Review of Flood
by Andrew H. Vachss

reviewed by Byron Merritt

This was Andrew Vachss’ first Burke series crime novel and it is something of a gem. The book is now in its bazillionth reprint and you can usually find it on your bookstore shelves (or in the local library) even though its initial publication was back in 1985. 20 years! Many books fall off the face of the Earth after 20 years, but this is one of those that’s persevered.

So who is this Burke guy? Well, he’s a tough little S. O. B. who knows the streets of New York and utilizes them to his advantage. He’s not above taking on a job that results in the death of a scumbag (no trial needed here), nor does he have any qualms about not paying any bills (like rent or telephone. He “borrows” his neighbors' phone without their knowledge). He lives in a small office space with his pet dog, Pansy. A loveable but ultimately frightening creature who guards Burke’s possessions.

One day, a woman contacts Burke and asks to meet up with him. Her name is Flood and she has a problem: a friend of hers was killed by someone named “The Cobra” and she wants revenge. She’s been training in Japan under the tutelage of a master Karate instructor in preparation for the day she meets The Cobra, too.

Burke has to pool all of his resources in order to find out about The Cobra. I mean, he wouldn’t mind getting rid of a true slime, but he wants to be sure that he’s on the right side. So Burke deploys his “team” of New York misfits, hoping to find out more about The Cobra. Among this gathering are Burke’s long time friend (and adopted brother), Max the Silent. He’s a martial arts expert with the grace of Gene Kelley and the powerhouse body of Arnold Schwarzenegger during his Mr. Universe days. Then there’s Michelle, the beautiful prostitute with a heart of gold and the plumbing of a man! She’s Burkes’ ears on the street. The Mole is Burkes’ geek-in-residence who lives in a junkyard and has the IQ of Albert Einstein. He’s the man you call when you need anything mechanical or electronic manipulated . . . or blown up.

Burke also uses some pull that he has with various political figures within the city and with someone named The Prophet, a man who lives on the streets of New York City but has the pulse of the Big Apple wrapped inside himself. An amazing character.

With the help of his “team”, Burke finds The Cobra, and the final scene between Flood and her enemy comes to a head. Who will win? Can revenges’ thirst be quenched so easily?

What drew me into this story was the author’s abilities. His narrative prose bulldozed by without ever slowing down. I was amazed to see that, during my first sitting with the book, I’d read over 50 pages. That’s how fast this book reads. Also, the characters are so memorable that you never have to look back and see who is who. You KNOW these people. They’re flawed and terrible and great and bad.

I also found it interesting that Mr. Vachss incorporated a lot of the sexual underworld in the book. Pornography, child abuse, prostitution, all make their ugly appearances but without smacking the reader in the face with their unpleasantness.

The fact that this book was entitled Flood also made me smile. A “flood” is a natural occurring phenomenon, a natural disaster that you can’t control. I found that to be very appropriate for the title.