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Shake Bouchon #3
Double Barrel Bluff
Edgar Award-nominated and USA Today-bestselling crime writer Lou Berney returns to his critically acclaimed thriller series starring former mob wheelman Shake Bouchon, who finds himself reluctantly involved in a high-stakes hostage rescue, among the mighty temples and shadowy underground of Cambodia.
During his years as a wheelman for the Armenian mob in Las Vegas, Shake Bouchon didn’t think of himself as the settling-down type. But now he’s happily married to Gina, the love of his life—and former adversary—in Indiana, of all places.
The great thing about Bloomington, for two people with exceptionally checkered pasts, is that everyone is nice and no one knows them. Until the day a brutal Armenian thug who has always hated Shake shows up in his backyard. He demands that Shake help him find the missing mob boss, the pakhan—the dangerous and beautiful Alexandra “Lexy” Ilandryan, who also happens to be Shake’s ex-girlfriend.
Shake’s got a lot of history with Lexy, so he reluctantly agrees to travel to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where she was last seen. Once there, he finds himself in a predatory underworld of Cambodian gangsters, mob politics, and opportunistic expats, where the stakes aren’t clear and everyone is looking to gain. With only the help of a clairvoyant hippie and the Armenian thug, Shake becomes involved in a high-stakes negotiation for Lexy that might cost him his own life. But perhaps most threatening of all is Gina’s wrath when she arrives in Cambodia intent on saving Shake from himself—and from all the people trying to kill him.
With Lou Berney’s trademark wit, flawless plotting, vibrant locale, and memorable characters, Double Barrel Bluff is another unputdownable, globetrotting adventure.
During his years as a wheelman for the Armenian mob in Las Vegas, Shake Bouchon didn’t think of himself as the settling-down type. But now he’s happily married to Gina, the love of his life—and former adversary—in Indiana, of all places.
The great thing about Bloomington, for two people with exceptionally checkered pasts, is that everyone is nice and no one knows them. Until the day a brutal Armenian thug who has always hated Shake shows up in his backyard. He demands that Shake help him find the missing mob boss, the pakhan—the dangerous and beautiful Alexandra “Lexy” Ilandryan, who also happens to be Shake’s ex-girlfriend.
Shake’s got a lot of history with Lexy, so he reluctantly agrees to travel to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where she was last seen. Once there, he finds himself in a predatory underworld of Cambodian gangsters, mob politics, and opportunistic expats, where the stakes aren’t clear and everyone is looking to gain. With only the help of a clairvoyant hippie and the Armenian thug, Shake becomes involved in a high-stakes negotiation for Lexy that might cost him his own life. But perhaps most threatening of all is Gina’s wrath when she arrives in Cambodia intent on saving Shake from himself—and from all the people trying to kill him.
With Lou Berney’s trademark wit, flawless plotting, vibrant locale, and memorable characters, Double Barrel Bluff is another unputdownable, globetrotting adventure.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2016
83 people are currently reading
5763 people want to read
About the author
Lou Berney
9 books1,084 followersLou Berney is the Edgar Award-winning author of Double Barrel Bluff (November 2024), Dark Ride (2023), November Road (2018), The Long and Faraway Gone (2015), Whiplash River (2012), and Gutshot Straight (2010), all from William Morrow. His short fiction has appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, Ploughshares, the New England Review, and the Pushcart Prize anthology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
November 11, 2024
Double Barrel Bluff is the third in the Shake Bouchon series. It was fantastic, filled with the humor I’ve come to expect from Berney. Oops! I read this out of order, having missed Whiplash River. It wasn’t a problem and I’ll be rectifying my mistake by listening to WR next.
Shake has settled down in Bloomington Indiana with his wife, Gina, when an Armenian thug shows up in his backyard. But Dikran isn’t there to kill him, but to ask for his help. Lexy, Shake’s one time lover and former mob boss, appears to be MIA in Cambodia. Shake agrees to go with Dikran to Siem Reap.
Berney does a great job with creating memorable characters. I was a big fan of Dikran and his colorful language.
This is a fast paced book that kept me engaged throughout. I kept finding excuses to keep listening to it.
This is a book that begs to be listened to. Jonathan McClain does a fabulous job narrating and brought my enjoyment to a whole new level.
Shake has settled down in Bloomington Indiana with his wife, Gina, when an Armenian thug shows up in his backyard. But Dikran isn’t there to kill him, but to ask for his help. Lexy, Shake’s one time lover and former mob boss, appears to be MIA in Cambodia. Shake agrees to go with Dikran to Siem Reap.
Berney does a great job with creating memorable characters. I was a big fan of Dikran and his colorful language.
This is a fast paced book that kept me engaged throughout. I kept finding excuses to keep listening to it.
This is a book that begs to be listened to. Jonathan McClain does a fabulous job narrating and brought my enjoyment to a whole new level.
December 5, 2024
Shake Bouchon used to be a driver for the Armenian mob. His boss was the alluring Lexy. Shake has finally broken away from the mob and is leading a quiet life with his new wife Gina. Lexy has now disappeared while on vacation in Cambodia, and her old friend enlists Shake’s help in tracking her down.
I have enjoyed all this author’s thrillers, with a slight preference for his standalones. He deserves more attention. This is the third book of a series, but it is not necessary to read the first two books before you read this one. This is a plot driven book and I liked the plot. However, a few too many of the characters were off-the-charts stupid for my taste, but they did hold my interest. This was certainly not a contest of wits. There was also a pointless side plot with Gina, and in general I found her annoying. I got no feel at all for Cambodia. The story could have been set anywhere.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I have enjoyed all this author’s thrillers, with a slight preference for his standalones. He deserves more attention. This is the third book of a series, but it is not necessary to read the first two books before you read this one. This is a plot driven book and I liked the plot. However, a few too many of the characters were off-the-charts stupid for my taste, but they did hold my interest. This was certainly not a contest of wits. There was also a pointless side plot with Gina, and in general I found her annoying. I got no feel at all for Cambodia. The story could have been set anywhere.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
June 5, 2025
I’m rating this 4 stars but it’s a 3.5 at best. I’m cheating because the author is a helluva writer.
At 300 pages of repetitive hijinks and witty repartee, the writing in this 3rd entry of the Shake Bouchon series of adventures almost put me in a coma.
I’m gonna have Roy Orbison eyes from reading this.
Started out a pleasant jaunt through Cambodia with amusing, familiar friends out to rescue a kidnap victim, another old friend.
Unfortunately, the jerks and jumps and pauses for seemingly random acts of violence kinda made me feel like I’d overstayed my visit and by page 250 I was ready to go home.
I’ve enjoyed all the other books I’ve purchased by Lou Berney. This one just left me exhausted.
Recommended for fans of the Shake Bouchon series.
Newcomers to this author should start out with November Road.
At 300 pages of repetitive hijinks and witty repartee, the writing in this 3rd entry of the Shake Bouchon series of adventures almost put me in a coma.
I’m gonna have Roy Orbison eyes from reading this.
Started out a pleasant jaunt through Cambodia with amusing, familiar friends out to rescue a kidnap victim, another old friend.
Unfortunately, the jerks and jumps and pauses for seemingly random acts of violence kinda made me feel like I’d overstayed my visit and by page 250 I was ready to go home.
I’ve enjoyed all the other books I’ve purchased by Lou Berney. This one just left me exhausted.
Recommended for fans of the Shake Bouchon series.
Newcomers to this author should start out with November Road.
October 26, 2024
I received a free copy of, Double Barrel Bluff, by Lou Berney, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book three in The Shake Bouchon series. Shake has started over in Indiana with his wife Gina, his old life in Vegas, with the Armenian mob is in his past, or is it? Shake has been called upon to find his leader in Cambodia. This is not my typical read, this book wasnt for me.
November 5, 2024
*** Happy Publication Day ***
World-class storyteller Lou Berney is back with another book with quirky characters, an engaging plot, and nonstop action. Although his NOVEMBER ROAD is my favorite Berney book so far, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF comes in a close second.
Former organized crime member Shake Bouchon and his wife Gina are living quietly in the midwest when Dikran, a thug from the crime family they once belonged to, tracks them down. It seems Lexy, the mob boss, is missing, and not trusting anyone in the mob, Dikran strong-arms Shake into going to Cambodia to help him find her. Once there, they quickly discover that Lexy is being held for ransom by a couple of men who are unaware of who Lexy is--they think she's a wealthy tourist just ripe for plucking. Amid ransom negotiations, two more members of the crime family show up, but it's unclear if they are there to help free Lexy or have ulterior motives.
I loved the characters. The relationships between Shake, Dikran, and the two kidnappers could not be better. Add a new-age hippy and an angry wife to the mix, and the plot gets more interesting. This is an excellent, action-packed story written with wit and cringe-worthy situations. 5/5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is November 5, 2024.
World-class storyteller Lou Berney is back with another book with quirky characters, an engaging plot, and nonstop action. Although his NOVEMBER ROAD is my favorite Berney book so far, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF comes in a close second.
Former organized crime member Shake Bouchon and his wife Gina are living quietly in the midwest when Dikran, a thug from the crime family they once belonged to, tracks them down. It seems Lexy, the mob boss, is missing, and not trusting anyone in the mob, Dikran strong-arms Shake into going to Cambodia to help him find her. Once there, they quickly discover that Lexy is being held for ransom by a couple of men who are unaware of who Lexy is--they think she's a wealthy tourist just ripe for plucking. Amid ransom negotiations, two more members of the crime family show up, but it's unclear if they are there to help free Lexy or have ulterior motives.
I loved the characters. The relationships between Shake, Dikran, and the two kidnappers could not be better. Add a new-age hippy and an angry wife to the mix, and the plot gets more interesting. This is an excellent, action-packed story written with wit and cringe-worthy situations. 5/5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is November 5, 2024.
December 12, 2024
Just when I needed a sorbet, along comes a new Lou Berney. Although it is the third in a series I haven't started, it served its purpose. Made me cringe and laugh and glad that I read.
December 15, 2024
3.5
I am very familiar with Lou Berney having read three of his novels. I was very excited to see a new book coming out, even though I haven't read either of the 1st two in the Shake Bouchon series. This can be read on its own, but there are some major plot points referred to so I, personally, would not go back and read from the beginning. That said, I will definitely read going forward. Berney has become a "go-to" author that I feel is underrated.
As with his stand alones, Berney used a perfect blend of action, drama, darkness and humor. His characters are well developed and sarcastic, and just plain quirky and fun. Berney is an author that you can pick any book and recommend to everyone.
I want to thank William Morrow & NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am very familiar with Lou Berney having read three of his novels. I was very excited to see a new book coming out, even though I haven't read either of the 1st two in the Shake Bouchon series. This can be read on its own, but there are some major plot points referred to so I, personally, would not go back and read from the beginning. That said, I will definitely read going forward. Berney has become a "go-to" author that I feel is underrated.
As with his stand alones, Berney used a perfect blend of action, drama, darkness and humor. His characters are well developed and sarcastic, and just plain quirky and fun. Berney is an author that you can pick any book and recommend to everyone.
I want to thank William Morrow & NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2025
"This is why the past provides us no benefit. It tells us who we were yesterday, not today. Who are we today? Each new day we must choose.”
This is the third book in the Shake Bouchon series and Shake has a new life in of all places Bloomington, Indiana, or does he? Of course not, his old life is at his doorstep in the form of Dikran, a tattooed, purple track suited Armenian, an associate from his days as a driver for the Armenian mob. He has come to ask for help in finding Lexy, mob boss and Shake's former lover who has gone missing while on vacation in Cambodia. As is his trademark, Berney gives us colorful characters, plenty of humor and endless hijinx. If you are a Lou Berney fan or just enjoy good thriller/suspense novels this one is lots of fun.
This is the third book in the Shake Bouchon series and Shake has a new life in of all places Bloomington, Indiana, or does he? Of course not, his old life is at his doorstep in the form of Dikran, a tattooed, purple track suited Armenian, an associate from his days as a driver for the Armenian mob. He has come to ask for help in finding Lexy, mob boss and Shake's former lover who has gone missing while on vacation in Cambodia. As is his trademark, Berney gives us colorful characters, plenty of humor and endless hijinx. If you are a Lou Berney fan or just enjoy good thriller/suspense novels this one is lots of fun.
Read
November 11, 2024No rating. This author is a fav and I loved the former Shake. But I just can't do this one. Blood and brain spray in the first 3 pages and not a fan of the faraway locality either. Maybe another time. But not just now. Maybe not at all. Probably not at all.
So DNF and no rating because his humor will surely make this one a good read for the majority. But I am not the audience. Major, major violence and language too that has sunk down a couple pegs lower. If that is possible. He can write extremely well. I got to page 28 and it looks like an adventure in Cambodia/ Thailand. Tuk-tuk operators, be aware.
But I do like Bloomington, Indiana. That's where Shake was living in the present.
So DNF and no rating because his humor will surely make this one a good read for the majority. But I am not the audience. Major, major violence and language too that has sunk down a couple pegs lower. If that is possible. He can write extremely well. I got to page 28 and it looks like an adventure in Cambodia/ Thailand. Tuk-tuk operators, be aware.
But I do like Bloomington, Indiana. That's where Shake was living in the present.
October 15, 2024
This is the third book about Shake Bouchon who was a driver for the Armenian Mafia. He now lives with his wife, Gina, in Bloomington, IN. He keeps a low profile now until Dikran shows up at his house and forces him to help find Lexy, the leader of the Armenian mob. Now it is a race against time to find Lexy before the kidnappers kill her. The book is fast moving with always something new that threatens to change the outcome.
Lou Berney is a good writer that keeps you interested in his stories. There is a lot of action and humor. His characters are well written. Gina and Shake are great together. Dikran turns into a loveable mobster. He is now my go-to author when I want to read something exciting. He keeps you on your toes.
I want to thank William Morrow and Net Galley for my early ARC of this book.
Lou Berney is a good writer that keeps you interested in his stories. There is a lot of action and humor. His characters are well written. Gina and Shake are great together. Dikran turns into a loveable mobster. He is now my go-to author when I want to read something exciting. He keeps you on your toes.
I want to thank William Morrow and Net Galley for my early ARC of this book.
November 7, 2024
Double Barrel Bluff is quite a thrilling, dangerous roller coaster ride through Cambodia! Shake Bouchon has forsaken his former life in the Armenian mob to settle down with the love of his life, Gina, in Bloomington Indiana. Gina has also lived a life on the edge and desires a new life as well. When an old enemy from his past appears suddenly at his new home, begging for Shake’s assistance to find his old flame, Lexy, who has been kidnapped, Shake finds himself pulled back into his old life. Lexy is currently head of the Armenian mob and the search is fraught with danger. Lou Berney has written a fast-paced book full of danger, a cast full of unsavory, sometimes bumbling criminals, with a plot full of unexpected twists and a bit of humor! I have not read either of the first two in this series, but it works well as a stand-alone. I absolutely enjoyed the book and found it hard to put down! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy. The opinions of this review are my own.
August 26, 2025
Okay, listen up.... This is a terrifically entertaining book. I don't think it's necessary for one to have read the first two books in this delightful series to enjoy this one, but it wouldn't hurt if you had.
Shake Bouchon is happily married to Gina, a former adversary, and they have left behind a dangerous life of crime to settle down in Bloomington Indiana, where no one knows them. Or so they thought. Shake used to drive, occasionally, for a fearsome Armenian gang and has vowed to leave that life behind. Unfortunately, he didn't count on one of the gang's scariest thugs finding him, not to kill him (at least not immediately), but to enlist Shake's help in locating his beloved gang boss, Alexandra “Lexy” Ilandryan, a woman with whom he escaped Armenia many years ago as youngsters and, coincidentally, who also happens to be Shake’s ex-girlfriend.
With the stage set, the reader can sit back and enjoy the ride from here on out. Berney has crafted a wonderfully twisted plot with any number of memorable characters, some pretty evil, some slapstick- funny, and others in between. His pacing and rhythm are spot on and the pages just keep turning as if by themselves. This is a fun read and well worth your time, regardless of whether or not you're a fan of the author. You might just become one after reading Double Barrel Bluff.
Shake Bouchon is happily married to Gina, a former adversary, and they have left behind a dangerous life of crime to settle down in Bloomington Indiana, where no one knows them. Or so they thought. Shake used to drive, occasionally, for a fearsome Armenian gang and has vowed to leave that life behind. Unfortunately, he didn't count on one of the gang's scariest thugs finding him, not to kill him (at least not immediately), but to enlist Shake's help in locating his beloved gang boss, Alexandra “Lexy” Ilandryan, a woman with whom he escaped Armenia many years ago as youngsters and, coincidentally, who also happens to be Shake’s ex-girlfriend.
With the stage set, the reader can sit back and enjoy the ride from here on out. Berney has crafted a wonderfully twisted plot with any number of memorable characters, some pretty evil, some slapstick- funny, and others in between. His pacing and rhythm are spot on and the pages just keep turning as if by themselves. This is a fun read and well worth your time, regardless of whether or not you're a fan of the author. You might just become one after reading Double Barrel Bluff.
March 3, 2025
Whoops, didn't know this was a third in a series. That explains a lot.
Bonus points for the Bee Gees references.
Bonus points for the Bee Gees references.
June 5, 2025
Sometimes you need a quick and easy detective slash mafia novel to cleanse the pallet.
October 18, 2025
Another great ride with Shake Bouchan! This series is always a good time. And Double Barrel Bluff was a thrilling ride and another “how will he get himself out of this situation” adventure that I’ve come to expect from this series.
I thought the story was fun and Shake remains an excellent character. The only drawbacks were I thought this book had the least compelling supporting cast of the series so far, which has always been highlight for me.
I thought the story was fun and Shake remains an excellent character. The only drawbacks were I thought this book had the least compelling supporting cast of the series so far, which has always been highlight for me.
November 16, 2024
3.5 stars. Not my favorite Birney book but better than Dark Ride.
November 1, 2024
The so-so success of her eponymous album and former industry insider father's songwriting beneath her wings, Kim Wilde's second studio album 'Select' mysteriously avoided the US market and garnered luke-warm support in the rest of the music world. A notable departure from Kim's debut, album number two was a slight departure from Kim's OG sound and featured more synthesizers and different themes. Widely acknowledged as the best song from 'Select', Cambodia was ostensibly not related to the carpet bombing of said country in the 70s under Nixon and Kissinger. Borrowing both the theme of losing someone in sad circumstances and the titular country, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF goes full bore on a wild ride through South East Asia; there's murder, bumbling kidnappers, betrayal, love, vengeance and diamonds. There are always diamonds.
New Orleans diaspora and former pro wheel man for the L.A. Armenian mob Charles "Shake" Bouchon wants to go on the straight and narrow, and one day it will happen. Were it not for intrusions of his old life coming back to haunt him. Like John McClane asking himself how the same thing can happen to the same guy twice, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF has Shake whiling away time in the Insurance Capital of the World, Bloomington, ID. He likes it there, the good life with a good wife. The average life. Being a square. Not quite an easy task just out of the joint after serving a three year stretch for keeping your mouth shut and not ratting the female Don (or is it Donna?) of the Armenian mob out to the feds. What's allowed him to prevail thus far, a lifetime with hairy fixes and tight spots, was his number one rule: stay cool. The path of righteousness and the bucolic home life are once again on hold when two expats with shenanigans in their heads and cannabis in their blood decide to kidnap his ex, bringing her right-hand man and confidant to his doorstep. An Armenian brute, a 280lbs behemoth, akin to Lenny from OF MICE AND MEN, offering to help Shake navigate the dangers of Cambodia, just that instead of tending rabbits he wants to break bones.
It's not quite apparent why Shake would agree to this, facing a fuming wife, a crazy Armenian killer who's twice tried to off him, and the missing lady, the ex, who runs the L.A. meat distro and the Kardashians. It's complicated and yet simple. Simply insane and insanely fun. On top of all that, Shake might just be stuck in the middle of a fanning mob war and power shift. What could go wrong? Loosely structured like buddy comedy THE RUNDOWN, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF jumps headfirst into South East Asia, Cambodia, a place with oppressive heat, aggressive insects, a thriving sex tourism trade, and tons of unexploded landmines. Moreover, for sake of the plot, trusting anybody in Cambodia is simply nuts. If readers are familiar with Christopher Hudson's marvelous 1984 movie tie-in novelization of THE KILLING FIELDS, most of the locations and place names will be utterly familiar as the story gets going. If not, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF sets readers on a swell journey of discovery of the former Khmer Republic. With elements of FARGO (the movie, not the TV show), the smoldering OFF LIMITS, Stephen King's Blaze, and 1997's SUICIDE KINGS, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF argues that nothing in life is 100% and offers a ruthless and brutal game of 5 Questions that rivals the bouts of Russian Roulette played in THE DEER HUNTER. As such, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF is all rage with a malice chaser, a crime caper that is murderously nimble, funny, and entertaining. Three cheers for both barrels. Drink up and don't fumble the reload.
Big thank you to Lou Berney, Net Galley, and William Morrow/Harper Collins for the ARC.
November 10, 2024
Shake Bouchon believed that he was thousands of miles removed from his past until he came face to face with a hulking enforcer named Dikran Ghazarian. Shake’s reluctance at this unprompted reunion is illustrated when he attempts to flee from the thug and later hopes to incapacitate him when he is unable to escape his clutches. After landing a few impactful hits on Shake, Dikran explains the reason for his arrival. Shake’s former boss and one-time love interest, Lexy Ilandryan, has gone missing in Cambodia, and Dikran requires his help.
French and Ramos are two men conducting surreptitious surveillance on a female tourist exploring the sites and scenes of Cambodia. While French is a frustrated writer and former professor, Ramos is an ex-convict seeking a quick score. Their job is high risk, but the reward may surpass the danger. They move quickly, but Ramos’ hair-trigger reaction leads to the death of an associate.
Shake has been living a new and reformed life in Indiana with his wife, Gina. He is reluctant to travel halfway around the world and risk his neck for a former flame. However, pangs of guilt and loyalty toward a friend put him on the red-eye journey. Shake and Dikran are not friends, but they must work together as their shared concern for Lexy overrides their mutual disdain. Shake doesn’t believe that Lexy is in any immediate danger, yet there is more than enough evidence pointing to her abduction.
Shake knows that he has his work cut out for him. The appearance of Armenian mob underlings inquiring into Lexy’s whereabouts only hastens the need for locating her. A power vacuum in the mob is probable if her disappearance is known, and her safety might be in further jeopardy. In addition, Shake left Gina back in Indiana, and the couple parted under questionable circumstances. He doesn’t know which will lead to more headaches: an answered or a missed phone call. In order to locate Lexy, Shake will need to rely on instinct, along with dicey underworld connections. With each passing day, Dikran’s instability threatens to go off the rails, and Shake knows its only a matter of time before he’s in the crosshairs.
DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF is Berney’s latest rip-roaring page-turner. Shake Bouchon returns as the affable knockaround guy turned upright citizen who faces a jump back into the unfathomable and murky depths of the underworld. The danger posed to Lexy is just one of many compelling complications that push this great story forward.
Shake’s tenuous alliance with Dikran threatens to dissolve at any minute, often in a way that will leave one or the other bruised and battered. The contrast to their partnership is the criminal association of French and Ramos. French is the more erudite of the pair but often acts condescending to the volatile Ramos. Both pairs operate under the thinnest layer of trust. However, the relationship at the heart of the story revolves around Shake and Gina. The couple long for an idyllic life but also gravitate toward the dangerous. Their love is pure, and their interactions are genuine.
Lou Berney continues to produce outstanding books that are funny, intelligent and entertaining.
Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro
French and Ramos are two men conducting surreptitious surveillance on a female tourist exploring the sites and scenes of Cambodia. While French is a frustrated writer and former professor, Ramos is an ex-convict seeking a quick score. Their job is high risk, but the reward may surpass the danger. They move quickly, but Ramos’ hair-trigger reaction leads to the death of an associate.
Shake has been living a new and reformed life in Indiana with his wife, Gina. He is reluctant to travel halfway around the world and risk his neck for a former flame. However, pangs of guilt and loyalty toward a friend put him on the red-eye journey. Shake and Dikran are not friends, but they must work together as their shared concern for Lexy overrides their mutual disdain. Shake doesn’t believe that Lexy is in any immediate danger, yet there is more than enough evidence pointing to her abduction.
Shake knows that he has his work cut out for him. The appearance of Armenian mob underlings inquiring into Lexy’s whereabouts only hastens the need for locating her. A power vacuum in the mob is probable if her disappearance is known, and her safety might be in further jeopardy. In addition, Shake left Gina back in Indiana, and the couple parted under questionable circumstances. He doesn’t know which will lead to more headaches: an answered or a missed phone call. In order to locate Lexy, Shake will need to rely on instinct, along with dicey underworld connections. With each passing day, Dikran’s instability threatens to go off the rails, and Shake knows its only a matter of time before he’s in the crosshairs.
DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF is Berney’s latest rip-roaring page-turner. Shake Bouchon returns as the affable knockaround guy turned upright citizen who faces a jump back into the unfathomable and murky depths of the underworld. The danger posed to Lexy is just one of many compelling complications that push this great story forward.
Shake’s tenuous alliance with Dikran threatens to dissolve at any minute, often in a way that will leave one or the other bruised and battered. The contrast to their partnership is the criminal association of French and Ramos. French is the more erudite of the pair but often acts condescending to the volatile Ramos. Both pairs operate under the thinnest layer of trust. However, the relationship at the heart of the story revolves around Shake and Gina. The couple long for an idyllic life but also gravitate toward the dangerous. Their love is pure, and their interactions are genuine.
Lou Berney continues to produce outstanding books that are funny, intelligent and entertaining.
Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro
November 14, 2024
After a twelve-year absence, Charles "Shake" Bouchon finally returns, and not a moment too soon. Shake, who was once a wheelman for an Armenian mob in L.A., first appeared in Gutshot Straight (2009) and again in Whiplash River (2012). In each case, Bouchon tried desperately to escape his criminal past and lead an ordinary, boring, "straight" life. Each time, he was frustrated in the effort, and such is the case again here.
As the new book opens, Shake is leading a quiet life in Bloomington, Indiana. He's married to a former nemesis named Gina and is working for a school that teaches newly arrived immigrants how to drive. He assumes that he has left the danger of his former criminal life behind, when out of nowhere an Armenian gangster named Dikran shows up in his back yard. Lexy Handryan, the boss of the Armenian mob in L.A. and Shake's former lover, has disappeared somewhere in Cambodia. Dikran, her closest associate, insists that Shake accompany him to Cambodia in an effort to discover what has happened to Lexy.
Gina will not be happy about this idea. In fact, Shake is not all that happy about it himself, but he feels that he owes it to Lexy and, as a practical matter, Dikran is not offering him a real choice here.
Shake attempts to convince Dikran that Lexy has simply dropped off the map for a brief period to have some down time and to rejuvenate herself. But once he and Dikran arrive in Cambodia, it quickly becomes apparent that something much more serious is going on and before long, Shake will find himself in all sorts of trouble.
Shake Bouchon is a very appealing protagonist--smart, funny, and very inventive. All the characters in the novel are very well-imagined; the plot is engaging, and the dialogue sparkles. The story moves swiftly and the whole thing is a great deal of fun. In the twelve years between these novels, Berney took the time to write some truly excellent standalones, including Dark Ride, November Road, and The Long and Faraway Gone, which remains one of my favorite novels of all. It's nice to see the author returning to his roots here, and I'm very much looking forward to his next effort, irrespective of what it might be.
James L. Thane
www.jameslthane.com
As the new book opens, Shake is leading a quiet life in Bloomington, Indiana. He's married to a former nemesis named Gina and is working for a school that teaches newly arrived immigrants how to drive. He assumes that he has left the danger of his former criminal life behind, when out of nowhere an Armenian gangster named Dikran shows up in his back yard. Lexy Handryan, the boss of the Armenian mob in L.A. and Shake's former lover, has disappeared somewhere in Cambodia. Dikran, her closest associate, insists that Shake accompany him to Cambodia in an effort to discover what has happened to Lexy.
Gina will not be happy about this idea. In fact, Shake is not all that happy about it himself, but he feels that he owes it to Lexy and, as a practical matter, Dikran is not offering him a real choice here.
Shake attempts to convince Dikran that Lexy has simply dropped off the map for a brief period to have some down time and to rejuvenate herself. But once he and Dikran arrive in Cambodia, it quickly becomes apparent that something much more serious is going on and before long, Shake will find himself in all sorts of trouble.
Shake Bouchon is a very appealing protagonist--smart, funny, and very inventive. All the characters in the novel are very well-imagined; the plot is engaging, and the dialogue sparkles. The story moves swiftly and the whole thing is a great deal of fun. In the twelve years between these novels, Berney took the time to write some truly excellent standalones, including Dark Ride, November Road, and The Long and Faraway Gone, which remains one of my favorite novels of all. It's nice to see the author returning to his roots here, and I'm very much looking forward to his next effort, irrespective of what it might be.
James L. Thane
www.jameslthane.com
September 14, 2024
This is my first Shake Bouchon novel. Unlike the two Lou Berney novels I’ve read (The Long and Faraway Gone and November Road), which are straight out thrillers, Berney’s DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF blends humor into his thriller, similar to but not to the extent of Kinky Friedman and Tom Dorsey.
Basic Plot: Shake Bouchon, a retired wheel driver for a Los Angeles Armenian mob has retired to Indiana, where he and his wife Gina live a law-abiding lifestyle.
Shake is a nice guy, except a lot of men don’t like him. One of them, who threatened to kill Shake the next time he saw him, is Dikran. Dikran is the loyal dim-witted bodyguard for Lexy, who is the female pakhan (head honcho) of the powerful Los Angeles Armenian mob (don’t mess with the Armenians). Lexy is also Shake’s former girlfriend. Dikran comes to Bloomington, Indiana, not to kill Shake, but to seek his help in finding Lexy, who has gone missing in Cambodia.
The two travel to Cambodia, where after a time they learn Lexy has been abducted and held for ransom by two amateurs who follow another man’s plan.
The plot gets complicated when dimwitted (stupid) men (both good guys and bad guys) instinctively act contrary to plans and instructions, causing deadly problems for themselves and the other side (one guy is even referred to as “the goof.”). There’s some misleading and double-crossing (hint: Don’t double cross a dimwit. When they learn what you did, they will kill you).
The novel starts out as a rather disappointing, pedestrian thriller/adventure. It picks up when the Shakespearean-level confusion begins (this is almost assuredly the only time Shakespeare will be referenced by anyone discussing this book). Some readers love the story. You may be one of them. I preferred Berney’s more straight-forward thrillers.
The title “Double Barrel Bluff” is explained in the novel, but I can’t find it at the moment.
I did learn what a tuk-tuk is, so that makes me happy.
My rating: 3 stars (It’s better than 3 stars, but not good enough to be four stars.)
Basic Plot: Shake Bouchon, a retired wheel driver for a Los Angeles Armenian mob has retired to Indiana, where he and his wife Gina live a law-abiding lifestyle.
Shake is a nice guy, except a lot of men don’t like him. One of them, who threatened to kill Shake the next time he saw him, is Dikran. Dikran is the loyal dim-witted bodyguard for Lexy, who is the female pakhan (head honcho) of the powerful Los Angeles Armenian mob (don’t mess with the Armenians). Lexy is also Shake’s former girlfriend. Dikran comes to Bloomington, Indiana, not to kill Shake, but to seek his help in finding Lexy, who has gone missing in Cambodia.
The two travel to Cambodia, where after a time they learn Lexy has been abducted and held for ransom by two amateurs who follow another man’s plan.
The plot gets complicated when dimwitted (stupid) men (both good guys and bad guys) instinctively act contrary to plans and instructions, causing deadly problems for themselves and the other side (one guy is even referred to as “the goof.”). There’s some misleading and double-crossing (hint: Don’t double cross a dimwit. When they learn what you did, they will kill you).
The novel starts out as a rather disappointing, pedestrian thriller/adventure. It picks up when the Shakespearean-level confusion begins (this is almost assuredly the only time Shakespeare will be referenced by anyone discussing this book). Some readers love the story. You may be one of them. I preferred Berney’s more straight-forward thrillers.
The title “Double Barrel Bluff” is explained in the novel, but I can’t find it at the moment.
I did learn what a tuk-tuk is, so that makes me happy.
My rating: 3 stars (It’s better than 3 stars, but not good enough to be four stars.)
April 22, 2025
I am a confirmed Lou Berney fan. My introduction to Mr. Berney's writing was with November Road and I've read everything that he has written since. Shake Bouchon quickly became a character that I was fascinated with after reading Gutshot Strait and Whiplash River I patiently awaited the arrival of Double Barrel Bluff. Again Mr. Berney did not disappoint me with Shake's latest adventure. This time around he has gone to Cambodia on a not exactly volunteer mission to find his former employer-girlfriend and Los Angeles Armenian mob boss Lexy at the behest of Dikran, her protector and Shake's nightmare. Lexy has annually taken a vacation under a different name to some unknown destination where she cannot be reached in order to relax without any business interruptions. Shake and Dikran arrive in Cambodia where their worst fears are confirmed -- Lexy has been kidnapped and is being held for four million dollars ransom by a couple of amateurs who do not know her true identity. The kidnappers were given Dikran as the contact person to pay the ransom by Lexy since he is the only mob member that she can trust. Many oddball characters later Shake and Dikran are confronted by Babikian, the number two leader of the Los Angeles Armenian mob who they fear would betray Lexy in order to take over her operation. Now they have Babikian and his henchmen to worry about along with the kidnappers. This becomes one wild adventure filled with hilarious mishaps that is typical of any story involving Shake Bouchon. All of these events take place with a great deal of humor thrown in which confirms my suspicion that Lou Berney may be one of the funniest crime fiction writers since Carl Hiaasen. If you want to read a great thriller and have a great many laughs read this book. You won't be sorry that you did.
November 6, 2025
Imagine my joy to discover that, after a fallow period, Berney has returned with TWO new books in a year, especially after the so-so Dark Ride. Here we're back with genial protagonist Shake Bouchon, star of two wildly enjoyable previous entries. This time he's happily settled in Bloomington, of all places (second Bloomington-set novel I've read recently, after Lost Man's Lane, and this one digs into the greatness of Breaking Away briefly but engagingly as part of the setup of how great Bloomington is--sidebar: is there anything as echt-70s as 70s sports movies? You've got Rocky, The Longest Yard, The Bad News Bears, Breaking Away: text after text documenting the chasm between heroic narrative convention and tawdry present), but gets dragged off to Cambodia and one of the most gloriously misbegotten kidnap plots I've read, with would-be geniuses who have absolutely no idea what they've gotten themselves into. (One of them, a defrocked English professor, is prone to recalling possibly misremembered allusions that capture his misreading of the situations he's gotten himself into.)
In addition to numerous twists or slight tweaks on genre-standard situations, and a cunning series of reversals of the situation I really enjoy the...interest? that may be the best word for it...Berney shows in his characters. We get POV chapters that get us inside the minds of supporting characters that both advance the plot (which cooks) and bring us an almost prismatic sense of the ramifying truths of this story--characters keep discovering new dimensions to what they think they know, new depths to the relationships and demands of the other characters. I quite enjoyed it on the level of construction, along with the plot, featuring multiple Chekhov's guns going off from beginning to end. Excited to read the other new one as well.
In addition to numerous twists or slight tweaks on genre-standard situations, and a cunning series of reversals of the situation I really enjoy the...interest? that may be the best word for it...Berney shows in his characters. We get POV chapters that get us inside the minds of supporting characters that both advance the plot (which cooks) and bring us an almost prismatic sense of the ramifying truths of this story--characters keep discovering new dimensions to what they think they know, new depths to the relationships and demands of the other characters. I quite enjoyed it on the level of construction, along with the plot, featuring multiple Chekhov's guns going off from beginning to end. Excited to read the other new one as well.
July 1, 2025
"Double Barrel Bluff", 3rd in the Shake series, is just as wild and crazy as its predecessors. And that's a good thing!
It begins with Shake, ex- wheelman with the Armenian mob in LA and now just a guy who wants to chill, living a nice college-town existence with his love partner Gina in, you guessed it, Bloomington Indiana (eh, you probably didn't guess it...). One of his many nemeses from the old days, mob enforcer Dikran, tracks Shake down and, rather than killing him in some imaginatively gruesome way, asks for his help in locating the mob's leader, who is MIA while on vacation in Cambodia. A small problem: the mob leader is a beautiful female, Lexy, with whom Shake was involved romantically in the past and who is a mortal enemy of Gina. Shake sweet-talks Gina, breathes a sigh of relief that Dikran has yet to murder him, and jets off to the east. The Shake-Dikran duo eventually discovers the reason Lexy is missing is that she's been kidnapped by a couple knuckleheads who don't realize they have the leader of the most vicious crime organization in America in their possession. What follows is intrigue, hilarity, and violence as others in Lexy's organization become involved, the kidnappers jack up their demands, and negotiations don't exactly play out smoothly.
Double Barrel Bluff is an exciting, fun, roller-coaster of a ride with a surprisingly happy ending, especially considering all of what it took to get there. Shake's a great character, his relationship with Gina is the stuff of legend, Mr. Berney tells great stories, and the writing and dialogue in the series are perfect. The author has written several other excellent novels outside of the series, but I think (and hope) Shake will always be ready for a return engagement.
It begins with Shake, ex- wheelman with the Armenian mob in LA and now just a guy who wants to chill, living a nice college-town existence with his love partner Gina in, you guessed it, Bloomington Indiana (eh, you probably didn't guess it...). One of his many nemeses from the old days, mob enforcer Dikran, tracks Shake down and, rather than killing him in some imaginatively gruesome way, asks for his help in locating the mob's leader, who is MIA while on vacation in Cambodia. A small problem: the mob leader is a beautiful female, Lexy, with whom Shake was involved romantically in the past and who is a mortal enemy of Gina. Shake sweet-talks Gina, breathes a sigh of relief that Dikran has yet to murder him, and jets off to the east. The Shake-Dikran duo eventually discovers the reason Lexy is missing is that she's been kidnapped by a couple knuckleheads who don't realize they have the leader of the most vicious crime organization in America in their possession. What follows is intrigue, hilarity, and violence as others in Lexy's organization become involved, the kidnappers jack up their demands, and negotiations don't exactly play out smoothly.
Double Barrel Bluff is an exciting, fun, roller-coaster of a ride with a surprisingly happy ending, especially considering all of what it took to get there. Shake's a great character, his relationship with Gina is the stuff of legend, Mr. Berney tells great stories, and the writing and dialogue in the series are perfect. The author has written several other excellent novels outside of the series, but I think (and hope) Shake will always be ready for a return engagement.
September 10, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
Lou Berney’s Double Barrel Bluff is a thrilling ride through the shadowy underworld of Cambodia, featuring the ever-resourceful former mob wheelman, Shake Bouchon. This third installment in the Shake Bouchon series is a testament to Berney’s skill in crafting intricate plots and unforgettable characters.
The novel plunges readers into a high-stakes hostage rescue mission. Shake Bouchon, who has been trying to live a quiet life, is reluctantly pulled back into the criminal world when an Armenian mobster seeks his help in Cambodia.
Shake Bouchon is a compelling protagonist, blending street-smart toughness with a surprising depth of emotion. Berney’s supporting cast is equally well-drawn, from the ruthless mobsters to the enigmatic locals. Each character adds a layer of complexity to the story, making the narrative rich and engaging.
Double Barrel Bluff explores themes of redemption, loyalty, and the inescapability of one’s past. Berney delves into the moral ambiguities of his characters’ lives, presenting a nuanced view of crime and justice.
Berney’s writing is sharp and evocative, with a knack for vivid descriptions and snappy dialogue. His ability to blend humor with tension makes for a highly entertaining read.
Double Barrel Bluff is a standout in the crime thriller genre, offering a perfect mix of action, suspense, and character development. Lou Berney has once again proven his mastery in creating a gripping narrative that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next adventure of Shake Bouchon. Highly recommended for fans of fast-paced thrillers and intricate plots.
Lou Berney’s Double Barrel Bluff is a thrilling ride through the shadowy underworld of Cambodia, featuring the ever-resourceful former mob wheelman, Shake Bouchon. This third installment in the Shake Bouchon series is a testament to Berney’s skill in crafting intricate plots and unforgettable characters.
The novel plunges readers into a high-stakes hostage rescue mission. Shake Bouchon, who has been trying to live a quiet life, is reluctantly pulled back into the criminal world when an Armenian mobster seeks his help in Cambodia.
Shake Bouchon is a compelling protagonist, blending street-smart toughness with a surprising depth of emotion. Berney’s supporting cast is equally well-drawn, from the ruthless mobsters to the enigmatic locals. Each character adds a layer of complexity to the story, making the narrative rich and engaging.
Double Barrel Bluff explores themes of redemption, loyalty, and the inescapability of one’s past. Berney delves into the moral ambiguities of his characters’ lives, presenting a nuanced view of crime and justice.
Berney’s writing is sharp and evocative, with a knack for vivid descriptions and snappy dialogue. His ability to blend humor with tension makes for a highly entertaining read.
Double Barrel Bluff is a standout in the crime thriller genre, offering a perfect mix of action, suspense, and character development. Lou Berney has once again proven his mastery in creating a gripping narrative that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next adventure of Shake Bouchon. Highly recommended for fans of fast-paced thrillers and intricate plots.
July 25, 2025
Lou Berney’s 2024 book, Double Barrel Bluff, brings the welcome return of his popular Shake Bouchon series in which the former wheelman for the Armenian mob, now settled into a quiet, domestic life in middle America, is confronted with an unwelcome face from the past. And it’s not just any face, but the face of the former right hand to the boss of LA’s Armenian mob standing in Shake’s back yard in the middle of a sunny summer afternoon. An ugly face and the face of the meanest, dumbest, most brutal man Shake had ever met. The brute who’d promised Shake he’d make him beg for death the next time they crossed paths and who could not possibly be here demanding Shake to help him find Lexy Ilandryan, his beautiful, dangerous and missing boss—except that he is.
And so it begins. Lou Berney is back in the crime caper groove and Shake Bouchon is back in the shadows trying to help a killer he doesn’t trust and who will stop at nothing to find Lexy even if that means killing Shake. The two of them fly to Cambodia to pick up the trail, Shake having no choice but to leave his dear wife behind; she’s angry at Shake’s return to the underworld, well intentioned as it may be, and even more angry at being cut out of the action, which means she doesn’t stay behind for long. This is Lou Berney hitting his crime caper stride once again, spinning a perfectly plotted and engaging noir tale of colorful characters in an exotic locale. The writing is pitch perfect, witty and sharp and the story itself is hard to step away from. If you’re fond of the witty crime caper genre as defined by Elmore Leonard you’ll love this book and hope Lou Berney doesn’t stop writing them.
4.5 stars.
And so it begins. Lou Berney is back in the crime caper groove and Shake Bouchon is back in the shadows trying to help a killer he doesn’t trust and who will stop at nothing to find Lexy even if that means killing Shake. The two of them fly to Cambodia to pick up the trail, Shake having no choice but to leave his dear wife behind; she’s angry at Shake’s return to the underworld, well intentioned as it may be, and even more angry at being cut out of the action, which means she doesn’t stay behind for long. This is Lou Berney hitting his crime caper stride once again, spinning a perfectly plotted and engaging noir tale of colorful characters in an exotic locale. The writing is pitch perfect, witty and sharp and the story itself is hard to step away from. If you’re fond of the witty crime caper genre as defined by Elmore Leonard you’ll love this book and hope Lou Berney doesn’t stop writing them.
4.5 stars.
November 8, 2024
The Double Barrel Bluff
By Lou Berney
Lou Berney writes quirky books with characters that are at once the average Joe and at the same time not like anyone you've ever met – and hopefully you never will. Charles "Shake" Bouchon, a Cajun from the Big Easy, is just such a character. He has been the protagonist in multiple book, including this one.
Shake has spent life in and out of prison for crimes, some petty, some not so much. He has been a driver for the Armenian mob out of LA – and the sometime lover of Alexandra "Lexy" Ilandryan, the "pakhan" - or boss – of the Armenian mob.
After a number of adventures together with Lexy, Shake has married Gina, the love of his life, and moved to Bloomington, IN to walk the straight and narrow. He has succeeded for just over a year when Dikran, an Armenian thug and Lexy's closest and most trusted friend, shows up to ask for Shake's help, because Lexy, while on vacation in Thailand, has disappeared.
Thus these two friendly enemies take off to Thailand to find out what has become of Lexy. From this point on the usual array of oddball characters manages to add to the bedlam that transpires. There are kidnappers who don't know who their victim is; a psycho Thai overload of sorts; an underling making his move to move up in the world; a sorta psychic ; and a 26 year old casino manager who thinks he's irresistible to women. Each contributes to the fun and mayhem that always seems to find Shake.
This is once again a fun adventure, not to be taken seriously – just enjoyed for the journey.
By Lou Berney
Lou Berney writes quirky books with characters that are at once the average Joe and at the same time not like anyone you've ever met – and hopefully you never will. Charles "Shake" Bouchon, a Cajun from the Big Easy, is just such a character. He has been the protagonist in multiple book, including this one.
Shake has spent life in and out of prison for crimes, some petty, some not so much. He has been a driver for the Armenian mob out of LA – and the sometime lover of Alexandra "Lexy" Ilandryan, the "pakhan" - or boss – of the Armenian mob.
After a number of adventures together with Lexy, Shake has married Gina, the love of his life, and moved to Bloomington, IN to walk the straight and narrow. He has succeeded for just over a year when Dikran, an Armenian thug and Lexy's closest and most trusted friend, shows up to ask for Shake's help, because Lexy, while on vacation in Thailand, has disappeared.
Thus these two friendly enemies take off to Thailand to find out what has become of Lexy. From this point on the usual array of oddball characters manages to add to the bedlam that transpires. There are kidnappers who don't know who their victim is; a psycho Thai overload of sorts; an underling making his move to move up in the world; a sorta psychic ; and a 26 year old casino manager who thinks he's irresistible to women. Each contributes to the fun and mayhem that always seems to find Shake.
This is once again a fun adventure, not to be taken seriously – just enjoyed for the journey.
December 3, 2024
After a dozen years, Lou Berney is back with another entry in the "Shake Bouchon" series, the third overall. In those intervening 12 years Berney has produced award-winning novels such as NOVEMBER ROAD and DARK RIDE. He is a talented author capable of thought-provoking and occasionally dark work. The "Shake" series isn't like that. Still very good, to be sure, but more escapist and fun.
In this book, Shake and Gina are back for another adventure. They are now married and living the good life in Bloomington, Indiana. Shake's past catches up to him, though, drawing him into a perilous situation that he has to maneuver at the side of his archenemy, a nemisis that in the past spent a lot of time promising to kill him.
Almost all the action takes place in Cambodia, a setting that adds to the exotic flair produced by many of the villains and protagonists in this story. The plot moves swiftly and is realistically outlandish. The characters are well-drawn, especially a former academic who is recognizable to anyone who has spent time in academia. It is another exciting read in this series. Good stuff for a cold, winter's evening. The story may not stay with you in the same way the main character in DARK RIDE does, but the entertainment value shouldn't be short-shrifted. A sub-plot involving Gina rings false, but that is the only speed bump. If it doesn't hinder his non-series work, another book in this series would be well worthwhile.
When it begins so
easily, something's amiss.
More to the story.
In this book, Shake and Gina are back for another adventure. They are now married and living the good life in Bloomington, Indiana. Shake's past catches up to him, though, drawing him into a perilous situation that he has to maneuver at the side of his archenemy, a nemisis that in the past spent a lot of time promising to kill him.
Almost all the action takes place in Cambodia, a setting that adds to the exotic flair produced by many of the villains and protagonists in this story. The plot moves swiftly and is realistically outlandish. The characters are well-drawn, especially a former academic who is recognizable to anyone who has spent time in academia. It is another exciting read in this series. Good stuff for a cold, winter's evening. The story may not stay with you in the same way the main character in DARK RIDE does, but the entertainment value shouldn't be short-shrifted. A sub-plot involving Gina rings false, but that is the only speed bump. If it doesn't hinder his non-series work, another book in this series would be well worthwhile.
When it begins so
easily, something's amiss.
More to the story.
August 12, 2024
Former mob wheelman, Shake has married and settled down in Indiana when his past comes for him. Lexy, his ex, who happens to be an Armenian crime boss, has gone missing on a vacation in Cambodia. Shake teams up with Lexy’s dearest friend, a thug with an outstanding beef with him, to find her. But running off to rescue his ex creates tension in his relationship with his wife.
Killer characterization along with dark humor make this book a winner.
The narrative dips into various characters’ perspectives, giving insight into their motivations. Even the minor characters like Mitch, an aura-obsessed woman Shake encounters in his quest, and Yvette, a girl Gina helps through her non-profit, are fully developed. The settings both in Indiana and Cambodia are vividly created through description and the character’s interactions and perspectives.
Shake’s wife, Gina holds her own throughout the story as she finds her own trouble while Shake is away. I really liked the care with which the female characters were created.
The plot has plenty of twists and turns, leading to a satisfying ending. DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF is a fun, action-packed crime novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to HarperCollins for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.
Killer characterization along with dark humor make this book a winner.
The narrative dips into various characters’ perspectives, giving insight into their motivations. Even the minor characters like Mitch, an aura-obsessed woman Shake encounters in his quest, and Yvette, a girl Gina helps through her non-profit, are fully developed. The settings both in Indiana and Cambodia are vividly created through description and the character’s interactions and perspectives.
Shake’s wife, Gina holds her own throughout the story as she finds her own trouble while Shake is away. I really liked the care with which the female characters were created.
The plot has plenty of twists and turns, leading to a satisfying ending. DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF is a fun, action-packed crime novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to HarperCollins for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.
November 8, 2024
Lou Berney’s DoubleBarrel Bluff is a thrilling blend of humor, grit, and action that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. In this novel, we follow Shake Bouchon, a former bad boy turned regular guy, as he navigates a whirlwind mystery involving his ex-girlfriend Lexy, who has mysteriously gone missing. Despite his commitment to a new, quieter life with his wife, Shake’s decision to help his ex sets off a chain of events that are as entertaining as they are suspenseful.
One of the novel’s highlights is Berney’s witty, sharp dialogue, which adds a lightheartedness to the otherwise intense storyline. Shake’s character is both complex and charming, and his interactions with Lexy and his wife bring out laugh-out-loud moments, showing the humor and tension that arise from trying to balance the past with the present. The inclusion of perspectives from Shake, his wife, and Lexy gives the story depth, creating a multidimensional view of each character’s motives and adding layers to the plot.
Fans of edgy, action-packed thrillers with a dash of humor, especially those who enjoy gritty characters like Max Payne, will find DoubleBarrel Bluff a thoroughly satisfying read. Berney’s combination of suspense, humor, and character-driven storytelling makes this book a standout in the genre.
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