BOOK REVIEW: The Bodies We Won't Bury: Love Is Dangerous

TITLE: The Bodies We Won't Bury: Love Is Dangerous
AUTHOR: Daniel Norrish
PUBLISHED BY: Published independently

This is the first in a series starring Detective Stephanie Saxon in pursuit of a serial murderer. What makes it interesting is that the book includes the killer's point of view right from the start. A serial killer with a penchant for killing couples, a less than conventional police inspector and a number of complicated relationships, what's not to like? Someone is murdering couples, brutally killing them and setting them on fire. An aggressive female detective and an inexperienced constable are paired to solve the case. But soon the hunters become the hunted.

This psychological crime thriller plays on the theme of the criminal taunting the chief inspector on the case. Norrish masterfully creates a unique, unpredictable storyline, complete with fully fleshed characters whose actions are motivated by past experiences; it will have readers on the edge of their seats from page one.

It starts off as a common or garden serial killer novel and then turns dark; about a third of the way in it starts to get even darker. Without spoiling the plot, some of the scenes that seem to serve as an apparent break in the plot serve the storyline well as a whole, especially when we get to the big reveal in the end.

Detective Inspector Stephanie Saxon is determined but she also has a secret agenda. She yells, she criticizes and her personal life is a mess; she is a no-nonsense police officer who rarely does things by the book. Constable Neil Chance comes across as a dedicated officer but a little on the naive side.  However, DI Saxton transfers him into her unit claiming that she needs more time to question him about a fire in a local park where he did his best to save two people who were burning. At much risk to himself, he was injured and unable to help the couple who were already dead.

Be prepared for graphic murders, gore and sex; Norrish's inclusion of these elements of the story is not gratuitous in any way, instead, the gore and sex are necessary for the storyline and add to the overall grittiness of the main character, DI Saxon, a no-nonsense officer who rarely does things by the book.

This is an excellent story set in Australian cities and the Outback and Norrish masterfully creates a unique, unpredictable storyline. The book is well-written with some very descriptive passages.  Readers will almost smell burning flesh because it’s so very descriptive, they could be in Australia watching it all happen.

This story is definitely a page-turner. It has everything, thrills, chills, drama, mystery, suspense and backstories; it is action-packed and kept me enthralled right to the last page.

It is a very dark and violent thriller but if you like chilling fast-paced thrillers this won’t disappoint; it holds your attention and you may not be able to put it down.  It’s not for the faint-hearted; it has blood, gore, murder, sex and more.  It is blood curdling to read but it’s so good readers won’t be able to put it down. 

Reviewer - Anne Pritchard