Boondock Saints, Vol 1: Blood Origin, by Troy Duffy – A Book Review

Way back in 1999, Franchise Pictures released a violent, racist, misogynist action vehicle from a first-time writer/director called Boondock Saints. The film featured Sean Patrick Flanery, Willem Dafoe, and a then-unheard-of Norman Reedus. Despite a very, very lousy theatrical run, the film became a cult classic on video and DVD and has since grossed over $50 million dollars.

Due to some awful contracts, Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day didn’t arrive in theaters until 2009. Brought to us by the same writer/director, and featuring the same cast, this film was also derided by critics as overtly violent, racist, misogynist, and puerile. It went on to gross over $40 million dollars.

Even at in its initial glacial pace, a third film should’ve materialized almost six years ago. The film exerts an almost cult-like hold on its fans and champions, and many have clamored for more adventures from its lead characters, the MacManus Brothers. Now, finally, their prayers have been answered.

Troy Duffy, the writer and director of the Boondock Saints I & II, has released a prequel novel to the MacManus Brothers’ adventures titled Boondock Saints, Vol. 1 – Blood Origin. The synopsis reads:

“They were born in Ireland, forged in Boston and immortalized in the cult classic The Boondock Saints. But before legend, there was blood. And…

Connor and Murphy MacManus slip across the Canadian border chasing the promise of America, only to land in a Boston that chews up the desperate and spits them out. The city’s underworld runs on crime and corruption, and survival means learning fast—or dying faster.

Through their friend Rocco, a Mafia foot soldier with a crooked grin and puppy dog eyes, the brothers are dragged deeper into Boston’s ruthless criminal underground. Every alley hides a threat. Every handshake hides a blade. And every act of justice demands a darker response.

But the brothers are fighting more than mob bosses and street thugs. They’re chasing a ghost—the father they never knew—whose violent past may already be carved into their bones. Each step toward the truth pulls them further into a brutal mystery, blurring the line between destiny and choice.

This is a gritty Boston crime thriller steeped in Irish-Catholic noir, pulsing with explosive suspense, brotherhood, betrayal and blood. As Connor and Murphy carve out their own ruthless brand of vigilante justice, the city will come to know their names.

Saints. Sinners. Or something in between. You decide.”

If that synopsis reads like a Cannon Films trailer voiceover, it’s supposed to. The whole vibe of the Boondock Saints universe isn’t one of conflicted antiheroes or reluctant warriors. The MacManus Brothers are men of action with steadfast moral codes that prohibit them from hesitation in the presence of injustice. They’re John Wayne, Charles Bronson, Dirty Harry. They kick ass and take names. They’re shining pillars of light in a world of darkness.

Except… they’re not. By taking his pulp to the page, Duffy gives us deeper insight into twins Connor and Murphy MacManus and we learn that they are, at times, cripplingly human. They doubt, they question, they fear, and they hesitate. They bemoan their phantom father and sometimes scoff at the mission thrust upon them.

What propels them is the world that Duffy has built around them. Teeming with monsters in human skin, his Boston and its surrounding areas are breeding grounds for demons. The MacManus Brothers sniff out evil the way you or I might finally notice a Thai place that’s been hiding in plain sight for the last decade. The chief difference between us is we make a mental note and say “Maybe I’ll check that out one day;” the MacManus Brothers act with brutal efficiency.

Boondock Saints, Vol 1 – Blood Origin is a prequel, yes, but it’s also a hard reboot. Whereas the MacManus Brothers were portrayed as men in their late twenties back in 1999, the brothers we are introduced to in the pages of Blood Origin are young men today. They have flashlight apps on their phones, take video, use map apps. They reference current pop culture events, like films and television programs. They’re forged anew for the modern age in an effort that Duffy explains should make them more relatable to modern audiences.

However, their (and their father’s) history remains. Fans of the films will find analogs to characters in the pages of Blood Origin, and even fresh perspectives on familiar scenes. Details and timelines have changed, but the beating heart of the Boondock Saints remains. As is evident by the “Vol 1” demarcation, this novel promises to be the first of many in the adventures of the MacManus Brothers, so don’t expect the blood to stop flowing when you’ve read the last page.

Overall Score: 8/10

This novel reads like a powerhouse script, only with more detail and humanity between the lens flares. If you didn’t care for the films, you likely won’t like the book. If you did enjoy the films, which this reader certainly has, then this book will delight you. The accents are written phonetically so one can easily hear the environment with little imagination. The villains are all appropriately monstrous enough that their comeuppance feels righteous, and the brothers have just enough emotional hand-wringing to keep us rooting for them despite their violent natures. The book ends abruptly, so definitely expect more to come from Duffy.

Oh, and I talked to both Troy Duffy and Norman Reedus, and we are getting Boondock Saints 3 as a film.

You’re welcome.

Don’t forget to read more of our book reviews and if you have any ideas for something we should read, let us know in the comments below.