BOOK REVIEW / Novels in brief: Bodily Harm - Rachel Billington: Macmillan, pounds 14.99

Maggie Traugott
Saturday 25 July 1992 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The strange duet of a psychopath and his victim. Fresh from the Porchester Baths, young Lydia stops at a kitchen shop to browse and is stabbed nearly to death by Patrick, the sales assistant. In alternating narratives Lydia hauntingly reveals the plight of a victim whose family and analyst relentlessly urge her to buck up, while Patrick reports in depth on Britain's penal system, though the source of his misogyny remains muddled. After some healthy vengefulness, Lydia throws herself into Patrick's rehabilitation and they fall gushingly in love. Psycho goes Mills and Boon.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in