His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet

His Bloody Project is a brilliantly written account of a violent triple murder, the events leading up to the murder and the process of convicting and trying the suspected murderer.

Seventeen year old Roderick Macrae is arrested for the murders and is asked by his lawyer to write down his account of the events leading up to the murders as well as the murders themselves. Roderick does not deny murdering the victims, neighbours in their small village in the Scottish Highlands.

Who carried out the murders is not in question, but rather why he did it, why he did it so brutally and whether he was of sound mind is what remains to be uncovered. Using a mixture of resident statements, medical records, Roderick’s own account and details of the trial, Burnet paints a picture that ultimately is left to us to interpret.

A highly recommended thriller that is difficult to put down!

Themes:

Murder
Mental Health
Power
Justice

Favourite quote:

“One man can no more see into the mind of another than he can see inside a stone.”

About the author:

Graeme Macrae Burnet is a Scottish author. His first novel, The Disappearance of Adèle Bedeau won the Scottish Book Trust New Writer Award in 2013. His Bloody Project was shortlisted for the 2016 Man Booker Prize and was published in over 20 countries.

Where to buy:

Foyles
Waterstones
Wordery

LittleWordNerd rating: 4.5/5