DANNY BOY, Jo-Ann Goodwin (Bantam Books)

DANNY Boy is a surreal novel punctured with foul language, catchy slang, guardian angels, lots of Class A narcotics, suicide and spirituality it's compelling.

From start to finish the drug-fuelled exploits of Danny MacIntyre and his companyeros, Dekka and Chico, makes for a lively and entertaining tale reminiscent of a buddy, buddy movie Bonny and Clyde springs to mind.

The swearing is constant and the slang infectious in the end I actually found myself employing the lads' ridiculous pigeon Spanish slang Ta Bom, muchachos, esso es to workmates and friends who looked slightly puzzled at being so addressed.

The story unfolds after an acquaintance, Teapot, is killed by local psychos in their home town of Doncaster (or Donny as it's known).

The trio flee south chased by chief nutter Gibbsey, who is convinced they have grassed to the police about his savage beating of the poor Teapot.

Danny king of the Donny smackheads is numero uno and has increasingly strange encounters with guardians keeping an eye on him.

They even offer nuggets of wisdom and advice, which he rejects with foul-mouthed tirades.

He then has to deal with the tragic suicide of his girlfriend, who he took for granted.

The plot has this surreal element of Danny's spiritual awakening, which is strangely at odds with the heroin the lads take in copious amounts, their general attitude, their basic amorality they even pickpocket a lorry driver who has stopped to give them a lift and buys them food.

Nevertheless, they are fascinating characters who you will probably grow to sneakingly admire.

Nat Sylvester