‘Bodysnatcher’ Review

Carol Margaret Davison’s ‘Bodysnatcher’ tells the story of both the aftermath and the ongoings of the infamous Burke and Hare murders. The story is told between a series of journal entries and varying perspectives of Burke and his partner, Nelly. Whilst diving into the horrendous murders and historical streets of Edinburgh, the reader is introduced to the female gaze through Burke’s lover, we get a ‘he said/she said’ perspective on the gruesome tale. When we are first introduced to the characters, Burke has already been jailed for his crimes, contemplating his many murders whereas the reader is shown a more empathetic introduction to Nelly who seems to have lived with misfortune throughout her entire life and yet she persists. In this tale full of cruel and murderous men, the resilience of women stands out. From a seemingly innocent romance between Nelly and ‘Billy’ Burke, his true character is shown as the plot develops. Instead of focusing on the inevitable ‘graverobbing’ murders, Davidson explores the many hardships the women of this era had to suffer as their formerly loving partners turn into malicious beings. Davidson also pays tribute to the innocent victims of Burke and Hare instead of glorifying the infamous murderers. Instead, we see a more human side to the story; Nelly and Billy’s pasts and what brings the couple together as well as what ultimately tears them apart. The book is a hit for fans of romance, history, gothic fiction, and crime; a little bit of everything.