VERY MERCENARY, the second novel from Rayo Casablanca, is a riotous romp, filled with outrageous characters and over-the-top violence, all of it drenched in satire and cynicism. In other words, it’s not your everyday sort of crime thriller; but then, what else would you expect from the fellow who previously brought us 6 SICK HIPSTERS?
Leigh Tiller, an ultra-rich, beautiful and bored New York socialite, leaves the set of a low-budget, independent film before she has a chance to deliver her lines. But soon after she reaches her apartment, she is kidnapped by abductors dressed in animal costumes. The kidnappers, it turns out, are escaped mental patients who hope for a huge ransom from Leigh’s wealthy father.
Meanwhile, the Strategic Art Defense, a band of guerilla performance artists, has completed its latest demonstration under the direction of its leader, Laser Mechanic. Driving away from the scene, Laser examines the exterior of an old high-rise building and accidentally spots the nude figure of Leigh through a penthouse window. Laser is immediately inspired and gathers his forces to snatch her away from her captors and use her to further the cause of his group’s political and artistic agenda.
But while all of this is going on, Leigh’s father, Kip Tiller, has suddenly decided that his daughter is a serious threat to his business ventures and wants her dead. He hires The Serologist, a hideously disfigured, psychotic assassin to off his daughter and anyone else who happens to be with her. But The Serologist’s first attempt fails, and Laser, Leigh and Laser’s close buddies from the SAD head off westward toward their final demonstration — which just happens to be set for the Tiller Casino and Resort in Las Vegas.
When Kip hears of The Serologist’s initial failure, he blows what little cool he has, grabs his Rolodex, and hires three separate teams of killers to carry out his contract. Suddenly, the chase for Leigh becomes a competition between the extreme assassins while Laser and his cohorts make their way toward Nevada. And while Leigh becomes more attracted to Laser, she finds herself even more inexplicably drawn toward his cause.
Casablanca manages to keep all of this insanity under impressively tight reign. And even when he takes the opportunity to supply backstory depth to his major and minor characters, he keeps the plot and pace moving forward. At times, it almost feels like he’s channeling the lunatic spirit of Victor Gischler.
But ironically, it’s only during one of the quieter moments that Casablanca strains the credibility just a tad. In the final moments of the story, some additional background information about Laser is unveiled that comes across as superfluous and confusing. But this is small price to pay for so much fun.
Highly recommended. And if he keeps this up, Casablanca will definitely be one of those authors to watch out for. But why wait? Go discover him now and add to your own cred. —Alan Cranis
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS AUTHOR:
• 6 SICK HIPSTERS by Rayo Casablanca
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ooh, does sound like fun!