Savage

This review first appeared on scifiandscary.com
Richard Laymon seems to be going through a bit of a renaissance at the moment, as the new wave of horror fans seeks out late 20th century tales of terror beyond the immediate comfort zone of King and Koontz. I read a tonne of Laymon in my teens and twenties and remembered him as being somewhere between early Koontz and UK splatter-meister Shaun Hutson. His books are certainly full-blooded, but my lasting impression was that of his treatment of female characters, which often leaves a lot to be desired. In particular, my memory of his 1995 novel ‘Island’ was that it was basically a morally dubious, adolescent rape fantasy.
‘Savage’ was one book I remembered fondly though. There’s an show more immediately obvious difference from his other work, in that it’s set in the 19th rather than the 20th century. I also recalled it being a gripping ride, and enjoyably original. It’s a twist on the Jack the Ripper story, with the killer interrupted during his final documented killing by an adolescent boy. The boy, Trevor, attempts to avenge the death of the Ripper’s last victim and, through a somewhat unlikely series of events, they end up together on a boat to America.
There’s an extended, and tense, portion of the book covering their trans-Atlantic voyage. The bulk of it though, is a kind of Boy’s Own adventure which sees Trevor tracking Jack across the USA in an attempt to prevent further bloodshed.
The beginning and end of the book are full of the kind of graphic gore that Laymon was renowned for, but the longer middle section is a gently enjoyable western quest. Trevor encounters natural disasters, snake oil salesmen, teenage outlaws, and the archetypal girl dressed as a boy. It’s all very linear, but the coming of age elements are well handle for the most part. Most of all, it’s packed with incident, and Trevor is a very likeable protagonist.
Laymon never quite escapes his fascination with the female anatomy. In one bizarre scene, Trevor identifies a female corpse by the colour of the pubic hair and the size of the breasts. At least this time he has the excuse of an adolescent narrator though. Surprisingly, Jack ends up being a rather dull character. He’s an effective villain, but incredibly one dimensional compared to Trevor.
For me that’s missing the point though. ‘Savage’ is a horror novel, but like Robert McCammon’s ‘Boy’s Life’ it’s really about what it’s like to be a teenage boy. It’s a genuinely fun and, at times, charming book. It’s funny, romantic and thrilling, with a sense of adventure that’s infectious. I can’t help wishing that more of Laymon’s books had been like this. show less

Laymon's novels are always fun to read. They aren't necessarily the most rational as some of them are built on some pretty fantastic and amazing coincidences. However, they are still very enjoyable. SAVAGE is one of those books.

The story follows 15-year-old Trevor Bentley after a domestic disturbance at home and when his mom tells him to find his uncle, a constable on the London police force. Before we know it Trevor is witnessing Jack the Ripper's final murder, taking action against him, kidnapped aboard a yacht bound for America and numerous other events. The hunt between Trevor and Jack ends up switching around a few times as the two of them both try to eliminate the other.

In the end, while the book is about Trevor growing up and show more about the hunt between the two characters, the book is really about having fun and simply enjoying the events. It can be compared to one of those popcorn movies which you watch and enjoy but which will not be winning any awards. Something that is fun but not serious. show less

I've read just about everything that Richard Laymon has written, so I feel comfortable stating that "Savage" is quite a bit different than just about anything else that he's created. (First of all, there are fewer uses of the word "rump" in this book than maybe in any other that he's written. :-) Laymon fans will get that reference.)
The book is Laymon's takeoff on a historical novel because the subject is Jack the Ripper and it's set in the late 1800s. It's also his homage to Mark Twain which the reader will appreciate as he or she learns more about the actual main character, Trevor Bentley. Trevor is an English teenager who, by happenchance, witnesses one of the Ripper's latest murders. Trevor attempts to thwart Jack's violent action show more but only ends up being accused of the crime himself. This sets Trevor off on a long pursuit to clear his name and stop the Ripper from future butchery.
This pursuit turns into capture as Jack kidnaps Trevor and a new victim and forces the victim's companion to sail them across the Atlantic to America. This is where the book begins to bog down a little because Jack escapes once the boat docks and Trevor loses his trail. Trevor meets up with a kindly American family who takes him in as he weighs his options of pursuing Jack or trying to earn enough money to pay for passage back to England.
Without spilling more of the plot, let me just say that it "thickens" as Trevor decides to stay in the country and renew his pursuit of the Ripper. Along the way, he meets two key, and very different characters (and love interests), Sarah and Jessie, who help drive the plot along.
Not for the squeamish, there is plenty of Laymon's brand of blood and gore in this story, but if the reader is a Laymon fan, he or she has come to expect that.
There's a lot that's very good about this book with only a few draggy and repetitive parts thrown in.
Most Laymon fans will want to add "Savage" to their collection. show less

The story starts in Whitechapel in November 1888 where young Trevor Bentley witnesses the murder of Mary Kelly by Jack the Ripper. This leads him on a wild chase of Jack the Ripper over the Atlantic and across America.

Quite readable but in some parts it rushed through things and in some instances lingered a bit too much. Still an interesting twist on the story.

I love Laymon…he has no issues killing off main characters. Nice little twist on Jack the Ripper and how he met his demise.

Trevor was groomed!
The ending was cute though.

For me this was his best book...