Wow. This was not an easy read, to say that I ‘enjoyed’ the book makes me seem like a psychopath BUT this book was such a wild ride. To get an insight into a serial killer’s motivations and motives was truly abhorrent but in the worst way? So so so many trigger warnings for this booked it’s an absolute blood bath that is described within an inch of its life. Not one for the faint-hearted but it truly is unique.

I found this quite hard to read, mostly due to the writing style. It was a very clever read but I definitely struggled with it. As a horror fan I thought I was going to love it but unfortunately it wasn’t for me.

There are a lot of words I could use to describe this book, to detail the gory deaths captured on the pages. But the word I want to use is compelling. This entire story is written as if we are in schroeder’s innermost thoughts, and the construction of the plot and how information is revealed is masterful. While the content was horrific—I think it’s safe to say that basically all trigger warnings apply—it was presented in a way where, at the end of the book, I’m still left turning the story over in my mind. Definitely recommend.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this title. Opinions are my own.

Neal Cassidy takes us on a macabre tour into the mind of a serial killer. We meet Schroeder, a bullied, hard luck young man who tries all of his life to make sense of a world that is hostile towards him. The first 95% of the book follows Schroeder as he commits a series of incredibly gruesome murders. It isn't until the final few pages that we learn what triggered this trail of horrors. Schroeder has led a sad, miserable life.
I also saw Schroeder as a vehicle through which the author lays bare the many ills in modern society. Schroeder attempts to make sense of not only the reasons for the bullying he is subjected to daily by classmates, fellow employees and even bystanders but also the senselessness of human activity in the larger society. Cassidy attempts to turn his protagonist into a sympathetic character. On some level, this works. Anyone, and I include myself among this group, who was ever bullied or humiliated as a child can find a reason to understand and even sympathize with Schroeder as he performs his horrific deeds.
This is not only a drama/horror novel. It is also a sociological tour de force that examine the human condition. I highly recommend.

Schroeder is a stream-of-consciousness narrative of a man who goes on a revenge killing spree after his mother dies. That’s the entire story, which you don’t understand until the last 10% of the book.

This book is classified as horror, but really it’s just a narrator making generic observations under the guise of being deep by defining these vague concepts with cool sounding words at the beginning of the chapter, along with lots and lots of gore. And that could definitely work for some readers, but it just wasn’t for me. The writing style wasn’t bad, and there were some good quotes and descriptions, but ultimately I gained nothing from this story. Am I supposed to feel empathy for Schroeder? The entire book has just been him flitting around town killing people, who I can presume are bad, sure, but there’s no satisfaction in it. The diary entries at the end don’t really make me feel like his killings are justified. Yeah, those people suck, but I find it unbelievable that EVERY person in the narrator’s life is cartoonishly awful except for a select few. I thought that surely he must be an unreliable narrator, and that after the diary entries we would get another perspective showing that he actually has had sociopathic tendencies his entire life or something, but the book just ends. It’s not that I don’t believe that bullies and abusive fathers exist, it’s that there has been no showing of behavior, no nuance, no other context: only tales and tales of terrible things befalling Schroeder. I kind of felt like laughing at certain points at the end because it was literally just trauma porn. I mean, a high school principal saying multiple times to you and your mother’s face that she’s a whore and deserves to be abused? I guess it could happen?

Some people could certainly enjoy this book, which is why I rounded up to 3 stars, but it was not for me. If you like graphic descriptions of murder and sentences that last 5 pages, then give it a shot. But if you’re expecting a great payoff and reveal, you might be disappointed. It’s definitely more a story of the journey than the destination, but the destination is so subpar and blatantly explained that it kind of ruins the rest of the book.

I admit I had trouble getting into this one as it begins with a stream-of-consciousness dialogue as Schroeder has OCD and rambles on as he begins a killing spree that is shocking in its 'numbness." But later we realize how this young man came to feel this violence was necessary and at the end we empathize with him. It's often hard to read but totally worth it!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I would like to thank NetGalley and M & S Publishing for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on October 15, 2024.

DNF @ 35%

The thing about my beloved horror genre that I always most desire is to be entertained. Horror Books that struggle with themselves or their language, stories with no plots, pointless literary experiments– these are not entertaining to me. Unfortunately, I feel that Schroeder is all of these things and I just couldn't give it any more time than I did.

I don't recommend this book. Even fans of stream of consciousness may notice the unpolished execution of the element.

Partial Reading Notes

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. I love how the opening scene is written. A low stakes dog fight, with just a hint of blood to foretell things to come.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. I really cannot connect with this super-first person stream of consciousness style of narration. I think it's popular right now, because I keep making this comment on books I read. Stream of consciousness writing is difficult to get right, but when it is, it can be sublime. This text does not handle this technique well, preferring instead to string out lengthy, unreadable sentences the MC is supposedly thinking.

2. "Our community is littered with failed businesses that extinguished green areas— vacant properties with shattered signs and windows in overgrown parking lots— and after fleetingly, comically questioning why so many patches of undisturbed land have to disappear when there’s plenty of available space that’s been abandoned by shut-down establishments, despite my already knowing the answer—money— I’m feeling vaguely comforted by the sight of the familiar, aged cottage ahead that’s been maintained for historic reasons, so I choose not to dwell on our city’s current state any longer because it wouldn’t do any good, anyway." p36 There is no conceivable reason, stylistic or otherwise, why this sentence is so long. Run-ons are hard to read, and hard to understand. They should be used sparingly. But so *many* of the sentences comprising this book are this long or even longer. They're all fighting with each other over space on the pages, and that reads about like you would expect.

3. The publisher calls this a gripping psychological thriller, but Schroeder is neither. I'm 40 pages in, a third of the total length, and nothing that's happened feels as imperative as the dog fight on page 2.

4. The rare little chunks of action keep getting lost in this word salad.

5. There is so much extraneous material in this book, like Mercedes girl with the coffee, who doesn't seem to exist in this story for any real reason. I keep finding material that goes nowhere, and not enough information about the story action. It's so freaking weird. This must be an experimental novel, but I do not get the experiment.

6. DNF @ 35% I threw in the towel when the violent murdering young adult gets invited by two little girls who *do not know them* to join in a game of hopscotch. Hopscotch, that's what I want five minutes after I've revenge murdered somebody!

Rating: DNF @ 35%
Recommend? NoooooOooo
Finished: Oct 30 '24

Thank you to the author Neal Cassidy, publishers M & S Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of SCHROEDER. All views are mine.

After a few pages I came to the conclusion that I didn't want to spend my (very precious) reading time in the head of a (psychotic) white American. So it's not the novel that's interesting enough for me to start reading, it's me and my very limited abilities at the moment. Otherwise, it seems like an interesting analysis of fragile masculinity, and I'd be interested in that under different circumstances.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to M & S Publishing and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of *Schroeder* by Neal Cassidy. This compelling novel is not just a psychological thriller; it delves deeply into the struggles of growing up in a society that often prioritizes outward appearances and achievement over compassion and understanding.
*Schroeder* is narrated in the first person, providing a raw and intimate glimpse into the protagonist's psyche. The story follows Schroeder, a man who has endured a lifetime of abuse and bullying. However, a tragic event acts as a catalyst, pushing him to the brink. With nothing left to lose, he embarks on a fateful day—a day of atonement for all the wrongs he has suffered.
As he navigates through the town of his youth, readers are taken on a journey filled with reflections on his dreams and disappointments. Each familiar sight triggers memories of both joy and pain, creating a poignant backdrop for his internal struggles. This narrative approach not only enhances our understanding of Schroeder's character but also invites us to ponder the broader themes of identity and societal values.
The journey that unfolds raises profound questions about who we are as individuals and what influence our environment has on our self-worth. *Schroeder* serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion in a world that often overlooks the struggles of others.

4 🌟

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

This was a fast read, but not because it was easy - it's because it was horrifying and captivating and I couldn't put it down.

Between grisly murders Schroeder ruminates about life and death and everything else. He sees beauty and ugliness and wonders about the human condition. I found myself enjoying his thoughts as he biked from murder scene to murder scene, as they provided a respite from the brutality of Schroeder's killing spree.

The conclusion of the book, where we find out the real reasons behind all of the violence, was absolutely heartbreaking and a complete gut punch. Definitely a worthwhile read.

4 stars

The pov/narration here can be difficult to get in to, but once you do find the flow the story is very good. Horror (as are all genres) is very subjective, so while this for me is borderline, it still falls in the horror genre.
I find the to be such a fascinating and relevant read.

Rating: 2.5

If your interested in a stream-of-consciousness, social commentary from the perspective of a guy on a killing spree, then you might like this. I personally didn't care for it.

This was such a great read especially for Halloween time. I kept seeing this on goodreads and when I saw it on here I had to have it.

I honestly thought this was going to be more horror & gory or detailed, since he goes on a killing spree, but I was let down. This ended up being more about Schroeder’s life & him ending up at different places to kill them. I was just hoping for a lot more action, or more to happen then just this guys life & riding around on a bike going to different places, and I don’t even think it did a great job of explaining why he felt compelled to do this or why he chose the people he did. This story was also quite confusing, the “chapters” if you can call them that were way too long and I’m still questioning what I just read. I honestly wouldn’t recommend this, sadly, it’s just not worth the read if you’re wanting a horror or gory story because that is not what you get with this story.

Thank you M &S publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was such a unique read for me as it’s essentially a stream of consciousness of the MMC Schroeder, over the span of one day as he commits multiple murders. It’s unsettling but I couldn’t put it down. The book puts you in the mind of Schroeder, whose behavior ranges from very gruesome killings to very normal observations of the people and world moving around him. There is a juxtaposition of Schroeder committing these heinous acts and then leaving the scene to have lunch at a park while watching children play, smile or nod at a neighbor, etc. that kept me wanting to read more as you don’t truly find out what led him here until the diary entries at the end of the book.

Some of the chapters and internal dialogue felt long winded and unnecessary at times but I really enjoyed the progression and found this to be a very interesting read!

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Schroeder, by Neal Cassidy, from M & S Publishing /NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

Jesus God in Heaven. I am scarred for life from having read this book.

It was absolutely horrific and awful.

And?

I could not put it down.

Five stars for being a perfect fever dream. One star for the graphic sadism. Five stars for the unexpected (very) ending.

I’d like to think that the world isn’t really as bad as Neal Cassidy makes it out to be in Schroeder, but, alas, I am a thinking person with eyes with which to see and ears with which to hear. In retrospect, I just don’t think it was a very smart decision on my part to read this when my anxiety is already ratcheted up to 11 because of the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election. (But, I was actively avoiding a work deadline……you know how it goes.) Those who are hurt tend to hurt others, and one of the primary candidates on the ballot this November 5th seems all-too committed to perpetuating that cycle, including by fostering hatefulness and violence.

So, yeah, even though some of what was in this novel bordered on implausible, it was unfortunately easy to suspend disbelief and buy in to the idea that people will indeed kick you when you’re already down.

I don’t know who all really reads these meanderings of mine, but on the off chance that certain of you do, I will say this: Mother and Nancy—I definitely don’t recommend this for y’all. Anita, Grant, and Tara—I do in particular recommend it for y’all, thinking you probably will have the same reaction/s to it as I did.

Now if you will excuse me, I need to go pet some kitties and watch wholesome short videos about cooking and positive family experiences.

PS
It really irked me that so many people referred to the protagonist of this book as a serial killer in their reviews. Nope, nope, nope. He was a spree killer bent on revenge. There is a difference.

PPS
Note To Future Kristi: Read this guy’s other book that’s already published, and anything else he might write.

PPPS
Coming back the next day to add that I remembered in the grocery store this afternoon how happy I was that I am not a user of the pen mentioned more than once in the book. This is particularly important to me given that:

- I am a pen freak.
- I have sociopathic tendencies. Well, kinda sorta. A few, maybe. The kind that came in handy in my corporate career days.

I would have been disturbed beyond words had my relatively new box of "good pens" been the same brand/type.

That is all. As you were.

DESCRIPTION
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.

hen 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.

This book was not for me. I rarely do not finish a book but unfortunately this was one. I found it too gory and couldn't understand why or how he picked the victims. He is definitely a serial killer with different methods of killing with each victim. Not your typical serial killer. Possibly at the end of the story it is explained on the who, why and how.. The writing was good being very descriptive in both locations and actions. Received a free copy thru Netgalley and this is my honest voluntary review

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to review

4 stars!

I jumped at the chance to read this. The premise really pulled me in and I honestly got so interested in what I was in for as soon as I read stream-of-consciousness narration and 'Who is Schroeder, and what motivates his brutal killing spree? '

Sign me up

This though hit in a way I didn't expect. Your taken on this journey of his thoughts and the disturbing things he does. You know you shouldn't like him but you can't help but actually root and feel for the dude at some points which made the reading experience a whole different.

The writing may get some used to for some but it's a very interesting read!!

Unfortunately this book wasn’t it for me. I tried to pick it back up several times but each time I couldn’t get into it, which is a shame because the premiss sounded like something I would enjoy. DNF :(