Cameron McCabe - The Face On The Cutting Room Floor

This novel was quite a mystery back in the day, with uncertainty about its author. Julian Symons called it a detective story to end all detective stories. It revolves around film studio where girl has been killed in the cutting room floor. Cameron McCabe, narrator of the story, tells about possible suspects but when the film is showed there  is depiction of man and woman struggling and maybe in accident he kills herself with a knife. Jensen, the possible culprit is later found dead, poisoned and shot from revolver. Now Jensen was lover of the girl, but also was McCabe so inspector Smith puts the blame on Cameron and sends him to trial. After Cameron is aquitted, he returns home only to face Smith who murders him. Very unusual crime story, and final touch is imagined review of his work as afterword. But after 30 years real name of the writer is revealed : Ernest Borneman, german who worked in the film industry. He wrote couple of other novels and died from suicide at 79 year old. 

One of the standout aspects of Face on the Cutting Room Floor is its unconventional narrative structure. The novel opens with what seems like a straightforward story of a man working behind the scenes in the movie industry. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that the world McCabe is constructing is anything but simple. The blending of fact and fiction within the narrative is brilliantly executed, with a fictional "review" of the book included by an imaginary critic. This metatextual element adds an intriguing layer of complexity to the story.

The plot is full of twists and turns, with the protagonist being drawn into a murder mystery that seems to have connections to both his professional life and personal history. The slow unveiling of secrets keeps readers on their toes, making it a difficult book to put down.

The novel explores the nature of film, identity, and the construction of truth. The editor at the center of the story deals with film reels—cutting, splicing, and rearranging footage. In a similar way, the novel itself feels like it's being cut and reassembled, with reality constantly shifting under the reader's feet. McCabe also plays with themes of voyeurism, illusion, and the idea of perception versus reality.

The writing is sharp and clever, with a noir-ish tone that complements the dark, mysterious atmosphere. McCabe’s ability to create a sense of unease and uncertainty is one of the novel's strengths.

The characters are well-developed, especially the protagonist. His character is driven by a desire to uncover the truth, yet he is constantly forced to question what’s real and what’s been fabricated—both in the case he’s investigating and in his own life. The supporting characters, though not as fleshed out, still contribute to the overall sense of mystery.

In conclusion, Face on the Cutting Room Floor is a fascinating and thought-provoking read that plays with narrative structure, genre conventions, and the idea of truth in a world filled with illusion. The novel feels ahead of its time, foreshadowing many modern techniques used in contemporary storytelling. If you're a fan of mystery, film noir, and books that defy traditional narrative forms, McCabe's work is certainly worth exploring.

Picador Classics also include afterword where they put interview with Borneman, and some other info about him.