Hurricane Season Hustle

Scotty Bradley #10

by Greg Herren

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 10, 2026

About the author

Greg Herren is a New Orleans-based author and editor. Former editor of Lambda Book Report, he is also a co-founder of the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival, which takes place in New Orleans every May. He is the author of ten novels, including the Lambda Literary Award winning Murder in the Rue Chartres, called by the New Orleans Times-Picayune “the most honest depiction of life in post-Katrina New Orleans published thus far.” He co-edited Love, Bourbon Street: Reflections on New Orleans, which also won the Lambda Literary Award. He has published over fifty short stories in markets as varied as Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine to the critically acclaimed anthology New Orleans Noir to various websites, literary magazines, and anthologies. His erotica anthology FRATSEX is the all time best selling title for Insightoutbooks. Under his pseudonym Todd Gregory, he published the bestselling erotic novel Every Frat Boy Wants It and the erotic anthologies His Underwear and Rough Trade (to be released by Bold Strokes Books in 2009).

A long-time resident of New Orleans, Greg was a fitness columnist and book reviewer for Window Media for over four years, publishing in the LGBT newspapers IMPACT News, Southern Voice, and Houston Voice. He served a term on the Board of Directors for the National Stonewall Democrats, and served on the founding committee of the Louisiana Stonewall Democrats. He is currently employed as a public health researcher for the NO/AIDS Task Force.

Reviews

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense thriller!

Scotty finds himself trapped at his grandparents’ estate during a hurricane that turns his overnight stay into a hunt for a mysterious killer who seems to be trapped in the house with them. Working to uncover the truth, Scotty is in a race against time to determine who among them is responsible for the murder of the body found, and the other strange goings on.

This was really cleverly done, given the limited locations and characters involved because of being trapped in unescapable hurricane conditions. There were so many strange characters and people in and around Scotty’s family that meant at times they were being led to follow clues that would result in no answers and they’d have to start looking again. The whole story was filled with expected moments and revelations that meant there was something new with every passing hour, further complicating the case for Scotty and those he trusted to help him uncover the truth.

I loved learning all those family secrets and the moments from the past that Scotty shared in trying to determine who in his family could possibly be responsible. As with all thrillers and mysteries, sharing too much reveals too many spoilers. For this story, I was hooked from the moment they realised something more underhand was happening, and captivated by every revelations. As usual, I did not suspect the right people or pick up on any of the clues I perhaps should have, but I was shocked at everything.

A great mystery, thriller, and the hurricane weather was an added bonus. I love a good storm, as long as it is nowhere near me.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would like to start by saying thank you for allowing me to read this early. However I do not think this is for me. 

I originally loved the concept of the story and thought this is going to be a great read. However I felt alot of the time the book trailed of with items that weren't relevant to the storyline. The book itself has alot of descriptive text about alot of things. Which I found to be very overwhelming when I just wanted to follow clues to find a murderer. I can understand the long backstory parts to mention key character however it did become very repetitive in some parts. Just like the descriptions of rooms which came up alot, I did find myself skimming it. 
However I did enjoy the description for the layout of the grounds and the house. As this did allow me to understand where everyone was and how the area connected together. 
It was very fact-filled with previous hurricanes and all the damaged they caused. Which matched well with the theme of the book. 
Sadly for me this book just lacked the storyline I wanted. It seemed to go in different directions and it's own other story in a way. I felt the main storyline was only remembered in certain parts and then all squashed in at the very end. Sadly it just wasn't the read I was hoping it to be and just found it to be lacking a storyline.  

But hopefully other people will enjoy it and find it more to their taste.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 10th Scotty Bradley Mysteries takes place right before and during Hurricane Hester in Scotty's home New Orleans. This time we get a lot of back story on Scottie's Diderot side of the family. There's deep reflection on slavery and making fortunes while ignoring the health of the community you're polluting. There's still a murder - no spoilers here though. You'll have to read Hurricane Season Hustle - it's a real page turner. Always feels like I'm catching up with old friends when I read another Scotty Bradley Mysteries.

Many thanks to Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley for the digital ARC (Advanced Reader Copy).

[Sue Plant · Rating 4 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

i really tried to like this book but alas it wasnt for me...

i can see its very descriptive and for some this will grab them but alas i am not one of them sorry