The Beautiful Dead

By Belinda Bauer

Belinda Bauer is a marvel. Her novels are almost indecently gripping and enjoyable.”Sophie Hannah, New York Times bestselling author of The Monogram Murders and Woman with a Secret

Belinda Bauer is an award-winning British crime writer of the highest caliber, whose smart, stylish novels have captivated readers and reviewers on both sides of the Atlantic and earned her a reputation as the true heir to the great Ruth Rendell” (Mail on Sunday (UK)). Her latest, The Beautiful Dead, is a riveting narrative centered on a down-on-her-luck journalist and a serial killer desperate for the spotlight.

TV crime reporter Eve Singer’s career is flagging, but that starts to change when she covers a spate of bizarre murderseach one committed in public and advertised like an art exhibition. When the killer contacts Eve about her coverage of his crimes, she is suddenly on the inside of the biggest murder investigation of the decade. But as the killer becomes increasingly obsessed with her, Eve realizes there’s a thin line between inside information and becoming an accomplice to murderpossibly her own.

A seamlessly-plotted thriller that will keep readers breathless until the very end, The Beautiful Dead cements Belinda Bauer’s reputation as a master of heart-stopping suspense.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
• Release date: Jan 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9780802189981

Belinda Bauer

Belinda Bauer grew up in England and South Africa. She has worked as a journalist and screenwriter, and her script The Locker Room earned her the Carl Foreman/Bafta Award for Young British Screenwriters, an award that was presented to her by Sidney Poitier. She was a runner-up in the Rhys Davies Short Story Competition for “Mysterious Ways,” about a girl stranded on a desert island with 30,000 Bibles. Belinda now lives in Wales. Her latest novel, Snap, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. 

Reviews for The Beautiful Dead

[libgirl69 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Usual fantastic read! Loved the interplay between the reporter, the cameraman, the killer and her father. Eve really develops as a character and it would be great to see her again. Equally well written is her father and his Alzheimer's, both the undoing and saving of Eve. Very poignant.

[justacatandabook · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Eve Singer is a beleaguered TV crime reporter dealing with a pushy boss who wants Eve to be everything: younger, covering every story, and on top of every lead. In her personal life, Eve goes home to her childhood home and her father, Duncan, who is suffering from dementia. When Eve winds up covering the murder of a young woman, she doesn't realize she will soon be entwined with the girl's killer, someone who is obsessed with death, and the desire to be recognized for his "killing performances." As the killer pulls Eve deeper into his twisted web, she has some startling choices to make.

I have to say, my last book of 2016 surprised me. This novel was certainly creepy, but also had a certain nuance and depth to it that I wasn't expecting. Eve is a complicated and likeable character, and the book doesn't just cover murder and gore, it goes into her personal life, and the struggles she has caring for her father and his failing memory. The bits with her father are often both sad and humorous; they are very real and give the book a true humanity. Indeed, there's a real depth to Eve, who is stuck in a man's world and the pressures and unfairness that brings to to her career-wise (there's always a younger, prettier reporter waiting in the wings, as her boss never hesitates to remind her), as well as the burdens a woman feels as a caretaker. After all, it's not her brother taking care of her dad. Further, the book looks at an interesting psychological conundrum: how our society seems to need murder and the way it feeds on the social media aspect of it, as of late. Without society's interest in murder and death, Eve has no job.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It lost me slightly for a bit near the end, but managed to get back on track, and even threw in a very interesting twist I didn't see coming. Although I admit, I kept wondering where the police's behavioral scientist was. Why was the poor Lead Detective reading and deciphering everything from a serial killer alone? However, I digress. This was a well-done thriller with a different and engaging plot. I really found myself drawn to Eve, and her father, Duncan. It was an enjoyable novel with which to end the year.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!); it's available in the U.S. as of 01/03/2017.

[laura400 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another good read from an excellent writer; recommended.Two quibbles. First it is yet another contemporary mystery/thriller with alternating narrators, and while Bauer handles that much better than many, I'm frankly tired of this overused device. And one of the alternating narrators is "the Killer," which you may enjoy, or not. I don't. Otherwise, it would be a solid four-star book for me.

[tina1969_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Eve Singer is a TV crime reporter. Eve needs the dead. The killer needs the dead too. He likes to Exhibit his crimes. When he contacts Eve she jumps at the chance to get the story first but things don't just work out.I enjoyed Rubbernecker so was really looking forward to this read. The story started out quite well and I was drawn straight into it. I felt however that as the book progressed it seemed to lose its way. I felt it flawed, and at times was doubting if things would have happened they way its portrayed. I read thd book very quickly and found the book very easy to read. Instead of being a great thriller which it could have been with it's premise, it turned out to be an average crime read which is easily forgotten. I always find it disappointing when an author has produced good books then throws one out that is a let down. I did finish the book was really past caring at the end.Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review the book.

[fhudnell-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm not a big fan of serial killer books and I really dislike it when the author takes you inside of the head of the killer. However, this one had some redeeming virtues so I'm glad I stuck with it, even though the first chapter was a little too gory for me and I almost stopped reading at that point. The killer commits murders as performance art, and even posts notices for his "shows". Despite his giving advance warnings, the police aren't able to stop him, or even figure out what is going on, until the killer contacts Eve, a plucky tv crime reporter, and involves her in his plots. As the killer points out to Eve, they "both crave death and an audience".The story seemed pretty improbable but there were some good action sequences near the end of the book. I also liked some of the tangential touches, like Eve's elderly neighbor, her father's dementia and the back story of the female detective assigned to watch over Eve. Ultimately, I did like this book, but I preferred "The Shut Eye" by this author.I received a free copy of the e-book from the publisher, however I wound up borrowing and listening to the audiobook from the library.

[nicx27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I hear that a new book by Belinda Bauer is coming out I cannot wait to get my hands on it. I just love her style and the fact that her books have a quirky edge and certainly do not conform to any stereotypes.Eve Singer is a television crime reporter and when she reports on a series of murders where putting on an exhibition is important to the killer, she finds herself the reluctant centre of the killer's attention.This is no ordinary serial killer story though. The focus is very much on Eve, who I thought was a brilliant character. As always with Bauer's work, there is some incredibly sharp and skilful writing and I had to smile sometimes whilst I was reading. I don't generally quote from books in my reviews but I just had to mark a couple of bits that I thought were really clever."She was a large woman with the beginnings of a Fu Manchu and big arms covered in soft white skin, as if she were made of raw dough and ready to roll."Isn't that just fantastic? And"She and Joe emerged from the toilets at the same time, like wooden folk in a Bavarian clock."Just really clever writing.The Beautiful Dead is full of twists and turns and I never knew how it would end (although I knew what ending I was hoping for). At times it is deliciously creepy and twisted. There are some really interesting supporting characters too and whilst this is very much a book focusing on Eve and the killer, the other characters add so much to the story. This is a brilliant, fast-paced book and I found it very hard to put it down.

[beamis12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well, Belinda Bauer you have done it again. You chilled me, thrilled me, gave me some great characters I could relate too, likeable characters and an ending I loved. You managed to mix genres, psychological, at a time when I am burnt out with the sameness of many of them, police procedural and a kick ass officer, with all the elements of a thriller. Did it all very well too. Horrific killer, with limited graphic descriptions, well suited to wimpy readers, like myself. Pulse pounding moments combined with heartfelt moments between a father and daughter. You hate quickly become one of my go to authors and I applaud you for your consistency and high standards. Arc from Netgalley.

[jeanbmac · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another great book by a terrific writer. Loved it.

[infjsarah · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have had mixed experiences with Ms Bauer. Some of her books I have really enjoyed but have had at least one which was terrible. This was on the more enjoyable end - terribly implausible of course but kept me reading to see what happened.

[rowingrabbit · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Eve Singer is a TV crime reporter on the “meat beat”. She’s on the scene of London’s latest homicide to bring the gory details to her viewers, hopefully with a body bag in the background. When she inadvertently runs into the killer that night, he begins to contact her with clues about his future victims. As he puts it “we’re in the same line of work, you & I. I need people to die in order to live….and so do you”.It’s an interesting comment on the plethora of gory scenes available for instant viewing thanks to cell phones & social media. News outlets are under increasing pressure to up the shock value of reports in an attempt to lure audiences away from their latest selfie or twitter update. This is a quick, easy read for those who like romantic suspense mixed with a truly creepy bad guy. He provides the gravitas while Eve & her circle of colleagues would fit easily into a cozy mystery. She’s a perky can-do sort dealing with a younger rival at work, a father with dementia & a budding romance with her cameraman. The author has created a killer with an original motive & fans of lighter crime fiction with a touch of humour should enjoy this well paced story.

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It begins with the stabbing of a woman who made the mistake of working on a Saturday when her office building was deserted...except, that is, for a verse-spouting serial killer. First to arrive on the scene of the murder is Eve Singer, who works for one of London’s TV news networks specializing in “if it bleeds it leads” reporting. I didn’t particularly care much for Eve. She was a member of the press that we have far too much of today. Get the story, report the story...never mind who the story might hurt. Her news agency didn't have many morals either. Eve’s editor kept threating to replace her with a younger, (Eve is a ripe old 30), reporter...preferably a blond. The killer welcomes Eve’s publicity at first...but that soon changes. As the murders...each staged as an “exhibition” ...mount up, the killer’s game with the police and Eve grows more suspenseful. The reader begins to suspect we are going to be handed another predictable ending...again we are wrong.

[pet12-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Eve Singer relies on death to keep her career as TV crime reporter alive. The serial killer who is terrorising the citizens of London in the run-up to Christmas needs death for his own bizarre reasons. In his eyes, he and Eve are alike, wanting the same things. The killer becomes increasingly obsessed with Eve and as she becomes more involved with his gruesome public displays, it's not just her job that she is in danger of losing.I've become a huge Belinda Bauer fan over the last 18 months and this was another gripping thriller by her. Compared to her other books that I have read, this one had a different feel to it, though.While characterization was generally strong, I didn't feel the serial killer received the same kind of attention to detail, he remained a little flat at times. But I really enjoyed following Eve's relationship with her father, Duncan, who suffers from dementia. It was incredibly well portrayed and very poignant. The chase to catch the serial killer almost played second fiddle to following Eve and her struggles with her job and her Dad, her budding relationship with her colleague, and the interesting relationship with her neighbor. I love Ms. Bauer's writing style. It's tense and suspenseful but there is always that nice touch of humor that stops it from getting too dark. Very enjoyable!