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The Corpse Garden
A very interesting book.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
20 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Colin Wilson
403 books1,292 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Colin Henry Wilson was born and raised in Leicester, England, U.K. He left school at 16, worked in factories and various occupations, and read in his spare time. When Wilson was 24, Gollancz published The Outsider (1956) which examines the role of the social 'outsider' in seminal works of various key literary and cultural figures. These include Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, Hermann Hesse, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, William James, T. E. Lawrence, Vaslav Nijinsky and Vincent Van Gogh and Wilson discusses his perception of Social alienation in their work. The book was a best seller and helped popularize existentialism in Britain. Critical praise though, was short-lived and Wilson was soon widely criticized.
Wilson's works after The Outsider focused on positive aspects of human psychology, such as peak experiences and the narrowness of consciousness. He admired the humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow and corresponded with him. Wilson wrote The War Against Sleep: The Philosophy of Gurdjieff on the life, work and philosophy of G. I. Gurdjieff and an accessible introduction to the Greek-Armenian mystic in 1980. He argues throughout his work that the existentialist focus on defeat or nausea is only a partial representation of reality and that there is no particular reason for accepting it. Wilson views normal, everyday consciousness buffeted by the moment, as "blinkered" and argues that it should not be accepted as showing us the truth about reality. This blinkering has some evolutionary advantages in that it stops us from being completely immersed in wonder, or in the huge stream of events, and hence unable to act. However, to live properly we need to access more than this everyday consciousness. Wilson believes that our peak experiences of joy and meaningfulness are as real as our experiences of angst and, since we are more fully alive at these moments, they are more real. These experiences can be cultivated through concentration, paying attention, relaxation and certain types of work.
Colin Henry Wilson was born and raised in Leicester, England, U.K. He left school at 16, worked in factories and various occupations, and read in his spare time. When Wilson was 24, Gollancz published The Outsider (1956) which examines the role of the social 'outsider' in seminal works of various key literary and cultural figures. These include Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, Hermann Hesse, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, William James, T. E. Lawrence, Vaslav Nijinsky and Vincent Van Gogh and Wilson discusses his perception of Social alienation in their work. The book was a best seller and helped popularize existentialism in Britain. Critical praise though, was short-lived and Wilson was soon widely criticized.
Wilson's works after The Outsider focused on positive aspects of human psychology, such as peak experiences and the narrowness of consciousness. He admired the humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow and corresponded with him. Wilson wrote The War Against Sleep: The Philosophy of Gurdjieff on the life, work and philosophy of G. I. Gurdjieff and an accessible introduction to the Greek-Armenian mystic in 1980. He argues throughout his work that the existentialist focus on defeat or nausea is only a partial representation of reality and that there is no particular reason for accepting it. Wilson views normal, everyday consciousness buffeted by the moment, as "blinkered" and argues that it should not be accepted as showing us the truth about reality. This blinkering has some evolutionary advantages in that it stops us from being completely immersed in wonder, or in the huge stream of events, and hence unable to act. However, to live properly we need to access more than this everyday consciousness. Wilson believes that our peak experiences of joy and meaningfulness are as real as our experiences of angst and, since we are more fully alive at these moments, they are more real. These experiences can be cultivated through concentration, paying attention, relaxation and certain types of work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 6, 2019
I had only made it to the 3rd paragraph of the introduction before I read something that made me want to stop reading. I know the book was written 20 years ago ... but I don't find that to be an excuse for Colin Wilson's attitude.
"For example, the American serial killer Ted Bundy (executed in January 1989) began his career of rape and murder when he glimpsed a woman getting undressed through a lighted window, and became an obsessive Peeping Tom. This led him to kidnap and rape. But this in turn, developed into torturing his victims - he later admitted that what he did to his final victim, 12-year-old Kim Leach, was so horrible that he could not bring himself to describe it. Now any normal male can understand how a man could be so excited by watching a woman undress that he becomes a rapist."
Excuse me?? What did he just say?? I read this to my husband, and he was incensed, too. I lost all respect for Colin Wilson immediately.
As to the book, he spent far too much time quoting other (better) books about Fred and Rose West. He constantly repeated things, which I can generally overlook, but this went beyond a simple distraction, it became a distinct irritant.
Early in the book he gives his opinion as to why Fred, and Rose, did what they did, and then spent the rest of the book trying to convince the reader that he was correct.
If you haven't read anything about Fred, and Rose, you might get something out of this book. If you've read other (better) books, you may find this to be altogether disappointing. I did.
2 Stars = Blah. It didn't do anything for me.
"For example, the American serial killer Ted Bundy (executed in January 1989) began his career of rape and murder when he glimpsed a woman getting undressed through a lighted window, and became an obsessive Peeping Tom. This led him to kidnap and rape. But this in turn, developed into torturing his victims - he later admitted that what he did to his final victim, 12-year-old Kim Leach, was so horrible that he could not bring himself to describe it. Now any normal male can understand how a man could be so excited by watching a woman undress that he becomes a rapist."
Excuse me?? What did he just say?? I read this to my husband, and he was incensed, too. I lost all respect for Colin Wilson immediately.
As to the book, he spent far too much time quoting other (better) books about Fred and Rose West. He constantly repeated things, which I can generally overlook, but this went beyond a simple distraction, it became a distinct irritant.
Early in the book he gives his opinion as to why Fred, and Rose, did what they did, and then spent the rest of the book trying to convince the reader that he was correct.
If you haven't read anything about Fred, and Rose, you might get something out of this book. If you've read other (better) books, you may find this to be altogether disappointing. I did.
2 Stars = Blah. It didn't do anything for me.
May 19, 2015
What a creepy, horrible couple. It's amazing that any of their surviving children are able to cope in the real world at all.
That said, some of the author's comments were a little... off-putting? On page 8, for example, he states that "any normal male can understand how a man could be so excited by watching a woman undress that he becomes a rapist. But most of us find it virtually impossible to understand how rape can turn into torture." Um... what?
That said, some of the author's comments were a little... off-putting? On page 8, for example, he states that "any normal male can understand how a man could be so excited by watching a woman undress that he becomes a rapist. But most of us find it virtually impossible to understand how rape can turn into torture." Um... what?
February 27, 2014
Finished this book a few days ago.
It was a good read but there was one thing that bothered me.
This author complained about another author (Howard Sounes)who'd also written a book about this case. Apparently Mister Sounes had written in his book that the fingers were hacked of while the victims were still alive. I agree with Mister Wilson that the other author can't be sure about this cause Fred West took his secrets with him in the grave, and there is no proof when he chopped some body parts of apparently? What annoyed me though was that after complaining about that, he made the same mistake by writing and apparently being very sure about it, that the body parts like fingers, were cut of after death, which is also something HE can't be sure of.
ETA: This book was written ages ago so maybe they did finally establish if the body parts of the victims were chopped o before or after their death. I hope it is the latter.
I do now want to get a copy of Mister Sounes his book.
3.5 stars
It was a good read but there was one thing that bothered me.
This author complained about another author (Howard Sounes)who'd also written a book about this case. Apparently Mister Sounes had written in his book that the fingers were hacked of while the victims were still alive. I agree with Mister Wilson that the other author can't be sure about this cause Fred West took his secrets with him in the grave, and there is no proof when he chopped some body parts of apparently? What annoyed me though was that after complaining about that, he made the same mistake by writing and apparently being very sure about it, that the body parts like fingers, were cut of after death, which is also something HE can't be sure of.
ETA: This book was written ages ago so maybe they did finally establish if the body parts of the victims were chopped o before or after their death. I hope it is the latter.
I do now want to get a copy of Mister Sounes his book.
3.5 stars
April 3, 2021
This is a grim read.
I'm no expert in the West case - I remember reading about it in the news at the time but didn't pay it much attention. I got this book as I quite like Colin Wilson's books and have recently been more interested in real life crimes than before.
This book, like many of Wilson's, suffers from a lack of decent editing and, in the case of the Kindle edition I read, a lack of decent typesetting. The book rambles and repeats, as a lot of Wilson's do, but by the same token - or, the other side of that coin - it is a genuine, personal take on the events by someone trying to understand it. In this attempt at understanding, Wilson, who once was so hip and modern, shows his age somewhat, but there's enough in the book for anyone to get the gist of what happened when Rose and Fred met and to gain some understanding of what they did.
I should say for myself that I didn't realise quite how fucked up they were (for want of a better term) - and how far they went (torture, murder, incest, dismemberment, necrophilia).
As far as understanding 'why' they did what they did, Wilson has his own views. For me it all seems to hinge on two main aspects. One is that both Rose and Fred were subjected to violent abuse as youngsters, which included incest - and that this was normalised in their seperate households. What counted for 'right' and 'wrong' in their cases was not what the vast majority of people would count as 'right' and 'wrong' or acceptable.
Secondly, that they met each other and that their dynamic as a couple was to basically bring out the worst in each other. This 'worst' was worse than either might have managed alone and created what might be seen as a 'perfect storm' of deranged personalities, sadly and tragically for their families and their many victims.
In a way, each validated the other and validated and encouraged what the other did.
It's one of the most revolting love stories I've ever read.
I'm no expert in the West case - I remember reading about it in the news at the time but didn't pay it much attention. I got this book as I quite like Colin Wilson's books and have recently been more interested in real life crimes than before.
This book, like many of Wilson's, suffers from a lack of decent editing and, in the case of the Kindle edition I read, a lack of decent typesetting. The book rambles and repeats, as a lot of Wilson's do, but by the same token - or, the other side of that coin - it is a genuine, personal take on the events by someone trying to understand it. In this attempt at understanding, Wilson, who once was so hip and modern, shows his age somewhat, but there's enough in the book for anyone to get the gist of what happened when Rose and Fred met and to gain some understanding of what they did.
I should say for myself that I didn't realise quite how fucked up they were (for want of a better term) - and how far they went (torture, murder, incest, dismemberment, necrophilia).
As far as understanding 'why' they did what they did, Wilson has his own views. For me it all seems to hinge on two main aspects. One is that both Rose and Fred were subjected to violent abuse as youngsters, which included incest - and that this was normalised in their seperate households. What counted for 'right' and 'wrong' in their cases was not what the vast majority of people would count as 'right' and 'wrong' or acceptable.
Secondly, that they met each other and that their dynamic as a couple was to basically bring out the worst in each other. This 'worst' was worse than either might have managed alone and created what might be seen as a 'perfect storm' of deranged personalities, sadly and tragically for their families and their many victims.
In a way, each validated the other and validated and encouraged what the other did.
It's one of the most revolting love stories I've ever read.
April 18, 2009
Colin Wilson's detailed account of the life and crimes of Fred and Rosemary West is definetly one of the better books on the rather disturbing subject matter. Wilson has documented the various murders well, with a constant emphasis towards the day to day lifestyle at 25 Cromwell St. Unfortunetly, Wilson hasn't really explored the upbringing of either Fred or Rose in any real detail, particularly towards the incest that occured towards both of them at a young age. Obviously, their upbringing is very important to how their lifestyles have been moulded over time, and I felt that this had been over looked. I did like Wilson's interesting comparisons with other similar serial killer, especially with his theory on damaging the brain. I have read a few books on the life of the West's and have found this one to be a nice introduction, and a good all rounder on the subject. For further, more in depth reading, I would strongly recommend 'An Evil Love - The Life Of Frederick West' by Geoffrey Wansell. Another very interesting book on the subject is 'Inside 25 Cromwell Street' by two of Fred's children - Stephen & Mae West. But all in all, I would say that this is a well written, detailed, well thought through account of the horrific activities that occured from the life of the Wests.
July 13, 2014
This book seeks to explain why Fred and Rose spent their time torturing and killing girls but for me the writer’s conclusion was stated early and everything that followed was used to bolster his belief.
The premise is that Fred’s motorcycle accident caused damage to his frontal lobe and he became a ‘sex maniac.’ To me this doesn’t take into account that his father and brother John are alleged to have shown similar sexual tendencies. Rose is labelled a nymphomaniac by Wilson, one who happened to meet another dominant personality and together they egged each other on. There is also quite a lot of repetition and the time lines aren’t as clear as in Rose West: The Making of a Monster by Jane Carter Woodrow whose later exploration into what caused these two seemingly normal people to murder so many young women.
Where Colin Wilson excels in this book is by making comparisons to other serial murders as well as highlighting the differences and here his extensive knowledge comes to the fore.
I found this a hard book to read, there is much more emphasis on what happened to their poor victims which isn’t pleasant and I didn’t find the answer which is how did a normal young woman, she was only 17 at the time of the first murder, turn into a serial killer and how did no-one notice what was going on.
The premise is that Fred’s motorcycle accident caused damage to his frontal lobe and he became a ‘sex maniac.’ To me this doesn’t take into account that his father and brother John are alleged to have shown similar sexual tendencies. Rose is labelled a nymphomaniac by Wilson, one who happened to meet another dominant personality and together they egged each other on. There is also quite a lot of repetition and the time lines aren’t as clear as in Rose West: The Making of a Monster by Jane Carter Woodrow whose later exploration into what caused these two seemingly normal people to murder so many young women.
Where Colin Wilson excels in this book is by making comparisons to other serial murders as well as highlighting the differences and here his extensive knowledge comes to the fore.
I found this a hard book to read, there is much more emphasis on what happened to their poor victims which isn’t pleasant and I didn’t find the answer which is how did a normal young woman, she was only 17 at the time of the first murder, turn into a serial killer and how did no-one notice what was going on.
January 23, 2016
Another good read on the Gloucester House of Horrors. Wilson strays into psychoanalysis frequently, with disastrous results, making blamefool statements like the one to the effect that if not for the head injuries, Fred would only have forced his children into sex, he wouldn't have gotten violent -- as if raping little girls were non-violent. Despite these distracting elements, it's a real page-turner.
September 12, 2015
The case was interesting, but this book was terribly disorganized, badly written and the author himself espoused some fairly bigoted and sexist views. I've been donating a lot of my books lately, but this one's going right in the bin.
February 4, 2020
Not entirely sure where Wiki gets this guys "philosopher" credentials...
Finished the book, any plausible insights into what factors can result in this kind of behaviour, such as multiple serious head traumas, are rendered suspect and overshadowed by the radical and overtly offensive suppositions.
Finished the book, any plausible insights into what factors can result in this kind of behaviour, such as multiple serious head traumas, are rendered suspect and overshadowed by the radical and overtly offensive suppositions.
July 28, 2011
A horrible subject re-lived and retold not for the faint hearted! The writer does repeat himself alot though.
September 2, 2016
The author was awful. Clearly messed up, and excused Fred West, and all men who rape, on account that it's a 'natural' feeling for men to have. Sick.
March 20, 2021
Wonderful Book
Informative and Well Written Book about the Murders committed by Frederick West and his wife Rosemary. Between the late 1960s and the late 1980s Frederick Walter Stephen West of Gloucester, I'M committed 12 (possibly more) murders and wasn't caught and apprehended until a Detective who refused to give up on finding West's daughter convinced her bosses to get a warrant to excavate the garden at the West's family home at 25 Cromwell Street. They discovered that Heather West, 17 had been murdered, dismembered and then buried in the garden and that her awful death was the top of a huge iceberg. Before his arrest Fred West murdered his 17 year old daughter daughter Heather, in 1987, his 8 year old stepdaughter Charmaine, in 1971, his first wife Catherine Costello West, nicknamed Rena, in 1971, 2 of his lovers who were heavily pregnant with his babies, 18 year old Ann McFall, in 1967, and 18 year old Shirley Robinson, in 1978 and 7 young women who he had either met through his posters or he had met when he picked them up while they were hitchhiking. His wife, Rosemary West claimed to have not known what her husband was up to, but several of the women who had survived being sexually assaulted by the couple described Mrs. West as a full and enthusiastic participant in the rapes. Further investigation showed that Fred West was incarcerated when Charmaine West was murdered and that she was most likely killed by Rosemary West and buried by Fred West. Fred West would hang himself in his jail cell before he could be convicted but after her trial Rosemary West was convicted of ten murders and is one of only 3 women in the UK to be given a whole life sentence
Informative and Well Written Book about the Murders committed by Frederick West and his wife Rosemary. Between the late 1960s and the late 1980s Frederick Walter Stephen West of Gloucester, I'M committed 12 (possibly more) murders and wasn't caught and apprehended until a Detective who refused to give up on finding West's daughter convinced her bosses to get a warrant to excavate the garden at the West's family home at 25 Cromwell Street. They discovered that Heather West, 17 had been murdered, dismembered and then buried in the garden and that her awful death was the top of a huge iceberg. Before his arrest Fred West murdered his 17 year old daughter daughter Heather, in 1987, his 8 year old stepdaughter Charmaine, in 1971, his first wife Catherine Costello West, nicknamed Rena, in 1971, 2 of his lovers who were heavily pregnant with his babies, 18 year old Ann McFall, in 1967, and 18 year old Shirley Robinson, in 1978 and 7 young women who he had either met through his posters or he had met when he picked them up while they were hitchhiking. His wife, Rosemary West claimed to have not known what her husband was up to, but several of the women who had survived being sexually assaulted by the couple described Mrs. West as a full and enthusiastic participant in the rapes. Further investigation showed that Fred West was incarcerated when Charmaine West was murdered and that she was most likely killed by Rosemary West and buried by Fred West. Fred West would hang himself in his jail cell before he could be convicted but after her trial Rosemary West was convicted of ten murders and is one of only 3 women in the UK to be given a whole life sentence
March 12, 2025
Fred West was born in England in 1941. He grew up poor and not well educated. He claimed that he was sexually abused by his mother, that his father sexually abused his sisters, and that he engaged in bestiality. His brother has strongly denied the truth in those claims. He did suffer from head trauma from a motorcycle accident that left him with odd behavior and prone to fits of rage. He was eventually disowned by his family for raping and impregnating his sister. Fred married Catherine Costello in 1962, though that marriage did not work out. He married his second wife, Rosemary, in 1972. Together, they would engage in the rape, bondage, torture, and mutilation of at least 12 young women.
If you are a fan of The Last Podcast on the Left, this book is on the suggested reading list. The book was sufficiently detailed about the couple and their crimes. I looked to see if Rose had died yet, and she is still alive and imprisoned in the UK. This book had plenty of details, so if crimes involving the aforementioned topics bother you, you may want to steer clear of this book. Otherwise, it was decent.
If you are a fan of The Last Podcast on the Left, this book is on the suggested reading list. The book was sufficiently detailed about the couple and their crimes. I looked to see if Rose had died yet, and she is still alive and imprisoned in the UK. This book had plenty of details, so if crimes involving the aforementioned topics bother you, you may want to steer clear of this book. Otherwise, it was decent.
February 18, 2019
This book truly is not for anyone not mostly desensitized to human atrocities of the worst kind nor anyone who is triggered mentally by graphic talk of sexual abuse and mutilation. I was expecting the content to be as graphic as it was, so I wasn’t personally aghast at what I was reading. That said, this book is HORRIBLY mapped out, with the same things being stated in separate chapters, full paragraphs of ideas being reiterated multiple times. Had it not been for repetition, the book would have been half as long. The author writes as if he’s struggling to meet a word count. It’s incredibly difficult to keep the timeline clear, as the events jump around so carelessly that it makes it almost impossible to figure out what the series of events were. The author seems to have spent no time in planning the structure of the book and took to it blindly, and unfortunately the writing itself was mediocre. This book seems to almost have been written purely in shock value and is frankly one of the worst books I’ve ever read, and I suffered through dianetics.
April 1, 2018
2.5-3 stars.
An interesting read about a crazy couple.
To read such stories about those two is sickening, though. What happen in a killer's mind is beyond me; but this, I can't even start to explain it. This is far worse than "just" a murder.
Again, in this type of books, I always find the ending boring, cause dragged on; the trial was far too long and there's so many repetitions throughout the book, it probably could have been at least 80 pages shorter.
An interesting read about a crazy couple.
To read such stories about those two is sickening, though. What happen in a killer's mind is beyond me; but this, I can't even start to explain it. This is far worse than "just" a murder.
Again, in this type of books, I always find the ending boring, cause dragged on; the trial was far too long and there's so many repetitions throughout the book, it probably could have been at least 80 pages shorter.
February 18, 2020
A frightening insight into madness
A long book by all accounts but grabs you and takes you back on a journey into the life of the West's. I find true crime interesting to glimpse into chaos, this book certainly delivers that.
I have read a few books on the Wests. I would describe this one as having the most detail, how factual a lot of it is only two people know.
A long book by all accounts but grabs you and takes you back on a journey into the life of the West's. I find true crime interesting to glimpse into chaos, this book certainly delivers that.
I have read a few books on the Wests. I would describe this one as having the most detail, how factual a lot of it is only two people know.
May 3, 2020
The crimes of Fred and Rose West are laid bare in this book right from the beginning. But the authors attempt to justify their actions seems to contradict itself in places. All in all though, it’s an alright book
August 28, 2019
An Interesting read
A very detailed look at the crimes of free and rose West and colons own insite . I found this book hard to put down but not for the faint hearted
A very detailed look at the crimes of free and rose West and colons own insite . I found this book hard to put down but not for the faint hearted
July 13, 2020
Very good insight on Cromwell street
Good information in here full of the usual West case facts.definitely worth a read.
A nice book, not too long.
Good information in here full of the usual West case facts.definitely worth a read.
A nice book, not too long.
February 22, 2021
Interesting insight.
This book was spoiled by the consistently bad spelling and dodgy grammar. A good proof reader was needed before publishing.
This book was spoiled by the consistently bad spelling and dodgy grammar. A good proof reader was needed before publishing.
tried-to-read-didn-t-enjoy
March 1, 2021Couldn't even finish reading this! The writing is awful, repeating himself, quoting other authors, jumping back and forth in time, using the wrong names..... awful just awful!
Read
October 1, 2025Author mentions “right man/woman” Today we call that a narcissist!
May 7, 2020
Please let there be major edits on reprinting. A lot of conjecture in lieu of facts. Also edit. It’s infuriating how many times he repeats the same facts as if he is freshly introducing them to the reader. It’s a fine true crime beach read if you turn off your judgement and speed read. Wilson goes unnecessarily in depth on the gore of the Johns and incest. Could’ve done without. And again, redundant. Not Wilson’s finest.
December 22, 2023
Αρκετά καλογραμμένο και με πολλές πληροφορίες βιβλίο για τους φόνους που διέπραξαν ο Φρέντερικ Ουέστ και η σύζυγός του, Ρόζμαρι. Από τα τέλη της δεκαετίας του 1960 έως τα τέλη της δεκαετίας του 1980, ο Frederick Walter Stephen West, διέπραξε 12 (ίσως και περισσότερες) δολοφονίες χωρίς να συλληφθεί, μέχρι τη στιγμή που μια αστυνομικός αρνήθηκε να εγκαταλείψει την αναζήτηση της κόρης του ζευγαριού. Έπεισε τους προϊστάμενούς της να βγει ένταλμα για την ανασκαφή του κήπου στο σπίτι της οδού Κρόμγουελ 25. Εκεί ανακάλυψαν ότι η Χέδερ Ουέστ, 17 ετών, δολοφονήθηκε, διαμελίστηκε και στη συνέχεια θάφτηκε στον κήπο. Ο φρικτός θάνατός της ήταν μόνο η κορυφή ενός τεράστιου παγόβουνου. Πριν από τη σύλληψή του, ο Fred West δολοφόνησε την 17χρονη κόρη του Heather, το 1987, την 8χρονη θετή του κόρη Charmaine, το 1971, την πρώτη του σύζυγο Catherine Costello West, με το παρατσούκλι Rena, το 1971, δύο από τις ερωμένες του, που ήταν έγκυες, την 18χρονη Ann McFall, το 1967, και την 18χρονη Shirley Robinson, το 1978. Επίσης 7 νεαρές γυναίκες που είχε γνωρίσει ενώ έκαναν ωτοστόπ. Η σύζυγός του, Ρόζμαρι, ισχυρίστηκε ότι δεν είχε γνώση για το τι έκανε ο σύζυγός της, παρόλα αυτά πολλές από τις γυναίκες που επέζησαν περιέγραψαν την κυρία Ουέστ ως ένα άτομο που συμμετείχε στους βιασμούς. Περαιτέρω έρευνα έδειξε ότι ο Fred West βρισκόταν στη φυλακή όταν δολοφονήθηκε η Charmaine και ότι πιθανότατα ο δολοφόνος της ήταν η Rosemary. Ο Fred αυτοκτόνησε στο κελί του πριν καταδικαστεί, ενώ μετά τη δίκη της η Ρόζμαρι καταδικάστηκε για δέκα φόνους.
December 17, 2015
A disturbing read from prolific author Colin Wilson, this aims to be a warts-and-all expose of the horrific crimes perpetrated by Fred and Rose West, two of Britain's most infamous serial killers. Be warned as this is an immensely disturbing volume in which the description of violence and rape meted out towards young women (and children) plays a large role.
Wilson explores the case in detail and there's a definite, 'current' vibe that makes you feel like you were there. This book came out in 1998, only a couple of years after the events described, so a lot of the material feels fresh and recent. The opening chapters tell of the discovery of the crimes and the unfolding media circus, before Wilson goes back in time to exploring how the upbringing of the couple contributed to their disturbed psychological state. There are lengthy descriptions of the murders and various sexual depravities before the closing chapters tie it all up.
Wilson's style is good but not great. Some sections of the book are repetitive and feel like they needed editing to tighten them up. Given the nature of the crimes a lot of it is rather speculative, but the author contributes some interesting theories about how brain damage can cause an ordinary person to become a murderer, and draws parallels with other serial killer cases of the 20th century. THE CORPSE GARDEN is certainly a gripping read and a book I couldn't put down despite the gruelling content.
Wilson explores the case in detail and there's a definite, 'current' vibe that makes you feel like you were there. This book came out in 1998, only a couple of years after the events described, so a lot of the material feels fresh and recent. The opening chapters tell of the discovery of the crimes and the unfolding media circus, before Wilson goes back in time to exploring how the upbringing of the couple contributed to their disturbed psychological state. There are lengthy descriptions of the murders and various sexual depravities before the closing chapters tie it all up.
Wilson's style is good but not great. Some sections of the book are repetitive and feel like they needed editing to tighten them up. Given the nature of the crimes a lot of it is rather speculative, but the author contributes some interesting theories about how brain damage can cause an ordinary person to become a murderer, and draws parallels with other serial killer cases of the 20th century. THE CORPSE GARDEN is certainly a gripping read and a book I couldn't put down despite the gruelling content.
October 15, 2012
This book tells the details of the West murders. It is very complete, it tells us different accounts from witnesses, children, family members, neighbors etc. It also gives a background about serial killers and similar behaviour.
July 29, 2016
This was a very disturbing story. How could a parent get completely disconnected from his children was far beyond my understanding. And how sex could totally rule someone's life was worrisome. I didn't think you can blame it all on head injuries.
December 13, 2010
grizzly but gripping
September 5, 2015
I'm not sure what's more horrific the writer or the crimes.... it seemed like Mr. Wilson sort of got off on the case.
January 9, 2016
read up until they found his daughters corpse buried in his back garden about 2 chapters in and felt absolutely disgusted and couldn't read any more
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews