Book Review - Peeler by Gord Rollo

I picked this up on a recommendation and it was a good choice. I'm a fan of short stories and this work's well as a short tale, although I would have liked just a bit more meat on the bones. In this case the blurb possibly gives a bit too much away as it gives you the bare bones for most of the story. There's more detail of course and the author adds the layers well with a crisp style. The story is short enough that I read it in about 20 minutes and I enjoyed it all the way through.

As I mentioned at the start the story could have handled more detail. I would have happily read more about the main characters and the contrast between the two contrasting motives for self-mutilation. Not so much that I felt short changed, but more could easily have been added.

The ending is a bit enigmatic and there was a revelation here that definitely could have been expanded upon as there was a mythos here and that passes by with barely and detail or explanation. It works well in the context of the story, but again my curiosity would liked to have a bit more satisfaction.

In summary it's a decent horror story, with a quick pace and well written. Well worth checking out.

Click on image to buy from Amazon

Randy Baxter is an aspiring chef who dreams of better days ahead. He's come to work as part of the kitchen staff at Ashbury Creek Asylum, a federally funded institution for the criminally insane. Randy's not crazy but he does harbor a past filled with psychological issues including the need to cut himself to make the memories of his abusive childhood go away. When he learns about the man they call Peeler, a long term resident at Ashbury who has a severe problem with self-mutilation, all of Randy's anxieties start to rise to the surface again.

Determined to overcome his inner demons once and for all, he manipulates a face to face meeting with Peeler but as with all things, there's a price to pay. To see one of the most violent, disturbed men ever to be imprisoned in the maximum security asylum Randy must bring Peeler a small gift. Something no one in their right mind would even think of giving him.

A shiny new razor blade...

Click here to buy Peeler from Amazon (and it's a decent horror short story)