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Rubbernecker #1
Rubbernecker
“Breathtaking. I read this and wished I’d written it.”—Val McDermid
Winner of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, an Amazon Best Book of the Month, and one of the Guardian ’s Best Crime and Thrillers of the Year, Rubbernecker is a can’t-put-it-down page-turner from one of the finest voices in UK crime, about a medical student who begins to suspect that something strange is going on in his cadaver lab. “The dead can’t speak to us,” Professor Madoc had said. But that was a lie. The body Patrick Fort is examining in anatomy class is trying to tell him all kinds of things. But no one hears what he does, and no one understand when Patrick tries to tell them. Life is already strange enough for Patrick—being a medical student with Asperger’s syndrome doesn’t come without its challenges. And that’s before he is faced with solving a possible murder, especially when no one believes a crime has even taken place. As his determination to uncover the truth grows, so do the suspicions of his classmates, teachers—even his mother wonders if Patrick is all right. Now he must stay out of danger long enough to unravel the mystery. But as Patrick learns one truth from a dead man, he discovers there have been many other lies closer to home.
Winner of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, an Amazon Best Book of the Month, and one of the Guardian ’s Best Crime and Thrillers of the Year, Rubbernecker is a can’t-put-it-down page-turner from one of the finest voices in UK crime, about a medical student who begins to suspect that something strange is going on in his cadaver lab. “The dead can’t speak to us,” Professor Madoc had said. But that was a lie. The body Patrick Fort is examining in anatomy class is trying to tell him all kinds of things. But no one hears what he does, and no one understand when Patrick tries to tell them. Life is already strange enough for Patrick—being a medical student with Asperger’s syndrome doesn’t come without its challenges. And that’s before he is faced with solving a possible murder, especially when no one believes a crime has even taken place. As his determination to uncover the truth grows, so do the suspicions of his classmates, teachers—even his mother wonders if Patrick is all right. Now he must stay out of danger long enough to unravel the mystery. But as Patrick learns one truth from a dead man, he discovers there have been many other lies closer to home.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2013
1227 people are currently reading
11027 people want to read
About the author
Belinda Bauer
18 books2,126 followersBelinda Bauer grew up in England and South Africa. She has worked as a journalist and screenwriter, and her script THE LOCKER ROOM earned her the Carl Foreman/Bafta Award for Young British Screenwriters, an award that was presented to her by Sidney Poitier. She was a runner-up in the Rhys Davies Short Story Competition for "Mysterious Ways," about a girl stranded on a desert island with 30,000 Bibles. Belinda now lives in Wales.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,879 reviews
May 27, 2018
Belinda Bauer writes astounding crime fiction with extraordinary character creations and plots that guarantee to have you reading the pages as fast as you possibly can. Patrick Fort has Asperger's Syndrome, takes things literally, has difficulties fitting in, and has only one friend, a neighbour, Weird Nick. He has problems understanding situations and what they might mean. His relationship with his father was close, but he died when Patrick was a child, traumatising Patrick and spurring him on to try and solve the age old mystery of what happens when you die, in an effort to reconnect with his father. This has led Patrick to obsess about death and the dead. His mother has drink problems and blames Patrick for her husband's death. Patrick is obsessive, obstinate, implacable and determined, qualities that serve him well in his pursuit of the truth.
Patrick has enrolled on Cardiff University's Anatomy course for medical students, where he, Meg, Scott and Dilip slowly and carefully dissect Cadaver No 19 with the aim of identifying the cause of death. Sam Galen lies in a coma after a car accident, suspended between life and death, along with others in the same position. The patients are vulnerable, subject to indifferent and careless staff, such as Tracy Evans, more interested in hooking herself a wealthy man; and having to endure staff judgements as to whether they are good or bad patients. Suffering from locked in syndrome, Sam is beginning to emerge from his coma but powerless to communicate when he observes a doctor murdering a patient. Patrick slowly begins to understand the world of emotions and feelings, learns to put up with being touched whilst hating it, and more wondrous, he begins to develop friends. Whilst holding the brain of Cadaver No 19, Patrick finally understands that the secrets of death and what happens after are beyond him, and focuses instead on the mystery of what killed No 19. Professor Madoc is mistaken when he stated that the dead can't speak, they speak to Patrick. Patrick doesn't believe in the official cause of death, he knows No 19 was murdered. Despite all the obstacles and danger he is facing, Patrick is relentless in finding out how No 19 died.
Belinda Bauer writes compelling crime fiction that is original and breathtaking. Patrick is an unusual and compelling character, facing a world that often makes little sense to him and often hindered by his inability to understand the implications of what happens, for that he needs and relies on others to point him in the right direction. He overcomes situations and accepts people that others would struggle with. It is a joy to see him begin to make human connections with Meg and even his mother in the end. This is a glorious read, a joy from beginning to end, despite the gory dissection scenes. Highly recommended!
Patrick has enrolled on Cardiff University's Anatomy course for medical students, where he, Meg, Scott and Dilip slowly and carefully dissect Cadaver No 19 with the aim of identifying the cause of death. Sam Galen lies in a coma after a car accident, suspended between life and death, along with others in the same position. The patients are vulnerable, subject to indifferent and careless staff, such as Tracy Evans, more interested in hooking herself a wealthy man; and having to endure staff judgements as to whether they are good or bad patients. Suffering from locked in syndrome, Sam is beginning to emerge from his coma but powerless to communicate when he observes a doctor murdering a patient. Patrick slowly begins to understand the world of emotions and feelings, learns to put up with being touched whilst hating it, and more wondrous, he begins to develop friends. Whilst holding the brain of Cadaver No 19, Patrick finally understands that the secrets of death and what happens after are beyond him, and focuses instead on the mystery of what killed No 19. Professor Madoc is mistaken when he stated that the dead can't speak, they speak to Patrick. Patrick doesn't believe in the official cause of death, he knows No 19 was murdered. Despite all the obstacles and danger he is facing, Patrick is relentless in finding out how No 19 died.
Belinda Bauer writes compelling crime fiction that is original and breathtaking. Patrick is an unusual and compelling character, facing a world that often makes little sense to him and often hindered by his inability to understand the implications of what happens, for that he needs and relies on others to point him in the right direction. He overcomes situations and accepts people that others would struggle with. It is a joy to see him begin to make human connections with Meg and even his mother in the end. This is a glorious read, a joy from beginning to end, despite the gory dissection scenes. Highly recommended!
February 4, 2017
$1.99 Kindle special today......... This is a GREAT --mystery thriller. One of my favorites in this genre. If you've not read Belinda Bauer --this is sure a great book to choose!!!
Irresistible literary crime fiction!
This is a deeply satisfying 'curl-up-on-the-couch-can't-resist-gobbling-it-down', read'!
For those who rather pass on violent-thrillers -yet enjoy a book which has the 'pace' of a thriller --written with care --and psychological depth....this is the PERFECT CHOICE!
Its an utterly original and unconventional murder-mystery-adventure-warm-hearted-story with Anatomy-College-student, *Patrick*, who enters college with his own challenges of aspergers-autism, and demons from his childhood.
While *Patrick* is dissecting cadavers with his classmates (and will soon discover a wrongful death; a hidden murdered dead man), *Sam Galen* is a middle aged married man in the hospital --in a coma from a car accident at the same time.
Sam might not be able to talk and have conversations with the doctors, nurses, and family visitors, but he can 'hear' everything around him. 'We', (the readers), hear every word Sam is thinking, and feel his emotions.
This story is impeccably written. With great narrative technique, the author creates characters which are imperfect that we can understand and sympathize with....giving each of the characters a voice, (alternating style). The plot and 'details' are just too much fun to 'spoil' to say more. (laughing graphic visuals!)
I was often remembering my own college days at Cal, when taking Anatomy classes. I, too, worked on dissecting cadavers. It might have been almost 40 years ago --but one never forgets the smell, the textures, the experience. No murder, mystery... yet, we had our bizarre yearnings to explore the dead flesh.
Rubbernecker is flawless! Highly recommended!
Irresistible literary crime fiction!
This is a deeply satisfying 'curl-up-on-the-couch-can't-resist-gobbling-it-down', read'!
For those who rather pass on violent-thrillers -yet enjoy a book which has the 'pace' of a thriller --written with care --and psychological depth....this is the PERFECT CHOICE!
Its an utterly original and unconventional murder-mystery-adventure-warm-hearted-story with Anatomy-College-student, *Patrick*, who enters college with his own challenges of aspergers-autism, and demons from his childhood.
While *Patrick* is dissecting cadavers with his classmates (and will soon discover a wrongful death; a hidden murdered dead man), *Sam Galen* is a middle aged married man in the hospital --in a coma from a car accident at the same time.
Sam might not be able to talk and have conversations with the doctors, nurses, and family visitors, but he can 'hear' everything around him. 'We', (the readers), hear every word Sam is thinking, and feel his emotions.
This story is impeccably written. With great narrative technique, the author creates characters which are imperfect that we can understand and sympathize with....giving each of the characters a voice, (alternating style). The plot and 'details' are just too much fun to 'spoil' to say more. (laughing graphic visuals!)
I was often remembering my own college days at Cal, when taking Anatomy classes. I, too, worked on dissecting cadavers. It might have been almost 40 years ago --but one never forgets the smell, the textures, the experience. No murder, mystery... yet, we had our bizarre yearnings to explore the dead flesh.
Rubbernecker is flawless! Highly recommended!
August 9, 2016
"Rubberneckers: Desperate for a glimpse of death."
You know the type. Hands clasped over the eyes with fingers lifting ever so slightly. Just enough to see, just enough. It stays with you, though. Longer than what you bargained for.
Patrick Fort wears the white coat of a medical student sitting in a crowded anatomy class. While the professor gives them a tour of the basics in the cadaver lab, Patrick will see and experience things in a different light. He has Asperger's Syndrome. And while this may seem to be a challenge in the scheme of things, it will serve Patrick well in a determined energy for repetition and detail. Patrick will dog after anything that doesn't sit right with him.
Groups are formed and students are assigned a cadaver for examination and research. Ol' Cadaver #19 will sing a tune that only Patrick will hear with acuity. Patrick knows that dead men don't carry tales, except for #19. This was no ordinary death by cardiac arrest. Patrick has found a tiny bit of detail that others have overlooked. And Patrick refuses to part with it. Someone else is on to Patrick. Someone who doesn't have his best interest in mind.
What a remarkable read! Belinda Bauer lays out a storyline unlike anything you may have read before. She gives you a side-by-side chair next to the delightful Patrick and you will begin to see the world through his eyes. The cadaver lab becomes a revealment of time, space, cause, and effect. Bauer's characters are a varied lot. She breathes life into them until some of them no longer are able to do that for themselves.
The original book had a white feathered bird with a black background on the cover. The newer version doesn't seem to pop as much as the original cover. Nevertheless, this is a must read. So glad that I had the opportunity to read this one. A real winner! Patrick would give it two thumbs up for sure!
You know the type. Hands clasped over the eyes with fingers lifting ever so slightly. Just enough to see, just enough. It stays with you, though. Longer than what you bargained for.
Patrick Fort wears the white coat of a medical student sitting in a crowded anatomy class. While the professor gives them a tour of the basics in the cadaver lab, Patrick will see and experience things in a different light. He has Asperger's Syndrome. And while this may seem to be a challenge in the scheme of things, it will serve Patrick well in a determined energy for repetition and detail. Patrick will dog after anything that doesn't sit right with him.
Groups are formed and students are assigned a cadaver for examination and research. Ol' Cadaver #19 will sing a tune that only Patrick will hear with acuity. Patrick knows that dead men don't carry tales, except for #19. This was no ordinary death by cardiac arrest. Patrick has found a tiny bit of detail that others have overlooked. And Patrick refuses to part with it. Someone else is on to Patrick. Someone who doesn't have his best interest in mind.
What a remarkable read! Belinda Bauer lays out a storyline unlike anything you may have read before. She gives you a side-by-side chair next to the delightful Patrick and you will begin to see the world through his eyes. The cadaver lab becomes a revealment of time, space, cause, and effect. Bauer's characters are a varied lot. She breathes life into them until some of them no longer are able to do that for themselves.
The original book had a white feathered bird with a black background on the cover. The newer version doesn't seem to pop as much as the original cover. Nevertheless, this is a must read. So glad that I had the opportunity to read this one. A real winner! Patrick would give it two thumbs up for sure!
September 11, 2024
Just read it! Review done, ta-da! Second reading of one of my very favourite books.
Firstly. If you’ve never read Belinda Bauer read all her books. I’ve loved every single one!
Great book, a very accurate portrayal of Aspergers Syndrome in Patrick, the central character. Great fluid writing and a pace that keeps you looped in, well researched indeed. This book is witty, clever, funny, sad and unique. It's a mystery, a comedy, a detective story all in one. A wonderfully engaging read.
I am diagnosed with Aspergers (at 43) now just called Autism Spectrum Disorder so when I read books with Autistic characters in I have an extra critical eye. Males and females are VERY different too. Belinda has done this really well.
This book is so uniquely done, the way all the aspects of the plot gel together is fun to watch, you do of course root for the underdog, Patrick who sees and experiences the world wonderfully different due to his Autistic brain.
A very interesting plot and enjoyable from start to finish, this book is also slightly different in "tone" than her other books, it's lighter, carries humorous moments well. Sheer entertainment.
Patrick's ability to to see things differently puts him in a position where his student life suddenly becomes an adventure, and he has to get the truth out. But what if others want the truth buried?
I wrote to the author after reading this book thanking her for her research done in order to accurately portray Patrick as a young man with Aspergers. I too have Aspergers and know many other Aspies. Most authors write very wooden stereotypical Aspergers characters, geeky, genius, rigid. And yes, some of these traits exist but if you put five people with Aspergers in a room they won't all be the same, some will be more social, some more excitable, some shy.
She did not put Patrick in an Aspergers box and that's why he shines. Unlike some other book characters where it was so, so wrong, like this one that infuriated me. The Rosie Project
One of my all time favourite books ever this one. Go on, be curious. No wonder it won an award.
::~~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~~::
Thanks so much for reading my review!
I hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
Firstly. If you’ve never read Belinda Bauer read all her books. I’ve loved every single one!
Great book, a very accurate portrayal of Aspergers Syndrome in Patrick, the central character. Great fluid writing and a pace that keeps you looped in, well researched indeed. This book is witty, clever, funny, sad and unique. It's a mystery, a comedy, a detective story all in one. A wonderfully engaging read.
I am diagnosed with Aspergers (at 43) now just called Autism Spectrum Disorder so when I read books with Autistic characters in I have an extra critical eye. Males and females are VERY different too. Belinda has done this really well.
This book is so uniquely done, the way all the aspects of the plot gel together is fun to watch, you do of course root for the underdog, Patrick who sees and experiences the world wonderfully different due to his Autistic brain.
A very interesting plot and enjoyable from start to finish, this book is also slightly different in "tone" than her other books, it's lighter, carries humorous moments well. Sheer entertainment.
Patrick's ability to to see things differently puts him in a position where his student life suddenly becomes an adventure, and he has to get the truth out. But what if others want the truth buried?
I wrote to the author after reading this book thanking her for her research done in order to accurately portray Patrick as a young man with Aspergers. I too have Aspergers and know many other Aspies. Most authors write very wooden stereotypical Aspergers characters, geeky, genius, rigid. And yes, some of these traits exist but if you put five people with Aspergers in a room they won't all be the same, some will be more social, some more excitable, some shy.
She did not put Patrick in an Aspergers box and that's why he shines. Unlike some other book characters where it was so, so wrong, like this one that infuriated me. The Rosie Project
One of my all time favourite books ever this one. Go on, be curious. No wonder it won an award.
::~~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~~::
Thanks so much for reading my review!
I hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
August 29, 2021
4.5 Stars Rounded Up.
I'm a little late to the party reading this, but I loved the author's recent book 'Exit' causing me to circle back to some of her earlier titles.
Other readers have written many superb reviews so I won't expound or attempt to re-create the wheel, but I really loved this but for the omission concluding a major story line.
I was heavily invested with the sub plot regarding Tracy and Mr. Deal and I felt stranded at the end. While a reader can make assumptions, there was very little to go on. I do enjoy ambiguous endings however I was disappointed in this instance. Everything else about the book was five stars for me.
Library loan from my local library.
I'm a little late to the party reading this, but I loved the author's recent book 'Exit' causing me to circle back to some of her earlier titles.
Other readers have written many superb reviews so I won't expound or attempt to re-create the wheel, but I really loved this but for the omission concluding a major story line.
I was heavily invested with the sub plot regarding Tracy and Mr. Deal and I felt stranded at the end. While a reader can make assumptions, there was very little to go on. I do enjoy ambiguous endings however I was disappointed in this instance. Everything else about the book was five stars for me.
Library loan from my local library.
June 11, 2025
I really loved Belinda Bauer's book Snap, so I don't know why it has taken me this long to read another by her. Rubbernecker is exceptional. Her books are always so full of fascinating characters, and this is no different. Patrick is a college student with Asperger's who is taking an anatomy class to learn what happened to his father when he died. The class involves dissection of cadavers for medical students. Patrick was a little boy when his beloved father was killed in a hit and run and he never understood what happened that day. Patrick hopes by analyzing the dead he can understand death better and how his father could go from being alive to dead with a step in the wrong direction.
Patrick is not always a sympathetic character, because he is very literal and gets easily perturbed when people are put off by his abrupt way of acting and talking to them. He starts to grow emotionally and have more nuanced reactions by the book's end. You have hope that he can become a person who gets along in society somewhat more easily. He has had a ton of challenges in his life., his father's death, his mother's alcoholism and rejection of him and many ugly encounters in school and society with thoughtless and uncaring people. In the class, he meets a lovely girl who wants to know him better, but is constantly being rejected by him, because he has little comprehension for her nuanced approach.
Oh, I almost forgot, there is a murder mystery too and Patrick learns about it through the dead man who his group is dissecting. It sounds macabre. Some parts are. It also has a lot of funny bits and heartrending ones too. In other words, Rubbernecker is a great read.
Patrick is not always a sympathetic character, because he is very literal and gets easily perturbed when people are put off by his abrupt way of acting and talking to them. He starts to grow emotionally and have more nuanced reactions by the book's end. You have hope that he can become a person who gets along in society somewhat more easily. He has had a ton of challenges in his life., his father's death, his mother's alcoholism and rejection of him and many ugly encounters in school and society with thoughtless and uncaring people. In the class, he meets a lovely girl who wants to know him better, but is constantly being rejected by him, because he has little comprehension for her nuanced approach.
Oh, I almost forgot, there is a murder mystery too and Patrick learns about it through the dead man who his group is dissecting. It sounds macabre. Some parts are. It also has a lot of funny bits and heartrending ones too. In other words, Rubbernecker is a great read.
November 18, 2020
Belinda Bauer is rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors and this book was just brilliant! Be warned though there are some really gross and gory bits but they are very necessary to the plot. There is also a great mystery, some wonderful characters, and a lot of humor.
Most outstanding is the character of Patrick, a young adult male with Asperger's Syndrome. Bauer describes him so well - his dislike of being touched, his inability to read other people, and his own lack of certain basic feelings. On the other hand he is very smart and often sees things more clearly because he is not hindered by emotions. I felt sad for him a lot of the time and I was so grateful that there were other characters who took the time to understand him and help him out.
All through the book there are sad moments and then there are brilliantly funny bits (often black humour though like the human head in the fridge.) There is a major stunner towards the end - at least it took me by surprise- when Patrick finally solves the problem which caused the whole story.
Five stars for this one and I am off to find Snap.
Most outstanding is the character of Patrick, a young adult male with Asperger's Syndrome. Bauer describes him so well - his dislike of being touched, his inability to read other people, and his own lack of certain basic feelings. On the other hand he is very smart and often sees things more clearly because he is not hindered by emotions. I felt sad for him a lot of the time and I was so grateful that there were other characters who took the time to understand him and help him out.
All through the book there are sad moments and then there are brilliantly funny bits (often black humour though like the human head in the fridge.) There is a major stunner towards the end - at least it took me by surprise- when Patrick finally solves the problem which caused the whole story.
Five stars for this one and I am off to find Snap.
October 22, 2017
Wow.
I LOVED this book.
There are a few concurrent storylines in this book which are all concerned with family dynamics whilst a mystery or two emerge. Our three chief narrators are a man who is deeply in a coma following a car accident, a selfish nurse in the coma ward and Patrick.
The author perfectly manages to get inside the mind of Patrick, a young man with Aspergers. It's amazing the way you are able to sympathise with Patrick and what he's thinking whilst also laughing at the way he takes everything, and I mean everything, literally.
In some ways, I envy Patrick. He is able to say whatever he is thinking and doesn't care about the consequences. He really doesn't care if others don't like him or if he comes across as rude, whilst I am typically British and apologise if someone bangs into me. That is all I envy about Patrick though, this poor man has lost his Father, the only person who had the patience to try and understand him, and don't even get me started on his mother.
There is a lot more to this story but I don't want to give anything away. I finished this book last night and was so sad it was over, but the last paragraph was a perfect ending. I'm going to miss Patrick and I can't wait to read more of Belinda Bauer's work. 4.5 *
I LOVED this book.
There are a few concurrent storylines in this book which are all concerned with family dynamics whilst a mystery or two emerge. Our three chief narrators are a man who is deeply in a coma following a car accident, a selfish nurse in the coma ward and Patrick.
The author perfectly manages to get inside the mind of Patrick, a young man with Aspergers. It's amazing the way you are able to sympathise with Patrick and what he's thinking whilst also laughing at the way he takes everything, and I mean everything, literally.
In some ways, I envy Patrick. He is able to say whatever he is thinking and doesn't care about the consequences. He really doesn't care if others don't like him or if he comes across as rude, whilst I am typically British and apologise if someone bangs into me. That is all I envy about Patrick though, this poor man has lost his Father, the only person who had the patience to try and understand him, and don't even get me started on his mother.
There is a lot more to this story but I don't want to give anything away. I finished this book last night and was so sad it was over, but the last paragraph was a perfect ending. I'm going to miss Patrick and I can't wait to read more of Belinda Bauer's work. 4.5 *
January 14, 2013
‘Over the course of the morning, they prised the brain out with spoons, and it flopped into Patrick’s hands like a water-filled balloon.’
Patrick is fascinated by death. Specifically, by what happens to a living creature, (human or animal, makes no difference to him) at the moment at which life departs. As a child, he was driven to collect dead small things; as he reaches eighteen, he applies successfully to join the anatomy course at Cardiff University Hospital. We join him, and his classmates, as they begin to dissect their cadavers.
At roughly the same time, Samuel Galen has been seriously injured in a car accident and finds himself in the hospital’s neurological ward. He emerges (but only partly) from his coma, to find that although he is largely conscious of what is going on around him, he is unable to communicate in any meaningful way. This becomes a particular problem when he witnesses a young doctor murdering the patient in the next bed. Even more of one when that same doctor starts to take an interest in Samuel himself.
Patrick and Samuel meet, in a somewhat unconventional manner, and being a rather brilliant student, as well as a total oddball, Patrick begins to suspect that all is not as it should be in the dissection room, indeed in the hospital. Cue one of the most intriguing and unusual amateur sleuths in contemporary crime fiction.
Rubbernecker has been compared to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, which doesn’t do it justice in my view. I rather disliked The Curious Incident…, finding it impossible to warm to the main character. In Bauer’s considerably more talented hands, a young man with a very similar condition becomes really rather loveable and has us rooting for him from the very start.
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I greatly admire Belinda Bauer. Her prose is exceptional, her stories strikingly original and she has an enviable ability to veer from grimly bleak to darkly hilarious in the turn of a page. All her books are good, but I won’t be surprised if Rubbernecker is generally considered her best so far.
Patrick is fascinated by death. Specifically, by what happens to a living creature, (human or animal, makes no difference to him) at the moment at which life departs. As a child, he was driven to collect dead small things; as he reaches eighteen, he applies successfully to join the anatomy course at Cardiff University Hospital. We join him, and his classmates, as they begin to dissect their cadavers.
At roughly the same time, Samuel Galen has been seriously injured in a car accident and finds himself in the hospital’s neurological ward. He emerges (but only partly) from his coma, to find that although he is largely conscious of what is going on around him, he is unable to communicate in any meaningful way. This becomes a particular problem when he witnesses a young doctor murdering the patient in the next bed. Even more of one when that same doctor starts to take an interest in Samuel himself.
Patrick and Samuel meet, in a somewhat unconventional manner, and being a rather brilliant student, as well as a total oddball, Patrick begins to suspect that all is not as it should be in the dissection room, indeed in the hospital. Cue one of the most intriguing and unusual amateur sleuths in contemporary crime fiction.
Rubbernecker has been compared to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, which doesn’t do it justice in my view. I rather disliked The Curious Incident…, finding it impossible to warm to the main character. In Bauer’s considerably more talented hands, a young man with a very similar condition becomes really rather loveable and has us rooting for him from the very start.
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I greatly admire Belinda Bauer. Her prose is exceptional, her stories strikingly original and she has an enviable ability to veer from grimly bleak to darkly hilarious in the turn of a page. All her books are good, but I won’t be surprised if Rubbernecker is generally considered her best so far.
September 29, 2021
Se puede decir que la novela "negra" (intriga, criminal, misterio, policial...) está en auge y cuenta con unos lectores muy fieles. Yo incluso me atrevería a considerarla como la novela realista de esta época, más apegada a lo terrenal que muchas otras obras de ficción clásicas más centradas en lo específico, lo sutil y lo reflexivo. Por este motivo, el género está evolucionando y aparecen novelas como Morir no es tan fácil (2015), de Belinda Beuer (1962-) (o como
La chica del tren [Reseña]
de Paula Hawkins) en la que los protagonistas de la novela negra clásica (el detective maltratado por la vida, el policía perseverante o el forense superdotado), quedan relegados a un segundo plano y aparecen personas comunes que se convierten en protagonistas. Unos personajes que no solo están inmersos en ese clima de crueldad y violencia, sino también en la resolución de los asesinatos, que obviamente siempre están presentes. En la novela que nos ocupa, Morir no es tan fácil, se trata de un adolescente con síndrome de Aspergen.
Sospecho que las editoriales intentan así llegar a un público más amplio que el habitual del género. Quizá algún purista ponga el grito en el cielo, pero, a mi entender, lo más importante es que haya un publico que disfrute con la obra. Y, en lo que a mí respecta, la he disfrutado bastante. La he leído sin parar desde un principio en el que no vislumbras cómo se va a ensamblar lo que te esta contando, una segunda parte con un par de giros interesantes y un final un tanto extraño, pero convincente.
Otro punto a su favor es que yo personalmente había leído poco de los temas que trata y describe exhaustivamente: personas en coma y cuerpos donados a la ciencia. Por todo esto, para mí, Morir no es tan fácil ha sido una novela que no me arrepiento de haber leído y que puedo recomendar sin problemas.
Sospecho que las editoriales intentan así llegar a un público más amplio que el habitual del género. Quizá algún purista ponga el grito en el cielo, pero, a mi entender, lo más importante es que haya un publico que disfrute con la obra. Y, en lo que a mí respecta, la he disfrutado bastante. La he leído sin parar desde un principio en el que no vislumbras cómo se va a ensamblar lo que te esta contando, una segunda parte con un par de giros interesantes y un final un tanto extraño, pero convincente.
Otro punto a su favor es que yo personalmente había leído poco de los temas que trata y describe exhaustivamente: personas en coma y cuerpos donados a la ciencia. Por todo esto, para mí, Morir no es tan fácil ha sido una novela que no me arrepiento de haber leído y que puedo recomendar sin problemas.
October 18, 2018
Patrick is an anatomy student who has Asperger's syndrome. He finds something unusual in the body that he is studying. He suspects foul play. Patrick had become obsessed with death since his father was killed in a hit and run accident. He enrolled in the university course to try and find out what happens to a person when they die. Samuel Galen was also a victim of an accident, but he survived. He is in a coma. He lingers in a semi-conscious state. He saw and heard things that were dangerous.
It took me a little while to get into this book but I'm glad I stuck with it as once I did get into it, it's gripping. I loved Patrick and his quirky ways. This book is disturbing and scary at times. The plot is complex. A well written book that's got a different type of crime story.
It took me a little while to get into this book but I'm glad I stuck with it as once I did get into it, it's gripping. I loved Patrick and his quirky ways. This book is disturbing and scary at times. The plot is complex. A well written book that's got a different type of crime story.
April 19, 2025
Belinda Bauer writes compelling stories, drawing the reader
into the hearts and minds of her characters through her sympathy and insight. This is a strange story, but strange in a good way. At a time when recent psychological thrillers are running together in my mind, her extraordinary stories are original and unique.
The author creates characters who are fascinating and memorable. She manages to inject humor amidst some grisly scenes, but I was always laughing along with the characters and not at them. Her stories may be far fetched but believable.
The story features Patrick who has Asperger’s Syndrome. He is obsessed by death and what happens when life leaves the body. This fascination started early in life when his father was killed under circumstances he doesn’t understand. His mother resents him. In Patrick we have an unusual protagonist determined to solve what he believes was a murder. He has difficulty with social interactions and in understanding the emotions of others.
Locations are grim and disturbing. One setting is a hospital room devoted to comatose patients. They exist in a state somewhere between life and death. One man has ‘locked-in’ syndrome. He sees his surroundings but is unable to move or communicate but is slowly beginning to emerge from his state. A woman shows no signs of consciousness but constantly taps her fingers in a desperate attempt to communicate. It is believed that this is merely an automatic nervous twitch. Most caregivers are devoted but one nurse is neglectful, more interested in seducing the wealthy husband of one of the patients.
A second setting is an anatomy lab and centers around a group of students busy dissecting cadavers. Patrick is among those enrolled in the class. He believes the cadaver he is studying has been murdered rather than having died from the medically reported heart attack.
Part way through the course Patrick is expelled due to some behaviour typical to his condition which the professors can no longer tolerate. He is undaunted in his goal to solve what he suspects is a murder, but no longer has access to the lab or the body. His difficulty in communicating and interactions with others makes his suspicions sound ridiculous to others. Nevertheless he has an obsessive focus and drive to solve a possible crime.
I find the author’s plots to be astounding and hope to read all her books.
into the hearts and minds of her characters through her sympathy and insight. This is a strange story, but strange in a good way. At a time when recent psychological thrillers are running together in my mind, her extraordinary stories are original and unique.
The author creates characters who are fascinating and memorable. She manages to inject humor amidst some grisly scenes, but I was always laughing along with the characters and not at them. Her stories may be far fetched but believable.
The story features Patrick who has Asperger’s Syndrome. He is obsessed by death and what happens when life leaves the body. This fascination started early in life when his father was killed under circumstances he doesn’t understand. His mother resents him. In Patrick we have an unusual protagonist determined to solve what he believes was a murder. He has difficulty with social interactions and in understanding the emotions of others.
Locations are grim and disturbing. One setting is a hospital room devoted to comatose patients. They exist in a state somewhere between life and death. One man has ‘locked-in’ syndrome. He sees his surroundings but is unable to move or communicate but is slowly beginning to emerge from his state. A woman shows no signs of consciousness but constantly taps her fingers in a desperate attempt to communicate. It is believed that this is merely an automatic nervous twitch. Most caregivers are devoted but one nurse is neglectful, more interested in seducing the wealthy husband of one of the patients.
A second setting is an anatomy lab and centers around a group of students busy dissecting cadavers. Patrick is among those enrolled in the class. He believes the cadaver he is studying has been murdered rather than having died from the medically reported heart attack.
Part way through the course Patrick is expelled due to some behaviour typical to his condition which the professors can no longer tolerate. He is undaunted in his goal to solve what he suspects is a murder, but no longer has access to the lab or the body. His difficulty in communicating and interactions with others makes his suspicions sound ridiculous to others. Nevertheless he has an obsessive focus and drive to solve a possible crime.
I find the author’s plots to be astounding and hope to read all her books.
July 31, 2015
A theme running through this book is communication. Can someone in a coma communicate and if so, how? Blinking eyes, tapping fingers, and in one case, thrashing about. Then there is Patrick. What a unique character! A young man with Asperger's Syndrome who communicates in his own special way. In both cases, the problem is understanding the communication. There are many missed signals and much MIS-communication.
There are two settings in this book and they are both unique as well. A coma ward in a hospital and a cadaver dissecting room at a medical school, both with their attending medical personnel.
The characters are wonderful. Patrick's mother, so frustrated raising him alone after her husband's death, turns to alcohol. Lexi, a snotty brat whose father had a terrible car accident, is left with only a step-mother. Meg befriends Patrick and accepts his quirks. Tracy is the conniving nurse and looking out for only herself. DS Williams is a long-serving cop who has never been involved in a huge case.
Bauer makes all these things come together in a truly unique book that I enjoyed immensely. 5 stars!
There are two settings in this book and they are both unique as well. A coma ward in a hospital and a cadaver dissecting room at a medical school, both with their attending medical personnel.
The characters are wonderful. Patrick's mother, so frustrated raising him alone after her husband's death, turns to alcohol. Lexi, a snotty brat whose father had a terrible car accident, is left with only a step-mother. Meg befriends Patrick and accepts his quirks. Tracy is the conniving nurse and looking out for only herself. DS Williams is a long-serving cop who has never been involved in a huge case.
Bauer makes all these things come together in a truly unique book that I enjoyed immensely. 5 stars!
June 24, 2018
Patrick Fort is an irregular weave. He eats his food in alphabetical order, most preferably from his special alphabet plate. Socially inept, literal minded, he has an utter fascination with numbers and patterns. Just the thought of being touched fills him with dread.
Currently a medical student with Asperger's Syndrome, Patrick's life isn't easy, never has been. It became increasingly difficult . He became obsessed with death.
Thank you to my GR buddy, debra, for this great recommendation. I think this author and I are going to get along just fine.
Currently a medical student with Asperger's Syndrome, Patrick's life isn't easy, never has been. It became increasingly difficult . He became obsessed with death.
Thank you to my GR buddy, debra, for this great recommendation. I think this author and I are going to get along just fine.
July 29, 2014
"Williams jerked a thumb at the cell door. 'Kid's got a severed head in his frig but he wants a bloody feather duster to do a bit of housework."
Meet Patrick. He is a young man with Aspergers, he does not like to be touched, is very matter of fact, does not recognize most social clues, and has a vey matter of fact way of looking at the world. His mother wishes he were normal, but Patrick holds no hard feelings. So how does he become embroiled in a story and death that is not what it appears?
A unique story and plot, at times humorous, at times sad. It was easy to fall in love with the character that is Patrick, but because I know how hard it would be to live with someone like this I also understand the mom's frustration as well. All in all I found this a very well done story, with a credible plot that kept me reading to the end.
If you want to find out why Patrick had a severed head in his fridge, You will just have to read the book yourself.
Meet Patrick. He is a young man with Aspergers, he does not like to be touched, is very matter of fact, does not recognize most social clues, and has a vey matter of fact way of looking at the world. His mother wishes he were normal, but Patrick holds no hard feelings. So how does he become embroiled in a story and death that is not what it appears?
A unique story and plot, at times humorous, at times sad. It was easy to fall in love with the character that is Patrick, but because I know how hard it would be to live with someone like this I also understand the mom's frustration as well. All in all I found this a very well done story, with a credible plot that kept me reading to the end.
If you want to find out why Patrick had a severed head in his fridge, You will just have to read the book yourself.
August 11, 2018
4.5 Stars
Wow! There is a whole lot packed into this 400 page thriller! So much plot, so many interesting characters and enough suspense to keep me reading late into the night! I read this because I loved Belinda Bauer's most recent book, Snap and a GR friend recommend Rubbernecker, also by Bauer (thanks Jennifer!). I am now a HUGE Bauer fan. She really knows how to write fascinating, unique characters.
SUMMARY
There is a lot to this plot but I don't want to ruin it for anyone who is kind enough to read my review so I won't say too much. The story opens with a man, Sam, having a terrible car accident and finding himself in a semi conscious comatose state in a hospital. He notices a lot of the things happening around him (like one of the less competent nurses flirting with the husband of another coma patient) but is unable to communicate.
Patrick is a young man with Asperger's Syndrome. He has recently been accepted to college to study anatomy. He has been curious about the scientific aspects of death since his father died when he was young. His Aspberger's makes it difficult for him to read social cues and puts him in some pretty interesting situations. He is often doing the kinds of things most people would be too embarrassed to do or say. He becomes fascinated with his cadaver in his intro to anatomy class which leads him on quite a journey.
In addition to Patrick and Sam's stories, the reader also finds out more about the flirty nurse, Patrick's mother, Sam's family and some of Patrick's classmates and teachers. Eventually, all these stories converge and things get REALLY interesting!
WHAT I LOVED
This was a fantastic, well crafted story! I can't decide which I liked more; the characters or the plot! The plot couldn't be possible without Patrick, the main character. His single mindedness keeps the plot moving forward. He is like a dog with a bone, once he sees something, he won't stop until he understands everything about it and he never let anything like social mores or good manners get in the way of finding his answers. It is entertaining to read in places and painful in other places. But the plot was so well done!!! I LOVED it!
This story was set in Wales. More Brit-Lit! Love that!
The whole concept of this story, it's premise and setting of a college anatomy class and a long term care hospital is very unique. Top that off with a couple unexpected twists and a main character who is very unpredictable and you have a big WINNER!
WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE
Some of the parts where the students are dissecting the cadavers is more than I want to know. Gross. There is a lot of talk about the sights and smells. I am not a fan of all that.
OVERALL
Such a great book. I think I may have liked it even more than Snap. I am now officially a big Belinda Bauer groupie!
Wow! There is a whole lot packed into this 400 page thriller! So much plot, so many interesting characters and enough suspense to keep me reading late into the night! I read this because I loved Belinda Bauer's most recent book, Snap and a GR friend recommend Rubbernecker, also by Bauer (thanks Jennifer!). I am now a HUGE Bauer fan. She really knows how to write fascinating, unique characters.
SUMMARY
There is a lot to this plot but I don't want to ruin it for anyone who is kind enough to read my review so I won't say too much. The story opens with a man, Sam, having a terrible car accident and finding himself in a semi conscious comatose state in a hospital. He notices a lot of the things happening around him (like one of the less competent nurses flirting with the husband of another coma patient) but is unable to communicate.
Patrick is a young man with Asperger's Syndrome. He has recently been accepted to college to study anatomy. He has been curious about the scientific aspects of death since his father died when he was young. His Aspberger's makes it difficult for him to read social cues and puts him in some pretty interesting situations. He is often doing the kinds of things most people would be too embarrassed to do or say. He becomes fascinated with his cadaver in his intro to anatomy class which leads him on quite a journey.
In addition to Patrick and Sam's stories, the reader also finds out more about the flirty nurse, Patrick's mother, Sam's family and some of Patrick's classmates and teachers. Eventually, all these stories converge and things get REALLY interesting!
WHAT I LOVED
This was a fantastic, well crafted story! I can't decide which I liked more; the characters or the plot! The plot couldn't be possible without Patrick, the main character. His single mindedness keeps the plot moving forward. He is like a dog with a bone, once he sees something, he won't stop until he understands everything about it and he never let anything like social mores or good manners get in the way of finding his answers. It is entertaining to read in places and painful in other places. But the plot was so well done!!! I LOVED it!
This story was set in Wales. More Brit-Lit! Love that!
The whole concept of this story, it's premise and setting of a college anatomy class and a long term care hospital is very unique. Top that off with a couple unexpected twists and a main character who is very unpredictable and you have a big WINNER!
WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE
Some of the parts where the students are dissecting the cadavers is more than I want to know. Gross. There is a lot of talk about the sights and smells. I am not a fan of all that.
OVERALL
Such a great book. I think I may have liked it even more than Snap. I am now officially a big Belinda Bauer groupie!
January 14, 2015
The Literary Lawyer 2015 Gavel Award winner for
* Best Thriller
My #3 Best Read for 2014
Delightfully Odd - 5 Stars
Ever since reading the masterful The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, I have sought another book told in the voice similar to that of the Autistic child in the The Curious Incident . I have finally found an equal to Mark Haddon's wonderful story. The author seamlessly weaves storylines together while telling them through two unique voices.
Plot summary
Our main character and unlikely detective, Patrick, is a college anatomy student and lives with Asperger's syndrome while his mother suffers the fallout of the disorder. Since the death of his father, Patrick has longed to know what happens to a person when they die and where it is that person goes. He believes that the answer lies inside of the dead human body so naturally, dissecting a human body as part of college study will provide the answer. As the semester progresses, Patrick becomes obsessed with the cause of death of the Cadaver and mystery is born. In a parallel storyline, we view the world through the eyes of a coma patient and we learn of startling behaviour in the coma ward. Unfortunately, he lacks the ability to express his observations. Eventually the storylines converge and secrets are uncovered both in Patrick's "investigation" and in his own home.
The Good
Unique Voices
While this novel is reminiscent of the Curious Incident it is by no means a clone. The story is told though the black and white and emotionally challenged voice of a Asperger's patient. As he is unable to appreciate nuance, sarcasm and most emotional reaction, the reader is left amused at the situations created and enlightened by the observations of this unique individual. In the parallel story, we see the world through the eyes of a coma patient. As he cannot interact with and examine his surroundings, the reader is left intrigued with his conclusions as we are never sure if when can trust what he saw. As the two major characters, these two voices tell a story from points of view that will be foreign to the average reader. As such, the view is intriguing, enlightening and entertaining.
There's a Story Too!
This novel is not a one trick pony. While the story is largely driven by these two unique characters, the plot is not left to suffer. It is only the singularity of focus afforded by Patrick's disorder that allows him to see a mystery where others see nothing. The book also deals with the complicated family dynamics brought on by the disorder and his mother's difficulty in dealing with same. The issue is explored with humour and levity and avoids melodrama. The final scenes between Patrick and his mother are both absurd and touching. While the character's personal life may not resolve in a manner that the reader would find satisfactory, it is resolved in a manner that Patrick and understand and accept. Honestly, you have to read it to appreciate the seemingly absurd honesty and acceptance of Patrick.
The Bad
I really have nothing negative to say. If you hated The Curious Incident I doubt you would like this one. While the character in this novel is older and the subject matter more adult focused, the thought process and voice of the MC is similar.
Final Thoughts
This is easily one of the best books I have read in many years. If you enjoy mystery, stories told from unique perspectives mixed with brilliant writing, than this is the book for you. I give this one my highest recommendation. Looking to be my top read for 2014. Going to take a great read to knock this one down a peg.
Content Advisories
As this was one of about six books I read over a week long vacation, I am bit fuzzy on the content specifics. Please be aware that these are likely to be less accurate than normal.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 2.5
There is a minor sub plot that involves an affair. One character discusses sex in non graphic terms. There scene in which a character is exposed as being a lesbian as was caught having an affair with another woman. It was not graphic. There was some innocent sexual tension.
Language - 3
To play it safe, I am giving this a three. There low use of mild language and some low use of the f-word. The usage of all adult language was generally low.
Violence - 2.5
While not strictly violence, there was some rather graphic descriptions of an ongoing human dissection as part of a university anatomy class. It was not told in gory terms but in the MC's straight forward voice. There is mild-moderate graphic of murder. The murders were not violent in nature. While this seems contradictory, a reading of the book will clear up this point.
Posted to theLiteraryLawyer.ca
* Best Thriller
My #3 Best Read for 2014
Delightfully Odd - 5 Stars
Ever since reading the masterful The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, I have sought another book told in the voice similar to that of the Autistic child in the The Curious Incident . I have finally found an equal to Mark Haddon's wonderful story. The author seamlessly weaves storylines together while telling them through two unique voices.
Plot summary
Our main character and unlikely detective, Patrick, is a college anatomy student and lives with Asperger's syndrome while his mother suffers the fallout of the disorder. Since the death of his father, Patrick has longed to know what happens to a person when they die and where it is that person goes. He believes that the answer lies inside of the dead human body so naturally, dissecting a human body as part of college study will provide the answer. As the semester progresses, Patrick becomes obsessed with the cause of death of the Cadaver and mystery is born. In a parallel storyline, we view the world through the eyes of a coma patient and we learn of startling behaviour in the coma ward. Unfortunately, he lacks the ability to express his observations. Eventually the storylines converge and secrets are uncovered both in Patrick's "investigation" and in his own home.
The Good
Unique Voices
While this novel is reminiscent of the Curious Incident it is by no means a clone. The story is told though the black and white and emotionally challenged voice of a Asperger's patient. As he is unable to appreciate nuance, sarcasm and most emotional reaction, the reader is left amused at the situations created and enlightened by the observations of this unique individual. In the parallel story, we see the world through the eyes of a coma patient. As he cannot interact with and examine his surroundings, the reader is left intrigued with his conclusions as we are never sure if when can trust what he saw. As the two major characters, these two voices tell a story from points of view that will be foreign to the average reader. As such, the view is intriguing, enlightening and entertaining.
There's a Story Too!
This novel is not a one trick pony. While the story is largely driven by these two unique characters, the plot is not left to suffer. It is only the singularity of focus afforded by Patrick's disorder that allows him to see a mystery where others see nothing. The book also deals with the complicated family dynamics brought on by the disorder and his mother's difficulty in dealing with same. The issue is explored with humour and levity and avoids melodrama. The final scenes between Patrick and his mother are both absurd and touching. While the character's personal life may not resolve in a manner that the reader would find satisfactory, it is resolved in a manner that Patrick and understand and accept. Honestly, you have to read it to appreciate the seemingly absurd honesty and acceptance of Patrick.
The Bad
I really have nothing negative to say. If you hated The Curious Incident I doubt you would like this one. While the character in this novel is older and the subject matter more adult focused, the thought process and voice of the MC is similar.
Final Thoughts
This is easily one of the best books I have read in many years. If you enjoy mystery, stories told from unique perspectives mixed with brilliant writing, than this is the book for you. I give this one my highest recommendation. Looking to be my top read for 2014. Going to take a great read to knock this one down a peg.
Content Advisories
As this was one of about six books I read over a week long vacation, I am bit fuzzy on the content specifics. Please be aware that these are likely to be less accurate than normal.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 2.5
There is a minor sub plot that involves an affair. One character discusses sex in non graphic terms. There scene in which a character is exposed as being a lesbian as was caught having an affair with another woman. It was not graphic. There was some innocent sexual tension.
Language - 3
To play it safe, I am giving this a three. There low use of mild language and some low use of the f-word. The usage of all adult language was generally low.
Violence - 2.5
While not strictly violence, there was some rather graphic descriptions of an ongoing human dissection as part of a university anatomy class. It was not told in gory terms but in the MC's straight forward voice. There is mild-moderate graphic of murder. The murders were not violent in nature. While this seems contradictory, a reading of the book will clear up this point.
Posted to theLiteraryLawyer.ca
June 15, 2018
Inevitablemente, recuerda mucho a “El curioso incidente del perro a medianoche”, de Mark Haddon. Pero, aparte de que ambos protagonistas padecen el mismo síndrome, las similitudes son pocas.
Tampoco consideraría esta novela como un thriller al uso. Es una novela poco convencional, con un protagonista entrañable, con el que empatizas al instante. Quitando algunas descripciones en el apartado de la disección del Número 19, que pueden provocar algún retortijón en lectores muy sensibles, el relato está sembrado de momentos hilarantes, y también algunos bastante emotivos. Los personajes son todos muy convincentes, especialmente la madre de Patrick, que se siente impotente para seguir lidiando con su hijo.
Hubo momentos en los que pensé que nuestro protagonista no sería capaz de descubrir al asesino. Afortunadamente me equivoqué.
En resumen, una de las mejores novelas que llevo leídas este año.
PD: El binomio formado por Tracey y Mr Deal me ha parecido la guinda del pastel. ¡No hace falta que el autor te cuente qué ha ocurrido con Tracey! ¡Y lo mejor es que te alegras!
El policía tontorrón que finalmente acaba descubriendo el misterio y resolviendo el caso (Ahora no recuerdo su nombre). ¡Fantástico también!
Tampoco consideraría esta novela como un thriller al uso. Es una novela poco convencional, con un protagonista entrañable, con el que empatizas al instante. Quitando algunas descripciones en el apartado de la disección del Número 19, que pueden provocar algún retortijón en lectores muy sensibles, el relato está sembrado de momentos hilarantes, y también algunos bastante emotivos. Los personajes son todos muy convincentes, especialmente la madre de Patrick, que se siente impotente para seguir lidiando con su hijo.
Hubo momentos en los que pensé que nuestro protagonista no sería capaz de descubrir al asesino. Afortunadamente me equivoqué.
En resumen, una de las mejores novelas que llevo leídas este año.
PD: El binomio formado por Tracey y Mr Deal me ha parecido la guinda del pastel. ¡No hace falta que el autor te cuente qué ha ocurrido con Tracey! ¡Y lo mejor es que te alegras!
El policía tontorrón que finalmente acaba descubriendo el misterio y resolviendo el caso (Ahora no recuerdo su nombre). ¡Fantástico también!
June 27, 2015
The first time Patrick Fort cried, he was an expelled anatomy student who had been bundled into the back of a police car having been arrested on charges of resisting arrest, theft and murder. All this following the discovery of a severed human head on his shelf of the fridge in his student flat, sandwiched between the best and the worst of student cuisine.
Life is strange enough for Patrick; being a medical student with Asperger's Syndrome doesn't come without its challenges, but the body Patrick has been dissecting has been trying to tell him something, and Patrick needs someone who will know what to do to listen to him.
This is my first ever Belinda Bauer...though I admit she has been on my To Be Read list for some time.
This is a touching, tragic and humorous tale. Bring on more Bauer!
Thank you to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic and Belinda Bauer for the opportunity to read Rubbernecker in exchange for an honest review
Life is strange enough for Patrick; being a medical student with Asperger's Syndrome doesn't come without its challenges, but the body Patrick has been dissecting has been trying to tell him something, and Patrick needs someone who will know what to do to listen to him.
This is my first ever Belinda Bauer...though I admit she has been on my To Be Read list for some time.
This is a touching, tragic and humorous tale. Bring on more Bauer!
Thank you to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic and Belinda Bauer for the opportunity to read Rubbernecker in exchange for an honest review
February 17, 2016
You know that sad feeling you get sometimes when you finish a book that you don't want to end? I'm really, really sad right now....
This is my first read by author Belinda Bauer and I don't know how I haven't run across her until now. I love her style of writing! You can tell she does her research, creates really memorable characters, and treats the reader to multiple stories within a story that all tie together AND make sense.
The story revolves around Patrick who has Asperger's Syndrome. His father dies at a young age and thus starts his quest to get the one answer that he couldn't find: why? Shortly after, we hear from a new voice...someone who has been in a coma and is just waking up. No one can hear him, but us lucky readers get privy to his thoughts and fears...
Throw in an alcoholic Mother, a nurse looking to hook her next sugar daddy, and an assortment of other memorable characters and you have one heck of a page turner that I couldn't put down. There were 2 times this book actually made me say out loud "OMG!"
I look forward to reading Belinda's other books and highly recommend Rubbernecker to anyone who enjoys a solid suspense with twists that you won't see coming!
***ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review***
This is my first read by author Belinda Bauer and I don't know how I haven't run across her until now. I love her style of writing! You can tell she does her research, creates really memorable characters, and treats the reader to multiple stories within a story that all tie together AND make sense.
The story revolves around Patrick who has Asperger's Syndrome. His father dies at a young age and thus starts his quest to get the one answer that he couldn't find: why? Shortly after, we hear from a new voice...someone who has been in a coma and is just waking up. No one can hear him, but us lucky readers get privy to his thoughts and fears...
Throw in an alcoholic Mother, a nurse looking to hook her next sugar daddy, and an assortment of other memorable characters and you have one heck of a page turner that I couldn't put down. There were 2 times this book actually made me say out loud "OMG!"
I look forward to reading Belinda's other books and highly recommend Rubbernecker to anyone who enjoys a solid suspense with twists that you won't see coming!
***ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review***
October 30, 2020
I didn’t know what to expect upon starting to read this book. The first 20 pages or so describing the coma ward and one patient in particular who is very alive in his mind but can’t even open his eyes at first. I wanted to put this book on the back burner but I kept on. Wow am I glad that I did!
We are introduced to Patrick who has Asperger’s syndrome and he describes his difficulty with interacting with others since he was a young boy. His one anchor was his father whom he was with when a car hit and killed him and sped away.
Since his father’s death Patrick becomes obsessed with death. What really happens when you die, does a door open and you find yourself on the other side? He dissects small animals that he finds in the area and even explores pictures of the dead to look for clues.
After high school he decides to go to college to study anatomy. He is fascinated with the cadaver that they meticulously dissect through months of study. He is an excellent student, very precise and diligent with all of his work. He obsessively cleans up after himself and the other students. He again has trouble interacting with the other students with the exception of Meg who befriends him.
When they can really find no source for cause of death they are told that he died of a heart attack. Patrick isn’t so sure.
He begins investigating things further and believes that the patient was murdered. But trying to convince other people without evidence is very hard.
There are many great characters, a careless, inept nurse who just wants to finish her book, Meg the anatomy student who befriends and believes Patrick, the doctors who oversee the anatomy class and more, all of which are well described.
I was not familiar with Belinda Bauer but I will definitely look for future books from her. The plot in this story was so well written and offered lots of twists and turns and leaves me with perhaps a little better understanding of Asperger’s syndrome.
We are introduced to Patrick who has Asperger’s syndrome and he describes his difficulty with interacting with others since he was a young boy. His one anchor was his father whom he was with when a car hit and killed him and sped away.
Since his father’s death Patrick becomes obsessed with death. What really happens when you die, does a door open and you find yourself on the other side? He dissects small animals that he finds in the area and even explores pictures of the dead to look for clues.
After high school he decides to go to college to study anatomy. He is fascinated with the cadaver that they meticulously dissect through months of study. He is an excellent student, very precise and diligent with all of his work. He obsessively cleans up after himself and the other students. He again has trouble interacting with the other students with the exception of Meg who befriends him.
When they can really find no source for cause of death they are told that he died of a heart attack. Patrick isn’t so sure.
He begins investigating things further and believes that the patient was murdered. But trying to convince other people without evidence is very hard.
There are many great characters, a careless, inept nurse who just wants to finish her book, Meg the anatomy student who befriends and believes Patrick, the doctors who oversee the anatomy class and more, all of which are well described.
I was not familiar with Belinda Bauer but I will definitely look for future books from her. The plot in this story was so well written and offered lots of twists and turns and leaves me with perhaps a little better understanding of Asperger’s syndrome.
April 10, 2025
A medical student with Asperger’s is drawn into a deadly mystery in this unique crime thriller. As Patrick Fort learns one truth from a dead man, he discovers there have been many other lies closer to home. This is the first book by Belinda Bauer that I've had the pleasure of reading. I borrowed it from Libby to read prior to reading "The Impossible Thing" which is the second book in this little series. I thoroughly enjoyed Rubbernecker and look forward to following some of the same characters in the second book. The characters are amazing, the story is original and the pages pretty much turn themselves. I hope to find time to read some of Belinda Bauer's other novels as well. All the stars!
Bonus! At the end of the e-book was an offer from the publisher to download a free e-book. I think there were 4 or 5 choices and I chose "The Surgeon" by Karl Hill because you know a person can never have too many books! Thanks to Grove Atlantic for your generous offer.
Bonus! At the end of the e-book was an offer from the publisher to download a free e-book. I think there were 4 or 5 choices and I chose "The Surgeon" by Karl Hill because you know a person can never have too many books! Thanks to Grove Atlantic for your generous offer.
August 30, 2015
This is a difficult book to classify as it is a most unusual crime novel revolving around two main characters, Samuel Galen a coma patient and Patrick Fort, an anatomy student with Aspergers. Patrick saw his father killed in a hit and run accident when he was young and since then has been obsessed with understanding death. This leads him to the University anatomy lab where his group of students are given a cadaver to dissect over several months. As a result of his Aspergers Patrick notices when things are not logical and this eventually leads him into trouble.
This is a really quirky novel built around the world of the coma patient where patients are not quite in this world and the anatomy lab where the dead can tell us much about their lives. Patrick is an easy character to feel an empathy for in his fight to understand the world and his difficult mother who doesn't understand him. The unusual title will also make more sense once you read the book. Definitely an absorbing and fun read.
March 2, 2020
4.5 ★
Another winner from Belinda Bauer.
Shout out to challenges that make you comb the depths of your TBR and get to books you put on there for good reason.
It's easy to become jaded after too many years reading crime fiction but clever, original, can't put it down stories like this one snap you right out of it.
Another winner from Belinda Bauer.
Shout out to challenges that make you comb the depths of your TBR and get to books you put on there for good reason.
It's easy to become jaded after too many years reading crime fiction but clever, original, can't put it down stories like this one snap you right out of it.
August 28, 2025
¡Me ha encantado!
Una novela bien escrita, original, fácil de leer, no muy larga y entretenida, con toques trágicos, toques de humor, acción, intriga y sentimientos. Ojo, no es thriller.
Patrick Fort es el protagonista de esta novela. A sus 18 años, ingresa en la Universidad de Cardiff, en la facultad de Medicina. Realmente, él lo único que quiere es tener conocimientos de Anatomía, sólo eso, por tanto las clases de disección de cadáveres son su fuerte. Patrick tiene síndrome de Asperger, por lo que las relaciones personales, la falta de lógica, el desorden, la suciedad o las conversaciones facilonas no son lo suyo.
Su empeño en averiguar la causa de la muerte del cadáver que están diseccionando le va a dar muchos, muchos problemas. Ya no sólo eso, sino también otros descubrimientos con los que se encuentra por el camino. La guinda de todo ello la tenemos al final de la novela. En total, resulta que Patrick descubre tres crímenes.
Me lo he pasado muy bien con él. Es muy fácil empatizar con este personaje. Su padre murió hace 10 años y su madre está desquiciada (al final se entiende algo más su comportamiento). En Cardiff hay otros personajes, interesantes unos y tontos otros, con los que se cruza Patrick.
👌
Una novela bien escrita, original, fácil de leer, no muy larga y entretenida, con toques trágicos, toques de humor, acción, intriga y sentimientos. Ojo, no es thriller.
Patrick Fort es el protagonista de esta novela. A sus 18 años, ingresa en la Universidad de Cardiff, en la facultad de Medicina. Realmente, él lo único que quiere es tener conocimientos de Anatomía, sólo eso, por tanto las clases de disección de cadáveres son su fuerte. Patrick tiene síndrome de Asperger, por lo que las relaciones personales, la falta de lógica, el desorden, la suciedad o las conversaciones facilonas no son lo suyo.
Su empeño en averiguar la causa de la muerte del cadáver que están diseccionando le va a dar muchos, muchos problemas. Ya no sólo eso, sino también otros descubrimientos con los que se encuentra por el camino. La guinda de todo ello la tenemos al final de la novela. En total, resulta que Patrick descubre tres crímenes.
Me lo he pasado muy bien con él. Es muy fácil empatizar con este personaje. Su padre murió hace 10 años y su madre está desquiciada (al final se entiende algo más su comportamiento). En Cardiff hay otros personajes, interesantes unos y tontos otros, con los que se cruza Patrick.
👌
October 14, 2018
Rubbernecker: (noun) ‘An extremely curious person’.
Anatomy student, Patrick, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, finds something unusual regarding the body he is studying, leading him to suspect foul play. Elsewhere, a comatose man, hovers between life and death, desperate to communicate. Tracy, a nurse in the same neurological ward, plays a flirtatious game with the husband of another patient in a coma.
Confused, over how the above seemingly unrelated events tie together? So was I, and I remained none the wiser, until the big end reveal. Little things I thought were nothing to do with anything, turned out to be hugely important. Plus, there was a different, and original motive for murder that I definitely wouldn’t have ever predicted as reason enough to kill someone.
Patrick was someone I warmed to easily, and cared about what happened to, and any parts that had him interacting with the opposite sex, or dealing with his flatmates, and flat life in general were not only hilarious, but hit all the right emotional notes. Warning for some pretty graphic medical descriptions of both dissecting cadavers, and caring for coma patients, so if you are squeamish you may want to avoid this one.
4-stars, as I didn’t love the characters as much as those in Snap, and felt the plot dragged in the first 40%, but still a book that I happily recommend to lovers of the Alfred Hitchcock-style crime novel.
Anatomy student, Patrick, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, finds something unusual regarding the body he is studying, leading him to suspect foul play. Elsewhere, a comatose man, hovers between life and death, desperate to communicate. Tracy, a nurse in the same neurological ward, plays a flirtatious game with the husband of another patient in a coma.
Confused, over how the above seemingly unrelated events tie together? So was I, and I remained none the wiser, until the big end reveal. Little things I thought were nothing to do with anything, turned out to be hugely important. Plus, there was a different, and original motive for murder that I definitely wouldn’t have ever predicted as reason enough to kill someone.
Patrick was someone I warmed to easily, and cared about what happened to, and any parts that had him interacting with the opposite sex, or dealing with his flatmates, and flat life in general were not only hilarious, but hit all the right emotional notes. Warning for some pretty graphic medical descriptions of both dissecting cadavers, and caring for coma patients, so if you are squeamish you may want to avoid this one.
4-stars, as I didn’t love the characters as much as those in Snap, and felt the plot dragged in the first 40%, but still a book that I happily recommend to lovers of the Alfred Hitchcock-style crime novel.
August 20, 2015
Do you like onions? To me, Rubbernecker was a bit like an onion. Not literally, of course. “Literally.” It is a word that is over-used and misused all the time. In Patrick Fort’s mind, literally is how he interpreted everything that was said to him. Patrick had Asperger’s Syndrome, and he did not understand jokes or hyperbole or figures of speech. He had quirks, such as eating his food in alphabetical order. Hugging, holding hands, or simply being touched was agony. Since his father was killed in a hit-and-run accident when Patrick was a child, he had become obsessed with death. What happened to a person when he died? He enrolled in the anatomy course at University in an attempt to find out…More about that onion in a bit…
Samuel Galen was also the victim of an accident, but he was “lucky.” He survived. He lay in a coma, unable to move, eat, or speak. His wife sat by his bedside and cooked bacon, hoping that the aroma would awaken his senses. It did, but he did not recognize her as his wife. He lingered in a semi-conscious state, not totally present, but not unaware. He saw and heard things that were dangerous.
It took me a good while to like Belinda Bauer’s Rubbernecker. It was disturbing, but not for reasons you might think. I didn’t mind that Patrick was odd. It didn’t bother me that Sam soiled his nappies. I worked for many years with developmentally disabled adults, including individuals with autism and also persons who needed total physical care, so what bothered me were the attitudes toward Patrick and those of the hospital staff toward Sam and the other brain-injured patients.
Many of the nurses on the neurological floor, Tracy, in particular, were apathetic at best. The patients who were combative or somehow bothersome were considered less desirable. As Sam began to emerge from his unconscious state, he became aware of Tracy and others around him, of an unknown doctor who perhaps did not have the best interest of all his patients at heart.
Patrick’s mother could not cope with her son. Why couldn’t he be “normal?” She had no patience. None. Parenting had been left to her husband, and since his death, her drinking had become even worse. Patrick noticed, of course, and he accepted it. He didn’t question. A typical Patrick response was, “OK.”
My interest grew as Patrick began his dissection class. Here he thought he would finally unlock the mysterious “door” between life and death. I started to see how these two story lines might intersect. A saga that started as rather like an onion – raw, pungent, uncomfortably tear-inducing – took on a whole new significance for me I peeled away the layers and got closer and closer to the core. As he became engrossed in trying to solve cause of death of his cadaver, Patrick, a young man who was intelligent but socially inept, was able to make connections that others simply could not see. Patrick Fort, a young man seen by many to be strange, even unbalanced, solved a different kind of mystery, one that no one expected.
There is so much to love about Rubbernecker. The unlikable characters are truly mean, selfish beings. Mr. Deal, Tracy, Dr. Spicer, Sarah Fort – they are all very flawed, nasty characters. Sam – the man who longed for his wife and daughter, who struggled to communicate, who was locked inside his head, who struggled to communicate – what a tremendous character! His situation is sad and depressing, yes, but I felt that Ms. Bauer gave him humor, humanity, and dignity. Patrick – what can I say about Patrick? He grows so much by the end of the book. He actually learns to say “thank you!” That is no small achievement. But most of all, he comes to an understanding with his mother, and I found that event to be quite profound.
I couldn’t help but be touched by the ethical and legal issues raised in this story, something for individual reader to ponder. What struck me most, I think, is that Patrick overcame his “disability status” as a student and proved himself worthy. He stepped outside the box he’d been placed in by others. Patrick was not surprised by that, but he did learn things that he never expected to learn. There is too much depth to this story to sum it all up in a short review. I suspect I will be mulling it all over in my head for days. Rubbernecker is that kind of book. A roasted onion tastes oh, so sweet! Dig in and enjoy!
5 stars
Samuel Galen was also the victim of an accident, but he was “lucky.” He survived. He lay in a coma, unable to move, eat, or speak. His wife sat by his bedside and cooked bacon, hoping that the aroma would awaken his senses. It did, but he did not recognize her as his wife. He lingered in a semi-conscious state, not totally present, but not unaware. He saw and heard things that were dangerous.
It took me a good while to like Belinda Bauer’s Rubbernecker. It was disturbing, but not for reasons you might think. I didn’t mind that Patrick was odd. It didn’t bother me that Sam soiled his nappies. I worked for many years with developmentally disabled adults, including individuals with autism and also persons who needed total physical care, so what bothered me were the attitudes toward Patrick and those of the hospital staff toward Sam and the other brain-injured patients.
Many of the nurses on the neurological floor, Tracy, in particular, were apathetic at best. The patients who were combative or somehow bothersome were considered less desirable. As Sam began to emerge from his unconscious state, he became aware of Tracy and others around him, of an unknown doctor who perhaps did not have the best interest of all his patients at heart.
Patrick’s mother could not cope with her son. Why couldn’t he be “normal?” She had no patience. None. Parenting had been left to her husband, and since his death, her drinking had become even worse. Patrick noticed, of course, and he accepted it. He didn’t question. A typical Patrick response was, “OK.”
My interest grew as Patrick began his dissection class. Here he thought he would finally unlock the mysterious “door” between life and death. I started to see how these two story lines might intersect. A saga that started as rather like an onion – raw, pungent, uncomfortably tear-inducing – took on a whole new significance for me I peeled away the layers and got closer and closer to the core. As he became engrossed in trying to solve cause of death of his cadaver, Patrick, a young man who was intelligent but socially inept, was able to make connections that others simply could not see. Patrick Fort, a young man seen by many to be strange, even unbalanced, solved a different kind of mystery, one that no one expected.
There is so much to love about Rubbernecker. The unlikable characters are truly mean, selfish beings. Mr. Deal, Tracy, Dr. Spicer, Sarah Fort – they are all very flawed, nasty characters. Sam – the man who longed for his wife and daughter, who struggled to communicate, who was locked inside his head, who struggled to communicate – what a tremendous character! His situation is sad and depressing, yes, but I felt that Ms. Bauer gave him humor, humanity, and dignity. Patrick – what can I say about Patrick? He grows so much by the end of the book. He actually learns to say “thank you!” That is no small achievement. But most of all, he comes to an understanding with his mother, and I found that event to be quite profound.
I couldn’t help but be touched by the ethical and legal issues raised in this story, something for individual reader to ponder. What struck me most, I think, is that Patrick overcame his “disability status” as a student and proved himself worthy. He stepped outside the box he’d been placed in by others. Patrick was not surprised by that, but he did learn things that he never expected to learn. There is too much depth to this story to sum it all up in a short review. I suspect I will be mulling it all over in my head for days. Rubbernecker is that kind of book. A roasted onion tastes oh, so sweet! Dig in and enjoy!
5 stars
April 25, 2020
I am astonished to open up my email this morning to discover that several of my Goodreads friends had liked my review of this book! What was funnier is that I am still listening to it as I opened my email! I couldn't think what happened! Then, I remembered that last night I attended a virtual book discussion with co-workers from the Library. We were discussing books we were currently reading and I had Goodreads open on my phone to refer to. I must have rated this book without realizing! A case of fat fingers?!
Anyway, I still have two hours of listening left and will need to wait to make a final evaluation. So far, I have been totally absorbed in the story and the characters, which has been a needed balm and escape from 'real' life. The characters are well-written and the story stands out from other mysteries I have read.
Having now finished this book I agree with other readers who have referred to it as a very satisfying read. I know I will seek out other titles by this author. The narrator, Andrew Wincott, was new to me and I truly enjoyed listening to his voice as he told the story.
Anyway, I still have two hours of listening left and will need to wait to make a final evaluation. So far, I have been totally absorbed in the story and the characters, which has been a needed balm and escape from 'real' life. The characters are well-written and the story stands out from other mysteries I have read.
Having now finished this book I agree with other readers who have referred to it as a very satisfying read. I know I will seek out other titles by this author. The narrator, Andrew Wincott, was new to me and I truly enjoyed listening to his voice as he told the story.
December 12, 2020
An unexpected, engaging tale by any measure!
I happened upon this book by chance and was unfamiliar with the author. The summary fails to illuminate the unique elements of immersive parallel stories. A rather unusual anatomy student suffering with Asperger syndrome uncovers what he feels was the murder of a cadaver being dissected, though due to his behavior he's ignored. Well paced and filled with plot twists, we're taken on his journey toward discovery and in the process, tragedy surfaces. Ms Bauer crafts a tale that is not only unusual, but one that's evocative in many ways. I found myself comparing Patrick, the central character to Rain Man due to their unusual talents, different that they are. For those who enjoy mystery, plot twists and stories that bend genre, I highly recommend this book!
I happened upon this book by chance and was unfamiliar with the author. The summary fails to illuminate the unique elements of immersive parallel stories. A rather unusual anatomy student suffering with Asperger syndrome uncovers what he feels was the murder of a cadaver being dissected, though due to his behavior he's ignored. Well paced and filled with plot twists, we're taken on his journey toward discovery and in the process, tragedy surfaces. Ms Bauer crafts a tale that is not only unusual, but one that's evocative in many ways. I found myself comparing Patrick, the central character to Rain Man due to their unusual talents, different that they are. For those who enjoy mystery, plot twists and stories that bend genre, I highly recommend this book!
June 1, 2013
Patrick Fort is an eighteen year old with Asperger's Syndrome and a mother who has a drinking problem. She finds Patrick difficult and distant and so is pleased, but wary, when he leaves to study anatomy in Cardiff. For Patrick is obsessed with death, ever since his father was killed in a hit and run accident when he was a child. Like many of us, Patrick wants to understand what happens when you die, but his literal mind and lack of empathy make student life difficult for him. In the hospital, Patrick and his fellow students are assigned a body to dissect and are told to discover the cause of death. However, when Patrick suspects murder, it throws him into a complicated and difficult quest for the truth.
This novel travels effortlessly between Patrick's discoveries and a patient on the coma ward, whose story intertwines with the investigation. It abounds with great characters, from the selfish and downright unpleasant nurse Tracy (we ALL know a Tracy, unfortunately!), to Meg, a fellow student who tries to befriend Patrick, and policeman Emrys Williams, looking for his big break; they are all utterly believable and fully formed. I have only recently discovered Belinda Bauer, but her novels are astounding - absorbing, wonderfully written, well plotted and darkly funny. This is a must read for crime fans.
This novel travels effortlessly between Patrick's discoveries and a patient on the coma ward, whose story intertwines with the investigation. It abounds with great characters, from the selfish and downright unpleasant nurse Tracy (we ALL know a Tracy, unfortunately!), to Meg, a fellow student who tries to befriend Patrick, and policeman Emrys Williams, looking for his big break; they are all utterly believable and fully formed. I have only recently discovered Belinda Bauer, but her novels are astounding - absorbing, wonderfully written, well plotted and darkly funny. This is a must read for crime fans.
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