Bedevilment of Bertie Lunn
- Neil Mach
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
She cleans up after murderers and steals their secrets for pleasure — but now, a lethal serial killer is hunting her,... her only ally is the CBI agent she once dominated!
This is the story of the Bedevilment of Bertie Lunn ...
A traumatized crime scene cleaner takes intimate mementos from dangerous men. But to thwart a serial killer, her one and only option is to team up with a man she once dominated...
After an event left her feeling immune to men, maladjusted teen Alberta Lunn began to collect intimate samples from the men she dominated. Following the devastation of losing her mother, her home, and then her ambitions of becoming a crime scene investigator, Bertie has no choice but to abandon her former life and begin anew as a poorly compensated crime scene cleaner in a dangerous neighbourhood in Northern California’s East Bay area.
During a clean-up operation, she obtains a personal sample from a serial killer and she keeps this intimate sample for her own pleasure.
But the suspect starts to speculate that Bertie has begun investigating him. In a surprising turn, Bertie finds herself allied with a senior CBI agent who she previously manipulated. Together, this unlikely duo must race against time to apprehend the serial murderer, not only to prevent further deaths but also to protect Bertie from becoming his next victim.
The Book & Themes
The Bedevilment of Bertie Lunn is a crime fiction novel written by the British author Neil Mach.
ISBN: 0993230644
250 pages
Genre: It is generally categorized under young adult fantasy or quirky contemporary fiction.
Tone: True to the author's overall style, the book features a whimsical, slightly eccentric, and poetic narrative voice.
Notable Quotes: The book is regularly cited on literary platforms for its unique phrasing and philosophical undertones, featuring lines such as:
"Resilience has a normal rhythm. You may not feel indestructible this morning. But tomorrow you will be strong."
"I feel like a celibate hustler. A stained & sullied spirit halfway between freaky and holy."
Plot:
The plot centres on the titular character, Bertie Lunn, who finds herself "bedevilled" — a term Neil Mach uses not necessarily in a strictly demonic sense, but rather meaning plagued, flustered, and physically or spiritually disrupted by unexpected external forces.
Key Narrative Elements
The Internal Struggle: The popular quotes from this book point to a protagonist who is dealing with an identity crisis and tests of endurance. Bertie feels caught in limbo—"halfway between freaky and holy"—suggesting that Bertie is grappling with a strange transformation, a bizarre curse, or a series of unexplainable, supernatural events that make her feel alienated from normal society.
The Whimsical Landscape: Neil Mach's book takes place in highly stylized and eccentric version of Northern California. The plot follows Bertie as she navigates a series of comically absurd obstacles and meets a host of eccentric local characters while she tries to break free from her "bedevilment."
The Core Message: Ultimately, the narrative arc relies on a coming-of-age theme centred around emotional endurance. The plot shifts from Bertie becoming overwhelmed by her strange circumstances to (eventually) learning that "resilience has a normal rhythm"—implying that the resolution itself must come from Bertie accepting her own weird version of reality and finding the best way to overcome the bedevilment.
Comparable titles:
L.A. Rotten by Jeff Klima
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie
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