Nine Lives [Paperback]

Bernice Rubens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

The killer's modus operandi is the same in each instance—strangulation, always with a guitar string, pulled tight from behind until life is taken. And though the murders are taking place up and down country, there is one other similarity that Inspector Wilkins can't help noticing. Each and every victim is a psychotherapist.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A glorious black comedy . To sum it up in three words: wonderful, wonderful, wonderful' DAILY MAIL * 'She's like David Lynch's granny' GUARDIAN * 'Hugely entertaining ... Just the right mixture of pathos and bathos' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

From the Publisher

The killer’s modus operandi is always the same: strangulation. And there’s another similarity that Inspector Wilkins can’t help noticing. Each and every victim is a psychotherapist. Donald Dorricks is on a mission. Nine shrinks to go and his mission is complete. Yet, even after giving himself up and confessing to the killings, he still protests his innocence. And just as Inspector Wilkins struggles to catch the killer, Dorricks’ wife Verine attempts to understand the reasoning behind the murders. As her husband’s tale emerges, it reveals a past peppered with secrets from which Donald has never been able to escape. Until now… Bernice Rubens’ many novels include the 1970 Booker Prize winner, The Elected Member, and A Five Year Sentence, which was shortlisted for the same award. Among her other books are two that were made into films: I Sent a Letter to My Love and Madame Souzatska.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0349116504
• ISBN-13: 978-0349116501
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,243,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Strikingly original, November 11, 2007

By 

HORAK (Zug, Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nine Lives (Audio CD)

The originality of "Nine Lives" lies in the fact that it is not a mystery in the conventional sense. We know from the start who the killer is, as he relates his murders in a journal. Donald Dorrick's victims are all psychotherapists and they are all killed in the same manner, garrotted with a guitar string. Donald leaves no clues behind and, though the police investigation by the amiable, persistent and ever-baffled Inspector Wilkins, will appear perfunctory to the point of incredibility, to readers of crime fiction this is quite clearly intentional.
Interest is directed not to the crimes but to the characters: the character of the killer, Donald, and his wife, Verry. They have had a happy marriage, Verry cherishing in particular memories of holidays on the beach at Margate with their twin sons Mathew and Martin. Verry is the ideal wife for a serial killer: she asks no questions, and therefore need be told no important lies. For her, he is "my Donald", a loving husband and adequate provider.
The oddity, which is also the question the reader is encouraged to ask, is that, while, admitting cheerfully to the murders, he declares repeatedly that he is "innocent". When Verry visits him in prison Donald's first remark is, nearly always: "You do believe I'm innocent, don't you?"
The novel is not really about murders. The killings are necessary incidents. It's more about love in its many different forms: love that can corrupt and deform, love that asks no question even when it should, love that is both protective and self-protective. And it is all done with such a light touch that readers may not realise how truly serious the novel is till you have finished it, and then pause to reflect.
The book is beautifully narrated by Di Langford for ISIS Publishing.