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A Rusty Diamond Story #2
Blind Shuffle
An ex-magician-turned-amateur detective hunts for a missing pregnant woman in this tale of New Orleans noir . . .
Rusty Diamond abandoned the Crescent City years ago to pursue fame in Las Vegas, leaving Marceline Lavalle with a broken heart. Now Rusty has finally come back to New Orleans—but no one has seen Marceline for days.
Five months pregnant, Marceline’s vanished without a trace, and her estranged boyfriend, a casino boss with criminal ties and a hair-trigger temper, claims no knowledge of her whereabouts. With the police not yet ready to declare foul play, Rusty launches his own investigation. The search for Marceline will take Rusty into dark corners far from the neon lights of Bourbon Street, where enormous profit can be made from human misery and desperate people hunt on the fringes. The journey will force him to confront the mistakes of his past, and offer him a shot at redemption—if he doesn’t wind up at the bottom of a bayou first . . .
“I wanted to take a bite out of Blind Shuffle before breakfast but ended up reading straight through lunch. I finished it on a plane to Tijuana. This was my first Rusty Diamond novel . . . it won’t be my last. Dig in.” —Patrick Hasburgh, creator of 21 Jump Street
Rusty Diamond abandoned the Crescent City years ago to pursue fame in Las Vegas, leaving Marceline Lavalle with a broken heart. Now Rusty has finally come back to New Orleans—but no one has seen Marceline for days.
Five months pregnant, Marceline’s vanished without a trace, and her estranged boyfriend, a casino boss with criminal ties and a hair-trigger temper, claims no knowledge of her whereabouts. With the police not yet ready to declare foul play, Rusty launches his own investigation. The search for Marceline will take Rusty into dark corners far from the neon lights of Bourbon Street, where enormous profit can be made from human misery and desperate people hunt on the fringes. The journey will force him to confront the mistakes of his past, and offer him a shot at redemption—if he doesn’t wind up at the bottom of a bayou first . . .
“I wanted to take a bite out of Blind Shuffle before breakfast but ended up reading straight through lunch. I finished it on a plane to Tijuana. This was my first Rusty Diamond novel . . . it won’t be my last. Dig in.” —Patrick Hasburgh, creator of 21 Jump Street
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2015
5 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Austin Williams
6 books188 followersAustin Williams is the author of the cult suspense novels Crimson Orgy and The Platinum Loop. and co-author of Straight Whisky: A Living History of Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll on the Sunset Strip.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 28, 2017
Rusty Diamond used to be a magician in Las Vegas but the fast life caught up with him & he fled to the east coast. Now he’s going back to New Orleans to make amends with Prosper Lavalle, the man who taught him everything he knows. It’s been years since they spoke & he’s not expecting a warm welcome.
But it’s worse than he thought. Prosper is not thrilled to see him but has bigger problems. His pregnant daughter Marcie recently broke up with a shady character named Joseph Abellard & is missing. Rusty was once very close to Marcie & promises to find her.
And so it begins. As Rusty slowly puts the pieces together, his search heads off in directions no one could have foreseen. He gets help along the way from Marcie’ sexy friend Monday & both risk their lives as they investigate some seriously bad guys.
It’s a fast paced read full of action & suspense that holds your attention. Characters are well developed & we get to hear their individual points of view in alternate chapters. Rusty is a smart, likeable guy with a unique skill set that comes in handy in tight situations. He wants to do the right thing but isn’t exactly a stickler for the rules. He’s reminiscent of Robert B. Parker’s “Spenser”, an affable guy with a wry sense of humour until you get on his bad side. Monday is portrayed as a sassy & independent woman, much more than just the token female sidekick.
Dialogue is kept to a minimum & we’re not privy to all Rusty’s secrets so there are some surprises in store as the pace picks up toward the end for a tense showdown. The only question left unanswered is what happened in Vegas to send our “hero” into hiding but no worries. There are hints in the last few pages that suggest he may be headed back there in the next instalment to deal with his past.
All in all, it’s an entertaining & action packed read with an original main character.
October 6, 2015
Rusty Diamond has returned and he finds himself in another surprise action packed adventure.
I love how Williams revealed more of Rusty’s Las Vegas life, the pieces are coming together as we understand why Rusty fled Vegas. You can’t help feel an affinity towards Rusty, his charisma, mystique and principles attract your attention. I was thrilled he was able to make amends with Prosper and Marceline. The strong bond he holds with these two, and their long running history is an indicator of Rusty’s character. Rusty is flawed, however, he doesn’t balk at his past missteps and poor choices. Nice to see him in a romantic light as he finds a short-term amorous tryst.
From the moment you turn the first page there is nonstop action and mystery. The narrative is gritty, not lacking surprises along with a variety of supporting characters. Rusty’s magician expertise pulls him out of a few tough encounters as he frantically searches and encounters several colorful miscreants. This latest fiasco has left Rusty deep in contemplation, looking forward to where Williams takes his fractured protagonist, certainly could go a million different directions.
Great ending, can’t wait to see what happens next with Rusty and delve more into his past life in Las Vegas.
I love how Williams revealed more of Rusty’s Las Vegas life, the pieces are coming together as we understand why Rusty fled Vegas. You can’t help feel an affinity towards Rusty, his charisma, mystique and principles attract your attention. I was thrilled he was able to make amends with Prosper and Marceline. The strong bond he holds with these two, and their long running history is an indicator of Rusty’s character. Rusty is flawed, however, he doesn’t balk at his past missteps and poor choices. Nice to see him in a romantic light as he finds a short-term amorous tryst.
From the moment you turn the first page there is nonstop action and mystery. The narrative is gritty, not lacking surprises along with a variety of supporting characters. Rusty’s magician expertise pulls him out of a few tough encounters as he frantically searches and encounters several colorful miscreants. This latest fiasco has left Rusty deep in contemplation, looking forward to where Williams takes his fractured protagonist, certainly could go a million different directions.
Great ending, can’t wait to see what happens next with Rusty and delve more into his past life in Las Vegas.
October 19, 2015
4.5 stars
Blind Shuffle by Austin Williams is another action-packed adventure starring illusionist Rusty Diamond. This second installment in the Rusty Diamond Trilogy brings the clever amateur sleuth face to face with his unresolved history as he unwittingly stumbles into the mysterious disappearance of a woman from his past.
Rusty is ready to face the mistakes of his past but his trip to New Orleans does not exactly go as planned. His tumultuous arrival leads to a tense meeting with his mentor, Prosper Lavalle, where he discovers that Prosper's pregnant daughter Marceline (Marcie) has gone missing. Upon learning the police are uninterested in investigating her disappearance, Rusty sets out to discover what happened to his longtime friend and ex-girlfriend.
Rusty's first order of business is talking to Marcie's ex, Joseph Abellard, who owns a dilapidated casino out in the middle of the bayou. Although he picks up some interesting information, this meeting is fraught with danger and Rusty is forced to rely on past skills to save himself from a very sticky situation. He then joins forces with Monday Reed, a co-worker and friend of Marcie's, to aid in his investigation. When Rusty links a couple of unsolved homicides to Abellard, he and Monday feverishly try to piece together the clues to Marcie's whereabouts before it is too late.
Needing Prosper's help to set his plan to rescue Marcie in motion, Rusty is forced to reveal the series of events that led to his abrupt departure from his lucrative career in Las Vegas. After divulging the bare bones of an illusion gone horribly wrong, he and Monday embark on their plan to find Marcie. Once again relying on the skills that made him such a successful illusionist, Rusty is thrust into a dangerous situation after he forces Abellard to take him to the person responsible for Marcie's disappearance. When his plan goes awry, he and Marcie cleverly utilize the skills they learned from Prosper to extricate themselves from an increasingly dangerous situation.
Blind Shuffle by Austin Williams is a riveting addition to the Rusty Diamond Trilogy. Rusty remains an enigmatic but likable protagonist and making amends with Prosper and Marcie sets him on a collision course with his unsettled past.
Blind Shuffle by Austin Williams is another action-packed adventure starring illusionist Rusty Diamond. This second installment in the Rusty Diamond Trilogy brings the clever amateur sleuth face to face with his unresolved history as he unwittingly stumbles into the mysterious disappearance of a woman from his past.
Rusty is ready to face the mistakes of his past but his trip to New Orleans does not exactly go as planned. His tumultuous arrival leads to a tense meeting with his mentor, Prosper Lavalle, where he discovers that Prosper's pregnant daughter Marceline (Marcie) has gone missing. Upon learning the police are uninterested in investigating her disappearance, Rusty sets out to discover what happened to his longtime friend and ex-girlfriend.
Rusty's first order of business is talking to Marcie's ex, Joseph Abellard, who owns a dilapidated casino out in the middle of the bayou. Although he picks up some interesting information, this meeting is fraught with danger and Rusty is forced to rely on past skills to save himself from a very sticky situation. He then joins forces with Monday Reed, a co-worker and friend of Marcie's, to aid in his investigation. When Rusty links a couple of unsolved homicides to Abellard, he and Monday feverishly try to piece together the clues to Marcie's whereabouts before it is too late.
Needing Prosper's help to set his plan to rescue Marcie in motion, Rusty is forced to reveal the series of events that led to his abrupt departure from his lucrative career in Las Vegas. After divulging the bare bones of an illusion gone horribly wrong, he and Monday embark on their plan to find Marcie. Once again relying on the skills that made him such a successful illusionist, Rusty is thrust into a dangerous situation after he forces Abellard to take him to the person responsible for Marcie's disappearance. When his plan goes awry, he and Marcie cleverly utilize the skills they learned from Prosper to extricate themselves from an increasingly dangerous situation.
Blind Shuffle by Austin Williams is a riveting addition to the Rusty Diamond Trilogy. Rusty remains an enigmatic but likable protagonist and making amends with Prosper and Marcie sets him on a collision course with his unsettled past.
November 7, 2015
The story begins with Rusty experiencing an extremely traumatic flight to New Orleans, which encapsulates a pretty good prophecy of how his time in the city will turn out. He is on a mission to atone for his past shortcomings with his ex girlfriend Marcie and her father, Prosper. It is clear there is deep history between the three of them and that Prosper had been a tutor in the field of stage magic and a father figure to Rusty. On seeing Prosper, in a deeply uncomfortable meeting, Rusty discovers that Marcie is both pregnant and missing. With the police uninterested in her disappearance, Rusty promises Prosper that he will not leave New Orleans without finding out where she is.
Monday, a friend of Marcie, joins Rusty in his investigation and the two become lovers. Rusty encounters considerable difficulties and extreme dangers in his search for Marcie, such as the father of Marcie’s unborn child, a gangster who runs a casino as a front for other more nefarious activities. The finale allows Rusty to showcase his considerable magic skills in conditions of extreme stress. The novel ends with Rusty feeling unsettled and planning to move to Vegas. I really loved reading this novel, it was easy to get into and atmospheric. The author has created a charismatic and memorable character in Rusty and I am looking forward eagerly for Rusty’s next adventure. I thoroughly recommend this book. I received a ebook copy from netgalley for an honest review.
Monday, a friend of Marcie, joins Rusty in his investigation and the two become lovers. Rusty encounters considerable difficulties and extreme dangers in his search for Marcie, such as the father of Marcie’s unborn child, a gangster who runs a casino as a front for other more nefarious activities. The finale allows Rusty to showcase his considerable magic skills in conditions of extreme stress. The novel ends with Rusty feeling unsettled and planning to move to Vegas. I really loved reading this novel, it was easy to get into and atmospheric. The author has created a charismatic and memorable character in Rusty and I am looking forward eagerly for Rusty’s next adventure. I thoroughly recommend this book. I received a ebook copy from netgalley for an honest review.
September 17, 2015
The second in a series featuring Rusty Diamond, former street magician turned Las Vegas headliner, who got into a sticky situation and retired to the Eastern Seaboard.
The novel opens with Diamond flying to New Orleans, hoping to make amends with Prosper Lavalle, his former mentor, and Prosper's daughter.
On arrival, he discovers that Marceline has been missing for a week. Diamond is determined to find her.
It was OK, just not exactly my kind of book.
NetGalley/Diversion Books
Mystery/Noir. Oct. 20, 2015. Print version: 266 pages.
The novel opens with Diamond flying to New Orleans, hoping to make amends with Prosper Lavalle, his former mentor, and Prosper's daughter.
On arrival, he discovers that Marceline has been missing for a week. Diamond is determined to find her.
It was OK, just not exactly my kind of book.
NetGalley/Diversion Books
Mystery/Noir. Oct. 20, 2015. Print version: 266 pages.
June 6, 2016
This second book in the Rusty Diamond series is even better than the first.
Rusty flies into New Orleans to make amends with the man who helped him become a magician. It turns out that the man's daughter is missing.
Rusty starts poking around, and finds an umbilical cord smuggling ring, a crooked casino owner, and a radical environmentalist group. Really strange in this PC age to see abortionists as the villains. A couple of harrowing escapes, and an ending right out of a Gold Medal PBO make this one a keeper.
I can't wait for the next one!
Rusty flies into New Orleans to make amends with the man who helped him become a magician. It turns out that the man's daughter is missing.
Rusty starts poking around, and finds an umbilical cord smuggling ring, a crooked casino owner, and a radical environmentalist group. Really strange in this PC age to see abortionists as the villains. A couple of harrowing escapes, and an ending right out of a Gold Medal PBO make this one a keeper.
I can't wait for the next one!
October 20, 2015
I couldn't find is the first chapter, I was bored and hated the main character intensely.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews