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Shake Bouchon #1
Gutshot Straight
Charles "Shake" Bouchon, professional wheel man is too nice a guy for the life he's led, but not nice enough for any other. So he agrees to run an errand for his former boss and lover, Alexandra Illandryan, formidable pakhan of the Armenian mob in L.A. All Shake has to do is deliver a package to Las Vegas and pick up a briefcase. But the package turns out to be a wholesome young housewife named Gina who's run afoul of Dick "The Whale" Moby, a murderous 300-pound strip club owner.
Shake decides to set Gina free and now the two of them are on the run to Panama, hoping to sell the valuable (and unusual) contents of the briefcase. But first Shake will have to out-maneuver two angry crime bosses, an Armenian thug plagued by erectile super-function, and a devious billionaire swindler. Not to mention, Shake will have to survive his own heart, since he's going to discover that Gina is more complicated than he thought.
Shake decides to set Gina free and now the two of them are on the run to Panama, hoping to sell the valuable (and unusual) contents of the briefcase. But first Shake will have to out-maneuver two angry crime bosses, an Armenian thug plagued by erectile super-function, and a devious billionaire swindler. Not to mention, Shake will have to survive his own heart, since he's going to discover that Gina is more complicated than he thought.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published December 16, 2009
202 people are currently reading
1856 people want to read
About the author
Lou Berney
9 books1,083 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 366 reviews
December 18, 2018
When Charles "Shake" Bouchon walks out of prison a free man, he's determined to walk the straight and narrow. He dreams of opening a small restaurant, but no sooner does he hit L.A. than his old boss and former lover, Alexandra Llandryan, asks him for a small favor. Alexandra is the head of the Armenian mob in L.A., and she'd like Shake to drive a car to Vegas and leave it with an obnoxious and obese strip club owner named Dick Moby. Not surprisingly, Moby is known as "The Whale."
Alexandra offers Shake three thousand dollars and a guy fresh out of prison could certainly use the cash. He accepts the offer and en route to Vegas late that night, out in the middle of the desert, the car begins to make a strange noise. Shake stops, opens the trunk and discovers to his amazement, an attractive young blonde, lying there bound and gagged. She's managed to free one leg and has been kicking against the side of the trunk, hence the noise.
Shake is naturally stunned. This is the package he's supposed to be delivering to the Whale? He removes the woman's gag and she explains that she's a housewife with two small children and that she lives in Vegas. Even though they are Mormons, her husband is a degenerate gambler who disappeared while they were vacationing in California. The next day, two thugs kicked in the door to her hotel room and kidnapped her.
Shake assumes the obvious: the woman's husband is deep in debt to the Whale who intends to hold her hostage, or worse, until the husband pays up. Shake knows he will be in deep trouble if he fails to deliver the package, but ex-con or not, he's a relatively decent guy who can't bring himself to seal this poor woman's fate by completing the job he was hired to do.
What follows is a great story, filled with suspense and humor, and populated by a cast of terrific characters. The action moves from California to Vegas to Panama; it involves large sums of money, some very rare religious relics, strippers, gangsters and conventioneers. What more could a reader possibly want?
Lou Berney is, most recently, the author of the much-honored The Long and Faraway Gone, another great read. This was his debut novel and it's a clear winner. It should appeal in particular to fans of the late Elmore Leonard at his prime; it's really that good.
Alexandra offers Shake three thousand dollars and a guy fresh out of prison could certainly use the cash. He accepts the offer and en route to Vegas late that night, out in the middle of the desert, the car begins to make a strange noise. Shake stops, opens the trunk and discovers to his amazement, an attractive young blonde, lying there bound and gagged. She's managed to free one leg and has been kicking against the side of the trunk, hence the noise.
Shake is naturally stunned. This is the package he's supposed to be delivering to the Whale? He removes the woman's gag and she explains that she's a housewife with two small children and that she lives in Vegas. Even though they are Mormons, her husband is a degenerate gambler who disappeared while they were vacationing in California. The next day, two thugs kicked in the door to her hotel room and kidnapped her.
Shake assumes the obvious: the woman's husband is deep in debt to the Whale who intends to hold her hostage, or worse, until the husband pays up. Shake knows he will be in deep trouble if he fails to deliver the package, but ex-con or not, he's a relatively decent guy who can't bring himself to seal this poor woman's fate by completing the job he was hired to do.
What follows is a great story, filled with suspense and humor, and populated by a cast of terrific characters. The action moves from California to Vegas to Panama; it involves large sums of money, some very rare religious relics, strippers, gangsters and conventioneers. What more could a reader possibly want?
Lou Berney is, most recently, the author of the much-honored The Long and Faraway Gone, another great read. This was his debut novel and it's a clear winner. It should appeal in particular to fans of the late Elmore Leonard at his prime; it's really that good.
June 16, 2019
I loved November Road, so I decided to give Lou Berney another shot. This is the first in a series. Shake is a wheelman, recently out of prison. His ex-boss, Alexa, the head of the L.A. Armenian mob, gives him a job to deliver a car to Las Vegas and pick up a briefcase. How’s he to know there’s a woman in the trunk of the car? Suffice it to say that nothing goes as planned. And that the plot twists start coming early. Bad guys seem to be coming out of the woodwork.
Berney seems to favor main characters on the wrong side of the law that nonetheless have good hearts. Shake totally fits that bill. Gina is another great character. Is she trustworthy?
I listened to this and it’s a perfect audiobook. Fast action to keep you engaged, not overly complicated. Well, until the end when the climactic scene will have your head spinning.
This is a fun story and I’ll definitely check out the next one in the series.
June 20, 2022
Charles ‘Shake’ Bouchon is a wheelman who just got out of jail. Now in his forties, Shake is feeling the weight of a lifetime of bad choices, and he dreams of going straight and opening a restaurant. However, he can’t bring himself to turn down the offer from his old boss and former lover Alexandra, who now runs the Armenian mob in Los Angeles. Shake is supposed to drive a car to Vegas, deliver it to a man who will give him a briefcase in return, and then Shake flies back to LA and gives the case to Alexandra.
It seems like a simple job, but when he gets a flat tire, Shake discovers that there’s a woman named Gina in the trunk of the car. She tells Shake that she’s just a housewife whose husband had gambling debts who ran off, and now Shake has the bad feeling that he’s delivering her to be a hostage who probably won’t get out of the situation alive. Sympathy gets the better of Shake, and he doesn’t hand Gina over and instead they make off with the briefcase. Now he’s double-crossed the leader of the Armenian mob on the West Coast, and angered the most dangerous man in Las Vegas. The only thing they have for leverage is the case which is filled with something very weird and very valuable.
If you read that plot set-up, and said to yourself, “Hey, that sounds an awful lot like the Jason Statham action movie The Transporter, you’d be right. In fact, that’s what I thought, and I had a brief moment of disappointment that Lou Berney, a writer I like quite a bit, would borrow a plot like that.
However, I should have had more faith. What Berney did is to use that feeling of familiarity to set the reader up so that you’d feel like you’d know where it’s all going, but then he veers sharply in a new direction. It’s a switcheroo that works well because when the twists and turns start coming, I was blindsided in the best way.
It’s an extremely brisk crime novel filled with vivid characters and a lot of humor. It reminded me of the late, great Elmore Leonard in all the right ways while still having it’s own unique vibe. It also moves along briskly without a wasted page and wraps up in less than 300 pages.
With every Lou Berney novel I read, I wish I’d started reading him sooner.
It seems like a simple job, but when he gets a flat tire, Shake discovers that there’s a woman named Gina in the trunk of the car. She tells Shake that she’s just a housewife whose husband had gambling debts who ran off, and now Shake has the bad feeling that he’s delivering her to be a hostage who probably won’t get out of the situation alive. Sympathy gets the better of Shake, and he doesn’t hand Gina over and instead they make off with the briefcase. Now he’s double-crossed the leader of the Armenian mob on the West Coast, and angered the most dangerous man in Las Vegas. The only thing they have for leverage is the case which is filled with something very weird and very valuable.
If you read that plot set-up, and said to yourself, “Hey, that sounds an awful lot like the Jason Statham action movie The Transporter, you’d be right. In fact, that’s what I thought, and I had a brief moment of disappointment that Lou Berney, a writer I like quite a bit, would borrow a plot like that.
However, I should have had more faith. What Berney did is to use that feeling of familiarity to set the reader up so that you’d feel like you’d know where it’s all going, but then he veers sharply in a new direction. It’s a switcheroo that works well because when the twists and turns start coming, I was blindsided in the best way.
It’s an extremely brisk crime novel filled with vivid characters and a lot of humor. It reminded me of the late, great Elmore Leonard in all the right ways while still having it’s own unique vibe. It also moves along briskly without a wasted page and wraps up in less than 300 pages.
With every Lou Berney novel I read, I wish I’d started reading him sooner.
March 30, 2016
I owe a great debt of gratitude to James for calling my attention to this book. (If you love crime novels old and new, definitely follow James' reviews.)
Every now and again, I love finding a good crime novel. And while I love reading books by my favorite mainstays—Dennis Lehane, George Pelecanos, Steve Hamilton, Barry Eisler, etc.—I love discovering a new author writing their first book, or stumbling upon an author I've never heard of before and being wowed by them. So I was tremendously pleased to find Gutshot Straight , the debut novel from Lou Berney, whose most recent book, the exquisite The Long and Faraway Gone , was among my favorite books of 2015.
Charles Samuel "Shake" Bouchon has been living a life of petty crimes since his first arrest for grand theft auto when he was 19. Now 42, he's just been released from prison again, and he's trying to figure out what to do with his life. Is it time to settle down and finally fulfill his dream of opening a restaurant?
"He wondered where exactly in his life his shit had gone sideways, and why. It was hard to say. It hadn't been a couple of momentous decisions that had determined the course of his life. No volcanic eruptions that altered and fixed his personal topography. Instead what had happened were all the decisions along the way, most of which he didn't even realize at the time were decisions, the bits of coincidence and circumstance, good luck and bad, the steady, slow accretion of rock and soil and sediment. He needed a volcanic eruption. He needed to make a move."
But when Alexandra Ilandryan, a powerful Armenian crime boss, asks him to do one more easy job for her, he is tantalized—and not just because Alexandra may be the most beautiful woman he's ever known. All he needs to do is drive a car into Las Vegas, pick up a suitcase, and bring it back to her. Sounds pretty easy. So what could go wrong?
Well, as you can imagine, a lot of things can and do go wrong. Because although he's done his share of time, often it's been out of loyalty to others and not his stupidity. So Shake has brains and a conscience, and pretty strong beliefs about what he'll do and what he won't. These aren't traits that guarantee success in the crime world—they're actually fairly dangerous. So needless to say, it isn't long before everything goes awry for Shake, in more ways than he was expecting.
In Gutshot Straight , Berney takes us on an Elmore Leonard-esque jaunt, replete with double and triple crosses, eccentric criminals, one beautiful and utterly untrustworthy woman, and lots of quirky characters and situations. This is a lot of fun, but Berney never lets the fun and the zaniness overtake his storytelling. Even though you may know where the plot will ultimately end, it's such an enjoyable journey, and Shake, in particular, is such an appealing character, that you want to know what happens to him. I've said before it's the mark of a talented writer if they can get you to care deeply about criminals, despite their actions.
This book isn't perfect, but it is a quick, compelling read that I practically devoured. I'm glad to see Berney wrote one more book in this series before moving to a standalone novel. If you enjoy crime novels that hearken back to Elmore Leonard's early days, pick this one up. If not, I'd encourage you to pick up The Long and Faraway Gone , because you need to experience just a little of Lou Berney's talent. (You'll thank me.)
See of all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
Every now and again, I love finding a good crime novel. And while I love reading books by my favorite mainstays—Dennis Lehane, George Pelecanos, Steve Hamilton, Barry Eisler, etc.—I love discovering a new author writing their first book, or stumbling upon an author I've never heard of before and being wowed by them. So I was tremendously pleased to find Gutshot Straight , the debut novel from Lou Berney, whose most recent book, the exquisite The Long and Faraway Gone , was among my favorite books of 2015.
Charles Samuel "Shake" Bouchon has been living a life of petty crimes since his first arrest for grand theft auto when he was 19. Now 42, he's just been released from prison again, and he's trying to figure out what to do with his life. Is it time to settle down and finally fulfill his dream of opening a restaurant?
"He wondered where exactly in his life his shit had gone sideways, and why. It was hard to say. It hadn't been a couple of momentous decisions that had determined the course of his life. No volcanic eruptions that altered and fixed his personal topography. Instead what had happened were all the decisions along the way, most of which he didn't even realize at the time were decisions, the bits of coincidence and circumstance, good luck and bad, the steady, slow accretion of rock and soil and sediment. He needed a volcanic eruption. He needed to make a move."
But when Alexandra Ilandryan, a powerful Armenian crime boss, asks him to do one more easy job for her, he is tantalized—and not just because Alexandra may be the most beautiful woman he's ever known. All he needs to do is drive a car into Las Vegas, pick up a suitcase, and bring it back to her. Sounds pretty easy. So what could go wrong?
Well, as you can imagine, a lot of things can and do go wrong. Because although he's done his share of time, often it's been out of loyalty to others and not his stupidity. So Shake has brains and a conscience, and pretty strong beliefs about what he'll do and what he won't. These aren't traits that guarantee success in the crime world—they're actually fairly dangerous. So needless to say, it isn't long before everything goes awry for Shake, in more ways than he was expecting.
In Gutshot Straight , Berney takes us on an Elmore Leonard-esque jaunt, replete with double and triple crosses, eccentric criminals, one beautiful and utterly untrustworthy woman, and lots of quirky characters and situations. This is a lot of fun, but Berney never lets the fun and the zaniness overtake his storytelling. Even though you may know where the plot will ultimately end, it's such an enjoyable journey, and Shake, in particular, is such an appealing character, that you want to know what happens to him. I've said before it's the mark of a talented writer if they can get you to care deeply about criminals, despite their actions.
This book isn't perfect, but it is a quick, compelling read that I practically devoured. I'm glad to see Berney wrote one more book in this series before moving to a standalone novel. If you enjoy crime novels that hearken back to Elmore Leonard's early days, pick this one up. If not, I'd encourage you to pick up The Long and Faraway Gone , because you need to experience just a little of Lou Berney's talent. (You'll thank me.)
See of all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
December 11, 2023
Whoa, I really, really loved this. I wasn’t expecting to love it half so much! I was keeping my expectations low, figuring I’d get a few eyerolls out of the deal but still enjoy myself— both courtesy of the comparisons to Elmore Leonard. The whole time, though, there was a ridiculous grin on my face, wider with every page. I’ve decided that’s how I’m judging books right now. How many words they waste— this book, none— how many eyerolls I give— again, none (not even for the couple of convenient plot twists)— how much I grin— a lot, a lot— and how much joy and love and hope for humanity I have bubbling inside me when I’m done, hopefully also in proportion to how many crimes were committed.
I flew through this in two days, and I’ve got the next one in the mail already. I hope Berney writes a ton more. (This is his first? Holy shit.)
1. With the Armenian mob angle, I could almost squint and picture Elmore writing fanfic of my favorite arc[s] on The Shield.
2. I want the movie of this too, under the condition it’s cast well and Ted Griffin adapts the screenplay. His blurb was in the front of this, so I think he’d be up for working some of his Terriers/Ocean’s Eleven magic.
- - -
Re-read September 2013: After Whiplash River, I had to go back and read this one. There were even more grins the second time around, knowing how well Whiplash builds on it, how much Shake and Gina grow for the next one yet remain so fundamentally themselves. I had forgotten too just how great the minor parts are, Ted Boxman and Vader and Jasper and Lucy and on and on. More Jasper, please. More Vader, more Lucy, more anyone. It’s delicious, how fleshed out this world is.
Still one of my favorites I’ve read all year.
- - -
Re-read March 2015: These books should come with some kind of disclaimer like they put on cigarettes or hard liquor. Was going to sit down and read a couple chapters. Next thing I know, it’s 8:00 at night and I’m on the last page. And I’ve already read this thing three times.
The writing is so deceptively sharp, it gets better each time through, the more you know what’s coming. No wonder this one stays in rotation on my “always reading” shelf.
I flew through this in two days, and I’ve got the next one in the mail already. I hope Berney writes a ton more. (This is his first? Holy shit.)
1. With the Armenian mob angle, I could almost squint and picture Elmore writing fanfic of my favorite arc[s] on The Shield.
2. I want the movie of this too, under the condition it’s cast well and Ted Griffin adapts the screenplay. His blurb was in the front of this, so I think he’d be up for working some of his Terriers/Ocean’s Eleven magic.
- - -
Re-read September 2013: After Whiplash River, I had to go back and read this one. There were even more grins the second time around, knowing how well Whiplash builds on it, how much Shake and Gina grow for the next one yet remain so fundamentally themselves. I had forgotten too just how great the minor parts are, Ted Boxman and Vader and Jasper and Lucy and on and on. More Jasper, please. More Vader, more Lucy, more anyone. It’s delicious, how fleshed out this world is.
Still one of my favorites I’ve read all year.
- - -
Re-read March 2015: These books should come with some kind of disclaimer like they put on cigarettes or hard liquor. Was going to sit down and read a couple chapters. Next thing I know, it’s 8:00 at night and I’m on the last page. And I’ve already read this thing three times.
The writing is so deceptively sharp, it gets better each time through, the more you know what’s coming. No wonder this one stays in rotation on my “always reading” shelf.
June 26, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyed this mad romp!
If this was an Elmore Leonard novel (which it closely resembles) it would rate among his best.
Two-time loser car thief/get-away-driver comes out of prison and immediately immerses himself into another affair and bad company.
Amusing page turner.
Highly recommended.
December 29, 2013
This one is a page burner, a rip roaring entertainer of pure hi'jinkery. Damn I miss these characters already. Let's hope Jasper gets the girl, Vader gets his road-runner back and Marvin begins to live up to his real potential, he really did fool Gina after all. Bring on Whiplash River!
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
July 10, 2012
Just your typical "excon Armenian mob boss dirtbag club owner stripper grand theft auto double triple quadruple cross crime thriller", to put it mildly.
What a fun read. This was a free offering from Nook's "Free Friday" deal, and how happy I am I picked it up.
I do always struggle with books where I find myself sympathizing or rooting for one of the bad guys (because, after all, they did something to earn that status, remember?), and I found myself doing that here, but it varied just whose team I was on from chapter to chapter. Shake, a new favorite character of mine, was the only one who never lost my fidelity. I loved how he could read the room no matter what, and was just as much one step ahead of the rest as the 'trouble' he found along the way. This one kept me guessing all the way through, with an ending that was not anticipated nor did it disappoint.
I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future, and would love to see some sort of continuation (even in a small 0.5 novella kinda way) of Shake & Co. Great book!
What a fun read. This was a free offering from Nook's "Free Friday" deal, and how happy I am I picked it up.
I do always struggle with books where I find myself sympathizing or rooting for one of the bad guys (because, after all, they did something to earn that status, remember?), and I found myself doing that here, but it varied just whose team I was on from chapter to chapter. Shake, a new favorite character of mine, was the only one who never lost my fidelity. I loved how he could read the room no matter what, and was just as much one step ahead of the rest as the 'trouble' he found along the way. This one kept me guessing all the way through, with an ending that was not anticipated nor did it disappoint.
I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future, and would love to see some sort of continuation (even in a small 0.5 novella kinda way) of Shake & Co. Great book!
May 3, 2017
I read a lot of dark depressive things, so I look for books just like this for light hearted relief. I can enthusiastically recommend Lou Berney's novels to anyone needing a pleasurable departure. Action packed, full of criminals and soured deals, and populated with the most charming characters, this is exactly what I am searching for. Berney is to me the next great hope, carrying on the tradition of Elmore Leonard, Chester Himes, and John D. McDonald hopefully far into the future. I am absolutely impressed with Berney's steady non-egotistical approach. Never jokish but yet clever and amusing. This is the first of his series of two novels using some of the same characters. I read his other, Whiplash River and suggest reading them both. Whiplash River was to me even better. I've found this author a bit late, he is from my same city, but one day might have a chance to get my copies signed. Our local Art/News/Entertainment publication does a yearly "best-of", and he was voted best local Author, so he has not gone unnoticed. He also has a third novel out, a true-crime that deserves attention. I plan to own everything he publishes.
August 21, 2016
Based on the latest book by Lou Berney “The Long and Faraway Gone”, I was expecting a little more depth and detail. Not that I wasn’t entertained, I was - but nothing more. Shake is without a doubt a charismatic and good-natured character. A small-time criminal, mostly the getaway guy, who has decided to start a fresh life, wanting to open a restaurant. Shake is 42 and has a passion for simple and delicious food and that little restaurant is his ultimate dream.
The story starts with Shake leaving prison, and his former Armenian mob boss has one last job for him. Shake accepts and sees the fee as the starter’s money for his restaurant. Turns out the car he needs to deliver to Vegas has a girl in the trunk. From there on, Shake encounters trouble after trouble.
What I enjoyed best was Shake's wit and smarts. He's good people reader - that's what has got him in to trouble and what has saved him too.
On another note: I really liked the backdrop of Panama. It was original and educational.
The story starts with Shake leaving prison, and his former Armenian mob boss has one last job for him. Shake accepts and sees the fee as the starter’s money for his restaurant. Turns out the car he needs to deliver to Vegas has a girl in the trunk. From there on, Shake encounters trouble after trouble.
What I enjoyed best was Shake's wit and smarts. He's good people reader - that's what has got him in to trouble and what has saved him too.
On another note: I really liked the backdrop of Panama. It was original and educational.
June 24, 2016
Thanks for the recommendation to read this James Thane!
Lou Berney writes memorable characters, and takes the time to develop even the minor ones. Add that to intense plotting and you've got a fine, fun time.
Lou Berney writes memorable characters, and takes the time to develop even the minor ones. Add that to intense plotting and you've got a fine, fun time.
February 4, 2020
A non-stop, fun-filled crime caper guaranteed to raise more than a few smiles. Great characters and superb writing. I'm off to read the 2nd in the Shake Bouchon series.
December 25, 2024
mix feeling. itv s very well written, fun and witty dialogs and nice charcters but the plot too artifical, forced and not touching deep.
August 3, 2012
A cardinal rule of poker is drawing to a “gutshot straight” (needing one card to fill a run of 5) is a poor bet. One has only, at best, a 1 in 12 chance of being dealt the needed card. Such odds do not offer sufficient likelihood of winning to wager anything. This humorous, violent, of-no-redeeming-value-beyond-being-an-enjoyable read, debut novel could not have had a better title to tell of what awaits the reader when she/he begins reading it.
The story opens with Charles Samuel “Shake” Bouchon finishing a fifteen-month sentence in Mule Creek, California correction facility for a crime he committed The crime was not sufficient to merit the sentence, what DID merit it was the fact that Shake did not “rat out” his accomplices. He is a professional driver and his clientele are in need of being driven away, quickly, from their last “appointments.” Upon reaching the end of his bus trip from prison, he is picked up by the person for whom he last worked (and did not give up to the authorities). Stepping into the limo, Shake KNEW it was not a good idea to be in contact with this person, but his options were limited and at 42, he was used to making poor decisions.
The job this time was simple - drive a car to Las Vegas, do not look in the trunk, fly back to Los Angles and collect the $20,000 fee. Of course he looks in the trunk, certainly he finds a beautiful young lady tied up there and without a doubt this begins one of the most fun, funny, convoluted, unexpected crime novels I have read since Beat the Reaper (but it is not as good as the Reaper). The cargo(s) being transported, the reasons they are of importance, who wants what and to what end is the heart of the tale. There are biblical passages, Catholic traditions and a whole new subculture mentioned in the course of the work of which I had either never heard, had reason not to know and/or hope DO NOT exist. All of which add to the web woven in the crafted story the author has created.
Told from the view points of the many characters that populate the story, the reader gets to ride from L.A. to Las Vegas to Panama sorting out the double crosses, underhanded motives and resolutions as they “happen.” This makes for a rapidly evolving story that kept me hooked from the first moments. There is one “good guy” in the book, and his experience is one of the most memorable of the entire journey, the rest of the cast are varying shades of “shady,” to put it mildly. There is blood aplenty and more “adult” language than would be found in common conversations. When the action arrives in Panama, the book almost becomes a travel brochure for that country. The ending held some surprises, which made the book steps above “typical” expectation.
This being a debut effort (the e-book read had an excerpt from the author’s second “Shake” novel), I hope Mr. Berney’s sophomore effort lives up to the promise of his initial offering. If so, I will be visiting Central America at least as frequently as a Mr. Berney allows Shake to say hello.
The story opens with Charles Samuel “Shake” Bouchon finishing a fifteen-month sentence in Mule Creek, California correction facility for a crime he committed The crime was not sufficient to merit the sentence, what DID merit it was the fact that Shake did not “rat out” his accomplices. He is a professional driver and his clientele are in need of being driven away, quickly, from their last “appointments.” Upon reaching the end of his bus trip from prison, he is picked up by the person for whom he last worked (and did not give up to the authorities). Stepping into the limo, Shake KNEW it was not a good idea to be in contact with this person, but his options were limited and at 42, he was used to making poor decisions.
The job this time was simple - drive a car to Las Vegas, do not look in the trunk, fly back to Los Angles and collect the $20,000 fee. Of course he looks in the trunk, certainly he finds a beautiful young lady tied up there and without a doubt this begins one of the most fun, funny, convoluted, unexpected crime novels I have read since Beat the Reaper (but it is not as good as the Reaper). The cargo(s) being transported, the reasons they are of importance, who wants what and to what end is the heart of the tale. There are biblical passages, Catholic traditions and a whole new subculture mentioned in the course of the work of which I had either never heard, had reason not to know and/or hope DO NOT exist. All of which add to the web woven in the crafted story the author has created.
Told from the view points of the many characters that populate the story, the reader gets to ride from L.A. to Las Vegas to Panama sorting out the double crosses, underhanded motives and resolutions as they “happen.” This makes for a rapidly evolving story that kept me hooked from the first moments. There is one “good guy” in the book, and his experience is one of the most memorable of the entire journey, the rest of the cast are varying shades of “shady,” to put it mildly. There is blood aplenty and more “adult” language than would be found in common conversations. When the action arrives in Panama, the book almost becomes a travel brochure for that country. The ending held some surprises, which made the book steps above “typical” expectation.
This being a debut effort (the e-book read had an excerpt from the author’s second “Shake” novel), I hope Mr. Berney’s sophomore effort lives up to the promise of his initial offering. If so, I will be visiting Central America at least as frequently as a Mr. Berney allows Shake to say hello.
May 24, 2015
RATING: 4.0
There are some guys who couldn’t play it straight even if you put them in a harness and led them down an iron track. Certainly that’s true for Charles “Shake” Bouchon, who has just gotten out of prison after serving three years for grand theft auto. The prison gate has barely clanged shut behind him when he agrees to do a favor for his former boss, Alexandra Ilandryan, head of the Armenian mob in Los Angeles. All Shake has to do is deliver a package to Las Vegas and pick up a briefcase. And if you think it’s going to be that easy, well, I have a bridge I’d like to sell you….
You see, the package isn’t exactly a package in the traditional sense. Instead it’s a sweet housewife named Gina Clement, and Shake is supposed to hand her off to the unsavory Dick Moby, “The Whale”, a strip club owner. Shake finds himself caring about Gina and fears that no good will come of this transfer; in a move that endangers him all around, he lets her go. He soon finds out that Gina is no where near as wholesome as she paints herself to be. Before you know it, Gina and Shake join together to free The Whale of the briefcase and figure out how to get to Panama to become very rich. There’s just a minor wrinkle to that plan—everyone and his brother, sister and grandmother is after them—crime bosses, swindlers, Armenians—a veritable plethora of low lives.
As in the best capers, GUTSHOT STRAIGHT is full of double crosses and plot twists. The action is unrelenting, and the characters wonderfully eccentric. My favorite was Gina, who transforms herself into whatever she needs to be to fit the situation she’s in. There are lots of humorous moments. How often do you meet a bad guy with erectile dysfunction?
GUTSHOT STRAIGHT is Lou Berney’s first novel. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of that name in the future, based on this well-done debut.
There are some guys who couldn’t play it straight even if you put them in a harness and led them down an iron track. Certainly that’s true for Charles “Shake” Bouchon, who has just gotten out of prison after serving three years for grand theft auto. The prison gate has barely clanged shut behind him when he agrees to do a favor for his former boss, Alexandra Ilandryan, head of the Armenian mob in Los Angeles. All Shake has to do is deliver a package to Las Vegas and pick up a briefcase. And if you think it’s going to be that easy, well, I have a bridge I’d like to sell you….
You see, the package isn’t exactly a package in the traditional sense. Instead it’s a sweet housewife named Gina Clement, and Shake is supposed to hand her off to the unsavory Dick Moby, “The Whale”, a strip club owner. Shake finds himself caring about Gina and fears that no good will come of this transfer; in a move that endangers him all around, he lets her go. He soon finds out that Gina is no where near as wholesome as she paints herself to be. Before you know it, Gina and Shake join together to free The Whale of the briefcase and figure out how to get to Panama to become very rich. There’s just a minor wrinkle to that plan—everyone and his brother, sister and grandmother is after them—crime bosses, swindlers, Armenians—a veritable plethora of low lives.
As in the best capers, GUTSHOT STRAIGHT is full of double crosses and plot twists. The action is unrelenting, and the characters wonderfully eccentric. My favorite was Gina, who transforms herself into whatever she needs to be to fit the situation she’s in. There are lots of humorous moments. How often do you meet a bad guy with erectile dysfunction?
GUTSHOT STRAIGHT is Lou Berney’s first novel. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of that name in the future, based on this well-done debut.
November 28, 2018
When setting the bar as a beach/flight/vacation read, this is decent. With any more of a critical eye it's pretty poor. All depends on how in the mood you are for a fast paced story filled with caricature characters that's enjoyable brain candy. Nowhere near as good as the Long and Faraway Gone if that's what brought you here.
December 17, 2024
The story was not bad, it just wasn't good enough to grab my interest. The protagonists were likable, but not rounded enough for me to 'develop a relationship with them. I am generally plot and character driven and unfortunately neither were sufficient to hold my interest for any length of time.
November 21, 2020
This was a surprisingly entertaining read. Crime stories are not typically my genre of choice but for some reason, I've his this on my Kindle for a number of years and in my quest to clear my Kindle, this was my next read. Reading this book was a nice surprise and what I needed during these crazy times.
The characters are witty and some of the bad guys even have some heart.
Ex-con Shake gets mixed up with Vegas stripper Gina who has a bunch of bad people after her. He messes up in his choices and ends up also being pursued by a bunch of very bad people. There is not an excess of graphic violence (yes people get beat up but or shot but it's not told in gory detail.)
The characters are witty and some of the bad guys even have some heart.
Ex-con Shake gets mixed up with Vegas stripper Gina who has a bunch of bad people after her. He messes up in his choices and ends up also being pursued by a bunch of very bad people. There is not an excess of graphic violence (yes people get beat up but or shot but it's not told in gory detail.)
April 20, 2017
4.5 Stars I really enjoyed this book! It is a fast, easy, thoroughly enjoyable read. There is a bit of slapsick comedy in it. Charles "Shake" Bouchon is just released from prison, set on opening a restaurant and going straight. However, he gets asked to do one last job which of course isn't as simple as it sounds. This book has a great cast of characters and fabulous humor. Highly recommended!
September 22, 2019
Double Cross
Lou Berney is one of those writers who never disappoints. He also manages to come up with an entirely original story for each new book. This time out we have a cast of characters who all seem to be looking for the quick way to get rich, by trying to sell a rare religious artifact wort millions. Problem is, no one can trust anyone else. Fun and entertaining at the same time, this one is a winner in every way.
Lou Berney is one of those writers who never disappoints. He also manages to come up with an entirely original story for each new book. This time out we have a cast of characters who all seem to be looking for the quick way to get rich, by trying to sell a rare religious artifact wort millions. Problem is, no one can trust anyone else. Fun and entertaining at the same time, this one is a winner in every way.
July 23, 2019
This one goes straight to my all-time top ten list. Something good on every page. Masterful POV narrative for all his strong, quirky characters. A must-read for fans of Elmore Leonard, Donald Westlake, Tim Hallinan, Carl Hiaasen, and Quentin Tarantino.
January 22, 2010
A book that defies easy categorization since really its about crooks and more crooks, this caper novel is fun to read.
Shake is a recently released felon who takes a job from the head of the Armenian Mob, a woman named Alexandra Levy, to drive to Vegas, drop off a car, pick up a package from the Whale, a nasty mobster in Vegas, and return. On the way, Shake finds out that a woman named Gina is in the trunk of the town car. Gina, who of course is blond and hot, spins a load of shine of Shake and states she is the Mormon wife of a man who owes the Whale.
When Jasper, the Whale's chief henchman comes to pick up Gina, Shake hits him with a phone book and takes Gina, who purloins the package that the Whale was going to give to Levy, and they both run for it. Of course, Shake doesnt run far because within a few minutes Gina has roofied him and skedaddled with the briefcase. Gina, of course is a stripper, who was in the trunk because she stole from the Whale.
The package turns out to be fake religious artifacts, allegedly the foreskins of 100 men that David (of David and Goliath fame) killed to prove to Solomon that he was a good warrior.
Berney has a breezy style, and the dialogue is crisp and neat. There are some funny situations like when Shake visits the home of a felon in jail and steals his car by pretending to be the friend, but not in the same range as Evanovich, who makes me laugh out loud.
Shake and Gina eventually get together in Panama to try to sell the foreskins while the Whale, Levy and various others are there too. It all goes around and around, with Berney adding other characters, like the shy bookish guy Boxman (rhymes with Cocksman) whose pocket is picked by Gina and who is no cocksman by any means but gets a girl.
The ending is not expected and Gina and Shake take the reader for a fun little ride.
Shake is a recently released felon who takes a job from the head of the Armenian Mob, a woman named Alexandra Levy, to drive to Vegas, drop off a car, pick up a package from the Whale, a nasty mobster in Vegas, and return. On the way, Shake finds out that a woman named Gina is in the trunk of the town car. Gina, who of course is blond and hot, spins a load of shine of Shake and states she is the Mormon wife of a man who owes the Whale.
When Jasper, the Whale's chief henchman comes to pick up Gina, Shake hits him with a phone book and takes Gina, who purloins the package that the Whale was going to give to Levy, and they both run for it. Of course, Shake doesnt run far because within a few minutes Gina has roofied him and skedaddled with the briefcase. Gina, of course is a stripper, who was in the trunk because she stole from the Whale.
The package turns out to be fake religious artifacts, allegedly the foreskins of 100 men that David (of David and Goliath fame) killed to prove to Solomon that he was a good warrior.
Berney has a breezy style, and the dialogue is crisp and neat. There are some funny situations like when Shake visits the home of a felon in jail and steals his car by pretending to be the friend, but not in the same range as Evanovich, who makes me laugh out loud.
Shake and Gina eventually get together in Panama to try to sell the foreskins while the Whale, Levy and various others are there too. It all goes around and around, with Berney adding other characters, like the shy bookish guy Boxman (rhymes with Cocksman) whose pocket is picked by Gina and who is no cocksman by any means but gets a girl.
The ending is not expected and Gina and Shake take the reader for a fun little ride.
January 20, 2016
This was a funny, clever, engaging crime novel. The characters were unique and memorable, while the character interactions were smart and witty. I especially loved the repartee between the main characters, Gina and Shake. But, the ancillary repartee was equally smart. Yet it was the "in-between dialog" comments that I found most amazing:
Memorable passage - (After a confusing interplay of death-threats between several characters) "Shake gave Jasper a few seconds to get the oars in the water, then stepped in to help with the rowing."
Mind you, this had NOTHING to do with the actual rowing of a boat - merely a play on the old adage of having both oars in the water, since Jasper was a bit slow in following any fast-moving interchange - but, Jasper was a totally likeable character...for a hitman!
Yet it was such clever and cheeky authorial texturing as this that keep the book moving along at a delightful and entertaining pace. The world of "Gutshot Straight" is a totally dispicable world - of hookers, hitmen, and hoodlums - but they are all so terribly enjoyable in their own quirky ways, as brought vividly to life by author Lou Berney.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and look forward to Lou Berney's next novel (a future sequel is indicated on his website). And, I'm secretly hoping that we will return to the world of Shake and Gina...in which there are still some unresolved issues! What might be their next caper?
Memorable passage - (After a confusing interplay of death-threats between several characters) "Shake gave Jasper a few seconds to get the oars in the water, then stepped in to help with the rowing."
Mind you, this had NOTHING to do with the actual rowing of a boat - merely a play on the old adage of having both oars in the water, since Jasper was a bit slow in following any fast-moving interchange - but, Jasper was a totally likeable character...for a hitman!
Yet it was such clever and cheeky authorial texturing as this that keep the book moving along at a delightful and entertaining pace. The world of "Gutshot Straight" is a totally dispicable world - of hookers, hitmen, and hoodlums - but they are all so terribly enjoyable in their own quirky ways, as brought vividly to life by author Lou Berney.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and look forward to Lou Berney's next novel (a future sequel is indicated on his website). And, I'm secretly hoping that we will return to the world of Shake and Gina...in which there are still some unresolved issues! What might be their next caper?
January 25, 2013
This is more a caper novel than mystery, in the vein of Donald Westlake’s Dortmunder books.
‘Shake’ Bouchon leaves prison determined to go straight but but first he has to do one little errand for a mob boss. Hours later he’s elbow deep in trouble. Crosses, double crosses, triple crosses, and even a few quadruple crosses abound and everyone gets the short end of the stick at some point. But in the end, good prevails, the bad guys get their comeuppance, and the good guys come out ahead.
This book has the usual unsavory characters—a mob boss, a vicious strip club owner, enforcers, con men and women—that people this sort of novel, but Berney gives each one a little tweak that prevents them from becoming caricatures of the type.
Another staple of novels like this are the constant bad breaks that befall each character. Just when it seems nothing else can go wrong, something does. That so many things could go wrong stretches credibility a bit, but still everything that happens is believable.
Berney writes in a light, slightly funny tone, making this not a 'laugh a minute' story, but one that induces a constant low key grin at the didoes the characters go through and an occasional laugh at a lousy hand fate deals one of them.
I see Berney has written a second book featuring Shake. For the first time in a while, I can honestly say I can’t wait to read the next entry in a series by an author I've never read before.
Good job, Mr. Berney.
‘Shake’ Bouchon leaves prison determined to go straight but but first he has to do one little errand for a mob boss. Hours later he’s elbow deep in trouble. Crosses, double crosses, triple crosses, and even a few quadruple crosses abound and everyone gets the short end of the stick at some point. But in the end, good prevails, the bad guys get their comeuppance, and the good guys come out ahead.
This book has the usual unsavory characters—a mob boss, a vicious strip club owner, enforcers, con men and women—that people this sort of novel, but Berney gives each one a little tweak that prevents them from becoming caricatures of the type.
Another staple of novels like this are the constant bad breaks that befall each character. Just when it seems nothing else can go wrong, something does. That so many things could go wrong stretches credibility a bit, but still everything that happens is believable.
Berney writes in a light, slightly funny tone, making this not a 'laugh a minute' story, but one that induces a constant low key grin at the didoes the characters go through and an occasional laugh at a lousy hand fate deals one of them.
I see Berney has written a second book featuring Shake. For the first time in a while, I can honestly say I can’t wait to read the next entry in a series by an author I've never read before.
Good job, Mr. Berney.
January 9, 2012
This book was a total indulgence & guilty pleasure. I was sucked in to it, and even though I knew it was marginally bad for me, I had to keep reading & find out what happened. Thank goodness it was fast-paced, as it made for a quick read with a slow reader.
Gutshot Straight tells the story of Shake, a 40-something getaway driver, who is freshly out of the Big House and is approached right away to do a straight-forward job: drive a car to Las Vegas, then take a plane back with a suitcase he gets in exchange for the car. Of course nothing goes according to plan...nothing. This book is filled with outrageous sterotyped gangster and stripper characters. The best example of this is the mob boss named Dick Moby & of course he is as fat as a whale.
The caper is outrageous as well. The suitcase Shake acquires holds 100 foreskins of Biblical antiquity and priceless value. Yes, outrageous. The dialogue is straight-forward, and The situations Shake gets into could fulfill some middle-aged men's fantasies. It was entertaining so I can't knock it for that. Now I must read at least 3 "serious" books in a row as penance for reading the whole thing.
Gutshot Straight tells the story of Shake, a 40-something getaway driver, who is freshly out of the Big House and is approached right away to do a straight-forward job: drive a car to Las Vegas, then take a plane back with a suitcase he gets in exchange for the car. Of course nothing goes according to plan...nothing. This book is filled with outrageous sterotyped gangster and stripper characters. The best example of this is the mob boss named Dick Moby & of course he is as fat as a whale.
The caper is outrageous as well. The suitcase Shake acquires holds 100 foreskins of Biblical antiquity and priceless value. Yes, outrageous. The dialogue is straight-forward, and The situations Shake gets into could fulfill some middle-aged men's fantasies. It was entertaining so I can't knock it for that. Now I must read at least 3 "serious" books in a row as penance for reading the whole thing.
May 10, 2014
As stated on the book jacket, this debut novel owes a lot to the work of Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiassen. If you enjoy those writers, you'll like this. A cast of likeable criminals with no law enforcement anywhere to be found run from Vegas to Panama. Shake Bouchon is wheelman just released from an LA prison and quickly takes an job from Lexy, his Armenian crime boss and one time lover. All he has to do is go to Vegas and make a swap, but soon finds a surprise package in the trunk, that being Gina, a duct-taped soccer mom. Or is she? After a bungled exchange, Shake and Gina take possession of a valuable briefcase, the contents of which are quite surprising. I won't spoil it, but it had me laughing. Of course, they're not the only ones who want it, and those in pursuit also want both of them dead.
This could have been a cheap rip-off of the aforementioned writers, but the author brings his own style to the writing. The characters are memorable, and I liked the intelligent descriptions of settings. The little bit of history thrown in there for good measure sealed the deal for me. Great stuff.
This could have been a cheap rip-off of the aforementioned writers, but the author brings his own style to the writing. The characters are memorable, and I liked the intelligent descriptions of settings. The little bit of history thrown in there for good measure sealed the deal for me. Great stuff.
June 9, 2014
I rarely give 5 stars for any book, but this one deserved it. The story kept me engaged throughout the book. I looked forward to each opportunity that I had to sit down and continue reading and even when the book ended, I continued on to read the next few chapters in the next book that were previewed.
The only issue that I had with this book was when the author took the story from the present day to a time in the past, but did not give any sort of warning. It left me confused and thinking that I missed something, but then as soon as I started the next chapter, everything was clear again and I then had a little more information into the background of one of the characters. I did enjoy how the author did not give a lot of information into each of the characters, but instead added more to the characters and their backgrounds as the book continued on. It left a little of the mystery, but in the end it all comes together and yet, still leaves you wanting more. I look forward to reading the next book in the series as well as more by this author.
The only issue that I had with this book was when the author took the story from the present day to a time in the past, but did not give any sort of warning. It left me confused and thinking that I missed something, but then as soon as I started the next chapter, everything was clear again and I then had a little more information into the background of one of the characters. I did enjoy how the author did not give a lot of information into each of the characters, but instead added more to the characters and their backgrounds as the book continued on. It left a little of the mystery, but in the end it all comes together and yet, still leaves you wanting more. I look forward to reading the next book in the series as well as more by this author.
June 10, 2012
When I began reading this novel, I said "What?? Do I really want to continue?" I'm very glad I did as it turned out to be the best tongue-in-cheek crime novel I've ever read. It's filled with sociopaths and near-sociopaths with maybe one regular guy as a minor character. The premise is based on an obscure religious obsession, you won't believe what it turns out to be.
My favorite scene is where all these characters are in a room together with guns pointing at each other. Someone says something (doesn't really matter what) and all the guns shift to point at a different character. Fast moving. Full of twists and turns. You won't fall in love with any of the characters, but you'll have a great read!
My favorite scene is where all these characters are in a room together with guns pointing at each other. Someone says something (doesn't really matter what) and all the guns shift to point at a different character. Fast moving. Full of twists and turns. You won't fall in love with any of the characters, but you'll have a great read!
May 23, 2025
I’m a fan of Lou Berney, but apparently not of the hero of this story, Shane Bouchon. It could be that I just don’t like comic capers. So it goes.
March 8, 2016
Lou Berney, a new-to-me author, was recommended to me, and this book did not disappoint! It's not your typical good guy vs. bad guy crime fiction; more like bad guys vs. worse guys but with characters, both major and minor, you can root for. It has smart writing, witty dialogue and a fast moving plot. Reading this book (or in my case, listening to it) is like going on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. You never know when it's going to take an unexpected turn. Looking forward to reading/listening to the next in the series.
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