Death of a Murderer

by: Rupert Thomson

Published by: Vintage

Reviewed by Knevits Stephens

A woman and her boyfriend killed at least five people in the ”˜60s; three were children. The woman was said to have been watching while her boyfriend abused and tortured children. It was rumored she may have even tortured one herself. Now here decades later she has died in a hospital of natural causes. Because she was a well-known murderer, her body is to be watched by the police until her burial.

Career policeman Billy Tyler has received a call. He is asked to work a twelve-hour shift to watch the body in the morgue. His wife throws a fit and tells him not to go. She is superstitious and believes the evil may be too much to be around. Billy tells her it is his job and everything will be fine.

While working his shift, Billy reminisces about his past. He thinks of old friends and times when he was growing up. He thinks about his ex and then getting married. We learn that they have a special child together, and how hard it is on a marriage. While reminiscing, the dead woman speaks to Billy, asking if he has questions for her. Billy doesn’t understand why this woman is talking to him. He thinks maybe he is really tired and is dreaming.

Billy was young when the murders took place. Years later he looked into the case of the woman murderer and her boyfriend. He went so far as to go to the spot where all the bodies were found–except one that hasn’t been recovered.

This book was a good read. It sounds like a true crime when in fact its not. I liked the whole book but I think it should of said more about the murderer and her boyfriend. It never mentions names for those two people and no real details of what happened. I had no real feelings towards the murderer because of lack of details about what exactly happened, even though she is supposed to be notorious and was greatly feared.

Armchair Interviews says: Interesting way to introduce Billy’s past.