Murder, She Writes

Hello, dear readers,

After much debate and persuasion, and a poorly(ish) Mark, I volunteered to write this week, so here goes.

It's not very often that my big sister and I have some quality time together. We do see each other fairly often, and speak most days, but a couple of weekends ago - we actually went 'out out'.

Where did you go? I hear you asking. Well …

Life Serial
As part of my gift to my sister for Christmas, I bought us tickets to see a serial killers evening at the local town hall. You may find this a little strange (the evening was called ‘strange but true serial killers), but this subject; well true life crime, is something that actually fascinates us both.

I'm very much the type of person that watches crime dramas, not for any macabre reason really, but because I like to know how people's minds work. What makes a normal person think that killing or stalking, or torturing, another human being is ‘ normal’ behaviour.

For me, that’s the fascinating thing.


Criminal Behaviour
Luckily for me, that's just what the evening focussed on. The lecturer is a forensic psychologist, and specialises in forensic research and crime scene investigations (Her name is Jennifer Rees if you are interested). The whole evening was just her, a microphone and a laptop projected onto a big screen, and she was absolutely mesmerising. Her appearance, mannerisms and general teaching style were absolutely enough to convince you of her knowledge and experience of the way a serial killers mind might work.

The evening consisted of lots of stories of various serial killers from around the world, each having very gripping details, and sometimes quite uncomfortable facts, but all showing a very warped view of the basic knowledge of what is right and wrong.

There was of course a smattering of humour (The bank robber who thought covering himself in lemon juice would make him invisible!), a sprinkling of absurd (The serial killer detective who was clever enough to actually get himself on the team that was investigating him).

Choices, Choices
But for me, the most poignant stories of the evening were the stories about victim survival. Where someone in the most horrific circumstances survived, but not only that, in so many cases actually helped to capture their perpetrator. The bravery of these people astounded me.

The evening was a stark reminder that not everyone has the same moral code, not everyone has a happy childhood, not everyone has a good education. But their lives, and the lives of those around them depend on the choices they make. I guess the same applies to all of us.

Here endeth the lesson!


Until next time!




#



Hey, there! If you enjoyed reading any of the above, why not take a look at some of my published work? Below you’ll find links to a number of short stories I’m lucky enough to have included in anthologies. I’d love to know what you think.



New Tales Of Old



Death Ship



Pestilence: Drabbles 1



Reaperman: Drabbles 3



The Musketeers Vs Cthulhu



Eldritch Investigations