Shank

by Roderick Anscombe

Imprisoned for killing his HIV-infected wife in what he claims was an act of mercy, Dan Cody escapes with a prison nurse as a hostage and recounts his life story on a radio call-in show.

Genres: Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dan Cody is doing life without the possibility of parole for the murder of his wife. He claims that she was HIV Positive, and he was saving her from future misery, however, we only have his word on the matter. This novel is told in the first person by Mr. Cody, and he proves to be a truly 'Unreliable Narrator', in that the reader can never fully ascertain whether one is listening to a psychopath, or someone who has been wronged by fate. He claims that he is now in a mutual love affair with the prison nurse, Carol, and she has orchestrated an escape so that they can start a new life. And, they only need to get at a stash of several hundred thousand dollars which Dan may or may not be able to recover. A crazy plot, but the book is absorbing to the bitter end. This type of a story is better manifested in Jim Thompson's POP 1280, or Mark Hudson's THE MUSIC IN MY HEAD. A self-deluding, or pathological liar who tells the tale always makes for a disorienting and engrossing read.

[Christina Culbertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Shank" was a very different psychological thriller that I actually enjoyed. I thought the narrative of Dan "The schizophrenic" prisoner was absolutely astonashing. It puts you right there in prison, it puts you there and it lets you know how it really is in the joint. It makes you think if your wife had cancer and she told you to blow her brains out for her own sake,would you do it? My mother is a nurse and has actually worked at a jail and had an affair with an inmate and got fired for it, you'd have to know my mom and know she's not the type to get in trouble per say like me but like she told me "You can't control love Christina, you can't help who you fall in love with" and she's exactly right. I found it insane that carol sucked his penis through a hole in the door lol Carol was just out for herself such as Dan was too, he thought he loved carol but really it was just a lust of a woman who he knew he could take advantage of so he could escape. I love how I felt like I was involved in some kind of crime ring reading this book, the fact that its bitty gritty and straight to the point I enjoyed. Although some parts were quite boring where Dan was talking to himself, talking about shapes sounds and noises around him, you know your average schitzo and he would just go on and on for his love for Carol when really I don't think he ever loved her at all, she was just a useful resource just like at the end of the book he's talking about Tanya the other nurse touching him a certain way after they took his ass back to prison after being shot and never getting any part of the money but Carol somewhere with all that money, I'm sorry she didn't deserve that money, neither did that Baruk dude, anyways I give this book five stars because I finished it and to be in a schizophrenic prisoners head I have to admit was awesome, good job author for entertaining me and introducing me to a man named Dan

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Besides enjoying the experience of the plot I took away a clear picture of the “missionary impulse”....an extremely useful concept
I’m looking forward to following Dr. Anscombe and reading his other books.

[Partridge Public]

Anscombe, Roderick

[Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I luv this book it goes into details

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great demonstration of the unreliable narrator.

[Kaylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this many years ago and liked it a lot. In the edition I had, it claimed a film version was in the works and would star Kevin Costner. Yep, don't know what happened to that.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd read it again!!