Title: Cuts
Author: Richard Laymon
First published January 1, 1999
301 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780843957525 (ISBN10: 0843957522)
Rating: 3.72
Overview
In a small town in Texas, John Smith is looking for love in all the wrong places when he meets a beautiful woman named Sarah. But Sarah doesn’t want love – she wants money, and John doesn’t have enough.
“Get the rest of the money by tomorrow,” Sarah says, “and we’ll have a wild night together.” But John won’t be seeing Sarah tomorrow night. He’ll be having a wild night without her…
in a stranger’s house… with a knife.
John Smith has one passion in life: he loves to cut people. And he’s about to leave a trail of blood from Texas to New York.
About the Author
Let me introduce you to Richard Laymon, a celebrated author who was born in Chicago but raised in California. He obtained a BA in English Literature from Willamette University in Oregon and an MA from Loyola University in Los Angeles.
Throughout his career, he worked as a schoolteacher, librarian, and report writer for a law firm. Laymon authored over thirty highly-regarded novels, as well as more than sixty short stories which were featured in various magazines and anthologies.
Sadly, Laymon passed away on February 14, 2001, which ironically was Valentine’s Day. He also wrote under the name Richard Kelly.
Editoral Review
Cuts by Richard Laymon is a horror novel that was first published in 1999. Laymon is an American author who has written several novels in the horror genre, and Cuts is one of his best-known works.
The book is a violent and gory tale that is not for the faint of heart. The story follows a group of high school students who are enjoying a summer day at a lake when they are suddenly attacked by a group of masked men.
The group of friends is held captive, and they are forced to participate in a twisted game of survival. The stakes are high, and the consequences of losing the game are deadly.
Laymon is known for his graphic descriptions of violence, and Cuts is no exception. The book is filled with scenes of torture, rape, and murder, which may be too much for some readers to handle.
However, Laymon’s writing is also engaging and suspenseful, and the plot moves quickly, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. One of the strengths of Cuts is its well-developed characters.
Each of the high school students has their own distinct personality and backstory, and Laymon takes the time to flesh out each of them. The villainous masked men are also given a backstory, adding a layer of depth to the plot.
However, the pacing of the book can be uneven at times. Some scenes drag on for too long, while others feel rushed.
Additionally, some readers may take issue with the gratuitous violence and gore, which can be excessive at times. Comparing Cuts to other works in the horror genre, it shares similarities with other “survival horror” novels such as Stephen King’s The Running Man and Richard Bachman’s The Long Walk.
However, Cuts is unique in its use of a high school setting and the twisted game that the characters are forced to play. Overall, while Cuts is not for everyone, it is a well-crafted horror novel that will satisfy fans of the genre.
The characters are well-developed, and the plot is engaging and suspenseful. However, the graphic violence may be too much for some readers, and the pacing can be uneven at times.
For those who can handle the violence, Cuts is a worthwhile read. I would give it three and a half stars out of five.
