The Monster of Harrods: Al-Fayed and the secret, shameful history of a British institution

An unflinching exposé of Mohamed Al-Fayed’s 25-year reign at Harrods

DECADES OF ABUSE.

DOZENS OF VICTIMS.

NO CONSEQUENCES.

To the public, he was the eccentric owner of one of the world’s great department stores. But behind closed doors, Fayed ruled with cruelty, humiliation and unchecked abuse.

Why were his crimes ignored?

Why did those in power look the other way?

This explosive investigation lays bare the power, corruption and complicity at the heart of an iconic British institution.

Drawing on firsthand interviews with former staff, allies, executives and police officers, The Monster of Harrods exposes chilling accounts of misconduct, many revealed here for the first time. Through court records, testimonies and unpublished material, the book uncovers the shocking truth of:

• The irreparable damage to victims’ lives

• The NDAs, threats and systemic failures that kept them silent

• The staggering indifference of those who knew but did nothing

This isn’t just about one man’s abuse of power – it’s about the culture that enabled him. The Monster of Harrods presents damning new evidence, and asks urgent questions of the people and institutions who stood by.

Ultimately, this is a book about courage – the courage of the survivors who have stepped forward to reclaim their narratives from a man who tried to reduce them to objects. Their testimony stands as both an indictment of the past and a warning for the future.

Their bravery demands nothing less than our complete attention.

© 2025 HarperCollins (Hljóðbók): 9780008756079

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Hljóðbók: 19 juni 2025