Jolted out of my post-Yuletide lethargy by reading this
remarkable piece of noir...
Ed McBain's GUNS (1976) tells the story of small-time crook,
Colley Donato, as he runs from the police after a bungled
robbery results in a bloodbath. Colley, a sort of coping
psychopath, wouldn't be out of place in a Jim Thompson novel.
He finds it hard to form relationships, even harder to keep
them, has a propensity for violence and a love of guns. He
first shot a guy at the age of sixteen. He hates hot weather,
cops, prison, blacks, gays. He isn't too fond of most of his
so-called friends. He is terrified of women, fascinated by
the size of his accomplice's penis. He almost sleeps with a
black whore. He's in denial about more than his sexuality. He
tells lies and believes them. His ego is such that he
believes he can escape, even with half of New York's police
force after him. Any other scenario would be an outrage.
Literally unthinkable.
A fascinating insight into the mind of a self-destructive
psychopath. I loved the fact that McBain's voice is absent.
It's Colley's story, told by Colley, in Colley's words. I
loved the fact that Colley is an unsympathetic protagonist.
Colley deserves to die. There's no question. And Colley knows
it. The whole book is a long suicide. From the outset, he's
aware that the robbery will be disastrous and tries to
postpone it. During the robbery his actions are unprovoked,
unnecessary, and inevitably going to lead to one conclusion.
Thereafter, he takes ridiculous chances on several occasions.
As I was reading the book, I found myself rooting for
justice, not Colley. Restrospectively, I'm not sure there's a
difference.
I've only read one other McBain standalone (under the McBain
pseudonym - I've read a few Hunters and Marstens). DOWNTOWN.
It was also excellent.
Al
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