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Hardcover Disordered Minds Book

ISBN: 1405034165

ISBN13: 9781405034166

Disordered Minds

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Format: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

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Book Overview

When a local councillor and an anthropologist re-investigate the controversial murder conviction of a mentally retarded 20-year-old, they're unprepared for the disturbing facts that come to light--and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

Customer Reviews

3 ratings

Minette Walters keeps getting better.

This is one of the best mysteries written in the last few years. The characters are remarkable as are the analogies one can draw between them. Meanwhile, the plot is detailed and leaves the reader really wanting to know what happened in the sordid events of thirty years before. The only flaw in the writing is that too many of the characters seem to remember too many of the details from so long ago.

Childhood of horror

Councillor Georgina Gardener takes up the cause of reopening the case of Howard Stamp, a mentally retarded youth who was accused and convicted of the brutal killing of his grandmother, 25 years ago. The youth was coerced by police into confessing to the murder, even though the evidence was purely circumstantial and because he was simple minded enough to be browbeaten into saying whatever was easiest. Tragically, Howard suicided in prison after 3 years of being bullied and beaten by other inmates. Being convinced of his innocence, Georgina is determined to clear his name and seeks the help of anthropologist and author, Jonathan Hughes, himself suffering from unresolved issues regarding his parentage and his reluctance to acknowledge his racial origins. At first, there is outright hostility between them but, after working together for a short time, an uneasy truce is struck and they find that they work well together as a team. Delving back into the horrific pasts of the children and teenagers who were invoved with the murder case is like opening a door into hell, full of rage, violence, incest, brutality and everything that is warped and hiseous in the lives of these children and their parents. It's not what you'd call a "nice" read but one which, unfortunately, is not uncommon and gives a big jolt to those of us who still see childhood through rose coloured glasses.

An exhilarating thriller

In 1970 Bournemouth, Dorset, the public is upset with the brutal murder of fifty-seven years old Grace Jefferies that is so reminiscent of the Manson clan. A few days later the police announce that Grace's bizarre twenty-years old grandson Howard Stamp confessed after being held for questioning for thirty-six hours. A year later, a jury convicts Howard. While incarcerated Howard was abused by his peers until less than two years after his conviction he committed suicide. Three decades later, sexagenarian councilor George Gardener believes that Stamp was guilty of being retarded and different and never killed his grandmother. Gardener has uncovered evidence that he feels might posthumously exonerate Stamp, but the justice system is satisfied with the neat ending. Gardener learns that thirty something years old anthropologist Dr Jonathan Hughes is researching case studies for a book Disordered Minds that he is writing that includes a chapter on Stamp. Gardner thinks he has an ally who might awaken the public that a travesty occurred. However, will the academic risk his reputation on a dead loner who in many ways reminds him of his own childhood that he prefers to forget? This is an exhilarating thriller that makes the key players seem genuine by selectively providing "chapters" from Hughes book. The story line is action-packed as Gardner makes his case while Hughes wants to hide from the evidence because his own could have easily paralleled that of Stamp. He begins to believe the real killer lurks waiting to murder again. Readers will be hooked from start to finish wondering if Gardener is right or just soothing his soul for failing at defending his client. Harriet Klausner
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