Shank: Tool's Law I by Roy Harper

by Roy Harper

David 'Tool' Roney is a dangerous man with a moral code. Stuck in brutal Parchman Maximum Security Prison in Mississippi, doing life for armed robbery, and abused by his guards, he is consumed by only one thing - escape. His plotting pays off, and together with two other inmates he breaks free. But escaping and staying free are two different things. Tool hits the road with only one thing in mind - to return to the prison and to take vengeance on his tormentors. That's Tool's Law. But then he meets a girl called Rose. Shank is an archetypal Great American novel as well as an existentialist meditation on imprisonment and a gripping pulp story. The writing is clean and clipped, the pacing is breathless. The action and the story's tragic background roll seamlessly together into a steam train of a novel. If Mark Twain, Jean Paul Sartre and Richard Stark had spent creative time in a prison yard, this is what they might have come up with.

Paperback

First published May 24, 2016

Reviews

[Crime Wave Press · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is Roy Harper, author of SHANK and inmate at Super Max Mississippi State Prison Parchman's Farm in his own words.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N17wC...

[Alex Shute · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a writer myself I know that this genre is hard to write. Roy Harper has written a story that has fulfilled what should be expected with this genre. It can be hard to read at times, but it never once leaves you thinking about stopping reading.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘One step at a time, that’s how I live.’

Roy Harper is one of America's most wanted outlaws, currently doing time at Parchman Farm, one of the US' most notorious Supermax prisons. Mississippi State Penitentiary (also known as Parchman Farm) is the oldest prison and the only maximum security prison for men in the state of Mississippi. Harper has been incarcerated there since 1981 for armed robbery. He has gained nationwide notoriety for two highly publicized escapes from a maximum security prison in 1983 and 2000 and for his efforts in the courts to reduce brutality and injustice in American jails. SHANK is Roy’s debut novel, the story of David "Tool" Roney, an outlaw on the run, and is a novel of struggle, adventure and the complexities of justice. And as the promo sates, ‘Who is better cut out to write about escaping from Maximum Security and being an outlaw than someone who has lived through it all?

The appeal of Roy’s novel is his razor sharp language, offering a sense of the incarceration environment better than anyone writing today – a talent that is evident from the first lines of the book : ‘Buck, that’s what they call home brew here. It’s wine made from fermented fruit and it usually tastes pretty damned awful. Dirty socks; turn that smell to a taste and that’s what buck puts me in mind of. In search of ways to escape reality most inmates will consume anything; subject their system to any mood altering substance in pursuit of a high. They’ll drink Windex or squeeze the fluid out of stick deodorant for its alcohol. Myself, I’ll drink a little buck or smoke a little weed now and then to take the edge off and relax, but my favorite mood altering activity comes from exercise, especially running and weight training. Standing an even six foot in my socks and a few pounds under two hundred, I’m healthy and fit. Life altering problems, that’s what I have riding my back like a raging gorilla, and I’ve found that exercise is therapeutic. It takes all my inner turmoil and boils it up to the surface, where it flows out with the sweat.’ Add to this atmospheric language his astute observation of character and environs and the book becomes a fast reading and highly entertaining novel.

The synopsis tightens the story well: ‘David "Tool" Roney is a dangerous man with a moral code. Stuck in brutal Parchman Maximum Security Prison in Mississippi, doing life for armed robbery, and abused by his guards, he is consumed by only one thing – escape. His plotting pays off, and together with two other inmates he breaks free. But escaping and staying free are two different things. Tool hits the road with only one thing in mind - to return to the prison and to take vengeance on his tormentors. That’s Tool's Law. But then he meets a girl called Rose. With the police on his heels, injured and deep in the Mississippi woods, he has no choice but to trust her. For once good fortune is on Tool’s side, the girl turns out to be a bit of an outlaw herself and nurses him back to health. But his demons will not let go, he hunkers for revenge and engages in several robberies to make money. And while the ex con slowly opens his heart to his Rose, his old habits take a long time to die. Rose, keen to hang on to her man, makes Tool an offer he can’t refuse - his own shack, deep in the woods, far from the arms of law enforcement. Tool is more than happy to take her up on it. But will it be enough to give up his plans for revenge and his career of crime and carnage?’

Crisp, raw, visually imaginative, and yet flavored with a near existential view of that incarceration does to the mind, SHANK is an impressive debut.

[Eric Weule · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shank -Tools Law I by Roy Harper is an engaging and insightful crime novel. Mr. Harper writes what he knows, and as a reader, the authenticity and detail were refreshing. The violence is matter of fact, which makes it more impactful. It is not glorified or grisly, it simply is what it is. The presentation of the main character's existence was the most compelling aspect of the book. There are no good guys. No heroes. But there is a code that the main character sticks to throughout. The story is part prison break, part heist, and part love story. The prose is blunt and powerful.
I enjoyed it immensely.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard about this book on History's Greatest Escapes and knew it would be a fascinating read. I've never read a book written by an inmate. The perspective of someone with these kinds of experiences gives the author an advantage most others don't have.

This is a genre I've only dabbled in, so I'm not super familiar with similar books. As a story, it wasn't for me as far as getting invested, but I appreciated where it came from. I thought the writing was strong, too, although I found the bits of dialogue written in all caps to be distracting. Nevertheless, I'm glad I picked it up and plan on continuing the series.

[Helena Wann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

What can i say but thank you for writing this ,you can tell that Mr Harper wrote from his gut and heart.This man is the real deal folks and i can't recommend this book enough.I have already bought the second and i understand there will be a third,keep up the crazy Mr Harper.10+star's in my book👌

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! I came across Roy’s real life story on TikTok and then saw his book and figured I’d give it a try. Not my typical genre, but really enjoyed the story and the characters were lovable!

[Christopher Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought the prison scenes were pretty well done and the escape too.

[Bonnie Kernene]

This book was written by Roy Harper, an inmate in a Mississippi prison. I was not sure if I would even like it (not because of the author, but because of the subject), but I was pleasantly surprised. I really liked this book. I had a hard time putting it down. His writing is excellent, very descriptive and sharp. The characters were clear cut and I could envision them, and the events that were happening in this book. The storyline was interesting and exciting.

If Roy Harper writes another book, and I hope he does, I would read it. This was a great first book.

[Russell Quinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good crime novel reminds me of Richard Stark

I really enjoyed this novel. I was surprised at the accuracy of his descriptions of life in the delta. Especially of parchman prison. Living in Cleveland, MS with knowledge of inmates and prison officials I can assure you Mr. Har