Sucker Punch

With the barbed-wire leash of parole behind him and his PI business an unpleasant memory, Cal Innes is looking forward to continuing his job as caretaker at Paulo's Lads' Club. But prodigal amateur boxer, Liam, needs someone to go with him to his first major tournament in Los Angeles. That someone is Cal. Cal's babysitting job swiftly turns into something more sinister, as rumours of a rigged competition fly around. As his codeine habit and Liam's temper grow out of control, the City of Angels doesn't seem quite so heavenly. Praise for Ray Banks"Memorable characterisation, Manchester at night and at its most sinister, lives flooding down the plughole - this is British noir in all its sordid splendour by a writer who has taken more than just an excursion to the dark side." - The Guardian"A pitch perfect novel" - Crime Fiction Lover"Brimming with pitch-black humour and written with a claustrophobic mania to rival the finest noir exponents, it's compelling and finely honed stuff." - The Big Issue"Dark, nasty, funny, and painfully human" - Spinetingler Magazine"A tight and pacy read, the prose stripped to the bone and the dialogue pitch-perfect. Fans of Colin Bateman and Elmore Leonard will find it hits their sweet spot. Cohen brother lovers; one for you too." - Loitering With Intent"A great story. It's tight as hell and it's so deliberate that it's a complete joy to read."- Dead End Follies"An intensive masterclass in how to write." - Helen FitzGerald "Banks writes in a clean style, looped with inky black humor, and the plot goes at a lightning pace, heaping dread upon dread." - On The Book Beat"Ray Banks writes with harshness, humour and elegance, and his punchy dialogue teems with vigorous authenticity." - The Times"Banks is one of the freshest voices in hard-boiled crime fiction today." - Library Journal"Banks has an ear for the vernacular as sharp as, but a shade or two bluer than, that of George V. Higgins. Let the squeamish stick with Tony Soprano; this is the real tough stuff." - Kirkus Ray Banks is the author of nine novels, including No More Heroes (Cal Innes #3), Wolf Tickets and Angels of the North.