Inked editor Jason Buhrmester’s debut novel Black Dogs is a comical rock and roll crime novel based very loosely on the 1973 incident when Led Zeppelin was robbed of $203,000 cash while on tour in New York City . The novel’s setting, dialogue and cast of dirty, grimy young criminals will keep you reading even if the predictable plot does not. The story center's around Patrick, a nineteen year old criminal from the bleak streets of 1970's Baltimore who has just returned home after a year working and mingling with the biggest bands of the decade through a catering gig in New York City. Upon returning home, Patrick attempts to rally together his own band of thieves to convince them to embark on the greatest heist of their careers: robbing Led Zeppelin. The gang is comprised of Frenchy; a bit of a guitar prodigy among his friends, Alex;fresh out of Jail for robbery, and Keith; essentially a dumbass. What starts as simply robbing Led Zeppelin (As simply as robbing Led Zeppelin can be) quickly becomes a vortex of disarray amid Christian bike gangs, garage funk bands and the Maryland chapter of the Misty Mountain Hoppers (aka stoned stupid Zeppelin fans). The gang eventually ends up in New York City at the Drake Hotel where the band is staying. They then proceed to commit possibly the greatest robbery in classic rock, or so the title says.
The plot of Black Dogs is Elmore-Leonard-light, but still incredibly pleasurable. The characters and references are practically as good as Leonard’s, and with a palpable rock and roll flavor. The allusions to classic rock and 1970’s America are implemented flawlessly. Especially the fabulously weird references to the now defunct television program Hawaii 5-0, somehow the favorite television show of this group of gritty delinquents, which will make you laugh out loud. The book also accounts for all of the musicians Led Zeppelin stole from (sweet retribution for anyone who’s ever had to put up with real Misty Mountain Hopper’s) but smartly follows with the reflection vocalized by Keith, “If I put peanut butter and jelly on bread its not the most original sandwich in the world, but you’d still eat it.” Ah, so true Keith, so true.
The novel has its flaws, but the fast pace and ruthless dialogue will make you tear through it’s pages. The female character’s are definitely lacking, but then again all the characters in this book are morons who would risk jail and death to commit crime and thievery rather then using any of their vast number of skills to make an honest living. At the heart of their irrational risk is the spirit of Rock and Roll. And in Rock and Roll the risk is the payoff.
You summarized the book really well. You explained the characters in depth and made relations to other books which I found good.
ReplyDeleteYour ending is marvelous, a great way to bring things all together
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the summarization of the book along with the way in which you seemed to characterize the mood and tone of the narrative through allusions to specific plot elements. In some respects, the review is too specific. I am referring to the quote made by "Black Dogs" character Keith. While those who have read the book will recall who Keith is & how the quote relate to Keith as a character and to the narrative as a whole, readers of the review (who have not read the novel) might become lost in the "name dropping." Although the quotations and direct references to specific characters within the narrative may have come across as confusing at times, it did not distract from the review as a whole.
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