Banged Up Abroad: Hellhole

by James Miles
Banged Up Abroad: Hellhole cover
Good Books rating 4.5
True Crime
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Waterstones
Paperback • £16.99
Amazon
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  • ID: 2866
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • ISBN: 9781446489253
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2011-06-09
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Banged Up Abroad: Hellhole is a harrowing true story of James Miles and Paul Loseby, who found themselves sentenced to thirty years in Venezuela's notorious Yare prison after a failed drug smuggling operation. The book delves into the brutal conditions of the prison, where drugs and weapons are the only currency and survival is a daily struggle. The authors recount their experiences of witnessing murder and rape, joining dangerous gangs, and enduring riots among thousands of armed inmates. This gripping account is not just a tale of survival but also a testament to human endurance in the face of extreme adversity./n/nThe book is based on the real-life experiences of the authors and provides a raw and unfiltered look into the world's most dangerous prison system. It's a story of fear, resilience, and the lengths to which humans will go to survive. As seen on Channel 5's Banged Up Abroad, this is one of the most shocking prison stories ever told, offering a chilling insight into the darkest corners of the criminal underworld.

Reviews
Amazon · sharon martelli · 2025-10-16
interesting 5.00

The reviewer found the book interesting due to personal connections and thinks it's a good read. The personal experience of the authors adds a unique perspective to the story.

Sharon Martelli's review on Amazon highlights the personal interest she had in the book, having known the protagonists. She finds the memoir to be a good read, appreciating the personal accounts and the unique insights provided by the authors. The reviewer emphasizes the authenticity of the story, which makes it particularly engaging. Martelli's review suggests that the book is not just a narrative of survival but also a testament to the personal experiences of the authors, making it a compelling read for those interested in true-life stories.

Quick quotes

    We found the book interesting because we knew these boys and we think it's a good ...

    There are 3000 drugged-up psychopaths, armed to the teeth with blades, shooters and bombs. That's the only way I can describe Yare.

    It's a murderous viper's nest of assassins, cut throats and killers.

Steven Scaffardi's Blog · Steven Scaffardi · 2013-06-24
compelling 4.50

The reviewer praises the book as a close second in terms of gripping narratives about survival in extreme conditions. The account of the protagonists' fight to survive is particularly highlighted.

Steven Scaffardi's blog post highlights the intense and gripping nature of James Miles and Paul Loseby's account of their ordeal in one of South America's deadliest prisons. The reviewer commends the authors for their detailed and vivid description of the harsh realities they faced. The blog post suggests that this memoir comes very close to being the most compelling story of survival in extreme conditions. The reviewer appreciates the raw and unfiltered portrayal of the prison environment and the human resilience depicted in the book.

Quick quotes

    James Miles and Paul Loseby's account of their Fight To Survive South America's Deadliest Prison comes a very close second!

    The harrowing memoir of two men who were caught drug trafficking and survived South America's notorious prison system.

    When James Miles and his best friend Paul Loseby were caught smuggling ten kilos of cocaine out of Caracas, Venezuela, they couldn't deny their guilt.

Waterstones · 2012-02-16
harrowing 4.00

The book is described as a gripping true-life story of endurance in appalling conditions. The reviewer highlights the savagery and harsh realities faced by the protagonists.

This memoir is a harrowing account of two men's struggle to survive in one of South America's most notorious prisons. The reviewer emphasizes the brutal conditions and the sheer determination required to endure such an environment. The story is not just about survival but also about the human spirit's resilience in the face of extreme adversity. The reviewer finds the narrative gripping and the details of the prison life both shocking and compelling.

Quick quotes

    This is the gripping true-life story of how two men endured untold savagery in the most appalling conditions.

    'There are 3000 drugged-up psychopaths, armed to the teeth with blades, shooters and bombs. That's the only way I can describe Yare.'

    It's a murderous viper's nest of assassins, cut throats and killers.

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