Sean Farrell and Jimmy Cobb might just be two of the most deplorable human beings I’ve ever encountered in my readings. This definitely makes for an electrified atmosphere if you add in the fact that these two hoodlums are hellbent on revenge and crazy enough to try or do literally anything. Grip the bars tightly and prepare for impact from Farrell & Cobb in Ray Bank’s Wolf Tickets.
When Sean Farrell is swindled by his own girlfriend, Nora, for twenty grand and on top of that she steals his favorite Italian leather jacket, he doesn’t handle it very well. He kills the dog she left, calls up his army mate, Cobb, and boards a plane all the while mad enough to kill her on sight. Farrell and Cobb leave a trail of proverbial shit and piss so high in their wake that you could build a mountain with it. An attempt to obtain a gun during a run in with Goose, a “classy” drug dealer stuck in a wheelchair, instantly turns sour. This is only the beginning of their long list of impending troubles. Also, who knew how much damage could be done with steel-toed shoes, a sock filled with batteries, and a little army training? If you ever see these two guys in a bar, keep your head down and slowly walk away, or you will most likely end up with you balls shoved down your throat and nose broken, for the simple reason they didn’t like you breathing their air.
The true culprit behind the scenes is Nora’s ex – Frank O’Brien. You’ll find out more about him, but for now just keep in mind that he is very handy with a knife.
The major strengths of Wolf Tickets lies in Ray Bank’s writing style. It’s gritty, it’s in your face, and it’s real. I don’t know much about the European haunts Farrell and Cobb hit-up since I’m from the States and they don’t let me out of the cage much, but if you told me that Mr. Banks wears cardigan sweaters and has never been near many of these places I’d call you a liar.
I did have some trouble with the vernacular in Wolf Tickets; the main characters’ common terms, speech and slang were extremely foreign to me and I had to do a little outside research on some of these terms. This didn’t impede the flow or stop me as a reader, but instead added a more authentic flavor and vibe to the read.
If you are looking for a gritty, action-filled tale where every fight scene makes you cringe with imaginary pain, you found it. Wolf Tickets seems a little short, maybe novella length-range, but it works perfectly and I wouldn’t have wanted the author to try and drag the story on. I can definitely see Farrell and Cobb getting themselves into a lot more trouble in the future as this duo is a dynamic combination of despicable badness.
Wolf Tickets gets 7.5 out of 10 Liams, although I don’t know about splitting the Liam in half (his mom might be a tad unhappy with me if I tried that). On a side note the addition of Post-It Notes is extremely funny. (Read the book to find out why or forever be confused.)
If you have yet to read anything from Blasted Heath Publishing make sure you do and quickly. I’m 2 for 2 on their novels and have been pleasantly surprised with the quality and uniqueness of the stories. Up next from them is Hot Wire, another novel by Gary Carson. (Previously reviewed his book, Phase Four Here).
Find Ray Banks Here.
(Here is Liam trying to do his best Farrel and Cobb Impression and being a shit)
The Troubled Scribe 