Donkey Punch by Ray Banks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ray Banks' "Donkey Punch" could be categorized as a novel of suspense, although in its second half it should rather be called a thriller. On the back cover, Don Winslow, a gifted and successful writer of Southern California thrillers, screams "Banks wields language with a knifefighter's precision [...] From the first words to the last, this book flashes brilliantly." Way too much hyperbole, but I agree that it is an interesting read.

Callum Innes, an ex-PI and currently a caretaker in a Manchester, UK, boxing club, is fresh off his probation period, after having spent some time in jail. Because of his bad back, he is a codeine addict, and an extremely heavy drinker. The club owner asks Cal to escort a young boxer, Liam, to a competition (so-called "smoker") in Los Angeles. Cal and Liam fly to California, where the trouble and the thriller thread begin.

As a resident of Southern California I can see that Mr. Banks conveys the feel of the place with quite a skill. The first half of the LA thread is very interesting. Things disintegrate a bit in the third, last part of the novel. It lacks basic plausibility, and the character of Nelson Byrne feels artificial from the very moment that the reader first meets him.

It is a very violent novel, yet the violence feels superficial - lots and lots of blood and pain that somehow do not convey the notion of real suffering. Writing is very competent, and the novel is an extremely fast (three hours) and captivating read.

Almost three stars.


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