THE constant gnawing pain of a lost child is something so destructive that one can only stand in awe of parents who find ways to survive a situation seemingly without end, waiting for some glimmer of hope.

They are always under a cloud of self-recrimination and intrusive thoughts of what might have been and what could be, if only...

Writing a book is a chance to take some control where often there seems nothing but helplessness.

It is a chance for Mrs McCann to say everything that she wants to say about the abduction and, most importantly, everything she wants to say to her daughter. By living their emotional roller coaster in the public eye in the hope that it might help bring Madeleine home, the McCanns have exposed themselves to a public scrutiny which has not always been kind. Now Mrs McCann has bravely stepped back into the arena hoping to touch the hearts of the kidnappers or perhaps even bring Maddie some comfort. And, of course, would that that could happen.

Kidnappers, particularly those who take children, do not march to the same tune as normal, decent people. They do not care that parents are distraught and that families are broken.

They do not care if they cause an innocent child immense fear and distress. If they did they wouldn't do it. It's as simple as that.

What might happen though is that someone on the periphery, maybe someone related to whoever took Maddie or with some connection to the kidnapper or their location, will read the book and as a result decide to come forward.

For while someone who is prepared to kidnap, in particular those who would take a child, will not care about the devastation they cause, it is entirely possible that someone on the periphery may be troubled enough finally to come forward.

There will be someone out there who knows something, even if the knowing is just an uneasy feeling or a sense something is not quite right.