Review: Corrupt Bodies by Peter Everett

In the 1970s, minor actor Peter Everett decided he needed a change. In his 30s and with acting prospects at a worrying low, he decided to take the plunge into death. Determined to follow his passions, Everett decided to seek a job at a mortuary. Despite having no experience or qualifications behind his name, this proved easier than many current job seekers would expect. Needless to say, the first day in a mortuary confirmed that Everett had found his niche. Fast forward a few years, and he’s added to his experience with the right qualifications, and is set to be the Superintendent of Southwark Mortuary.

Having been at the helm of one of the UK’s busiest mortuaries, you would expect stories akin to those of your favourite TV show (cough, cough, CSI) – capable professionals uncovering microscopic clues to solve cases, and putting the dead to rest amid a puffy cloud of righteous justice. However, after reading Corrupt Bodies, you will unfortunately discover that the going on at a mortuary are far from the justice-soaked corridors that Hollywood would have you believe.

Everett’s position at Southwark was not coveted – in fact, it soon became apparent to him that the morgue was in a great deal of trouble. With bodies being robbed, disappearing, or incorrectly cremated or buried, the only thing in the Southwark corridors were whispers of dodgy dealings. Through incredible hard work, determination, and perseverance, Everett managed to transform Southwark into a crime-free zone. However, the process was not without casualties – in unveiling the criminality at his own mortuary, Everett accidentally stumbled onto a far larger scandal. Mortuaries across the country were implicated in fraud, theft, and malpractice, and it was all due to the Superintendent at Southwark.

Everett’s story is captivating, scandalous, and thrilling in equal parts. He has an undeniable talent as a story-teller, making the macabre and the morally cloudy both fascinating and incredibly educational. Corrupt Bodies is an adventure into the dark world behind death, and the terrible acts committed when one turns a blind eye; the dead are silent no more – they have a  voice, in the form of Peter Everett.

Corrupt Bodies by Peter Everett is published by Icon, an imprint of Faber & Faber, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.