JIGSAW MAN

published by Leisure Books (August 2008)

ISBN: 978-0-8439-6012-9

04.20.2009

The main principle of a doctor is, “Do Not Harm”. Though, in The Jigsaw Man by Gord Rollo, one of the main characters, a doctor, clearly disregarded that part of his oath.

The main principle behind this novel is, “What would you be willing to do for two million dollars?” The primary character, a homeless man, named Mike Fox is about to find out. And it sure doesn’t do a body good. Got Milk? I think not.

Mike’s life is a downward spiral. It has been for many years. The fatal car accident that killed his wife and son and leaving his only daughter to flee from his presence didn’t start things off right. Then came the drinking. Heavy drinking. Then the loss of his job. Then the house. Then... he was homeless and living in a dumpster with two other down-and-outers until the day came that he couldn’t take it anymore. He strolled up to the railroad tracks above their meager dwelling and waited for his fate to roll in.

But, that’s when things changed for Mike and not for the better.

Sure, the offer of two million dollars lured him away from the train coming around the bend; from his impending doom – or salvation? Sure, he would have to give up his right arm for the two million, but so what? You can always hire someone to do the things for you that you are no longer able to do without having both limbs.

Mike thought this was great. He still thought it was great, even after meeting the three other homeless guys that also accepted offers from the muscle bound security guard in the back of the white stretch limo – the same one that offered him money for his right arm – wanting a different limb from each of them for his boss, Dr. Nathan Marshall.

When the homeless men meet Dr. Marshall everything seems to be on the up-and-up. Dr. Marshall explains the science behind taking a living body part and keeping it alive with electrical current and a fresh blood supply. It’s cutting edge science to say the least. The four men see it with their own two eyes, on a film screen and during the tour of Dr. Marshall’s top-notch medical center. Dr. Marshall also explains to them the main purpose of using their limbs – to help is limbless son walk again.

Everything still seems on the up-and-up until Mike stumbles into Dr. Marshall’s son’s room and finds that there is no Andrew, at least not in this room, under the covers, surrounded by the realistic beeps and blinking lights of all the medical equipment that had been staged in the room.

And that’s when all hell breaks loose. This is especially true after Mike’s surgery to remove his right arm.

As time passes, Mike finds himself bedridden for a number of reasons. As his body withers away, he keeps his mental state in check by his undying will to stay alive, escape the hell-house he now resides in and get payback on the muscular bound security guard that started it all by offering him all that cash and wanting to give Dr. Marshall a little taste of his own medicine.

Or should I say from another character’s hand? Hummm…

In any event, The Jigsaw Man was a great novel by first-time author, Gord Rollo. There were a lot of scenes and ideas I have never seen in another horror novel, which made this one a real page-turner, a one-sit-down read, if you will. Even taking a break to go to sleep for the night, I easily finished it within 24 hours. Awesomely bloody stuff!

On a personal note. I have wanted to read this novel for quite some time. The basic premise of the book, someone giving up their arm for two million bucks hits home for some reason. I think it is because I have asked myself before, as do a lot of people, what exactly would I do for a crap load of cash?!

After seeing what happens to the main character in The Jigsaw Man, I can honestly say that giving up my right arm isn’t one of them. Also, not on my list any longer is giving up my left arm or my right or left arm or my…oh, how the list goes on and on and… Or giving the precious gift of life to a blood bank any longer. Hell, none of it. In fact, after reading this book, I think I am going to stay as far away from the medical community as I possibly can.