Payback

Author: Thomas Kelly
ISBN: 0-679-45051-3
Year Published: 1997
Date Read: March 11, 2008
Why I Read This Book: It was on the bottom shelf of my library. It had not been read by anyone and I was in a revengeful mood.
Number of Pages: 273
File Under: Crime novel, New York City

Comments: Payback is the first attempt by author Thomas Kelly. It is self promoted as the poor man’s version of “Bonfire of the Vanities”. With a setting in New York City in the 1980’s, Kelly seeks to envelop you in the world of hard working Irish Americans in The City. The book is replete with every canned Irish stereotypical characteristic displayed in each character. It is true that there is no reference to “wee people”, the “Blarney Stone” and no one is dancing a jig, but you get the impression that Kelly is itching to place these items in his novel.
The story has three plots which meet nicely at the end. Little Billy is back from college (the first one in the family to go, everyone is very proud) and needs to make some money in case he gets accepted to law school. He returns each summer to be a sandhog, wherein he travels with other union employees beneath the earth of NYC to dig out a huge tunnel to carry water to the big city’s thirsty denizens. You may have seen the tunnel in one of the later “Die Hard” movies -I think it was the one entitled “Die Most Hardest”. Billy can make big cash and pay his way through school. Unfortunately, Billy’s Dad died in the tunnel and was its first victim. As of the printing on Kelley’s book, 23 people had died in the process of building the water tunnel. The conditions are atrocious and Kelley gives us every good reason for unions to remain in existence to protect those driven to earn but who still need to work safely. As it turns out the tunnel project has been sold to a union-busting corporate contractor who decides to show how he can turn a profit in the tunnel. He enlists the help of local mobs (yes the Irish mob and the Italian version). One of the hit man for the Irish bad guys is Paddy, Billy’s only brother. He is a former boxer with just one broken hand away from the big time. Paddy is not the chief just one of the minions in the gang. He dispatches foe and friend alike without looking back. Paddy’s boss is a sadistic louse of an individual.
For the first half of the book we are treated to descriptions of Paddy’s boss inventing increasingly violent ways to treat those he no longer likes. He is unfortunately depicted in other areas in too graphic a fashion by Kelly. Why do we need to know how happy the boss is after a trip to the bathroom? What is Kelly telling us about himself when he uses derogatory terms about women without any attribution to a character’s speech or thoughts? The crass depiction of the characteristics of the Irish folk is only outdone by the way in which Kelly portrays the Italians in the book. One of the Italians is a stoolie and he develops a relationship with his pregnant cop friend before he decides to check out. This is a book about hard work and toil and it attempts to give you a good sense of the cityscape and all of the competing influences therein.
Eventually, Paddy’s boss goes too far and Paddy, the numb killing machine, wakes up and decides his boss needs to be paid back. Paddy has to try to protect his brother before it is too late. I liked parts of the book. Those few descriptions of the bond between the brothers hit home as well as Kelly’s presentation of the desire to do whatever is necessary for one of your own. The story flows quickly enough but I think that was because of the lack of depth in Kelly’s retelling of the events of the 80’s. It is clear that his novel was well researched and that it dealt with some serious topics. For many, the portrayal of Irish people by Kelly will be right on target. As it appeared to me to be overdone, I found his writing distracting rather than enjoyable. It is Kelly’s first book. It is clear he has talent and should pursue this vocation. He has written two other books since the first. He might be worth a second read.