“Cut, Paste, Kill” by Marshall Karp – Scrapbooks of Vengeance

Keeping a scrapbook is one of those hobbies accessible to virtually anyone on the planet, regardless of who they are or where they come from.

It's a celebration of life, one where all the important moments that had an impact on someone are brought together, immortalised in its pages. For the most part, scrapbooks highlight one's joys and happiness, what ultimately made their life worth living.

On the other hand though, there are always those who are capable of spinning things around, turning their scrapbook into something darker, like in Cut, Paste, Kill by Marshall Karp, where it becomes an instrument of retribution.

Now, Cut, Paste, Kill may certainly be the fourth novel in the series, but that doesn't mean you have to read all the previous ones to understand it. Each Lomax and Biggs novel is designed to be read on its own, and being unfamiliar with the other works in the series won't hinder your enjoyment or understanding in any way.

In this fourth novel in the Lomax and Biggs series, we see the return of our two adored detectives, with things going uncharacteristically well as they are about to eat a big family dinner. Needless to say, the reader's suspicions are confirmed as Mike and Terry don't even find the time to bite into their burgers: a sinister murder has occurred.

A woman has been found murdered in an upscale hotel in LA, and next to her is a very carefully-constructed scrapbook, filled with all the details as to why she deserved to die. It turns out that the woman in question shares her fame with O.J. Simpson, everyone believing she managed to get away with murder as the justice system failed to determine her guilt.

Not long after, more victims of the scrapbook killer start popping up, each crime scene having more artistic flair than the last one, with only thing uniting them: the killer believes that they once escaped punishment for terrible crimes.

If you've already read other Lomax and Biggs novels, then you already know what style of writing you can expect here. The chapters are short and sweet, more often than not composed of snappy and witty dialogues that move the story along too quickly for anyone to get bored with it.

Karp's outstanding sense of humour shines through his writing once again, with there virtually always being something funny about a situation, no matter how dark and somber it is. I have to say, the author has a real knack for finding the comedic silver lining in anything, a talent we could all use in our daily lives. Thankfully, it never feels forced or out of place, and when there are dramatic moments which call for a serious approach, Karp gladly obliges.

As is generally the case with Lomax and Biggs novels, the two protagonists really stand out from the rest of the cast, feeling much more deeply-developed than anyone else, and rightfully so (they are driving the story, after all).

Though the pace doesn't allow for much character development, we still get little glimpses here and there into the kind of lives they lead, just enough for fans to get a little better acquainted with them while still leaving plenty of room for future additions to their stories.

One of the novel's strongest aspects is also the relationship between Lomax and Biggs, their interactions feeling very natural, like they actually came from years upon years of close friendship... it almost feels like they're a married couple sometimes. Incidentally, the dynamic between them accounts for a good part of the humour, with their bickering often taking turns for the absurd and ridiculous.

The other part of the comedy comes in the form of the author's descriptions where he always finds the right small detail to shine his light on to give the whole segment, if not the whole chapter an atmosphere of laughter.

The hunt for the serial killer itself is also quite enthralling in its own way, presenting a concept which isn't seen very often in the genre. Yes, it may have been done before, but not nearly enough for this addition to feel superfluous or unwelcome, instead injecting some fresh air into the world of maniacs and serial killers.

As always, seeing our two detectives unravel the thread is as exciting as ever, with twists and turns coming at you from every corner, so fast and numerous you'll have no idea what to do with them.

I will admit the ending is difficult to figure out, but it makes all the sense it needs to, more than adequately closing out the investigation; veterans of murder mysteries, I guarantee you'll still have a tough time with this one.

Once again, Karp finds a way to craft a homicide story that feels new in its premise and engages the reader from the beginning to the end, all while trying to kill them with laughter.

Whether you're looking to discover what the author has to offer, are already a fan of his works or simply in search of an original and satisfying murder mystery, I highly recommend you give Cut, Paste, Kill the chance it deserves.

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Marshall Karp Personal site Marshall Karp has been a writer his entire life, creating scripts for commercials, plays, sitcoms, and even a movie. Now, he has dedicate himself to being a full-time author. After five years of effort, he managed to publish his first book, The Rabbit Factory, which turned out to a be a real success.