Now You See Me

by Jean Bedford

‘Bedford is up with the best’ - The AustralianJournalist Noel Baker is no stranger to reporting horrific and gruesome crimes. But when a disturbing suggestion arises in a coroner’s report, she decides to look into her new case more closely.Young Belinda Carey has been killed and with the parents the obvious suspects, the police are looking no further for the culprit. But Noel senses a disturbing pattern with the deaths of other abused children and she realizes that Belinda’s death may not have been at the hands of her neglectful and abusive parents. As Noel's investigation unfolds, the killer writes a diary. The diary reveals a horrific childhood with unspeakable suffering, and these demons of the past rear their heads in the present...It reveals that the killer is right amongst them, one of an old circle of university friends.But which one? Who could be driven to such deplorable acts? Now You See Me is a gripping story of suspense and dark secrets from one of Australia’s finest writers. Jean Bedford was born in England in 1946 and came to Australia in 1947. She was brought up in Victoria, graduated in Arts at Monash University and in TESL at the University of Papua New Guinea. She has taught English as a second language, worked as a journalist and a publisher’s editor, taught creative writing classes, and was Literary and Arts Editor of the National Times.Her short stories have appeared in Nation Review, the National Times and <.em>Meanjin, and have been widely anthologised.She is married to Peter Corris and has three daughters, Sofya, Miriam and Ruth, and a stepdaughter, Abi. She lives on a small island in Moreton Bay.

Genres: Crime, Australia, Mystery

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Jean Bedford's first book Country Girl Again, a collection of short stories, was published in 1979. This was followed by the novel Sister Kate in 1982, another collection of short stories (with Rosemary Creswell) and seven further novels. She has been widely anthologised and has also been commissioning editor for several collections of fiction and non-fiction.

She was born in England and came to Australia as a baby. She grew up on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula and went to university at Monash and UPNG.

She has worked as a teacher, journalist, editor and publisher, and has lectured in creative writing at several universities, most recently UTS. Her career has included being Literary and Arts Editor for the National Times and a literary consultant for Australian Film Commission. She has been the judge for many literary awards and prizes, including the Australian/Vogel Award, the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, the Australia Council and the Nita B Kibble Award for women's writing.

She is co-founder and co-editor, with Linda Funnell, of the online review journal the Newtown Review of Books and a Board member of the NSW Writers Centre.

She is married to writer Peter Corris and they have three daughters and six grandsons. She lives in Newtown, Sydney.

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not my first Jean Bedford book, but it is the first one of the author's that I didn't absolutely love. Some of it, I will blame the subject matter ... it's not a pleasant one.

Young abused children are being abducted, abused even more, then killed. In all the cases, the father or stepfather or mother's boyfriend is accused, physical evidence is found and the men are sent to prison.

However, there is one reporter who sees a pattern and thinks maybe there is more going on than what the cops see. She believes there is a serial killer out there who is planting evidence on family members.

The story line / plot is good. And while the book deals with a hard-to-think-about subject, there are no graphic descriptions. Every other chapter or two, the reader is gifted with the real killer's thoughts .. written almost one would write in a diary.

I have never seen so many dysfunctional characters in one book. It's several people who have known each other since their college days. It seems like they've all slept with one or the other at some point in time. Those who are married are having severe problems. Several are seeing the same therapist ... and worried about what secrets are being told. One man goes from woman to woman ..one is his wife, the other is an obsession. The reporter has an intimate relationship with one of the cops investigating the childrens' deaths. One is a woman cop having an affair with an attorney who has prosecuted the men charged with the crimes.

And there are way too many characters to even come close to guessing the who-dun-it part of the story. The ending is somewhat ambivalent .. and not very satisfying.

I gave it a 3.5 rating. Because the other books I've read by this author were really good, I'm hoping this one was just a bump in the road ... and I look forward to reading others by her.

My thanks go to the author / Endeavour Press / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not to be confused with the eponymous recent movie about magic performing criminal do gooders, this is pretty much its opposite in tone, subject matter and presentation. My second read by Bedford, first one was part three of a series and, while perfectly adequate, not particularly a standout. This one, a standalone, is certainly more impressive. Although slim in volume, it's by no means light in content. The plot revolves around a particularly incestuous group of friends, one of whom just happens to be a serial killer. Bedford does some terrific character writing here, exploring their various psychological quirks, psychosexual dynamics and twisted interdependencies. Occasionally overwhelmingly or credulity straining and all done with the infamous Australian matter of hand frankness. The mystery aspect of the story is presented very cleverly and should have the reader guessing right up to the last chapter. There is a lot in this book to do with child abuse, especially the first half and it's quite graphic, also a good amount of adult sex of an experimental (is one term for it) variety, so caveat emptor. Otherwise a pretty good, dark and demented trip into a dark and demented mind and a solid psychological mystery thriller. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

[Bookish_predator · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Huge thanks to Jean Bedford, Endeavour Press and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

What if you found out that one of your oldest friends was a murderer? That they murdered abused children to ensure their horrifically abusive parents were caught and made to pay for their crimes. Would you commend them or be reviled by their actions?

This book gives you a chance to see what that could be like, it has some descriptions of childhood sexual abuse that some people will not want to read and some of it said casually as though it's just another thing that happened that day BUT that's in the diary the killer is writing and how they see it NOT the feelings of the author.

There are a lot of characters in this book and it did get a mite confusing at times as to who was who and who were they with/what's their job but it got a little easier as I continued to read.

I worked out who the killer was about halfway through and was interested to see how it turned out, wasn't the ending I wanted but if I only read books that end how I want them to I'd be living a very sad life (in my opinion anyway).

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There must be such a delicate balancing act involved when you're writing crime fiction about some of the worst possible crimes. In NOW YOU SEE ME Bedford has tackled the question of child abuse and child murder, and she's opted, bravely to do that in a most unusual manner.

The book centres around journalist Noel Baker - no stranger, as the blurb says, to the worst of human behaviour. Something twigs her investigative senses though about one particular case, and it sends her down a very dark path indeed. A young girl was killed and police were more than happy to place the blame at the feet of neglectful and abusive parents. Noel, however, isn't so convinced and she finds herself dealing with a very peculiar form of vigilante killer - and their diary - which is in itself, horrific reading. Even more so, when she realises that the killer is one of her own circle of university friends.

The balancing act is very evident in the manner in which Bedford uses the killer's journal, scattered throughout the book, to reveal their personal childhood abuse and suffering. She then switches to the other story, the deaths of a number of young children, seemingly at the hands of their abuser - somebody close to them. Meanwhile, knowing something of a killer's motivation, readers cannot help but consider whether or not somebody's own trauma is an excuse for their behaviour - for killing children as a way of stopping other perpetrators. Needless to say it's a complicated scenario, populated by a lot of characters to keep track of, which will mean that you're paying attention - making the confrontational nature of the abuse of children difficult to avoid / skip over.

Obviously NOW YOU SEE ME isn't a comfort read because of that subject matter, and the twisted and discomfortingly understandable motives of the killer. That should not be a turn-off though. This is a book that feels like it wants to tear the blinkers off and really make you think about the manner in which society tends to treat victims in particular.

https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!

This is definitely a must read! I thought I had it all figured out, but Jean Bedford really put a wicked wicked twist in it!
Tom, Mick, Paddy, and Teas were all abused as children. In college they called themselves AOKs and sometimes just survivor's.
Now that they are adults, abused children are dying. These children have been abused by their parents, and some of them by their foster parents, but who is the one killing them? Read the book to find out because I will not give away any spoilers!

[Catherine Matsubu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

There were far too many typing/grammatical errors. I made me wonder if it ever proof read! But I enjoyed the read despite this irritation.

[Bob Ruest]

Many many many editing errors, spacing errors, letter h where there should be a letter b, (hut for but).
Story is good. I am still not sure yet who the killer is!!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not want to put this book down. I was so curious as to who this "Diana" character was. In the end, it was not who I had thought it was. I would highly recommend this book.

[Danielle Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF I just couldn’t get into this book at all. Some parts of it were really confusing and the story jumped too much.

[Jacqui · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a suspense/thriller novel aimed at adults due to the graphic violence descriptions.

As a journalist, Noel has read her fair share of violent police reports. A suspect has just been arrested for the abuse and murder of his step-daughter, but something seems off to Noel. The evidence just fits too neatly. On a hunch she combs through similar cases and finds what she thinks is a pattern. Can she convince the police that a serial killer is on the loose and that so many other closed cases may have convicted the wrong suspects?

This story really hits you in the gut. Journal entries are scattered throughout the book by the actual killer, and you shudder as the person recounts the abuse they suffered as a child and the ramifications from it. The clues throughout the book point you to a certain person in a group of friends who were previously at university together, and as you think you are joining the dots in your mind, you are pointed in another direction. The idea behind the story is interesting in that we as a society are prepared to believe the worst about someone based on their previous deeds. The level of abuse on so many of these children, so graphically described, was horrific. Horrific to think that this happens every day and people get away with it.

I didn't enjoy the amount of editing mistakes-misspelled words and lack of spaces between words cropped up constantly.

It's a difficult book to read as it deals with a lot of taboo, but makes you realise that sometimes we put on blinkers against the evil in the world and we actually need to stand up for the victims. A well-written book where the ending will leave you feeling very uneasy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review.

[Crittermom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now You See Me is a gripping psychological thriller which keeps the reader guessing until the final page. While disturbing, the novel is skillfully written and the characters are richly detailed.  This isn't your run of the mill murder mystery.  Instead, it is a tale of interconnected lives, all affected by a sociopathic killer.  It is a story of secrets and deception, and the dreadful legacy of physical and sexual abuse.

Abused children are being murdered.  Naturally suspicion falls on the abusive parents, but Noel Baker, an investigative reporter, isn't so certain.  Some of the evidence suggests someone else is targeting the children.  

Noel's boyfriend, Mick is part of a circle of friends who have been together since university.  The narrative switches between the daily lives of the group's members as the investigation progresses, and the killer's personal narrative.  The more the killer reveals, the more obvious it becomes that the killer is a member of the group.  

The closer Noel comes to the truth, the more their lives are torn apart.

The book is made all the more powerful by the unexpected ending.  Jean Bedford is an amazing storyteller.  Her characters are complex, affected both by the past and the present in believable ways.  But Bedford's greatest skill lies in eliciting a wide range of emotions from her readers.

Now You See Me is not a book I would recommend for younger readers.  The subject content is disturbing, though Bedford avoids gruesome details. If you like dark psychological thrillers, such as those by Ruth Rendell, you will be impressed by Now You See Me.

5/5

I received a copy of Now You See Me from the publisher and Netgalley.com.

—Crittermom

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book I didn't think I was going to like it. I'm not really fan of "love and cuddles" in my books and this one starts with some sauciness! However, I was pleasantly surprised and devoured the book in a few short days.

Originally published in 1997 this review relates to the Endeavour Press e-book version which has been recently published. There is no way to tell this book is nearly 20 years old, it felt very current to me. Knowing that it was originally published some time ago made me look for clues as to it's age but I couldn't find any.


The subject matter is hard to bear at times, what with the central storyline focussing on the murders of abused children. However, if you can stomach it, it's a great story and one I would recommend. The characters are all university friends but among them a serial killer sits. Who is it? There are red herrings galore (lovely!) which I loved. Do you ever really know those you are closest too?

A fantastic, no holds barred crime novel - definitely worth a look.

Four out of five stars.

[Charlotte Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Meet journalist Noel Baker, she is no stranger in reporting on horrific and gruesome crimes. She come across the gruesome death of Belinda Carey and see the coroners report, which spikes Noel interest in this case. Belinda's are the most obvious suspects of the death of Belinda as Noel continues her probing into this case she comes across a disturbing pattern this death and the deaths of other abused children this makes Noel believe that the parents are not responsible for Belinda' death. during her plight to find out just what happened Noel find out that there is a diary that the killer has written and tells all about the killers unspeakable and suffering childhood. This diary reveals the killer is one in the University friends
This book is a story of suspense with many dark secrets and will keep you on the edge of your seat not wanting to put it down. I gave this book five stars

[CL · Rating 5 out of 5]

A group of college friends and their fringe relationships still hang out together but one of them is a serial killer of abusers of abused children but no one has found the pattern. All the abusers have been framed for these crimes. Noel Baker is a journalist who thinks that there is a serial killer getting away with murder and framing the abusers to take the fall for the crimes. As she digs into the crimes she convinces the police to do some additional research and now they are getting close to the real killer. Great Read. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sounded interesting to me but within the first few pages so many characters were introduced that I became rather confused. All of the characters had known another since college and all were messed up. Many had been married to or slept with others in the group and nobody seemed happy with themselves, their lives or the people they were with. There was a mystery to solve but by the end of the book I never felt it was and I was left feeling unsettled rather than fulfilled. I am not sure if the ending was done as it was with another book to write in mind or not but…hmm…

Thank you to NetGalley and Endeavour Press for the copy to read and review.

2.5 Stars

[Todd Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read. This is my favourite Jean Bedford book so far. This is a skillfully written Murder Mystery, and It took me until 90 percent of the way through the book to pick the killer. I like the background and depth the Author has gone into with each character. The story flows well and is well written. Always a good sign when you don't want to put a book down. If you haven't read a Jean Bedford book then this one is worth picking up.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs Join the Penguin Resistance!&#x1f427;&#x1f427;&#x1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOW YOU SEE ME is a work of literary erotic noir horror, not for the faint of heart or the sensitive who are easily offended (in addition to murder, there is also serious and horrifying child abuse). Set in Australia, enterprising journalists, a therapist, and a killer with terrifying secrets interact, as the long-term effects of early environmental horror destroy heart, soul, empathy, and compassion.

[Eileen Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping story of the suspicious death of a young girl - Belinda.
A journalist - Noel Baker sets out to report this gruesome murder, but finds disturbing anomolies and digs deeper with horrifying consequences.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Endeavour via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.

[Brian Borgford · Rating 3 out of 5]

In enjoyed reading this suspenseful story. A large cast of flawed characters lead you through to a somewhat surprising conclusion. You know there is a serial killer at work and that it is one of the characters, but you don't know who until the end. The book could use a professional edit as the many errors are distracting. Not a "feel-good" story, but entertaining and well crafted.

[HT · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written

The spelling was horrible. Almost as if no editor was involved. The story was boring and all over the place. There was no smooth flow / transition between story lines.
There was nothing original about this story at all. I am very disappointed

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had potential but for me it was poorly written and too confusing.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just didn't enjoy this one, largely due to the subject matter. Bedford is a fine writer and she's aptly tackled a tough issue but it wasn't for me. THanks to NETGALLEY for the ArC.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edit, much?

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although there was some spelling errors, this was quite the thriller, kept me at suspense of "who did it".

[Necole Moreau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, this book did keep me guessing which I do enjoy, but I didn't like that it ended the way it did. It is sad to think that it isn't resolved and so many relationships finished because of this.