bars in unflinching detail.

Now, for one last time, the Gov opens the prison gates. Prepare for the madness and horror of daily life with the UK’s most ruthless criminals.

©2021 Vanessa Frake (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Murder Social Sciences True Crime Women Crime Funny Witty Scary
All stars
Most relevant  
Vanessa makes her unique, interesting journey a pleasure to listen to. Inspiring, honest and endearing.

Fantastic read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
What an interesting and absorbing view into the British prison system. Thank you Vanessa, for your hard work and dedication in producing such a great work. Most of all, I love hearing the voice of the author, you had me captivated from beginning to end. Thanks, from a reader in Australia! 🦘

Narration that shines with character

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I don’t normally read/listen to autobiographies but this one is different. You get drawn into the raw, honest down to earth way of telling an extraordinary life story. Recommended.

Different from the average!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
An eye opening story about lots of “inside” stories. Easy to listen to & keep your interest.

Eye Opening

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The honestly and detailed experience Vanessa spoke of, you felt as though you were there.

Amazing story of jail life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
wonderful ....bloody marvelous....sad ..happy eye.opening......great narrator.....will recommend this book to all my friends cheers

great book...write another even if it's fictional

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great insights all the way through. Great story telling about real people and how they are doing in a situation that we all could benefit from.

Interesting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.