Beth's Review: The Skin Room by Morgan Fleetwood

APC PUBLISHER: Howarth Press RELEASED: June 24, 2017 GENRE: HORROR LENGTH: 295 pages FORMAT: EBOOK, PAPERBACK

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The Skin Room is an unnerving suspense thriller narrated by Alex Melville – multi-lingual translator and multiple murderer. The blood-stained document that comprises the narrative of the novel is his claustrophobic, unreliable account of the murder of Valentina, and the incarceration and death of his drug-addicted sister, Sonia. This is no ordinary confession, however. In a unique and distinctive style, Alex gradually reveals his secret: this story has only one reader, the police inspector he holds responsible for his beloved sister’s death, and that while he writes in the flickering candlelight, he has one last grotesque secret to share that is his ultimate revenge. The Skin Room is a ‘whydunnit’ with a twist. TWO BOUNDLESS STARS

I usually love when stories are written in the first person point of view and I usually like this genre. The writing is good, the story is written to be read smoothly. I didn’t find a need to re-read any sections for clarity. The story wasn’t the best. I’m not sure if I hated the main character, Alex, so much that it ruined the story or if I couldn’t believe the actions he was taking. I was curious as to why he was acting as he was, but it was more in a “why does a crazy person do what they do” way not an “I am so intrigued, I must keep reading” way; like when you hear of a bombing or terrorist act on the news and you ask yourself “why?” Also, I didn’t like the way the story was told to an inspector, especially given that one of his victims was his daughter. It was told as a very detailed confession; like when the villain shares his reason at the end of a movie, but it was way too long to be one. Overall, I give The Skin Room 2 Boundless Stars. I felt it was OK, but could have been much better.