81. Death of a Murderer by Rupert Thomson

Billy Tyler is a low level police officer who has never wanted to advance his career. He leads a simple life with his wife Sue and their daughter, Emma, who has Down syndrome. When a famous murderer dies in prison, one that has gripped England for over thirty years, Billy is assigned the role of a lifetime. For twelve hours, he must guard the woman’s body before it is taken in the morning to the crematorium. During those twelve long hours, Billy reflects on his life, his marriage, his complicated role as a father to a special needs child, the murderer he is watching, and what constitutes evil.

Thomson based his character on the real life child killer Myra Hindley, who in the 1960’s terrorized England with a series of murders (known as the Moors murders) with her partner. There are some supernatural elements to the book, especially when the ghost of Myra visits with Billy towards the end of his shift, but it does not distract from the novel. More of a reflection on Billy and a marriage growing tired, it explores love, family, and how the choices people make over their lives influence their future.