William Lustig's Maniac: The official novelization

by Stéphane Bourgoin

One of the most legendary serial killer movies has been officially novelized for the very first time.
Gory, sticky, creepy, with a dry humor, MANIAC is an invitation into the 80's New York madness, which follows a disreputable man, Frank Zito... that we challenge you to meet !

With an original foreword by director William Lustig.

134 pages, Paperback

Published March 20, 2025

About the author

Stéphane Bourgoin (né à Paris en 1953) est un écrivain français, journaliste, cinéphile et libraire spécialisé dans la criminologie et le roman policier.


Stéphane Bourgoin, né à Paris en 1953, s'est spécialisé dans l'étude du tueur en série.

Le viol et le meurtre de la compagne de Stéphane Bourgoin par un serial killer en 1976 est à l'origine de son intérêt pour ce type de criminels.

Il publie des ouvrages consacrés à ce phénomène sous son propre nom ainsi que sous le pseudonyme collectif d'Étienne Jallieu qu'il partage avec Isabelle Longuet. Ils ont ainsi co-écrit Les Crimes cannibales (2004), L'Année du Crime (2006) et Infanticides (2007).

Il fut – entre autres – membre du jury lors du festival Fantastic'Arts en 1999.

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disjointed episodic scenes only linked by virtue of the villainous. No real cohesion, no narrative. Clearly adapted from film, could’ve been much better. On a positive, I do want to watch the source material.

[Mikepottz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally after 45 years this cult slasher movie gets a novelization. Yes. Yes. Yes please. He lies in bed with a mannequin. A bloody scalp nailed onto it's head. There are dolls everywhere. A portrait of his mother, framed and surrounded by candles. His mother collected dolls. Her passion. He collects scalps, of long beautiful hair. The room reflects his state of mind. He was neglected as a child. His alcoholic, abusive mother, a prostitute who kept her young son in the dark cold basement. It was hell. He scalped his sister's barbie doll and slept with it in the basement. It was a security blanket. It calms him down. Allows him to sleep. He hates his sister and kills her dog. Fascinated with the brain he tasted it. He scalps women. The sound is important. The wet tearing sound. He also drinks a lot. I mean a shitload. When asked why he drinks, he replies, " I feel good when I drink". The most iconic scene of him standing on the car bonnet, shot gun ready, blasts a skull, exploded like a watermelon, gunk flies through the air. A lot of time is spent in his head. Fascinating, disturbing, his abusive childhood, his hatred of women. This is a dark, dark book. Maniacally good.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great novelization of a classic slasher. It was a short read under 200 pages. For fans of the movie.

[Jeff Sica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Faithful to the original film and almost as creepy. A bit more context into Zito’s psychological state, it leaves you uneasy.

[Mel Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Zito. What can you say? Just a regular guy. A real ladies man. Loves his mom. Doesn’t mind getting dirty for the woman he wants. What. Can. You. Say. Frank. Zito. (Audible with Joe Hempel)