Scissors Ray Garton

Stuart Mullond is a troubled man, haunted by a strict childhood and a certain surgical procedure - one that saw scissors go where they really shouldn't (from a male perspective). Years later, as an adult, the surgeon, Dr Furgeson, still torments Stuart in the form of nightmares.

Stuart begins to see the doctor whilst awake wherever he goes, he seems to be stalking Stuart's family. Stuart fears Furgeson has returned, intent on performing the same painful operation on his young son.

This is a very tense novel with a very narrow focus. Garton takes you inside Stuart's mind as he feels his life is unravelling. He shows us a damaged character desperate to protect his family, but afraid he is powerless to prevent the return of the demon-figure of his childhood.

It is also very original. Despite fears of scissors/knives and doctors being fairly common I cannot think of another novel with a story like this. This is the kind of original plot you would have expected a Stephen King or Dean Koontz to have produced in their heyday.

But for return Garton readers there is one thing that is becoming tiresome. He is once again ranting against the Seventh Day Adventist Church - as he did in Ravenous and Bestial. Now, even for the non-Christian reader (me, for instance) enough is enough. Garton is a good storyteller but such a diatribe will only serve to annoy part of his potential audience.

Page updated 18 July, 2010