The Bodyguard's Story : Diana, the Crash, and the Sole Survivor

Rating:
Summary: an appealing young man caught up in a nightmare
Review: "The Bodyguard's Story" is well-written, vivid, and informative, in a literate style that's a cut above most of the Diana books. Trevor Rees-Jones found an articulate advocate in Moira Johnston, who helped him with the book. Here we have a portrait of an appealing young man from a sturdy British family, caught up in a horror that nearly took his life. The book depicts several major struggles: The medical struggle, the extensive facial surgery in addition to his many other injuries; the emotional struggle of his brave family, especially his "mum" Jill, to remain upbeat; Trevor's struggle with his loyalty to Fayed and his slow realization that he must end his employment with him. The book is a deceptively quick read, and you come away from it feeling that you know Trevor and his family well, and find much to admire in them.

Rating:
Summary: An Indepth View of a Royal Tragedy
Review: Although somewhat hard to follow ; this is a book definitely worth reading.An indepth look , from the only survivor of a car crash that changed history!What could be more exciting.Somewhat rough around the edges;but ,nevertheless honest and telling Never knowing how these fateful events would unfold as they left the Ritz with Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana , Trevor
and Kez only knew that they were between a rock and a hard place.You don't disrespect the Boss's son when he's entertaining a Princess .It wouldn't be the first time Dodi's last minute change of plans surprised the bodyguards .At the recent screening of "Air Force One" Dodi had seated Diana in Trevors' usual seat by the door.Trevor nearly landed in Diana's lap.That same evening on route to the theatre with the Princess,Trevor had shown professionalism in eluding the paparazzi - so why the change in plans at the Ritz? Dodi's former girlfriend ,Kelly Fisher testified that Dodi was a "real dictator to Trevor".It was apparent that Dodi began to mistrust those around him ; and he just may have tried to impress the Princess with Henri Paul ; someone he knew he could trust. Trevor should have been compensated handsomely for his injuries.Money and justice just don't seem to mix .

Rating:
Summary: Basically a waste of time..................
Review: I found this book to be a good read. Trevor's story was an interesting point of view. Some say it was a selfish move for Trevor to write this book. I however, believe he does have a story to tell and the right to tell it. He was right alongside Dodi and Diana for the last month of their lives. Anybody has the right to write a book. Nobody including Trevor could tell if Henri was drunk, because if you are medicated and drinking, the alcohol effect may come on all of a sudden and increase the medication effect at the same time and cause any number of side-effects that could suddenly affect your senses and cause an accident. I believe he did his job the best he could with what he had to work with. If I put myself in his place, I would have done the same thing. We can all look back in hindsight and say he should have done this or he should have done that. Of course being in the moment is a whole other story and Trevor is the only one who has that story. I try to keep an open mind when I pick up a book. Maybe some should see the author as a person with something to share. So what if he wanted to make a few extra dollars. I am sure he had big bills to pay. If you were him I'm sure the idea of a telling your story in a book would be attractive for a variety of reasons. But if you are biased when you pick up the book of course you will have a slanted expectation at the end. Thank you Trevor...

Rating:
Summary: From the source
Review: I have always wondered what kind of a person Trevor Rees-Jones was and his book gave an in-depth view of him, personally and professionally . . . in his own words.

The saying goes that "truth is stranger than fiction." The truth is also less sensational and colorful than the portrait painted by tabloid hacks and unethical "journalists" the world over.

From the start, I didn't think Trevor was trying to cash in on his time with Diana, Princess of Wales. In the foreward, he stated that writing the book (author Moira Johnston helped him write it) was his way of dealing with the situation and moving on with his life.

Trevor is an ordinary guy who had a very high profile job. It was because of circumstances on the job (that lead to what Trevor called "an industrial accident") and the fact that he was in a car with the world's most famous woman that has put him center stage for the rest of his life.

I felt sorry for the entire Rees-Jones family as diary entry after another explained the turmoil going on inside each of them: His mother and stepfather's struggle to getting Trevor on the road to recovery, the whole family having to deal with the intense media pressure, having Trevor's professionalism called into question by so-called experts (that, in his own words, were not at the Ritz nor in the car), Trevor's having to cope with the fact that he was the only survivor, the family's having to deal with the first overprotective and subsequently vicious hand of Mohammed Al Fayed. The list goes on.

I did get mad at, but then later understood, Trevor's wanting to keep his job with Al Fayed. He was the textbook case example of a loyal employee. Unfortunately, Mohammed Al Fayed was (and still is) so hung up on his conspiracy theories that he thought Trevor was lying to him about how much he remembered of the accident. It was only when he (Al Fayed) was more forthright in wanting to take complete control of the investigation that Trevor had finally had enough and quit (his good friend, Kez, would also quit about two years after the crash for the same reason: He told Al Fayed to his face that he thought his theories were rubbish).

I give Trevor and his family (his real last name is just Rees but he changed HIS name to Rees-Jones because he was so in love with his now ex-wife Sue Jones) MUCH credit for coming through such a trying time in their lives not only intact but stronger than ever. They did not let any of the media attention go to their heads (even as Trevor's so-called friends and even Sue were selling themselves to the highest bidder in the media). They remained true small town folks to the end (and Trevor was even able to play his beloved rugby not a year after the crash).

Some folks may find this book boring as Trevor is a very down-to-earth chap who just shoots straight from the hip. He doesn't trump up the facts (or make things up entirely as the media decided to do time and again while Trevor refused to give interviews). He presents Diana in a very positive light and tells the unexciting truth about the goings on of the case and behind the scenes shananigans of one Mohammed Al Fayed.

Highly recommended (if you can still get it) for a first hand account of wha it's like on the other side of the camera and news reports.

Rating:
Summary: From the source
Review: I have always wondered what kind of a person Trevor Rees-Jones was and his book gave an in-depth view of him, personally and professionally . . . in his own words.

The saying goes that "truth is stranger than fiction." The truth is also less sensational and colorful than the portrait painted by tabloid hacks and unethical "journalists" the world over.

From the start, I didn't think Trevor was trying to cash in on his time with Diana, Princess of Wales. In the foreward, he stated that writing the book (author Moira Johnston helped him write it) was his way of dealing with the situation and moving on with his life.

Trevor is an ordinary guy who had a very high profile job. It was because of circumstances on the job (that lead to what Trevor called "an industrial accident") and the fact that he was in a car with the world's most famous woman that has put him center stage for the rest of his life.

I felt sorry for the entire Rees-Jones family as diary entry after another explained the turmoil going on inside each of them: His mother and stepfather's struggle to getting Trevor on the road to recovery, the whole family having to deal with the intense media pressure, having Trevor's professionalism called into question by so-called experts (that, in his own words, were not at the Ritz nor in the car), Trevor's having to cope with the fact that he was the only survivor, the family's having to deal with the first overprotective and subsequently vicious hand of Mohammed Al Fayed. The list goes on.

I did get mad at, but then later understood, Trevor's wanting to keep his job with Al Fayed. He was the textbook case example of a loyal employee. Unfortunately, Mohammed Al Fayed was (and still is) so hung up on his conspiracy theories that he thought Trevor was lying to him about how much he remembered of the accident. It was only when he (Al Fayed) was more forthright in wanting to take complete control of the investigation that Trevor had finally had enough and quit (his good friend, Kez, would also quit about two years after the crash for the same reason: He told Al Fayed to his face that he thought his theories were rubbish).

I give Trevor and his family (his real last name is just Rees but he changed HIS name to Rees-Jones because he was so in love with his now ex-wife Sue Jones) MUCH credit for coming through such a trying time in their lives not only intact but stronger than ever. They did not let any of the media attention go to their heads (even as Trevor's so-called friends and even Sue were selling themselves to the highest bidder in the media). They remained true small town folks to the end (and Trevor was even able to play his beloved rugby not a year after the crash).

Some folks may find this book boring as Trevor is a very down-to-earth chap who just shoots straight from the hip. He doesn't trump up the facts (or make things up entirely as the media decided to do time and again while Trevor refused to give interviews). He presents Diana in a very positive light and tells the unexciting truth about the goings on of the case and behind the scenes shananigans of one Mohammed Al Fayed.

Highly recommended (if you can still get it) for a first hand account of wha it's like on the other side of the camera and news reports.

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing for many reasons...
Review: I learned a few things that were not told by others by this sad story. This book kept me so interested I had a hard time putting it down. Someone asked if I believed Treveor Rees-Jones more so than all the other books. I must tell you, yes. What courage & pain this man went through.
Everything happens for a reason but the hell this man went through, I'm not sure why. I would love to meet him.
This book makes you feel as if you were there.

Rating:
Summary: Fast Read
Review: My wife bought this book and I had no plans to even look through it. That all changed once she started to detail to me some of the more interesting facts about the crash and what lead up to it. The book covers the author's career as her bodyguard, the events preceding the crash and the events after the crash. The most interesting parts for me were the details on how the protection team worked, the actual time line of events that day that lead up to he crash and then the horrible way he was treated after the crash. Overall it is an interesting book that would interest the general reader as well as the royalist.

Rating:
Summary: A true account of what happened
Review: There is only one person that knows what actually happened before, during and after the horrific accident that left most of the world in shock and disbelief and that is Trevor Rees-Jones.

This was a fascinating look "behind the scenes" of a royal and much beloved figure and a very foolish "commoner". The fault of this accident seems to rest with Dodi making a bunch of unwise decisions that ultimately led to 3 people losing their lives.

A fascinating read, albeit a bit slow in some chapters, but fascinating none the less!

Rating:
Summary: Just Awful! Save your cash!
Review: This is one of the MOST poorly written books I've ever read. I bought it at the dollar store and paid too much. Really. The author is pitiful, I've seen third graders turn out better prose. And Trevor? True, he's been through a lot, but does anyone, outside his family, truly care? Save your money.