Welcome to the destructive world and
lifestyle of Zelmont Raines, a one time Super Bowl wining all Pro
Receiver. Raines once had a string of wealthy endorsement deals
but these were terminated as a result of a statutory rape charge.
However, his life has also become a complete mess as a result of
his over indulgence with crack cocaine, expensive brandy and a
fondness for entertaining sports groupies. While trying to
maintain his lifestyle he also has to contend with three failed
stints in a drug rehab unit, a paternity suit, a recurring injury
and some misguided investments. Raines soon begins to accept as
true the fact that the good times (for him) have come and gone.
Back in LA after falling out of the
European League, he finds his one last chance is with the Barons
an expansion team. Zelmont realises that apart from the fact that
that he will no longer be making huge amounts of money, but that
he will also no longer have the cry and adulation of the crowds
and the female company that he has been used to. Zelmonts
problems continue when he is fingered for the murder of his
girlfriend Davida and the religious football commissioner who is
less than enamoured with his off the pitch behaviour is determined
that he will not play pro-football again.
Raines soon realises he has met his match
both morally and sexually when he encounters and falls for Wilma
Wells, the smart, but devious and attractive lawyer for the
Barons. While Zelmont is sexually attracted to Wells, his gut
feeling tells him to stay well away from her, but somehow he cant.
Wells has hatched a scheme to rip off the mob-connected owners of
the team and Raines desperate for money and always on the look out
for ways of making a quick buck soon finds himself drawn into the
plan along with his bisexual friend and former defensive tackle
Napoleon Graham. Wells leads Raines into a world where the lines
of violence that takes place in professional football can be
considered to be insipid in the face of automatic weapons and
constant double crosses.
If you like your crime novels full of
greed, gritty, realistic and with lots of anatomically correct sex
then this is the book for you. The Jook is an excellent
and enthralling standalone novel from one of the best in the genre
of noir there is no honour, no respect, no love but plenty of
money. It contains so many elements that will please readers. From
the profanity loaded street talk, to the end of the novel which is
certainly reminiscent of a Jim Thompson novel and the homage that
has without doubt been played to black-exploitation films, The
Jook is more of a violent crime novel than anything else.
While funny at times as well as being violent the reader is led on
a ride that makes for entertaining reading.
In no way shape or form is this a
politically correct novel, but who cares? It was not meant to be.
It is a crime novel that not only makes you think twice about
becoming an athlete, but shows what happens when pro-football and
venal ambition collide in the end zone. If you read and loved King
Suckerman then you will love this book as well.
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