CUTS

by Richard Laymon

published by Leisure Books

ISBN-10: 0843957522

ISBN-13: 978-0843957525

 

reviewed by Adam Armstrong

04.18.2008

 

Albert Prince has a horrible sexual fetish: he likes to cut women. Once he lets himself go full throttle into his fetish he can’t control himself and leaves a blood stained path, littered with bodies, for the police to follow. Albert cuts across the country heading west. Meanwhile out in California, Janet Arthur is a substitute teacher who finds herself pregnant and single in the same day. While trying to build a new life for herself she crosses paths with a young man who has a fetish he can’t control.

The character of Albert Prince set this novel up to be a great read. However, Albert’s tale is interspersed with the tale of Janet, her friends, and a bunch of teacher acquaintances that can’t seem to keep from cheating on each other. Janet, Ian, Lester, and company all seemed like secondary characters that only existed to carry on the plot of Albert’s bloody rampage. Laymon treated the teachers as though they were the protagonists, but they only succeeded in boring me half to death. Laymon’s energies could have been better spent developing Albert and his back story more and using the other bunch for what they were: fodder for slaughter.

This novel doesn’t quite cut it. If you’re a fan of Laymon’s work and you want to read everything of his, seek it out at a library or buy it used.

 

2.5 out of 5

 

Purchase this book at Amazon.com:  CUTS