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THE OUTLAW SHUFFLE
The Outlaw Shuffle
—a psychological thriller with a satirical twist—tells the story of an abduction, a chase across the Southwest during the pandemic summer of 2020, and a final showdown in Las Vegas.
Hugh is a dishonored psychologist and lonely widower traveling in an RV who abducts a woman simply for the companionship he believes will ensue. His victim is the fifties-something Josephine or Jo. Her husband, Bray, and a ragtag group of social media followers give chase based on leads gleaned from social media.
The Southwest of 2020 was a place filled with suspicion. Social discord was defined by those with masks and those without, those who displayed the American flag and those who didn't. The pursuers of Josephine navigate all this as they search campgrounds, RV parks, Federal lands, small towns, and truck stops. They encounter angry Trumpers, Second Coming believers, RV nomads, Instagram influencers, and other quirky characters.
During the chase, Hugh and Jo begin to play gin rummy, and in her seclusion from the outside world, the two develop a relationship of sorts. His goal is to eventually compete again in a Las Vegas gin rummy tournament. When he gets a near-fatal case of COVID, Jo agrees to take his place.
The explosive showdown leaves some dead, some bewildered, and some wondering what to do next.
"You need a seat belt to read this book! Wow!" Lori Barghini, myTalk 107.1
"The Outlaw Shuffle offers a main course of adrenaline-laced action with side dish of dopamine-enhanced humor. Thoroughly entertaining!" Stephanie Hansen, FOX Entertainment
"This story of a rather bizarre kidnapping shines brightest in its multilayered cast. Several unexpected turns give rise to a solid final act and a worthy ending." Kirkus Reviews
Hugh is a dishonored psychologist and lonely widower traveling in an RV who abducts a woman simply for the companionship he believes will ensue. His victim is the fifties-something Josephine or Jo. Her husband, Bray, and a ragtag group of social media followers give chase based on leads gleaned from social media.
The Southwest of 2020 was a place filled with suspicion. Social discord was defined by those with masks and those without, those who displayed the American flag and those who didn't. The pursuers of Josephine navigate all this as they search campgrounds, RV parks, Federal lands, small towns, and truck stops. They encounter angry Trumpers, Second Coming believers, RV nomads, Instagram influencers, and other quirky characters.
During the chase, Hugh and Jo begin to play gin rummy, and in her seclusion from the outside world, the two develop a relationship of sorts. His goal is to eventually compete again in a Las Vegas gin rummy tournament. When he gets a near-fatal case of COVID, Jo agrees to take his place.
The explosive showdown leaves some dead, some bewildered, and some wondering what to do next.
"You need a seat belt to read this book! Wow!" Lori Barghini, myTalk 107.1
"The Outlaw Shuffle offers a main course of adrenaline-laced action with side dish of dopamine-enhanced humor. Thoroughly entertaining!" Stephanie Hansen, FOX Entertainment
"This story of a rather bizarre kidnapping shines brightest in its multilayered cast. Several unexpected turns give rise to a solid final act and a worthy ending." Kirkus Reviews
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2024
12 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 24, 2024
Kurt Johnson is at it again with a wild ride in the southwest during the summer of 2020. Like his first novel, Las Vegas Turnaround, this novel follows an eclectic group of characters on a chase - this time for Jo, a woman abducted from a campground. Bray, the woman's husband, leads the chase amidst the pandemic while in communication on social media with a ragtag posse on the look out for a distinctive RV. Meanwhile, inside the RV, Hugh the kidnapper hatches a plan to turn Jo into a master Gin Rummy player in order to win a high stakes tournament in Las Vegas. As Jo learns how to play Gin - and Hugh - she considers escape options not only from Hugh, but from the life in which she finds herself. In Kurt Johnson's world, all roads lead to Vegas, and the search for Jo barrels to a climax in the shadows of Sin City.
This book represents a shift in Johnson's style. The snappy, fast-paced prose of Las Vegas Turnaround remains, with the addition of well considered interiority for the characters. Through that mosaic of characters, The Outlaw Shuffle paints a picture of people living outside the mainstream in the desert Southwest, and it's picture worth looking at closely.
Thanks to the author for an Advance Reader Copy.
This book represents a shift in Johnson's style. The snappy, fast-paced prose of Las Vegas Turnaround remains, with the addition of well considered interiority for the characters. Through that mosaic of characters, The Outlaw Shuffle paints a picture of people living outside the mainstream in the desert Southwest, and it's picture worth looking at closely.
Thanks to the author for an Advance Reader Copy.
Displaying 1 of 1 review