I picked up a copy of Psycho because I was intrigued to find out what the original story was behind one of the greatest films of all time.
The answer is complicated. Is it a great book? No. But it does have moments. If you are one of the eight people on the planet who hasn’t seen Alfred Hitchcock’s film, you would probably find this book incredible. The entire story hinges on that twist.
So, coming from someone who has seen the film multiple times and has no doubts on what is going to happen, I can say, Hitchcock changed very little. The twist happens slightly differently but there are no surprises.
The chapters are told from different perspectives, with some chapters focusing on Noman, some on Mary (Marion) Crane, Arbogast and the rest on Sam and Lila. The chapters dealing with Norman are the most interesting. Knowing what it really going on gives you an appreciation of the writer and his mastery of the subject matter. You can see what he is doing with Norman’s inner monologue and he never gives a thing away about the truth.
Aside from that, the story has unnecessary shocks, probably aimed at a pulp fiction audience, which lend nothing to the story and very little to the suspense. There are chapters of people talking about what is going on and, knowing the story, these can become frustrating.
Ultimately, the issue with this book is that I already know the story. Unlike other books that have become well known films, there is nothing extra in the book. At 126 pages, it sits perfectly for a film, and Hitchcock clearly saw no reason to add or take away.
It’s impossible for me to know if this would have blown me away if I hadn’t already known the story but I suspect it would have. A quick, easy read with shocking moments to keep the pages turning, this book would have kept people awake in 1959 when it was published. Now, it makes a good quick psychological thriller with a gruesome twist.
Charlotte Wood is a feminist and writer of the macabre and sinister. She reads horror, fantasy, classic literature and historical fiction (with a preference for history from a woman’s perspective).