Book Review: Damned Busters by Matthew Hughes

Damned Busters: To Hell and Back by Matthew Hughes is a fun and thought-provoking novel, which will be released in print on May 31 2001. Chesney Anstruther is a comic book loving, introverted actuary that has been raised by a very religious mother. Through an unusual set of circumstances, he accidentally summons a demon and through his refusal to bargain away his soul, he triggers a revolution in Hell. With the help of a television evangelist, Chesney makes a deal with the Devil that will let him keep his soul and do some good in the world, by having superpowers to fight crime with a demon assistant. Of course, there are stipulations and complications rise up, as one might expect in a deal with the Devil. However, it is not all doom and gloom. The interactions between the socially awkward Chesney and just about every other person offer consistent comedy and that are bigger pictures about the very nature of reality raised as the story moves forward.



The characters within Damned Busters are both real, and larger than life. They are the ideal or amplified versions of what we might expect to find in a novel about a superhero. Chesney is sweet, thoughtful, and often so trapped within his head that he cannot get out of his own way. However, he is well aware of his social flaws and has learned how to minimize the damage that his lack of social intelligence could otherwise cause. That is unless a beautiful girl is involved, and then he is at an even greater loss unless he is hiding behind his mask. There are two beautiful girls, one spoiled rich girl and one hard working woman. There is an overbearing but loving mother, a frustrated police officer, a toady for a boss and several larger than life men that hold different forms of power.



There are also several levels of story in Damned Busters. There is Chesney and his interactions with others, people just trying to get through the day, the powerful people looking to gain more power, and the balance between good and evil as well as the very nature of the world we live in. The larger questions about the nature of the world, and the relationship between author and the story, would make the story well worth reading even without the wit and intelligence that fill the book.



I highly recommend Damned Busters to anyone that likes to ponder the big questions, as well as those that want to get lost in a book full of humor and great characters. I think that teens and adults could both really enjoy this book, even though it is technically adult fiction. There is some violence, and a little ogling, but nothing extreme or gratuitous. The themes and messages that could be gleaned from the story are ones that everyone can enjoy and benefit from. I found myself staying up far too late finishing the copy of Damned Busters that I received from NetGalley , and am glad that I did. My exhaustion this morning is well worth it. I am already looking forward to following the story further in the promised sequels that will complete this new trilogy.