Out of My Depth

When Anne Darwin faced the world—and her family—and said that her husband had disappeared while canoeing in the North Sea, her life changed forever. She had just lied to the police, the press, her friends and neighbors, insurance companies, and her own sons. While her husband actually lived in a secret hideaway in the roof space of the house next door, Anne was left to face the music. She claimed the life insurance payouts, braved the cameras and consolations—then left with him to start a new life in Panama. Now, for the first time, Anne opens up about her decision to take part in her husband’s harebrained scheme; her life and marriage before, during, and after the explosive crime was revealed; and the runaway train of deceit and guilt that followed their plan to defraud insurance companies with the aid of a canoe. This book is about how an ordinary wife and mother was caught up in an extraordinary chain of events.

Anne Darwin has done much to repair her relationship with her two sons. She is receiving no fee from this book. David Leigh is an award-winning English journalist. He worked for the Daily Mirror as News Editor, Foreign Editor and reporter. He was Assistant Editor, News, of the Daily Express, before moving to the U.S. to become Senior News Director of entertainment agency Splash News. He is now a partner in The Mega Agency. He won the London Press Club’s Scoop Of The Year Award and the National Association of Press Agencies’ news story of the year for his reporting on John Darwin "Canoe Man."