Psychoville

Christopher Fowler

Growing up in suburbia was hell for Billy March. Only a friendship with a girl as damaged as himself saved him from the petty-minded savagery of the residents of Invicta Cross... Ten years later, as the town is voted Britain's favourite, a smart and wealthy young married couple are an instant hit in the Invicta Cross community. So when the vicious pranks begin and one neighbour after another goes missing, no one suspects that the perfect couple in Balmoral Close might know something more than they're telling...

Review by Victim (090400) Rating (9/10)

Review by Victim

Well the tale begins with Billy March, a young, imaginative lad from a working class background, as his family is forced to leave their home and move a suburban developement, fairly heart wrenching stuff. He is a loner and moving to a middle class hive is not really ideal.

The author gives a good description of how I imagine suburbia to be (I'm a country lad tha' knows) The neighbours will not accept the Marches, and thus the tale unfolds... Billy's family try to make a good life for themselves but are shut out by the neighbours, he only finds two friends, each of whom are also outcasts, and so the acceptability is still not forthcoming.

The book is in two parts the first dealing with all of the origins, giving background to the scenario, but the second half - Oh Yeah! REVENGE!!! The second half is where the fun begins, a nice young couple move to town, which by now is winning awards for its pleasant life. It is a great place to live - if you're kind of a yuppie. There are some fabulous uses for golf clubs among other things. I will say no more. This is a great read and if you enjoy the likes of later Shaun Hutson and Clive Barker's Books of Blood I reckon you'll enjoy this too. It is an urban myth kind of affair, but brilliantly rendered.
Victim (9th April 2000)