True Grift

by Jack Bunker

A shrewd, darkly-funny, wildly unpredictable crime novel that evokes the very best of Elmore Leonard, John Grisham, and Carl Hiaasen A bankrupt lawyer and a greedy insurance adjuster concoct a personal injury scam involving a runaway grocery cart and recruit a half-wit golf course greenskeeper as their fall guy. But the plan goes horribly wrong, and as it spirals into a murderous fiasco, the grifters must deal with betrayals, shakedowns, bombs and mobsters to avoid prison… or worse, an early grave in a Southern California landfill. "If crime paid, they say, it would attract smarter criminals. Jack Bunker's TRUE GRIFT is a rollicking misadventure that might deter anyone who's ever thought about making a quick buck off an insurance company. This first novel is perfect for fans of Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiaasen and Donald E. Westlake — which is to say, all smart readers." --Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of "The Fixer" and "Suspicion" "TRUE GRIFT is a breezy page-turner that’s fun-filled and loaded with laughs from the jump. Donald Westlake fans will love this one," Joseph Wambaugh, bestselling author of "The Blue Knight," "The New Centurions," and "The Onion Field" "First-time author Jack Bunker displays an effortless, vivid writing style reminiscent of Elmore Leonard with the satirical spin of Carl Hiaasen. It’s hard to believe this is his first book. The dialogue is brisk, quick and witty, the situations outrageous but nonetheless believable, and the plotting air tight. The scam-gone-awry with murderous consequences may be hell for the shyster, but ‘True Grift’ is heaven for the readers," Paul Levine, bestselling author of “Bum Rap” ""True Grift' is a funny, fast-paced, ever-surprising hoot that belongs beside the finest schmoes-on-the-loose novels of Elmore Leonard," Ron Hansen "With this, his first novel, Jack Bunker proves himself to be a gifted and witty author who knows the law and how the "system" can be manipulated . A great read from first page to last -- you will enjoy every superbly crafted minute of it," Sol Wachtler, former Chief Judge of the State of New York, author of "After the Madness" and "Blood Brothers" "When an insurance claims manager and a personal injury lawyer who aren't quite as smart as they think they are come up with the perfect insurance scam, what could possibly go wrong? Plenty, as you'll find out in this hilarious novel by Jack Bunker. Fans of Dan Jenkins will love this one," Bill Crider, multiple Shamus & Anthony Award-nominated author of "Outrage at Blanco" and "Between the Living & The Dead" "Jack Bunker’s TRUE GRIFT is a fast and funny read -- sharply written, imaginatively plotted, loaded with wit and local color," Peter Lefcourt, author of "Purgatory Gardens" "Jack Bunker's impressive debut novel stands out, even among releases by established pros, with t errific characters, fast-moving plot and a great twist at the end that I didn't see coming," Charles Rosenberg, best-selling author of "Death on a High Floor" "Don’t be conned. TRUE GRIFT is the real deal, hilarious and action packed, full of unforgettable characters and a wildly entertaining story," Harry Hunsicker, former Executive Vice President of the Mystery Writers of America, author of "The Grid"

Genres: Dark Humor, Crime

267 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2015

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I did enjoy reading this book, I did not find any laugh out loud lines as the blurb from Joseph Wambaugh suggests. The story starts with an insurance claims administrator whose company is being taken over. He decides on orchestrating a false claim before losing his job in the takeover. He enlists a shady lawyer who recruits a golf course maintenance man. But then things start to go bad and everyone starts to double cross each other and more people get involved. There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot and I did not expect the surprise ending.
I give it 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4) out of 5. I received this book free from the publisher, Brash books, through NetGalley.com

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was one of the funniest books I have read in a long time. I have never seen such morons. Even the "smart" guys were morons for giving the real morons a second chance at trying to scam the insurance companies.

I laughed out loud numerous times at these idiots. I mean after a while, I would be thinking this person is going to . . . and yep, he did the stupidest thing you could do. I was doing a lot of head shaking during this one.

Finally someone got some smarts, I mean you can only deal with stupidity for so long and then it just gets boring. I definitely recommend this and you can see who gets the last laugh. It's definitely entertaining and you might not want to read it in public. People tend to glare at you and look at you strange when you are laughing out loud in public. And you definitely don't want anyone to think your laughing at them. HA!

Thanks Brash Books and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. I definitely enjoyed reading this and am glad I read it at home. My roommate had to come check on me and see what I was watching that was so funny, he wanted to check it out. HA!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review through Audiobook Boom!

This was a very entertaining story of bad plans turned worse and people unable to see the error of their ways. Of course, it's dark humor, with elements of noir and double-cross, and it's actually pretty well done.

I've had my eye on the publisher, Brash Books, and this is the second book I've had the opportunity to read or listen to (Koreatown Blues was the first, which was also very good). I'm definitely going to find more from this imprint!

[Greg Tymn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The introductory paragraphs of this novel, knowing that it was from a first-time author, left me wondering whether I'd get past the first few chapters. The prose reminded me of a juddering drive along a washboard road. A run-on sentence or two. Adjectives flying off the pages like a bevy of startled quail. But I committed to the publisher to read it and so I plunged on. When the book hit the sections of dialogue, it was like hitting the asphalt pavement once again. The steering wheel straightened out, the shocks relaxed and the ride became much more enjoyable.

By the end of the novel, I was pleased and impressed. I pictured myself looking over the shoulder of an intensely worried Al sitting at his desk watching his miserable life flash before his eyes. I heard the $100 chip stacks being shuffled against the felt tabletop at the casino as Mack made his 21 run and saw the shell-shock of too many hours and too many drinks at the tables. I ate a burger with TJ and Frankie Fresh while staring at Wanda. I saw Mack summit Joe Frey Hill. Heck, I felt I was co-pilot. I was surpised at how easily I slipped into the author's descriptive prose.

I won't summarize the plot. Many reviewers are sure to come along to supplement the publisher in this regard. However, I found the various sub-plots to be finely interwoven with more than a few surprises and all ends neatly tied. Jack Bunker has crafted much more into this novel than I would have expected from a new author.

Gilbert Gottfried said "I have always felt comedy and tragedy are roommates". And while we don't see the term "allegory" used much outside of English Lit classes anymore, the True Grift is truly allegorical in a funny, cynical way that makes you feel better from having spent time with these characters.

I found myself smiling after reading this book. It was satisfying and worth the time. It isn't overly long. I read it one evening into the wee hours. It reminded me in so many ways of a Carl Hiaasen tale, but if you don't care for Hiaasen, don't let that stop you from reading it. It is a Jack Bunker Novel. And I hope we'll see more from Mr. Bunker in the near future.

[HornFan2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley.com, Jack Bunker and Brash Books for the advance ARC for my review.

This is Jack Bunker's debut book, it has some hilarious parts, some serious parts, and reminded me of Elmore Leonard with still standing on it's own feet.

Made me think what if Dan Fielding was a down on his luck personal injury attorney. For those who don't know who Dan Fielding was, he was a prosecutor on the classic TV show Night Court and portrayed by hilarious John Larroquette.

Pair J.T. Edwards a bankrupt personal injury lawyer, with Al Boyle a greedy Insurance Senior Claims Manager, add in Mack a fraudulent slip and fall victim who is his own worst enemy, Wanda a muscular waitress, they'll have to contend with the MOB, betrayals, shakedowns, their own stupidity, a bomb and an ending that will leave a smile on your face.

It should come with a warning, since you're going to be laughing, have tears in your eyes even at one point and people will look funny at you.

I like Bunker's writing style, serious one minute funny the next, and always good to read one, that makes you laugh or isn't too serious.

Never thought a book that basically for a big part happens at a low budget golf club would hold my interest. Since not a golf fan but he makes that part interesting, funny, and grosses you out with the large amount of food, Frankie Fresh eats.

My favorite part of the book, was when Buddy gets mad at Mack for shaking, then opening beers on him and all why playing 18 holes of golf. While Mack takes a porta potty break to masturbate. Buddy sees a tractor decides to pay him back, puts the tractor in neutral and lets it roll that it bumps in the porta potty. Knocking it over, causing it to breaking apart, leaving Mack covered in waste, with his shorts around his ankles, a bent swollen penis and in a lot of pained.

I enjoyed 'True Grift', one of my favorite debut novels, definitely recommend it, and can't wait for Jack Bunker's next one.

Sure it be another vivid satirical, quick, witty read and leave you with a big ole grin on your face, with a ending you weren't expecting.

[Elite Group · Rating 2 out of 5]

True Grift Jack Bunker 2 stars

There are much better options out there…..


Some people enjoy slapstick and some don’t. I belong to the latter group and found this book a read to get through and move on. Jack Bunker is a US trial lawyer and this is his first book.


Without giving away the plot, just about every character is crooked. The lawyer, the insurance clerk, the patsy and his friend. Not only are they crooked but they are also stupid in the extreme to the point where one kills himself by accident. Now this would be fine if the book were funny – but it’s not. My single thought on completing the novel was – you couldn’t make it up. Unfortunately, Jack Bunker did make it up and I had the misfortune to pick it up to review it.


With possibly one exception there is no character with whom I could associate. I felt that they all deserved what was coming to them and as the story progressed I wanted it to happen sooner rather than later. To be successful writing this genre, it has to be believable. Unfortunately this wasn’t. If you want laugh-out-loud writing, then I suggest you turn to Tom Sharpe and his Wilt novels. Even now though I am unclear as to whether this novel was meant to be comical or serious.


Sorry Mr Bunker. My advice is to stick to the day job

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers were given a copy of the book to review

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two guys meet in a bar at a Southern California golf course – one a lawyer of questionable integrity currently confronting serious financial problems, the other a veteran (17 years) senior insurance claims manager whose continued employment in the business is in jeopardy due to a pending merger. Together the two hatch a scam that has all the earmarks of the plot of a great movie. If Robert Altman were still with us, this would be an ideal vehicle for his talents since the unconventional characters in this book puts one in mind of his movie Short Cuts - with each GRIFT character, from the 420 lb. mobbed up Frankie and the “good old gal” waitress Wanda to the golf course maintenance guys, Mack and Buddy with a back story to tell and their own individual cons in play.

The book has that neo-noir flavor of Sam Raimi’s A SIMPLE PLAN or some of the Coen Brothers offerings. Any fan of dark humor featuring a cast of schemers and bunglers who eventually get the “just desserts” will find Jack Bunker’s first novel TRUE GRIFT a wildly enjoyable read that makes the time just fly by.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This crime caper novel is populated by the oddest collection of losers. you know things will not go well for them, but it doesn't work the way you expect it to. A fun first novel.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding debut novel!

When a cowardly insurance adjuster joins forces with a morally ambiguous personal injury attorney in a scam designed to net each of them a big score just about anything that can go wrong does go wrong.

From choosing a "victim" who is very nearly incapable of following instruction, to attracting the attention of the local criminal element, their monumentally bad decisions may result in the reader being able to guess where it's all ultimately headed but - much like with the proverbial train wreck - you won't be able to pull yourself away from it.

One would be hard pressed to find a greedier, more inept group of scammers this side of a Coen Brothers movie.

Comparisons to Elmore Leonard, Donald E. Westlake, and Carl Hiaasen are almost mandatory with a story like this and they do apply to some extent. (I personally don't get the John Grisham comparison, but maybe it's just me). The overall plot is a bit light to compare to those legendary heavy hitters of absurdist crime fiction but author Jack Bunker is most definitely in the same ballpark.

***There are adult situations and a few instances of "gross humor" that are not appropriate for sensitive readers.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a caper novel a la Donald Westlake, but most of the characters are less likable than Dortmunder and crew. Still, it was fairly entertaining and had something approaching a surprise ending, although I had my suspicions before the reveal. The con involves an insurance adjuster about to be laid off in a company take-over and a financially failing personal injury lawyer who enlist a less than bright greenskeeper from their golf club to be the "victim". Nothing works out the way things were planned, and at first it seems the actual injury that ensues will make it go even better than planned but... More and more people get involved and everything spirals out of control. To avoid any spoilers I'll let it go at that. If you like a somewhat dark criminal caper book, you might want to give this a try.

[Tony R. Jarrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ins outs what have you’s

Very funny, reminds me of Dan Jenkins humor. It also reminds me of the book “Gods Second Son” the type of laugh out loud situations and language. A must read for anyone that likes to read for fun.

[Vickie Lynn Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comedy of errors

I liked the characters originality, really believable. Tragic and light hearted all at the same time. Recomend to people who want to forget their troubles.

[R.W. Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this read very entertaining &humorous.
If you like slapstick reading then don't pass this lil' puppy up!!
Rolando

[Eldon Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book seven years ago and I wish I had read it sooner. A fun little romp with well drawn characters and even a few laughs. Very much enjoyed this one :)

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.
This was the phrase that kept coming to my mind when I was reading this book. What started out as what should have been a simple insurance scam thought up by a lawyer and an insurance adjuster degenerated into a catalogue of errors that quickly spiralled right out of control.
JT is broke but still trying to keep up appearances especially at his golf club. Al is facing redundancy or relocation at work. Being as he is in negative equity, neither of these options are particularly welcoming. He is also a member of the same golf club and it is in the nineteenth hole that the two of them get together to hatch a simple insurance scam, the proceeds of which would provide them both with the means to start again. The scam is simple on the face of it, a personal accident in a supermarket car park with a return that is low enough for Al to sign off himself. JT has access to the right 'expert witnesses' to ensure all runs smoothly. What can possibly go wrong?
Picking a fall guy who is not the brightest probably wasn't the best idea, roping in his equally intelligence-challenged mate to assist just compounded the farcical way the scam played out. Couple that with Al who is so far away from being the mastermind criminal and JT who is so deceitful he is even scamming his partner, throw in the mob and what happens next is a delicious catalogue of errors that you really don't want to watch play out but, like a car crash, you just can't help yourself.
As the original plan has failed, parties want to write it off and walk away but due intrusions by unforeseen and unwelcome parties, this is not possible. They are simply in far too deep and we watch them as the dig the hole ever deeper to try to get out.
As with all good books, there are twists aplenty so it is not at all straightforward. We follow the characters as they play out the scenes so clever crafted with the occasional curve ball and omg moment to keep the reader on their toes. All that and a very clever ending which I didn't see coming.
The writing style is tight. There is humour throughout the book which complements the cringeworthy action. The characters are all well written and consistent in their actions. It was one of those books that had me shouting at the characters in anger, disgust, frustration and disappointment. It was definitely a book that had me emotionally involved. But most of all, I laughed. I laughed a lot. Some of the action (cringing apart) was very funny in a slapstick kind of way.
I am not familiar with American law so there were certain things I had to either look up or work out from the context but I didn't find that too challenging and it didn't intrude on my overall enjoyment of the book.
So, all in all a rollicking good farce that kept me entertained and amused throughout. I believe this is a début book so hats off to the author for that and I would definitely be interested in seeing how he follows it up.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Matthew Fries · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly great crime fiction story. Full of losers, and dimwits, and guys always trying to buck the system. A great book by any standards, and it didn't take itself too seriously, which is a problem that a lot of modern crime books have. I actually thought it was better than any Elmore Leonard book that I have read, but I guess if one had to compare Jack Bunker to another author, it would have to be Elmore Leonard.

[Schuyler Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once in a while a book arrives that, in spite of the misgiving a reader feels at first, turns out to be surprisingly good. I read the synopsis of “True Grift,” a misadventure written by Jack Bunker, featuring golf, lawyers, and grifters, and decided to give it a whirl, although it was an unknown author’s first effort. I liked it a lot.

Shyster attorney J.T. Edwards spends a lot of time setting up a parking lot scam in hopes of garnering some quick cash he needs to shore up his law firm’s books. He picks a crew of idiots to pull it off, including a stumbling and fumbling insurance adjuster, only to find that they are even stupider than they appear. The scam is mishandled and the motley crew ends up owing money to a minor league gangster who wants his investment to be returned immediately. Before the dust settles, one of Edwards’ coconspirators gets injured for real during a golf resort prank. The grift is back with the resort, having deep pockets, being viewed as a sitting duck for an authentic negligence lawsuit. More people get sucked in including a high-level mobster, an attractive waitress, additional shady attorneys, and big cheese insurance executives, until the entire operation resembles Ringling Brothers. It never seems to get going right and problems continue to build during the entire story, providing some head shaking and many guffaws for the reader.

I like Bunker’s plotting, his dialogue, and his ability to take an absurd story and turn it into a workable tour de force. The back and forth conversations are appropriate for these types of losers, rough and obscene; with undertones of desperation that plague the messed-up operations. In the end, winners and losers, are distributed cleverly by the author, who somehow manages to pull it together.

I recommend this book as an entertaining read and as an opportunity for astute readers to watch fools stumble around

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Even though it took me a while to really get pulled into the story, overall this turned out to be an very entertaining, enjoyable and engaging listen. Once the story is set up and the plan is put into action the story pulls you in and keeps your attention. It's on the lighter side of a mystery/ legal thriller that is also a comedy of errors, blunders and misadventures.

A cast of characters were everyone is a little (or a lot) corrupt. A story where even though everyone is shady in some way your still rooting for the underdog "likable" slightly less shady criminal.

What starts out as an insurance scam to earn some quick money by a soon to be laid off insurance claims adjuster and a bankrupt attorney rapidly spirals into a much larger tangled and twisted web of deceit, lies, murder and betrayal with large doses of humor.

Harry Dyson did a good job with the narration. This is the first time I have listened to a book he has narrated according to my records. Even though his voice sounds familiar. Nice voice. Easy to listen to for long periods of time. Perfect for narrating audiobooks. Clearly spoken with a nice even pace. Really good character voices. There were a couple of times the narration didn't quite flow smoothly but it wasn't enough to detract from the story. He was able to bring the characters and story to life. I would definitely listen to him narrate other books in the future. Very enjoyable.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator or publisher.

[I am PADiPAWS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Al, an insurance claims manager, and JT, a lawyer, are both on their uppers and are casual acquaintances at a California golf club. Over a drink they devise a personal injury insurance scam that they hope will dig them out of the hole they are in. They involve three employees of the golf club. Their plan is simple – what could go wrong? What follows is a cautionary tale of the pitfalls that chance and stupidity that can throw up, and the measures that Al and JT take to overcome these, but will they be successful and come out on top ……?

The story is a good one, chapters are short and the tale moves on apace. I was gripped by it and found it most enjoyable, but, as a British reader and non golfer, I was glad to be reading it on a Kindle as there were numerous colloquial expressions together with golfing and North American terms which were beyond my knowledge and experience, and in a number of cases were beyond the resources of my Kindle dictionary! I understand that this is Jack Bunker's first novel, but I am sure that we shall be seeing more from him and I look forward to it.

[Susan Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small insurance scam involving an insurance adjuster, a bankrupt lawyer and a groundskeeper at their golf course goes wrong, and things go from bad to worse to catastrophic. Fans of Carl Hiaasen will really enjoy the many ways things can go bad for everyone involved. The characters are not the brightest I've run across, but everyone seems to get what they deserve in the end. Sort of. Several times I laughed out loud, eliciting funny looks from my husband. A fast read, I recommend True Grift to anyone who likes a con game, even one that goes wrong. And fans of Carl Hiaasen,, Dave Barry, or Donald Westlake.

[Daria Steigman · Rating 2 out of 5]

True Grift is filled with losers -- the lawyer with the big office, ex wife, and lots of alimony and debt; the aging insurance salesman who's about to be reassigned to the middle of nowhere; the young guy looking for easy money and a big score. They concoct a scheme, but can't even run it right. In the midst of it comes the mobbed-up golfing buddy looking for his cut--or else.

I didn't like True Grift because I neither liked nor felt sympathy for the characters. It takes really good writing to make you root for hapless people (e.g., Elmore Leonard), and this book just didn't do it for me.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A not particularly honest attorney and an insurance adjuster who is convinced he is losing his job because of a merger get together to set up a scam to con the insurance company out of a goodly amount of money. They use people employed by the course where they both golf to assist them in the scam. Any and everything that can possibly go wrong does leading to a humorous tale of misadventure. It was fast and fun reading.

Thanks to Net Galley and Brash for an ARC for an honest review.

[Don Gorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2 1/2) This book made me a little nuts. At times I thought it was brilliant, other times I found it totally stupid. The twists and turns were well done and the format was tried and true with a contemporary feel. I loved a couple of the side characters but there were a lot of cliches in here as well. Overall the wittiness of it won me over. I will be interested to see how this author develops over time.

[Jay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to read when you are having a bad day. A weird collection of colorful characters provides the ingredients of a horrible day for a desperate lawyer and his companions. The action seems like outtakes from "Dumb and Dumber." Many "Oh no!" moments lead eventually to hearty laughter as the plot continues to congeal. You can't help but smile at the ending. Not a tough read, but a fun read.

[Tom Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little story which would never be mistaken for great literature is probably the best description of this book. A cast of immoral characters all trying to screw each other while participating in a little case of insurance fraud is a good summary of the plot. I usually like to have one character in any book I read that I can relate to. No luck with this one. I highly recommend this book if you hate lawyers, golf and insurance companies.

[R.J. Beam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always have loved the books by Elmore Leonard. Where an underdog criminal is like a hero for the story. Leonard is no longer with us, but Jack Bunker has captured that same tone. For the longest time, I have been waiting for a good story like this one.

[V. William Turkus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elmore Leonard imitation

Decent job of imitating the master of dirty little crime and the legal thriller from e host of legal action writers. Cute and entertaining, a good beach read.

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this arc from Netgalley.


Really enjoyed reading this book. It had me laughing out loud. Definitely a page turner.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mix of scam and humour that has been missing from most current crime fiction. It's shortish and entertaining, with one incredibly funny scene, that's well worth a read.

[Bernard Perrott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, held my attention throughout!!!