A book review of The Evil Within: The heartbreaking story of Becky Watts by her father by Darren Galsworthy
Stars: ****
HarperElement (2016)
True Crime Memoir
304 pages
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Summary: Previously published as Becky, this is the heartbreaking story behind the murder of 16-year-old Bristol schoolgirl Becky Watts, a crime that shocked the nation and tore a family in two.
A vulnerable and shy girl, Becky Watts was brutally murdered and dismembered by her own step-brother on 19 February 2015. As her father Darren discovered the horrific details of what happened to his darling girl, his world fell apart.
Writing about the darkest hours, Darren uncovers what Becky’s relationship with her step-brother Nathan, a child he had raised as his own son, was really like. He recalls the devastation of discovering the truth about the depravity with which Becky was torn from him in the safety of her own home. And he recounts the torment of the legal battle to see his step-son sentenced to life behind bars.
Both heartfelt and haunting, searingly honest and unflinching, this is the ultimate story of a family tragedy.
The Evil Within
I chose this book because I like True Crime and it sounded so shocking. I was captivated by this book and read it quickly. I’ve read a few negative reviews on Goodreads but I don’t agree with them. I found no fault in this book.
The book is written by Becky’s father although there is an afterword by her stepmother as well. Although the summary and cover of the book state the perpetrator from the beginning, you still learn so much more from reading the book. Some of the chapters start with a written version of what looks like news on the missing girl and then murder investigation. So chapter 1 gives a quick news about her being missing but then the chapter itself is all about Becky herself, including her childhood. We are introduced to other family members and important points of their life throughout the book. That’s why this is a True Crime Memoir and not just True Crime. It’s not just about the crime. It’s a memoir of the father’s life as well, even before he had children.
One of the reviews I read mentioned that the father tried to make himself look perfect but I didn’t find that. A few times he yelled not nice things to his wife about his stepson. No one is perfect and I don’t feel he showed himself as perfect.
Please note that the story takes place in Bristol, England so there are lots of times when the words are British. This can be a little confusing if you aren’t familiar with the saying or word. Most of them I knew the gist of what they meant but some I didn’t. I didn’t feel like I had to look them up though to understand the story.
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