Happy Like Murderers Paperback – 15 Sept. 2011

A hard cold look at Fred and Rose West that is not for the faint of heart by Gordon Burn. The fact the West's managed to evade justice for so long is baffling as many must have known the true Fred and Rose. For the West's to have had years to kill and torture is a sad page in English history. Any society that tolerates as well as turns a blind eye to these killers has serious questions to answer. Gordon Burn's early death robbed us of a great crime writer. He left us at a time when he was more needed than ever and may he rest in peace.

Gordon Burns' book is more than a description of the life of the murderers Fred and Rosemary West. This is a picture of the appalling behaviour by some menbers of the families of Fred and Rose, as they grew up in the mid-20th century, that partly explains their own monstrous attitudes and deeds. Gordon Burn writes very clearly about certain communities in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, where life often seems to have been lived in squalor, and with an appetite for violence and a disregard for normal standards of behaviour that are really shocking, especially to people who lived in Gloucester and the surrounding areas at that time. You need to have a very strong stomach to read about the torture inflicted on the Wests' own children.

I read this because David Peace repeatedly gave the writer props and it was described as well written.Also the ghoulish events drew some curiosity,mainly as to how people could do such things.I think nowadays the social services would have stepped in earlier.The writing style is not what I expected.it's repetitive and unpolished.The opposite of Truman Capote. Not meaning to be offensive but it's like a yokel was telling you the story in places, talking in circles, perhaps in the style of Fred West.I doubt we'll ever know why they did such things. Rose West had a terrible childhood,Fred West had serious head injuries and it's speculated his parents taught him his deviance.

An interesting, informative yet dark read. Although i remember the case at that time, the book gives further information. The pain the victims endured is heartbreaking and horrific. The book would have been shorter without the duplicating of paragraphs and i found this frustrating and wondered if I had lost my place in the book. It also jumped through years without explanation. But all in all, an interesting read. It's unbelievable how much evil can exist in the world.

This book was recommended to me as being one of the best about the Cromwell Street murders. After reading it, I no longer trust the judgement of the person who recommended it.Some parts of it seem to have been lifted straight out of Howard Sounes' Fred and Rose (incidentally, the real best book on the subject), and the rest is written in a style of prose which is florid, bloated and utterly, utterly inappropriate to the subject matter.This book meanders, misses several points, focuses on others which seem completely irrelevant, and the bizarre, constant repetition made my toes curl. I can only assume it was written during a drunken lucid dream.Awful book, is what I'm trying to say.

The subject matter is extremely disturbing. I found it quite difficult to continue with sometimes. The author writes a lot in the style of Fred West's manner of speaking. So random elliptical paragraphs. It is very effective at drawing you into fred's world. Very disorienting.But the author is trying to draw you into the world of Fred and rose. This is not somewhere any normal person would go.The account is drawn from eye witnesses. Most of them relatives or children. Or policemen.A terrible story of what can happen of what can happen if you let psycopathic people loose into the world of vulnerable young people.

Happy like Murderers takes into account the victims’ side of the story- being interesting, and in-depth as well as maintaining respect and care for those that suffered at the hands of the Wests.I found the first half of the book was a little too rich in detail for me - various dates of buildings opening and monuments in the local area etc. It did set the scene quite nicely, but I questioned the relevance of some of it.The latter half of the book is definitely for those with a stronger stomach. Revealing what seedy and sexually sadistic things Fred & Rose got up to.The first hand accounts throughout added to the depth of the story, giving it a very interesting “unseen footage” feel, providing us with eye-opening information on the Wests’ victims.Would recommend to anyone who wants to read about Fred and Rose West. Do stick with it, even if you find the copious detail to be a bit heavy.

An easy read (as much as the subject will allow) with details of the lives of the victims rather than their much publicized deaths. This book would have a 5 star rating were it not for the repetition of not just subjects but paragraphs. I kept thinking that I had lost my place!Other than this it is thoroughly researched ,he has obviously interviewed many people to get the personal insight on the Wests lives.