What do you think?
Rate this book
The Cleanup
His name is Bily Rowe. Yesterday, he was just another tragically talented loser that the city had chewed up and spat back down on the streets - a failed musician, failed lover, failed friend. But that was before a young woman was brutally murdered before his eyes. That was before the hideous creatures crawled out of the shadows to call him by name. That was before Billy Rowe discovered the Power. And with it, his mission...
The Cleanup.
Billy Rowe is cleaning up the streets. Now, you have nothing left to fear. Nothing but Billy Rowe.
"These guys are amongst the frontfunners of modern horror. Skipp and Spector take you to the limits...then one step more." -- Clive Barker
The Cleanup.
Billy Rowe is cleaning up the streets. Now, you have nothing left to fear. Nothing but Billy Rowe.
"These guys are amongst the frontfunners of modern horror. Skipp and Spector take you to the limits...then one step more." -- Clive Barker
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 1987
39 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
John Skipp
103 books293 followersJohn Skipp is a splatterpunk horror and fantasy author and anthology editor, as well as a songwriter, screenwriter, film director, and film producer. He collaborated with Craig Spector on multiple novels, and has also collaborated with Marc Levinthal and Cody Goodfellow.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 20, 2019
It's a bit like Constantine, if he found himself trapped in a grindhouse slasher movie: a fantastical and supernatural journey through one of the the grittiest verisons of NYC that I've ever read, brought to life by the hypnotic prose of Skipp & Spector that is somehow both sharp and playful. This is a fun book full of terrible things.
Read
January 25, 2025I don’t write reviews.
I didn’t enjoy this story. I thought The Light at the End was fabulous. Skipp and Spector did a great job fleshing out the characters and delivering a unique take on vampires. Here, it’s not any of that. I really thought I was going to get a rugged, vigilante, antihero. Like that old exploitation flick, The Executioner. Billy is very lame. I’m sorry to have to say that. The Clean-up is badly-paced drudgery, minus the horror, plus a world full of annoying characters.
I didn’t enjoy this story. I thought The Light at the End was fabulous. Skipp and Spector did a great job fleshing out the characters and delivering a unique take on vampires. Here, it’s not any of that. I really thought I was going to get a rugged, vigilante, antihero. Like that old exploitation flick, The Executioner. Billy is very lame. I’m sorry to have to say that. The Clean-up is badly-paced drudgery, minus the horror, plus a world full of annoying characters.
May 19, 2020
I thought The Cleanup was a good horror book, but less extreme than their other collaborations. It was less "splatter-punk" and more cerebral than visceral. It's more slowly paced, and has more a graphic novel/superhero feel to it. It's a well-written book, but my Bantam edition has several copy-editing errors that I hope were corrected in subsequent printings. I don't think it's among their best, but still a good read.
September 15, 2020
Skipp and Spector's second novel proves the duo are difficult to pigeonhole to be sure. Billy Rowe, the main protagonist, is a struggling musician in NYC (The Cleanup was published in 1987), with a lovely girlfriend Mona and his faithful dog Bubba. Skipp and Spector really nail the grittiness of NYC in the 80s before the gentrification pushed out the life of the town. Times Square is still the heart of sleaze, and bums still line the Bowery; in some ways, this book reads like a time capsule of the era.
Billy is a man with high ideals; he came to the city after years of working with various 'Movements', protesting this and that and trying to make the world a better place. While very talented, Billy rests his biggest hopes on his rock opera, knowing that if only he could find a label willing to produce it, it may change the world. Meanwhile, he is drinking too much and falling behind on the rent. Mona, however, has finally hit the bit time, being a dancer on several MTV videos with some promise of becoming an actress as well.
While Mona is at a huge party celebrating the success of the band she starred in the videos with, Billy is half drunk and depressed, strumming his guitar on the fire escape on his dump of an apartment. Suddenly, he witnesses a gruesome murder right below him (by what will soon be called the 'smiley face killer' due to the patterns of stab wounds on the female victims). Worse, Billy knew, at least tangentially, the victim and his depression seems to know no bounds. Walking the streets with is dog in tow, Billy finds a cafe and 'Christopher' appears at his table, looking like an angel. Christopher tells Billy he has the 'power', and that he has been waiting for him all his life to ask for help. But what to do with the power? What should be the ethics of his actions? Christopher simply tells him that God will be the judge...
Definitely an eclectic read to be sure! Supporting Billy, Skipp and Spector produce a lively cast of characters, and the POV moves rapidly at times among them. We have a pair of crusty cops/detectives, a 'cell' of hard core feminists, Mona of course and her roommate, a pair of rapey lowlifes, and of course the smiley killer himself. Billy start by becoming something like a Charles Bronson like vigilante, but he has bigger plans...
Although Skipp and Spector are known as the gurus of splatterpunk, I would hesitate to slap that moniker on The Cleanup. We do have several gruesome action scenes to be sure, but The Cleanup is more of an existentialist novel-- what would you do with the 'power'? Billy being transformed from a starving musician to an almost god-like figure and struggling with his moral compass forms the heart of the novel. A fun read, but perhaps not the best place to start if you are interested in Skipp and Spector's splatterpunk work. 3.5 stars.
Billy is a man with high ideals; he came to the city after years of working with various 'Movements', protesting this and that and trying to make the world a better place. While very talented, Billy rests his biggest hopes on his rock opera, knowing that if only he could find a label willing to produce it, it may change the world. Meanwhile, he is drinking too much and falling behind on the rent. Mona, however, has finally hit the bit time, being a dancer on several MTV videos with some promise of becoming an actress as well.
While Mona is at a huge party celebrating the success of the band she starred in the videos with, Billy is half drunk and depressed, strumming his guitar on the fire escape on his dump of an apartment. Suddenly, he witnesses a gruesome murder right below him (by what will soon be called the 'smiley face killer' due to the patterns of stab wounds on the female victims). Worse, Billy knew, at least tangentially, the victim and his depression seems to know no bounds. Walking the streets with is dog in tow, Billy finds a cafe and 'Christopher' appears at his table, looking like an angel. Christopher tells Billy he has the 'power', and that he has been waiting for him all his life to ask for help. But what to do with the power? What should be the ethics of his actions? Christopher simply tells him that God will be the judge...
Definitely an eclectic read to be sure! Supporting Billy, Skipp and Spector produce a lively cast of characters, and the POV moves rapidly at times among them. We have a pair of crusty cops/detectives, a 'cell' of hard core feminists, Mona of course and her roommate, a pair of rapey lowlifes, and of course the smiley killer himself. Billy start by becoming something like a Charles Bronson like vigilante, but he has bigger plans...
Although Skipp and Spector are known as the gurus of splatterpunk, I would hesitate to slap that moniker on The Cleanup. We do have several gruesome action scenes to be sure, but The Cleanup is more of an existentialist novel-- what would you do with the 'power'? Billy being transformed from a starving musician to an almost god-like figure and struggling with his moral compass forms the heart of the novel. A fun read, but perhaps not the best place to start if you are interested in Skipp and Spector's splatterpunk work. 3.5 stars.
January 20, 2020
I've been a die hard fan of Skipp and Spector ever since reading The Light At The End but this book fell kinda flat for me. It didn't seem to be as "splatter punk" as I am accustomed to and it was a really slow burn. So slow, I kept falling asleep.
The writing was good, the character interactions were entertaining but, it took the main character the first 100 pages just to "clean up" his apartment. That was kinda rough. It did get better and the story picked up after that but I was still sleepy...very sleepy, through a lot of it.
The basic storyline reminded me (slightly) of the TV show Supernatural...minus the Winchesters...plus a failing musician....plus an angel of questionable character yet with a very interesting personality. Instead of going out and kicking tons of monster butt, our failing musician cleans his apartment, cleans himself up and then goes after some street criminals like a crime stopping vigilante. There were monsters/demons involved in the story but they played a very miniscule role, unfortunately. I would have loved loved loved for him to kick some major demon ass instead but oh well. Thus the mediocre rating.
The writing was good, the character interactions were entertaining but, it took the main character the first 100 pages just to "clean up" his apartment. That was kinda rough. It did get better and the story picked up after that but I was still sleepy...very sleepy, through a lot of it.
The basic storyline reminded me (slightly) of the TV show Supernatural...minus the Winchesters...plus a failing musician....plus an angel of questionable character yet with a very interesting personality. Instead of going out and kicking tons of monster butt, our failing musician cleans his apartment, cleans himself up and then goes after some street criminals like a crime stopping vigilante. There were monsters/demons involved in the story but they played a very miniscule role, unfortunately. I would have loved loved loved for him to kick some major demon ass instead but oh well. Thus the mediocre rating.
August 10, 2020
Splatterpunk-Roman. Harter Horror, der tief in die Abgründe der Großstadt und in ihre Gesellschaft eintaucht. Mich hat er damals sehr beeindruckt und auch berührt. Es geht um Gerechtigkeit und das Gefühl, etwas gegen das Schlechte tun zu müssen. Ein Durchschnittstyp bekommt von einem übernatürlichen Wesen fantastische Eigenschaften, um "aufzuräumen". Er nutzt diese Macht, auch um sich zu rächen. Doch alles hat natürlich seinen Preis.
December 2, 2009
Skipp and Spector, horror icons from the 80's, with what I believe is their second novel. I admire the amount of faith in the book, along with an involving story line and genuined scares. I recommend it.
September 25, 2019
Skipp and Spector were powerhouse writers. They pretty much created the splatterpunk sub-genre (along with a handful of other writers of the time) and were known for their no-holds-barred approach.
THE CLEANUP doesn't quite fall into the gory goodness they delivered in some of their output, but it still stands up as a great read that's an awesome throwback to gritty mid-1980s New York. It's not exactly gory, but it moves as a great pace and has some moments that do hold promise of what the duo would deliver in future books.
The story's simple as loser Billy Rowe develops The Power, a force which makes him a super anti-hero. Without giving away spoilers Rowe decides it's time to clean up New York and begins to focus on the city's criminals and rapists, dealing out some vigilante justice.
THE CLEANUP, despite its far-fetched premise, is a believable read where you're cheering for Rowe and hoping he never crosses the line in terms of abuse of power. The book, I did find, gets a bit sluggish around the page 200 mark but picks up again and ends in a fairly satisfactory way.
While not Skipp and Spector's greatest output it certainly displays the talent of the two.
THE CLEANUP doesn't quite fall into the gory goodness they delivered in some of their output, but it still stands up as a great read that's an awesome throwback to gritty mid-1980s New York. It's not exactly gory, but it moves as a great pace and has some moments that do hold promise of what the duo would deliver in future books.
The story's simple as loser Billy Rowe develops The Power, a force which makes him a super anti-hero. Without giving away spoilers Rowe decides it's time to clean up New York and begins to focus on the city's criminals and rapists, dealing out some vigilante justice.
THE CLEANUP, despite its far-fetched premise, is a believable read where you're cheering for Rowe and hoping he never crosses the line in terms of abuse of power. The book, I did find, gets a bit sluggish around the page 200 mark but picks up again and ends in a fairly satisfactory way.
While not Skipp and Spector's greatest output it certainly displays the talent of the two.
December 6, 2018
This sounded interesting, and I think it could have been more interesting. It was okay. I never felt I connected with the characters very well. There were parts I just skimmed over because I wanted to get to the resolution. I didn't feel like I needed the "in between" stuff.
The premise was cool. A guy is recruited because of his special power to "clean up the streets." But is he doing the work of good, or the work of evil? It's hard to tell, because the people he's cleaning up are bad people. But he seems to relish the acts. As the threats get closer and closer to home, the ante gets upped even more, and...
Well, it was a cool premise. I think it could have been better told. I am glad I finished it, but I wasn't totally nuts about it. Hence, 3 stars. Maybe it's better than a "C" grade, but not a ton better.
The premise was cool. A guy is recruited because of his special power to "clean up the streets." But is he doing the work of good, or the work of evil? It's hard to tell, because the people he's cleaning up are bad people. But he seems to relish the acts. As the threats get closer and closer to home, the ante gets upped even more, and...
Well, it was a cool premise. I think it could have been better told. I am glad I finished it, but I wasn't totally nuts about it. Hence, 3 stars. Maybe it's better than a "C" grade, but not a ton better.
August 26, 2014
I was quite disappointed in this one. I have read a few other Skipp and Spector books and loved them. Plus, I had several friends rave over this book, so was expecting to just be blown away. Instead, I snoozed away. I found the story slow moving and quite dull. The writing was excellent, the 80's rock and roll kitsch was just what you expect with these guys, but I just didn't find substance in the story. Not one I will ever try again!
July 26, 2010
Solid horror. Not as good as "The Scream" but it was pretty good. Definitely graphic horror.
January 1, 2020
4.0 stars
My least favorite Skipp and Spector collaboration. That said, I still love this book. These guys write some of the most poetic horror prose since Lovecraft and Poe.
My least favorite Skipp and Spector collaboration. That said, I still love this book. These guys write some of the most poetic horror prose since Lovecraft and Poe.
October 2, 2021
I found the book to be sort of weird, but weird in a good way. Maybe. Billy Rowe is just sympathetic enough that I did care what happened to him, but he’s about the only character who’s clearly drawn. The rest are sort of background figures: the girlfriend, the roommates, the competition.
I did figure out who Christopher was early on; it’s a fairly common trope. But I wasn’t too crazy about the almost constant violence. Going by reviews, and the description of “splatter punk,” it’s how the authors’ commonly write. Actually, it appears that this was one of their more mild of fare.
The ending was different; sort of odd. It definitely came out of left field. And what was the reader supposed to do with it? I was left scratching my head.
I doubt I’ll be reading any of their other books.
I did figure out who Christopher was early on; it’s a fairly common trope. But I wasn’t too crazy about the almost constant violence. Going by reviews, and the description of “splatter punk,” it’s how the authors’ commonly write. Actually, it appears that this was one of their more mild of fare.
The ending was different; sort of odd. It definitely came out of left field. And what was the reader supposed to do with it? I was left scratching my head.
I doubt I’ll be reading any of their other books.
December 12, 2025
Despite the authors' reputation for defining the splatterpunk movement, this second attempt with their work, The Clean Up (following The Scream), left me disappointed. The writing felt distinctly dated and overblown, seemingly more concerned with appearing "edgy" than delivering genuine tension or atmosphere; this created a noticeable lack of the dark, gritty feeling I was hoping for. The characters, like those in their previous novel, lacked depth and felt interchangeable. While the premise of the protagonist, Billy, trying to "play God" and clean up the city was intriguing (even with the jarring addition of an angel), the overall story dragged on and on, failing to be a page-turner and ultimately lacking in the scary department. It seems their particular style, despite the disturbing passages, is simply not for my taste.
October 17, 2018
Of all the Skipp and Spector books I read in the 80s, this one remained a dark horse favorite. While "Light at the End" is probably the book they'll be remembered for, there was something jangling nerve fun about The Cleanup that I always looked back on with fondness.
While adult me found flaws in the writing and characterization that 15 year old me was unable to discern, while the characters have really stock hokey qualities at times, the book is still a rollercoaster fun ride of thrills, chills, and gore, the very ingredients that made these guys bones back in the day.
So, a fun walk down memory lane (which is part of why it gets such a high star rating) but not something I'll probably read again in this life.
While adult me found flaws in the writing and characterization that 15 year old me was unable to discern, while the characters have really stock hokey qualities at times, the book is still a rollercoaster fun ride of thrills, chills, and gore, the very ingredients that made these guys bones back in the day.
So, a fun walk down memory lane (which is part of why it gets such a high star rating) but not something I'll probably read again in this life.
August 31, 2023
The Cleanup, John Skipp and Craig Spector [Bantam, 1987].
The third novel by Splatterpunk pioneers Skipp and Spector. Billy Rowe is a talented but failed musician, living in alcoholic squalor in NYC, who discovers that he is possessed of mysterious powers. Rowe becomes an instrument of angelic vengeance, while demonic forces conspire against him.
***
Skipp and Spector collaborated on seven novels, innovating the Splatterpunk horror subgenre, including the million-selling cult classic The Light at the End. Additionally, they collaborated on the screenplay of A Nightmare on Elm St. 5: The Dream Child and edited the George Romero-inspired anthology The Book of the Dead, which included original contributions from Stephen King and Joe R. Lansdale.
The third novel by Splatterpunk pioneers Skipp and Spector. Billy Rowe is a talented but failed musician, living in alcoholic squalor in NYC, who discovers that he is possessed of mysterious powers. Rowe becomes an instrument of angelic vengeance, while demonic forces conspire against him.
***
Skipp and Spector collaborated on seven novels, innovating the Splatterpunk horror subgenre, including the million-selling cult classic The Light at the End. Additionally, they collaborated on the screenplay of A Nightmare on Elm St. 5: The Dream Child and edited the George Romero-inspired anthology The Book of the Dead, which included original contributions from Stephen King and Joe R. Lansdale.
September 25, 2018
Needs SERIOUS proof reading. Spell check in NOT proof reading!!!!! (Heck, send me your next manuscript. I'll proof it for free. If you are paying someone then you aren't getting your money's worth.)
Not the best thing I've ever read but it has some good bones to it. This is NOT a happy book but it's horror, you didn't sign on for happy. Good character development. Interesting story/plot. I can't say that I'd recommend this book but based on another review I might give some of their other titles a go.
Not the best thing I've ever read but it has some good bones to it. This is NOT a happy book but it's horror, you didn't sign on for happy. Good character development. Interesting story/plot. I can't say that I'd recommend this book but based on another review I might give some of their other titles a go.
May 24, 2025
Romanzo che risente un po' del peso degli anni, ma è ancora uno specchio di quello che era New York di fine anni 80. Billy è il classico perdente, con un buon talento musicale, ma che speca a causa di depressione ed alcolismo, fino a quando assiste ad un omicidio violento ... un po' meno splatterpunk degli standard della coppia, un po' di "costantine" e di "Eric draven" si ritrovano in questo romanzo.
October 13, 2018
Rate the book!
Another good story. I really liked it. It surprised me that Christopher was Satan. It didn't surprise me near as much as it did Billy.
Another good story. I really liked it. It surprised me that Christopher was Satan. It didn't surprise me near as much as it did Billy.
February 24, 2020
Could not stop dozing off.
November 28, 2020
Read in 1989. Crime novel.
February 21, 2021
THE CLEANUP by John Skipp and Craig Spector
Raunchy and gritty. With violence, vigilante justice gone haywire, humor, blood, love and pain, heroism.
Excellent writing.
VERY readable!
Raunchy and gritty. With violence, vigilante justice gone haywire, humor, blood, love and pain, heroism.
Excellent writing.
VERY readable!
March 12, 2021
Another solid novel by Skipp and Spector. A down on his luck man is given the power to play God. Mid 80’s gritty and violent NYC. What could go wrong? Really digging all of this duo’s work.
May 20, 2021
Some good ideas but way to long making it a chore to finish.
Read
August 20, 2021Strangers in death
November 6, 2022
You introduced me to your world's, and.. I'll never look back..
Thank You
Thank You
May 23, 2023
Death Wish (the Charles Bronson film) crossed with the anti-Christ. Enjoyable, but not the best from Skipp & Spector. Try THE LIGHT AT THE END, ANIMALS or THE BRIDGE.
![Profile Image for Ed [Redacted].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1429513592i%2F3968676.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 6, 2014
When I picked up this book, from two of the seminal "splatter-punk" authors of the 80's, I expected a mindless gore fest. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I suppose, but I was pleasantly surprised by the writing skill and depth shown in this effort. What would you do if you could do anything? Very well done.
May 19, 2009
You know, until the end, this was actually a pretty good positive thinking/self help book. Loved it.
May 2, 2012
Twisted. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews