His Bloody Project: A Historical Thriller

This portion of the book represents a chapter from a memoir written by James Bruce Thomson, the criminologist who examined Roderick during his imprisonment. It begins with his arrival at Inverness, where Andrew Sinclair has invited him to examine Roderick. Noting that he is generally unimpressed by Sinclair, he nevertheless examines Roderick, observing that “he was certainly of low physical stock, but he was not as repellent in his features as the majority of the criminal class” (141-42). After failing to engage Roderick in questioning, Thomson discusses Roderick’s family background with Sinclair, who reveals that Jetta hanged herself in the family barn.

Thomson concludes that while Roderick isn’t a raving lunatic, he might be suffering from “moral insanity,” and so resolves to study him further. He again questions Roderick, who is more willing to speak the next day, and asks him about the circumstances of the murders. Roderick is straightforward in his responses until Thomson confronts him with Flora’s sexual injuries, which cause him to demur. Concluding there is no more he can gain by questioning Roderick, Thomson departs the cell.

Soon after he travels with Sinclair to the parish of Applecross, where Thomson hopes to learn more about Roderick’s environment.