Book Review: SCHROEDER by Neal Cassidy

SCHROEDER by Neal Cassidy (M & S Publishing, October 15, 2024) Kindle Edition, 202 pages. ISBN # 9798218471170 

Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .

A gripping new psychological thriller by author Neal Cassidy, SCHROEDER, weaves together elements of the literary thriller/horror genre, stream-of-consciousness narration, and critical social commentary.

When an ordinary young man wakes up in his quiet neighborhood on a day seemingly like all the others, the city he’s lived in all his life has no idea what’s about to befall it once he sets out on a day-long bike ride carrying a purposefully packed backpack and a definitive plan.

Who is Schroeder, and what motivates his brutal killing spree? As he cycles from one victim’s home to the next, keeping pace with the rhythm of a city that burgeons to life under an increasingly dazzling sun exposing both its beauty and vivacity and its dark, dirty, underbelly, Schroeder lays bare his dreams, disappointments, delights, and dismays, establishing himself as a compelling contemporary antihero. 

The day rolls ominously towards its climax through hectic city streets, lush suburban gardens, stately mansions, and decrepit housing projects, punctuated by Schroeder’s reflections on a society in shambles and a deeply damaged, if not broken, humanity—but not without revealing life’s boundless wonder and infinite possibilities for joy and redemption through moments that are within—and yet tragically beyond—Schroeder’s grasp. A tell-all denouement brings Schroeder out of the shadows of his actions, the pathos of his questions about the kind of world we live in lingering long after.

My Four-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .

     It took me a little longer to read SCHROEDER, partly because the font was so small and my NetGallery reader app did not have a magnifying feature (that I could find), and partly because I decided the best way to read this was one chapter at a time - and glad I did. 

     The story is told by the main character (Schroeder) and is written in stream-of-consciousness narration. Neal Cassidy's novel takes us into the mind of a serial killer, constantly raising questions regarding the who, what, when, where, and why of his one-day killing spree - and eventually answering them in the daily, monthly, yearly diary notes of Schroeder.

     Schroeder is an ultra-conscious observer of both the mundane and detailed sights and scenes of everyday life in a busy community, and we begin to build a profile of his character through his shared observations and social commentary. Not everything is negative. He's bright and intelligent, which makes readers wonder why he is engaging in such brutal activity. Not until the end do we begin to receive any answers.

     Graphic, disturbing, revelatory. Not your usual day-in-the-life of a serial killer. Both the character and the method of story-telling are the difference.