The Monster of Harrods: Al-Fayed and the secret, shameful history of a British institution
By (Author) Alison Kervin
HarperCollins Publishers
HarperCollins
26th August 2025
5th June 2025
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
True stories of survival of abuse and injustice
Corruption in politics, government and society
Corporate crime / white-collar crime
Violence and abuse in society
Hardback
320
Width 159mm, Height 240mm, Spine 23mm
270g
This explosive expos reveals the shocking truth about Mohamed Al-Fayed's controversial 25-year reign at Harrods.
To the public, he was the jovial, eccentric owner of one of the world's most iconic department storeshanding out lollipops and gifts to customers. But behind the scenes, Fayed wielded his power with cruelty, humiliation, and abuse that went unchecked for decades.
Drawing on extensive firsthand interviews with former employees, executives, police officers, and erstwhile friends, The Monster of Harrods exposes chilling accounts of misconduct, many detailed here for the first time. Through court records, witness testimonies, and previously unpublished accounts, the book uncovers:
Fayeds actions caused profound harm, from psychological trauma to breakdowns. Despite multiple allegations, police reports, and victims coming forward, his influence shielded him from accountability. Why were his crimes ignored And why did senior figures at Harrods and beyond fail to act
This is not just a story about one mans abuse of power. Its about the people and systems that allowed it to continue. The Monster of Harrods brings to light harrowing new evidence and asks urgent questions of those who stood by all the way up to the highest levels of governance.
This is the full unflinching investigation into power, corruption, and complicity at the heart of one of Britains most famous institutions.
Alison Kervin is an award-winning writer, biographer and journalist. She was formerly the Chief Sports Feature Writer of The Times where she wrote a weekly interview The Kervin Interview for three years, featuring stars. She is now a freelance writer and journalist, writing for the Sunday Times, Radio Times and Hello and has written six sports books.