Donkey Punch
Ray Banks
Publisher:
Polygon
ISBN: 019 045 988 54
May 1st, 2007
 |
Written
by
RAY BANKS
In the uncertain world in which he lives, nothing is more uncertain about
living than Cal Innes. Throw in some boxing for good measure and you know
his latest foray into life’s nether regions, Donkey
Punch, is not going to be a “Cliff Richard”
type of book. It’s going to be gritty, it’s going to be violent
and – in the hands of Ray Banks – it’s going to be bloody
good.
With parole behind him and his PI business an unpleasant memory, Cal
Innes is looking forward to continuing his job as caretaker at Paulo
Lads' Club. But a prodigal amateur boxer, Liam, needs someone to go
with him to his first major tournament in Los Angeles.
Cal's babysitting job swiftly turns into something dangerous, with rumours
of a rigged competition. As his codeine habit and Liam's temper spin
out of control, Cal is thrown down in the desert, far from safety to
staring down the barrel of a gun.
Suddenly the City of Angels doesn't seem quite so angelic.
Ray Banks is fast developing into an author who can make the most mundane of objects and situations appear menacing. Here, even Cal’s seemingly fruitless quest for a place to smoke in downtown LA – the SMOG capital of the universe – is beset with an almost claustrophobic sense of foreboding, as he finally gets to sit in a bar only to be then harangued by a white-toothed “Jobs-worth” barman.
Give the guy a break … please.
Ray Banks is superb writer who has a tight grip on his descriptive toning and who is making his dialogue snappier and more black-humoured with every outing. Cal Innes, Paulo, Liam, Mo Tiernan, Shapiro and Nelson are all superbly drawn characters, all apparently hewn from rock, that never fail to pull a few surprises out of their respective kitbags.
A lot lighter in content than last year’s
much acclaimed Saturday’s Child, Ray Banks has, nonetheless,
once again turned out a winning story that sparkles with wit and originality
from first page to last.
8/10
“Chris,
Nice one, son. Thanks for the review - I'm already seeing the love spread
like the best kind of virus, and you're a hell of a carrier.”
Ray
Banks - May 2007
Order this book online - Linghams Booksellers
break the rules as I see fit.” - Chris High 2003.