After Geneva, Richard Armitage’s second novel, The Cut, shows that his literary output will be as varied as his acting choices. By expertly manipulating the dual timeline narrative, Armitage documents the long-standing effects of poor decision making.
Back in 1994, in the quaint village of Barton Mallet, a tragedy occurred at Blackstone Mill. A group of young people—friends, frenemies, and rivals—gather to celebrate their last year of high school, but before the night is over, one of them will be dead, another will go to jail for the crime, and the rest of them will never be the same.
Barton Mallet is the type of place few people leave (or escape from). In 2023, many of those present that night in 1994 still live in the area with the shadow of those events hanging over their every move. Ben Knot, in particular, seems to become increasingly stressed as news of the impending release of that childhood killer spreads. Is he worried about protecting his family or is there some other reason for Ben to worry?
Meanwhile a Hollywood movie crew has descended on Barton Mallet to film their latest horror flick—The Cut. When Ben’s two kids are cast in prominent roles, he’s wary. As he learns that the movie seems to be echoing events from his past, he knows that something is not right.
Richard Armitage alternates between the past and the present, making sure that each time-period exposes truths from the opposite time. Most of The Cut unspools in vignettes that sometimes seem random, but which will ultimately coalesce into a powerful tale of retribution and regret.
The dynamic between the children in the past presents as bullying, peer pressure, and homophobia and Armitage does an impressive job of placing readers into the shoes of characters on all sides, allowing for both empathy and sympathy to co-exist as the secrets of that summer are revealed. Young people are resilient, but they also lack the maturity to understand that sometimes decisions they make have far-reaching ramifications. The Cut brings that home for readers in a fresh and unique way.
The Cut has multiple meanings beyond just serving as the title of this novel. It is the name of the location where the original crime occurred (the hardback contains a map to help orient readers), it’s the title of the horror movie that is being filmed, it reflects the episodic nature of the storytelling itself, and it calls to mind the many severed relationships that populate the novel.
Richard Armitage’s The Cut is a slow-burn thriller that will ultimately be unforgettable for those who invest the time.
BUY LINKS: The Cut by Richard Armitage
Disclaimer: A finished copy of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
