This is a very well written and intriguing book, it pulled me in and I enjoyed it. This is one I will be happily recommending to friends!

I’m not really sure how to review this one. At first I thought it was like an American Psycho for incels, but the deeper I read, the more I realized I was wrong. I can’t say more without spoilers, just that in the end it was rather uplifting.

Recommended.

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.

Neal Cassidy’s Schroeder is a haunting and provocative psychological thriller that dares to peer into the darkest corners of the human psyche. Combining elements of horror, literary fiction, and sharp social critique, Cassidy weaves an unsettling tale of a day-long killing spree that is as much a journey into the protagonist’s mind as it is through the heart of a troubled city.

At the story’s core is Schroeder, a chillingly ordinary man turned antihero whose motivations and musings guide the narrative. Cassidy employs a stream-of-consciousness style to immerse readers in Schroeder’s fractured psyche, painting a vivid portrait of his internal world. As Schroeder cycles through city streets and suburban enclaves, each victim he encounters is more than just a name; they are threads in a larger tapestry of societal decay. The intimate and often lyrical narration lends an uncomfortable intimacy to the violence, forcing readers to confront the stark contrasts between Schroeder’s reflections on beauty, joy, and his capacity for brutal destruction.

What makes Schroeder particularly compelling is its exploration of moral ambiguity. Schroeder is neither a traditional villain nor a sympathetic hero; he is a cipher for humanity’s broader failings. His critiques of societal greed, inequality, and alienation resonate sharply, even as his actions remain indefensible. Cassidy’s prose brims with sharp observations that expose the veneer of civilization, making the city as much a character as Schroeder himself. The juxtaposition of vibrant city life with its grim underbelly serves as a poignant metaphor for the contradictions within humanity.

Cassidy’s storytelling is taut and relentless, each chapter escalating the tension as the day hurtles toward its inevitable conclusion. The denouement is devastating yet revelatory, forcing readers to grapple with questions about free will, the root of violence, and whether redemption is ever truly attainable. The lingering impact of Schroeder’s pathos ensures that this book stays with readers long after the final page.

However, Schroeder is not for the faint of heart. Its graphic violence and unflinching depiction of a mind unraveling may be overwhelming for some. The stream-of-consciousness style, while effective, can feel disorienting, making the narrative a challenging, if rewarding, read.

In conclusion, Schroeder is a bold and unsettling novel that combines literary elegance with visceral horror. Neal Cassidy crafts a story that is both a gripping thriller and a sobering meditation on the human condition. Readers seeking a thought-provoking and deeply psychological journey will find much to admire—and to haunt them—in Schroeder. Four stars.

This book sounded really promising with a high creep factor. However, the way it was written was so discombobulating to me, I had a hard time getting through it. Interesting read - just not an easy one.

Cassidy is on my auto buy list and this book only cemented his place on my list even more. This is horror at its best. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

i had such a hard time focusing when i was reading this book and im upset about it bc i think it could have been really great!! maybe ill reread this another time to give it a fair shot

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I found that this book awkwardly straddles two genres. There’s definitely hints of the splatterpunk book that this was clearly modelled to be, interspersed with a more mainline thriller approach that was a little awkward to see running alongside.

I do wish that it took things further or pulled things back- the awkward middle ground resulted in the gore being not quite gory enough, and the thriller being not quite thrilling enough. Schroeder is explained, but he was explained at the end, and the whole novel builds up to him speaking to all his traumas. That’s great and does help to provide context, but it’s a bit little a bit late.

The book does have some messy kills and some interesting turns, but it just wasn’t quite there for me. I’d love to see this firmly seated this into one genre or another, and to see the reasoning behind the main character be a little less trauma show and a bit more believable.

This was an odd little book. The description captivated me as I'm always up for a unique and twisted novel, and mostly, this delivered.

Schroeder - really an unnamed narrator but it's the dang name of the novel so I stand by that I'm not giving anything away! - starts his day like any other with his exercises and breakfast. We learn quickly that he's a quirky fellow who likes his structure and routines. His quirkiness and inner monologue makes him nearly likable. But then he embarks on a journey of sheer terror.

Schroeder has a well-crafted plan to murder several people and he takes the reader on that journey. Each death is graphic, over the top, completely personal, and wholly unique. In between the gruesome murders, Schroeder casually rides his bike, eats his lunch, and people watches. It's truly odd and the mundane-ness of much of the novel is unsettling.

Throughout Schroeder's killing spree, we learn nothing of his victims. It's clear to the reader they are quite intentional and they all know Schroeder, but he gives us no indication of why he selected who he did. He also never goes out of his way to kill anyone who wasn't part of his original plan. For a while, I wondered if we'd be left hanging, but the novel does end with Schroeder's personal diary through boyhood detailing the traumatic events of his past. It's left to the reader to put the pieces together as to which victim was which.

The novel really ended with a bang and I appreciated the diary entries. You're left feeling hurt and sad for this tortured boy, despite reading about the torture and mutilation he just afflicted on several people as they painfully departed this earth at his hands.

This book won't be for everyone and if you have trigger warnings (any) that make you shy away from books, just don't even try! But, if you like books that are graphic, very unique, and entirely unsettling, this will be perfect for you.

Thank you to M&S Publishing and NetGalley for the copy of this book.

First of all, a trigger warning: 'Schroeder' contains extremely graphic descriptions of a string of murders. If you can handle that, Neal Cassidy's book is a quite riveting read, following a trail of slaughter and the thoughts, lifestyle and circumstances of the killer.

The author adds social, political and religious context to the character's mindset, and there's an awful lot that makes sense when you consider the world today.

You may well be scratching your head, wondering how an individual who can appreciate kindness and compassion whenever he sees it can sink to such an apparent disregard for human life. The answer makes for a harrowing read in itself.

'Schroeder' is beautifully written, full of acute observations on the life of this loner and the way he views this essentially planet in turmoil ,and makes the killer's short bicycle journeys fascinating as past, present and future are presented in often poetic detail.
Certainly not a book for the fainthearted, but I found it a compelling read and a 5 star experience.

Which readers will love it? Those who love detailed descriptions and at the same time they like to read about terrible tragedy. There are indeed many details - harmless and gory. And there's some insight in the mind of an outsider with OCD who meticulously planned his revenge.

I am so glad I was able to give this one a read! I have recently read all of Cassidy's books and this one is by far my favorite. A more in-depth review coming ASAP!

Neal Cassidy's Schroeder follows one man's methodical journey through his city by bicycle, tracking his movements from dawn to dusk. Through stream-of-consciousness narration, we experience both Schroeder's carefully planned acts of violence and his running commentary on the world around him - from quiet suburban streets to bustling downtown corridors. As he moves from location to location, his thoughts drift between present observations and past memories, building toward diary entries that illuminate his history. Cassidy employs an intimate first-person perspective that keeps us close to Schroeder's thoughts as he catalogs both the beauty and decay he sees in his surroundings, pondering everything from urban development to human nature. Through this narrative style, we witness both the calculated precision of his actions and the chaotic swirl of his inner monologue.

This book has a great combination of pacing, storytelling, and characters. It was thrilling, horrifying, fun, and so much more to read. I greatly enjoyed it.

Completely out of my comfort zone, but I'm glad I tried it. Excellent pacing and peeling back the layers that create a spree killer while living uncomfortably in his head as he drags us along to exact revenge. Fans of Catcher in the Rye will find a new anti-hero in Shroeder and will appreciate the stark, stream-of-consciousness style of the narrative.

DNF at 26%.

I don't think this type of narration is for me. I wouldn't call this a psychological thriller but I see it being called "stream-of-consciousness narration" and social commentary. So far it's been jumbled mess of thoughts with no context. And I find it unbelievable that someone would go around leisurely killing people and no one cares or takes notice?

Whatever the book, I would've liked to know the background more. We do get a glimpse of who he is behind his thoughts but they've just been glimpses and more of a narration of his day.

But thanks to Netgalley and M & S Publishing for the e-copy!

This book was utterly bizarre. I kept reading for quite a while, trying to see if there was a point to the entire thing, by eventually reach the point that I couldn’t tolerate it anymore. It wasn’t for lack of trying. It just made roughly no sense and I couldn’t stand the egregious run-on sentences.

This book is absolutely incredible at leading you down a road you don’t want to go down, and yet you just can’t help but keep going. I’ve never encountered a serial killer/horror novel before that so perfectly balances the horrifying and monstrous parts with some deeply human and often quite poignant parts of our main character’s psyche.

Schroeder isn’t humanised for entertainment value, to give you a villain you can root for, he’s humanised because every mass murderer, villain and sadist has been exactly that. Human. And that to me was the scariest part of all. The way that every disturbing figure in true crime documentaries also have mundane parts of their day, have experienced grief, had families and still went on to commit horrendous acts of violence against other people. It’s terrifying.

I went in with no expectations for this one and came out very pleasantly surprised. Would definitely recommend this read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Neal Cassidy for this ARC!

Schroeder Review: Gore for a Reason

Neal Cassidy’s Schroeder presents a man’s one-day killing spree. Although at first the book doesn’t quite explain what is happening, it never slows down or goes easy on the violence. The novel begins with Schroeder starting his daily routine, but it is quickly established this is no ordinary day. Schroeder leaves his house, cruises through his neighborhood in his bike, arrives at his former job, and brutally murders two black men. He calmly jots it down in a notebook, and it’s all downhill from there.
The book is written as a stream of consciousness that is deliberately confusing from the beginning. There are some glimpses that indicate Schroeder might not be in his right mind, but his calm and calculated demeanor all but screams he is nothing but a psychopath who knows exactly what he is doing. He jumps from thought to thought, muses over how terrible humanity is, how much suffering there is for no reason, and takes the reader down into a deep rabbit hole.
The narrative at times is very clear, showing Schroeder’s regular state of mind and switches to a more unhinged and detached tone once he is out of it again. As the book progressed, I was starting to wonder that maybe the people Schroeder was killing actually deserved it. The narration invites you to put the pieces together and figure out who these people are and maybe start rooting for Schroeder and hope he doesn’t get caught.
The driving force behind the novel is revenge. However, the book got me thinking about violence. Yes, it is a gore and horror book and I went in knowing that, but I still ponder a question: Can violence ever be justified? The book does present evidence behind Schroeder’s killings by the end, but it never moralizes his acts—just presents them as they are, as they happened.
Inserted in a society where mass shootings happen almost daily and serial killers are mystified—and almost venerated—how poignant is this novel really? Is that the point? Or is the point simply to write out a revenge fantasy? Which underdogs are allowed to tell their revenge stories? Should we, as readers, be wary of certain narratives?

Schroeder gives a very disquieting and unique insight into the mind of a killer, where a stream-of-consciousness narrative catapults the reader into disjointed thoughts and disturbing actions of the protagonist. Spanning just one day, the novel catches Schroeder riding his bike through different cityscapes-from mansions to projects-all representative of the bleak perspective he holds on the world-on a spree of killings he has planned. There is the book structure of violent acts interwoven with moments of ordinary, passing pleasure—as if to create a polarity, and in this man who was pushed to such extreme measures, one can see a broken mind.

Schroeder is the character, undoubtedly a killer, but oddly enough, strangely relatable. The observations he makes on society, politics, and human nature are sound, almost too reasonable, which makes his death tragic, even inevitable. There is great depth of contradiction in his character-intelligent and contemplative, yet horrifically violent. Violence not gratuitous but over-the-top with a splatterpunk vibe accentuating the brutality of his revenge, though little doubt that none of his victims will be shown to be innocent. The book keeps one thinking, "Do they deserve this?

The writing style of the novel may not suit everyone's taste, especially considering it's in the first person and has a stream-of-consciousness structure that can be disorienting at times. This manner of narration, however, is crucial in understanding Schroeder's fractured psyche and provides the readers with a raw look at the man driven to madness by his experiences.

Although the voice of the child in the last chapter is a bit too exerted at times, and the violence perhaps a bit too heavy, the disturbing tone of the whole story combined with social commentary makes it unforgettable. Ultimately, Schroeder is a very thoughtful and chilling read; a peering into the mind of a man whose broken spirit carries him along an irreversible path. This is not an easy book to read, but its compelling, sad-and-slightly self-reflective about the nature of violence and the human capacity for cruelty kind of reader is the sort of person who finds themselves mopping up tears after finishing it. This is neither a good/evil nor a simple bad book but instead a story of what happens when a person is trampled under the injustices of society and their own inner turmoil.