Read: "XXX Shamus" by Red Hammond

Read: XXX Shamus by Red Hammond (Anthony Neil Smith), 2013, 9781940885049.

Here is the rundown: lots of graphically described sex, brutal violence, a messed up protagonist dealing with messed up antagonists. A good book.

My analysis:  The book blurbs and comments have talked up the sex with descriptions like "this is a smash mouth wow zinger that will kick you in the pants. OMG my head will now explode! Aaahh!"  No, not exactly. Yes, I certainly agree that the book is a wild ride with sex and violence.  But, I think that misses the point that this is a novel with a unique look at a screwed up guy. 

Hopper Garland suffered, and still suffers, under extreme psychological and sexual abuse by his older sister who became his legal guardian after their parents died. Hopper is an adult now but still has an incestuous relationship with his deeply manipulative sister.  Sex has been forced on him since he was a boy and now that he is an adult cannot turn away the women who come on to him.  He has sexual dysfunctions related to power and casual sex and is unable to engage in a loving relationship.  Hopper knows he has has troubles, he recognizes the manipulation by his sister and his own problem in committing to a woman. 

Even though Hopper knows these things his brain and body have been taught to enjoy them.  He knows how wrong the incest is but his brain has been taught to enjoy it and Hopper gets an erection from his sister's actions, or from the horndog attitude of bar girl pick-ups.  Certain things simultaneously turn him on and disgust him. He craves sex with his sister - as well as any available gal.  Smith is giving us a guy who knows right and wrong but cannot stop himself.  He still enjoys and craves the wrong; like having sex with the underaged missing girl he was hired to find.

Which brings us to the plot.  Hopper is about 29-years-old or so and an a PI in New Orleans.  Hopper apprenticed under a couple long-time PIs, has his own business, and has specialized in finding runaway teen girls.  Hopper also has a hang dog look and super strong pheromones that attract women like crazy.

Hopper's latest client wants him to find her missing, pregnant teen sister.  Hopper starts asking boyfriends, girlfriends, etc. Hopper discovers the pregnant girl was doing preggo porn.  Hopper meets porn producers.  Hopper finds out the missing girl's high school guidance counselor was procuring porn talent from the troubled kids at school.

Hopper gets in fights.  Hopper gets beaten and gives beatings.  Hopper is screwing his college student secretary and loves her.  Secretary and Hopper go to Vegas to find missing girl.  Hopper and secretary are kidnapped and raped by bad guys.  Traumatized Secretary leaves New Orleans.  Hopper has big plans to track her down and woo her.  Hopper offers up his sister to evil "colleague" in return for info on missing Secretary.  Hopper unable to go through with having his sister murdered.  Hopper decides to find Secretary himself.

Comments:
1. Quick read at 224 pages.
2. If I remember correctly Smith wrote that he finished this novel and it sat in a drawer until Broken River published it.
3.  A lot of disgusting behavior by the characters.  Not a novel for the faint hearted.
4. What is it people on Amazon do?  Complain about the cursing when reading a novel filled with violence?  Well, there is cursing in this one but that is the least of it.