Dark Side Of The Mind

My daughter likes..

If given a chance to express it everyone has a story to tell about their life. Kerry Daynes has a story which she with aplumb. Her life is not remarkable and what she says will not send you into new depths of insight and understanding of what makes the world such a progenitor of evil. But her stories are interesting and each gives a glimpse of the mental anomalies that drive people into emotional distress and bizarre behaviors. She spends a good deal of time on stalkers and reveals that she has been and is the victim of a stalker’s perverse infatuation with her. She ends the book with the realization that she wasn’t made to spend her life as a forensic psychologist and rather is spending her time advocating for more awareness and training for those who have to deal with crimes perpetrated by people with mental issues. Actually she wants the impossible. A culture where mental illness is prevented rather than treated after the fact.

*I received a free ARC of this book with thanks to the author and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*This is the first non-fiction book that I’ve just sped through in one sitting!Kerry Daynes presents anecdotes from her years as a forensic psychologist, working in prisons, hospitals and sheltered homes, and helping both victims and perpetrators of crimes.The style of writing is straightforward, clear and easy-to-read, and the tone of the book is warm and darkly humorous, but with the professional polish that can only come from years of experience on the frontline.For the purposes of our entertainment and edification, Daynes has specifically chosen the cases that impacted her the most – emotionally and/or professionally. Some cases she presents here prompted a change in her career path, whilst others prompted a change in attitude or mindset, leading her to approach her work in a different way. These are significant, and often disturbing, stories… not tales of bicycle thefts and parking ticket fraud!It should therefore go without saying that some readers may find some of the content sensitive. Daynes has definitely faced some of the darker aspects of the human psyche over her career: child abuse, sexual abuse, sadistic violence, murder. Throughout it all, she has clearly retained her sense of humour, her empathy for the suffering, and her faith in the better side of humanity, but I found myself wondering how at times.This is a fascinating journey on the dark side for those interested in the human mind and what makes it tick (and occasionally tock, or even twoing). I was utterly transfixed from beginning to end, and put it down with both a deeper insight into how the system treats those in mental pain and an immense gratitude that there are people like Kerry Daynes out there trying to change things for the better. The question I am asked perhaps more than any other, whether it’s by a taxi driver with whom I’m passing the time of day or a judge who wants my professional opinion, is: What the hell is wrong with these people? The words may be more or less formal, but everyone really wants to know the same thing. What is so wrong with someone that he or she commits a serious crime? Because once we know what’s wrong with someone, we can fix them, right? Or confine them, out of harm’s way. It took me a long time – too long – to realize that we’re all asking the wrong question.– Kerry Daynes, The Dark Side of the MindReview by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

Very well written and engaging look into the world of criminal pyschology that looks all set to become a true crime series on Netflix. And so it should.

Fabulous book giving us an insight into the world of forensic psychology. Very well written and a fascinating subject - very highly recommended!

Focused on the personal experience of the author and her interaction with criminals with mental health issues. Pretty mundane.

This book was recommended to me by a work colleague and I hadn’t heard of Kerry Dwayne’s before. She writes a fascinating, insightful and appropriately numerous account of her experiences over 20 years as a forensic psychologist of differing ilks. Could not put it down, read it in two days. She has a very grounded, open and detailed style of writing which I really like. I bought this book as ‘used-like new’ and it arrived super fast in what I would say brand new condition. Bargain!

An intensely interesting book with fascinating insights. This book is not necessarily reserved for people with a background in Psychology, but anyone who is interested in the mind and the practitioners who work in this field. I read it in one sitting, literally through the night, as it was gripping and well written. (review submitted by Liz, spouse of account holder.)

The book was ok. I was expecting more and was disappointed. After reading it, I do not think it merited almost 5 stars - which was why I bought it. It was a quick read, but it left me unsatisfied.

Fascinating and well written- hard to put down. Contains key lessons for professionals but is accessible enough to educate lay people.