In Rubbernecker, Belinda Bauer performs her own kind of anatomy—dissecting the mystery genre with clinical precision while simultaneously breathing life into it. This 2013 crime novel skillfully weaves together multiple narratives around death, deception, and discovery, creating a reading experience that’s as unsettling as it is compelling.
The story centers on Patrick Fort, a young man with Asperger’s Syndrome who enrolls in an anatomy course at Cardiff University. Patrick’s obsession with death stems from witnessing his father’s hit-and-run accident as a child—an event that left him with an insatiable need to understand what happens at the moment of death. When Patrick discovers anomalies in the cadaver he’s dissecting, he becomes convinced a murder has occurred. The problem? No one believes him.
Bauer’s novel stands out in the crowded crime genre through its unusual protagonist and its unflinching exploration of mortality. It’s a book that demands your attention from its opening declaration—“Dying is not as easy as it looks in the movies”—to its surprising and satisfying conclusion.
Characters That Breathe Beyond the Page
The heart of Rubbernecker lies in its brilliantly realized characters:
Patrick Fort is a revelation. His Asperger’s is neither sentimentalized nor used as a gimmick. Instead, Bauer creates a fully realized character whose unique perspective drives the narrative. Patrick’s literal-mindedness, his difficulty with social cues, and his obsessive nature become strengths in his investigation, not weaknesses. His internal dialogue provides moments of unexpected humor amidst the darkness:
“Patrick didn’t answer pointless statements. He’d already said he was there, hadn’t he?”
Sarah Fort, Patrick’s mother, carries the weight of her son’s condition and her own regrets with a quiet desperation that’s powerfully rendered. Her complex relationship with Patrick evolves throughout the novel in ways that are both heartbreaking and hopeful.
Samuel Galen, the cadaver, emerges as one of the most compelling characters despite being dead from the outset. Through fragmented memories and Patrick’s discoveries, Galen becomes increasingly three-dimensional—a man whose life and death hold critical secrets.
Tracy Evans, an ambitious nurse with questionable ethics, represents the darker side of human nature. Her casual cruelty and naked ambition provide a stark contrast to Patrick’s rigid moral code.
Narrative Structure: Multiple Perspectives, One Truth
Bauer employs multiple viewpoints with remarkable skill, creating a narrative jigsaw that only fully reveals its picture in the final chapters:
Patrick’s perspective – third-person but closely aligned with his unique worldview
Samuel Galen’s memories – first-person accounts from the coma patient
Tracy Evans’s story – following the morally compromised nurse
The investigation – sections following Detective Sergeant Emrys Williams
This structure allows Bauer to release information at a measured pace, creating tension while also providing readers with knowledge the characters don’t possess. The transitions between perspectives are handled seamlessly, each voice distinct and authentic.
Themes: The Space Between Life and Death
Rubbernecker explores several interconnected themes with depth and nuance:
The threshold between life and death isn’t as clear-cut as we might wish. Through coma patients like Samuel Galen, Bauer explores the terrifying liminal space of consciousness trapped in an unresponsive body.
Truth and perspective are constantly questioned. Patrick’s literal mind perceives things others miss, while his social limitations lead him to misinterpret human motivations.
Moral ambiguity permeates the novel. From medical ethics to the justifications for murder, Bauer avoids easy judgments.
The necessity of connection, despite Patrick’s difficulties with human interaction, drives much of the emotional resonance of the story.
Prose That Cuts Like a Scalpel
Bauer’s writing style is a perfect match for her subject matter—precise, unflinching, and occasionally darkly humorous. Her descriptions of the dissection room are particularly effective:
“The Cardiff University dissection room was brighter, whiter, lighter than he had ever imagined; films like Flatliners and Frankenstein had apparently misled him. This was more a hangar than a lab, white and airy under a lofty ceiling filled with skylights, but with no windows in the walls.”
Her ability to shift tone between Patrick’s detached observations, Galen’s terrified consciousness, and Tracy’s calculating ambition demonstrates remarkable versatility. The prose never draws attention to itself but instead serves the story with ruthless efficiency.
Critical Assessment: Strengths and Weaknesses
What Works Brilliantly
Patrick as protagonist is a triumph of characterization—authentic, consistent, and compelling without falling into stereotypes about Asperger’s.
The medical setting is meticulously researched, creating a believable backdrop for the mystery.
The pacing masterfully balances character development with plot advancement, particularly in the final third when various narrative threads begin to converge.
The resolution satisfies on both intellectual and emotional levels, with revelations that feel earned rather than contrived.
Where It Occasionally Falters
Some readers might find the graphic descriptions of cadaver dissection unsettling, though they’re essential to the story.
The subplot involving Tracy Evans and Mr. Deal occasionally feels less integrated with the main narrative, though it does pay off eventually.
A few minor characters remain somewhat underdeveloped, functioning more as plot devices than fully realized individuals.
The central mystery, while compelling, may be solved by attentive readers before the final revelation.
The Rubbernecker Series: A New Chapter
Fans of Rubbernecker will be thrilled to know that after a twelve-year wait, Belinda Bauer is returning to this world with The Impossible Thing (2025). While details remain limited, the second book in what is now being called the Rubbernecker series promises to continue Bauer’s exploration of mortality and mystery. Given the standalone nature of the first novel’s conclusion, it will be fascinating to see how Bauer expands this narrative universe.
For Readers of…
Rubbernecker will appeal to fans of:
Tana French’s psychological depth and character-driven mysteries
Gillian Flynn’s unflinching examination of human darkness
Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for its neurodivergent protagonist
Val McDermid’s forensic detail and procedural elements
The novel also sits comfortably alongside Bauer’s other acclaimed works, including her CWA Gold Dagger winner Blacklands (2009), Darkside (2011), and Finders Keepers (2012). While each is standalone, they share Bauer’s signature blend of psychological insight and gripping suspense.
Final Verdict: A Cut Above
Rubbernecker is that rare crime novel that transcends its genre—a book about death that feels vividly alive. Through Patrick’s unique perspective, Bauer transforms the traditional detective narrative into something both familiar and startlingly new. It’s a mystery that satisfies on multiple levels: as a whodunit, as a character study, and as an exploration of what it means to be fully human.
The novel is a good read for its innovative approach, memorable characters, and unforgettable premise. Any minor flaws are easily overshadowed by its considerable strengths. Whether you’re a dedicated crime fiction reader or someone who rarely ventures into the genre, Rubbernecker offers a reading experience that will linger long after you’ve turned the final page.
Like Patrick himself, Bauer’s novel sees things others might miss. And like the cadaver at its center, it has important truths to tell—if we’re willing to listen.