Standing Up

“A terse, revealing, and absorbing look at a varied, complex relationship with domestic violence.” ––Kirkus Reviews “Appearing with supplemental resources for domestic violence victims, Standing Up is a powerful memoir about survival, redirection, and triumph.”—Foreword Clarion Reviews“Raw, real, and relatable, this book is the ideal read for fans of Tara Westover’s Educated and Cheryl Strayed’s Wild. Standing Up charts the author’s harrowing but inspiring journey from domestic abuse survivor to police detective, committed to helping women find the light in their own lives.”—Elizabeth Ridley, author of Searching for Celia and coauthor of Saving Sadie: How a Dog That No One Wanted Inspired the World “Standing Up is a story of hope and resilience that reminds us of our power to make a difference in another’s life. Devine captures her lived experience and depicts the trauma that too many people experience in private. Her unvarnished style exposes pain and struggle and provides insight into the issues that trap so many.”—Mariann Kenville-Moore, MSW, DVS, Director of Advocacy & Policy, Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence “Standing Up invites the reader to join Devine on a personal journey through the crucible of domestic violence and her emergence of strength and enlightened perspective on one of law enforcement’s most challenging issues.”—John L. Cunningham, retired New Castle County Chief of Police

Mary L. Devine graduated from Wilmington University with a bachelor’s degree before joining the police force, where she served in the detective unit, was promoted to sergeant, and eventually commanded the mounted patrol until her retirement in 2016. She now serves as an investigator for the State of Delaware while dreaming of her next book. Besides writing, she loves painting, swimming, hiking, and horses. Standing Up is Mary’s first book. She resides in Middletown, Delaware.