Back in the day, when I first bought the books (1990s), Lee was considered one of the Splatterpunk authors, along with Clive Barker, John Skipp and Craig Spector, and David J. Schow (to name a few), which meant just about anything goes. Now, I've read some Splatterpunk that I would consider mainstream fiction and some that pushed the boundaries of decency. Lee's The Bighead would definitely fall under the latter.
The Bighead consists of several separate storylines that all converge eventually into one shocking ending. There's Charity Wells, who is returning home for the first time since the state removed her from her aunt's home decades ago, and Jerrica Perry, a small-time reporter assigned to cover life in the sticks. Two women with relationship issues whose paths cross when Jerrica responds to Charity's ad for a ride home. Then there's Dicky Caudill and Tritt Connor, a couple of low-life rednecks who rape and kill just for the fun of it. Father Tom Alexander, a former Army Ranger turned priest, who seems to be having a crisis of faith, who is sent to prepare the abbey for reopening. And the star of the show, The Bighead, a deformed mutant whose tastes mirror those of Caudill and Connor, although he shows he's able to muster some restraint.
As the book progresses, the reader is exposed to any number of grisly murders and acts of fornication, each more shocking and brutal than the last, some of which are so extreme and over the top that you can't help but chuckle and roll your eyes, but in a good way. Also, as the book progresses, you realize there's more going on than just a string of brutalities strung together by a flimsy narrative. There's an actual story here, with twists and turns, long-buried secrets brought out into the open, and mysteries to be solved. Lee certainly keeps you on your toes.
Folks often complain when reviewers reveal too much of the plot, and I find many of my reviews do follow that format, so I'm going to leave it here, with a recommendation that you give The Bighead a chance--provided you aren't easily offended and don't have any triggers, as this book is guaranteed to set them off. Initially, I was going to give this book 4 stars, but the ending pushed it over the top for me and I have to give it 5 stars. This is the first book I've read by Edward Lee, but it definitely won't be the last, as I do have a few others waiting on the shelf.
