Daggerman

Daggerman (novel), (London: Faber, 1980; London: Panther, 1981 [pb]; New York: Pantheon, 1982; New York: Avon, 1983 [pb]; Tokyo: Hayakawa Novels, 1983).

Turner is luckless: run over by the school lawn mower; shooting a cow with a pencil that has his name carved on it; disgracing himself at Suez; losing his job. Finally it is all too much. He makes himself a knife; fashions a leatherette jerkin with DAGGERMAN in studs on the back; contrives a new religion of the Third Alternative in which he has the starring role; and embarks on his career as a psychopathic killer.

“Original blend of the macabre and the comic” (TLS)
“An expert piece of work, written in polished prose.” (New York Times)