Trapped Life

Brought to you by Penguin.

'The roads don’t forget, and old reputations cling on, drawing trouble even when someone’s trying to start fresh.'

Take a step into the heart of inner-city life in Britain with Trapped Life, a searingly candid narrative that transcends sensationalist headlines to reveal the authentic lives of the mandem on the Northville Estate in London. As she accounts a year living on her childhood estate through both personal and professional insights, Ebony Reid offers a raw and intimate look at a vibrant and troubled community so often misunderstood by wider society.

Through a beautiful blending of reality and creative storytelling, Reid shares a powerful account of the lives of the mandem and the devastating socioeconomic disparity in urban Britain.

© Ebony Reid 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026