Primal Cut

Underwood and Dexter #3

by Ed O'Connor

Before the days of the National Health Service and modern psychiatry, common wisdom called for brain paste - a mash of the pituitary glands of cow - as a remedy for mental illness. Doctors have forgotten; the general public has forgotten; but Bartholomew Garrod, of East London’s ‘Garrod’s Family Butchers’ has not forgotten, and he is using more than just animals to treat his brother . . . he is murdering people. When a body is found, ripped apart and torn, although the slashings appear random, Detective Inspector Alison Dexter recognizes that the marks are actually butchers’ cuts of the primal cuts. Meanwhile, in Cambridgeshire, a vicious bare-knuckle fight, results in a dead body, complete with bite wounds. Are the cases linked? As Alison Dexter investigates, she starts receiving threatening letters and body parts - human body parts. Time is running short and Dexter desperately needs to find the murderer . . . before he finds her.

462 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

ED O'CONNOR studied History at Cambridge University before moving over to Oxford University to take an MPhil in International Relations. He then worked in London and New York as an investment banker but left to concentrate on his writing. In 2002 his first novel, The Yeare`s Midnight, was published by Constable and Robinson and was followed in 2003 by Acid Lullaby, both of which were shortlisted for awards. Now working as the Head of the History department at a local school, Ed lives in Maidstone, Kent, with his wife and two young daughters.

Reviews

[Balthazarinblue]

I actually really liked the writing style of this one but I can't with all the dog fighting.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gruesome or should I say 'gory' but worth reading because you cannot help but seek to know want inspired the Garrod brothers to seek out eating human flesh.

[Henri Moreaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable police procedural novel, apparently it's the third in the series, which I wasn't aware of at all whilst reading. It really seemed like a stand alone novel in that there was ample background to have a good feel of each of the characters. Call backs to past events were done so in a way that felt like it was just back-grounding of the character not references to something you had missed which is how most series books seem if read out of order.

It features a cannibalistic serial killer who has been knocking people off and feeding them to his intellectually challenged brother as well as himself. Things unravel when DS Alison Dexter chases down the leads and after questioning the brothers the eldest decides they need to run, and leaves the challenged brother behind whilst he organises things. In the interim police arrive with a warrant and in fear the challenged brother runs out onto the street ultimately getting hit by a car and dying. It's here where a multi-year course of revenge begins for the eldest and the main thrust of the story commences.

I thought it was very well written and liked that I didn't even notice it was part of a series, the story is dark and gritty without being oppressively so. Would recommend.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I found Primal Cut OK. The desolate vibe came across well, and I especially liked the depiction of Garrod, who had some real character to him. Main character Alison Dexter, however, felt completely flat. Attempts to give her some personality felt forced and detracted more than they added. Didn't especially enjoy the ending of the main plot, felt cliche/predictable.

The prose style is quick and enjoyable, though I'm not a big fan of the constant repetition of first and last name, sentence after sentence.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO GOOD! The gory bits make you really squirm but amazing story. This was my first gory/horror/mystery novel and I really enjoyed it. Great read.

[Andrietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gory but good!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable, quite conventional and possibly not as well plotted as the masters of the genre (Cornwell etc) but a very good british entry.

[Chava · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gory, gritty and definitely entertaining. I missed the author not explaining the reason for the cannibalism. Hence 3 stars instead of 4. I enjoyed the writing style as well