Everyone knows the story of Madeleine McCann. Whether you watched it on the news, read about it in the papers, or discussed it with friends and family as many did, everyone has heard about the little girl who was snatched from her bed whilst on holiday in Portugal, on Thursday May 3, 2007.

'Madeleine...', written by her mother, Kate McCann, is a tough book to read no matter what you feel about the case. And opinions are very much divided. Madeleine's parents, Kate, a general practitioner, and Gerry, a cardiologist, were named as suspects, although all charges were dropped. People rightly questioned why the family left a three year old and two babies alone in a holiday apartment, despite it being 130 yards away from where they were eating out. And why did the parents appear so stony and cold in their television pleas? Kate answers all in this book.

It is tragic what happened and there's no denying that. There were many points throughout the book where I felt myself welling up. Reading Kate's account makes you realise several things, the most important being that Kate and Gerry are just human beings. We all make mistakes, but most of us are lucky enough to be able to deal with the consequences and move on. Not the McCanns.

The book opens with a very human account of Kate and Gerry's lives before meeting, before children, and before that devastating day. We read of Kate's struggle to fall pregnant and the joys of raising children for a woman who always longed for them. We are also given a harrowing account of the days leading up to the disappearance, and finally, the moment when a mother finds that her child is not asleep in her bed. It is haunting to read, and the images conjured up stay with you long after you have put the book down.

Kate also discusses the controversy that surrounds the case, and explains some of the more suspicious incidents in her own words. The book also provides maps and photographs of the area from where Madeleine was taken, as well as witness descriptions and information on what you can do to help, other than buying the book, where all royalties are donated to Madeleine's Fund.

It is a good read for anyone interested in the case, but very, very sad. It is fast moving and not weighed down with self-pity, as it could be. It is just another way to help keep awareness of Madeleine's case alive.