Book Review – Beast of Burden by Ray Banks

Title: Beast of Burden
Author: Ray Banks
Cover Artist: Tim Byrne
Publisher: Polygon, an imprint of Birlinn Ltd.
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publication Date: March 19, 2009 (UK)

Callum Innes is about as fucked as can be. Guy is all stroked out (affecting his speech and slowing him down a shit ton), his addict older brother just over-dosed (most likely on purpose), and to top it all off, Manchester mob boss Morris Tiernan would like a word. And that’s just the beginning of the shit-storm that is about to rain on our hero in Beast of Burden, the fourth novel in the Callum Innes PI series by Ray Banks.

Morris would like to know what happened to his son Mo, the fuck-up pill-popper that he disowned after the piece of shit fucked his daughter Alison, Mo’s half-sister. Mo’s been missing for a couple months now, not even his dumbass mates Baz and Rossie know what’s up to. Truth be told, last Cal saw of the son of a bitch was when Cal beat the shit out of him and threatened to kill him if he ever approached him or Paulo, the owner of the gym Cal runs his PI business out of, ever again.

So yeah. Cal should probably figure out where the fucker’s at toot-sweet, before Morris starts to think that maybe Cal himself is involved somehow.

Add to Cal’s worries one Iain Donkin, AKA Detective Sergeant Donkey, the fat bastard who used to use Cal’s now dead brother as an informant. Donkin’s life is pretty much shit these days too, his wife up having left him after he got a bit handy with her, taking their kid with her. He’s also catching flak from his comrades in arms, none of those bastards giving him proper respect. Then he starts to notice that his grasses are getting a bit cheeky with him, thinking he’s a bit of a fucking joke. Then he gets suspended for harassing one of said cheeky fucking grasses – the next step most likely his termination from the force.

So what does a fucking ape like Donkin do when he’s catching it on all sides? He dishes it out to some other fucker, that’s what. The decided target of his rage? Dear reader, you know the fucking drill here, don’t you? It’s Cal Innes, in case you’re not on your game today. Leave it to Donkin to pick on the handicapped kid, right?

Banks tells this story with the dueling first-person perspectives of Donkin and Innes, allowing us access into both their heads. This is really what gives Beast of Burden its power, its ability to absolutely gut you. Because of course we love Cal, even more so now that he’s so pitiful and broken (and not able to lash out and be a dick since his speech has been so fucked by the stroke), but feeling sorry for fucking Donkin? The grade-A thick-headed douchebag cop shit heel? Yeah, it’ll happen. You will understand the man, maybe even care a little bit for him.

And that’s what makes Banks one of the best crime fans have: his deft way with characters, both large and small. Nobody is a villain, nobody is a hero, but everyone is disturbingly human. Beast of Burden calls back quite a few characters we’ve met in the past, some we may have even hated in the past, and allows us to see a different side of them. Alison, once a dangerous spoiled bitch, is now an obviously caring mother – who may still be dangerous. Baz, once a fat tub of shit follower who used to let Mo boss him around, now is working for himself in the drug trade, trying to prove he’s a tough guy. Like I said, every character is allowed to surprise you with their depth, their complexity.

And when it comes to plot, Beast of Burden is arguably the pulpiest Cal book yet. This time out some motherfuckers actually get murdered, unlike in certain previous entries. But don’t get me wrong, dear reader. This plot is still vintage Banks, which means that it is organic all the way. And not in the sense that some hippie fucking grew the Beast on his dirty-ass pig-fucking farm, but that in the plot unfolds naturally, sensibly, plausibly. Banks has surprises and twists up his sleeve in Beast of Burden – more so than ever – but never to the extent that we question the believability of what is unfolding.

There is really a lot more I’d like to say about Banks’ novel, but I’d like to wait until more folks have a chance to read it. I truly think that this is Banks’ best fucking work yet. Beast of Burden is a dark, devastating novel that is unlike anything in modern crime fiction. If you don’t let give it a shot, a cricket bat to your balls is in order, toot-fucking-sweet.

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