WHAT LIES BURIED

As gripping as any thriller, this forensic psychologist tells true stories of madness, the bad and the misunderstood. Kerry Daynes opens up file cases of some of the most perplexing clients to discover what lies buried beneath some of the most extreme and disturbing behaviour. For 25 years she has worked on the front line of violent crime, from working with the police on complex cases and acting as an expert witness in court, to advising the government on how to handle high-risk individuals. Whether she is dealing with a young murderer who says he has heard voices telling him to kill, a teacher who daubs children in red paint, or an aspiring serial killer who faints at the sight of blood, her quest is to delve beyond the classic question asked of her profession: 'Are they mad or are they bad?' Here she provides an unflinching, enlightening and provocative insight into the minds of her clients, shedding light on the root causes of their behaviour, and challenging our notions about who and what is dangerous. Regarded as a brilliant storyteller, there is always something enthralling and terrifying and much more to this behaviour than meets the eye. 359pp, paperback.