Cocaine Nights

Review ebook Cocaine Nights

In the early stages of Cocaine Nights this very much had the feel of a nuts and bolts whodunit. In fact, that whodunit scenario (although it’s the ‘why’ rather than the ‘who’ that becomes more important in the end) remained for the entirety of the novel, but, just when I thought that Ballard had lost his edge, thrown the shocks out the window, and written a sun-drenched conventional murder thriller of trying to find the bad guy, I was pleased to learn that Cocaine Nights is called Cocaine Nights
In the early stages of Cocaine Nights this very much had the feel of a nuts and bolts whodunit. In fact, that whodunit scenario (although it’s the ‘why’ rather than the ‘who’ that becomes more important in the end) remained for the entirety of the novel, but, just when I thought that Ballard had lost his edge, thrown the shocks out the window, and written a sun-drenched conventional murder thriller of trying to find the bad guy, I was pleased to learn that Cocaine Nights is called Cocaine Nights for a reason. Ballard gives us drugs – a whole load of drugs – both prescribed and illegal, along with sociopathic violence, porno tapes, dodgy psychiatrists, a self-policed fortress-like housing complex (the Residencia Costasol), transgressive sex, and of course, satire. Yep, we’re in a Ballard novel alright, and, like ‘Crash’, he serves up his sex and violence with a thesis. The further I got into this the more I became less interested in the identity of the killer/killers responsible for the deaths of the Hollingers and their maid, and more drawn to the boring comatosed lives hidden away behind the curtains at the Residencia. The sun shines all day long and there is a marina full of unused boats, swimming pools that haven’t seen a ripple, and various other activities and clubs that have no members. It seems these folk want nothing more than to stay in the dark like vampires and watch TV in-between the daytime napping. Why? And that’s where the tennis pro Bobby Crawford comes in, who believes he has found the key connection between transgression and civilization. From what I’ve read of Ballard so far, this is one of his best created characters. Whilst humorous, cool and controlled and loved by the ladies, there was something altogether terrifying about him. If the first half of the novel felt like a crime detective story, the second half sees Ballard shift things into a work of visionary ideas and fundamental questions regarding the expat community – like using a crime wave as a form of leisure & entertainment – where stealing, torching, smahing, and prostituting go hand in hand with creativity – and it’s all the better for it. I’ve got this far and haven’t even mentioned the narrator Charles Prentice yet, who is out to clear his brother’s name for five arson murders. It’s strange to say this, but for me Charles felt more like a secondary character – or at least until he got sucked up into Bobby Crawford’s world – whilst other characters like Dr Paula Hamilton and Dr Sanger stood out more – even though they featured less. If Charles were the skin, Hamilton & Sanger the fruit underneath, then no doubts that Crawford was the core – along with the Costa del Sol itself. …more