West Life (Happy Like Murderers - Gordon Burn)

Member Name: IanPaterson

Product:	Happy Like Murderers - Gordon Burn
Date:	29/05/02 (167 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: High detailed content, Full life history, In depth view of psychology

Disadvantages: Too short!!

Having read a lot of articles, newspapers and books about the Wests, I still didn't think I knew that much about them.

Studying the psychology of serial killers has been a hobby of mine for a while now and find it very hard to find decent material without the sensationalism of journalists getting in the way. I was recommended this book by a good friend who shares the same hobby.

When starting to read the book its starts off with the history of 25 Cromwell Street where the Wests finally landed in I think 1971. The previous owners and tenants, their lifestyles and habits. The book does not leap straught into the murders, the abuse of their children or how they were caught but meticulously details the environment of the time, the people involved and how they interacted. It was a bit confusing and a bit boring to be honest reading probably the first two chapters. After that the author gets into the real background and character of Fred and Rose, their children, neighbours and friends.

The subject is dealt with in a very matter of fact and precise way. The content is not immotively persued nor is it sensationalised but recorded in a very detailed and very direct fashion.

From when Rose and Fred were born to their meeting, marriage, the birth of their children and the ups and downs of their lives together up to their arrest and Freds death is all compressed into a small book in exceptional detail.

If you want to know the facts about the Wests then I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone. Its hard to imagine that these things do happen in this day and age. This book is a good reminder.

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