Review: The Nobody by Tom Piccirilli

Tasmaniac Publications has been quietly earning a reputation for publishing good quality novellas from established stars of the international horror small press, authors who have paid their dues, busted their humps, and have moved their careers into the mass market. Tom Piccirilli is the epitome of this career path, a bloke who has belted out micro press editions of novels and collections for years to rave reviews. Although he has moved into the big leagues, it is heartening to see someone like Piccirilli continue to publish boutique projects like his latest novella, The Nobody, through the independents.

The Nobody is the story of Cryer, a man who cannot remember his name or the names of his wife and daughter after a psychopath murdered his family and rammed a three inch knife blade into his brain. What unfolds is a relatively straightforward revenge story as Cryer emerges from a catatonic state and rehabilitates himself into a killing machine.

There can only ever be two outcomes to a revenge story, and I'm pleased to say the outcome is satisfying to the reader, for Piccirilli applies plenty of 'window dressing' along the way. It takes skill to empathically connect a reader to a hollow shell of a man, but Piccirilli does it easily. His writing style isn't pretty - in fact, it can be blunt, and at times, the colloquialism feels forced - but in this case, it works.

Cryer's journey through the tatters of his life is cathartic for both protagonist and reader. The targets of his search are like jigsaw puzzle pieces. The Nobody is at its best when Cryer is attempting to reconnect to people who may have been important to him but he's quite never sure. Were these people friends, lovers, or are they part of the conspiracy, feeding him lies? The uncertainty lends the whole story an air of crime drama menace and yet holds the whole thing together.

The only disappointment, if such a word can be used, is that the pseudo-supernatural element of a mini-Cryer emerging sporadically from his forehead wound largely disappears in the second half of the novella, and what could have been a creepy horror plot device seems forgotten in the buildup to the bloodshed. It's a small complaint in an otherwise solid, engaging story.

The Nobody is perhaps the most compelling release from Tasmaniac to date. For lovers of offbeat tales of revenge, look no further than this. It's a quick, easy read that will devour you while you devour it. Highly recommended!