Gutshot Straight

By: Lou Berney

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

A crime caper in the tradition of Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen, this fast and funny debut is the story of "Shake" Bouchon, fresh out of prison and ready for life on the straight and narrow—well, maybe after one last job....

When Charles "Shake" Bouchon, professional wheel man, walks out of prison after a three-year stretch for grand theft auto, he's got only two problems: he's too nice a guy for the life he's led and not nice enough for any other. So he says yes when he's asked to run a simple errand for his former boss and lover, Alexandra Ilandryan, the formidable pakhan of the Armenian mob in Los Angeles. All Shake has to do is deliver a package to Las Vegas and pick up a briefcase. Only the package turns out to be a wholesome young housewife named Gina whose husband has run afoul of Dick Moby, aka "The Whale", an unpleasant 400-pound Vegas strip-club owner. Shake hates to think what's going to happen to Gina when he delivers her to The Whale, so in a move that's as noble as it is boneheaded, he decides to set her free.

Now Shake and Gina are on the run to Panama, hoping to unload the very valuable—and highly unusual—contents of The Whale's briefcase. Shake could end up a rich man, but first he'll have to outmaneuver two angry crime bosses, a murderous Armenian thug plagued by erectile superfunction, a former pro football player who blames Shake for his romantic woes, and a billionaire swindler with a flair for the theatrical. Not to mention, and not the least, Shake will need to survive his own heart, since he's going to discover that wholesome housewife Gina is even more intriguing, and a lot more complicated, than he ever imagined.

Full of blindsided double-crosses and hard shots to the head, Gutshot Straight is a tale of love, luck, and larceny against the odds.

©2010 Lou Berney (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A highly entertaining caper novel.... Like Carl Hiaasen, Berney delights in the cartoonish. Like Elmore Leonard, he can drive a plot. What sets him apart is how well he evokes love, making the romance at the heart of this cinematic novel as compelling as the mystery." (The Boston Globe)

“This book is full of crooks, murderers, Mafia, strippers, and assorted villains, and Ballerini gives each character his or her own identity. This book is smart and sexy, and easily could be turned into a movie. Nonetheless, with Ballerini's performance, you don't need a screen—you can see it come together just by listening.” (AudioFile)

"The plot turns are constant, and the dialogue is sharp. The bad guys are wonderfully scary, and the locales—Las Vegas and Panama—are vividly drawn. The estimable Elmore Leonard might be very pleased to call Gutshot Straight his own." (Booklist)

Fewer laughs, more adventure than I was expecting

The jacket blurb had me looking forward to comedy...but it was more of an adventure than a laugh-out-loud novel. That said, Shake is a funny guy -- and the twists and turns his life takes are full of irony.

I spent a lot of the novel being ticked off at Gina -- and annoyed that Shake keeps giving her a pass. I guess that means the author was able to get me emotionally invested in the characters.

It is a fun story -- but it is all-over-the-map, literally. Shake finds himself in 4 or 5 different cities and two different continents in a matter of hours. I kept wishing he would have a chance to take a shower, a nap and find a fresh set of clothes!

The scenario surrounding the climax was predictable. The author continued to revisit several unrelated characters that I thought should no longer play a part in the action -- so I knew that they would all reappear in the same room at some point near the end. But even so, I enjoyed the chance to get to know those various characters a little more.

I find myself searching for the most helpful thing to say in this review. When the recording ended I was not fully sated -- but as I dissect the book in this review, I realize that it had all the elements. Fun, fully formed characters, an exciting adventure, unexpected twists and turns. I guess the only thing really missing was an epilogue that assured me that Shake ended up with his restaurant. I guess I'll have to listen to the sequel!

A well written story- It won't disappoint

I had this book on my wish list for a long time. Lots of people had given it high ratings, but something about it's name or description kept me from ever buying and listening to it. I'm so glad I finally took the leap though. After listening to many, many different novels, this one stands out as one of the few I keep thinking about.

Definitely worth the credit.

Close, but no Maltese Falcon

This was overall an entertaining book, but will not bear the scrutiny of those who like their stories to be logical. There are definite plot similarities to the Maltese Falcon, but the lead character "Shake" is no Sam Spade and the lead heavy, Dick Moby, is no Kaspar Gutman. On the other hand the femme fatale, Gina, would have done Dashiell Hammett proud.

Elmore Leonard-esque

I really liked this book. Characters and dialogue reminded me of Elmore Leonard. Hope to see more from this author.

The author knows how to write

In this book the language flows. The plot has the twists and turns of a person wandering in a maze and the ending is as satisfying as an ice cream soda.

Total Enjoyment

What made the experience of listening to Gutshot Straight the most enjoyable?

Loved all the characters, good guys and bad ones a like.

What does Edoardo Ballerini bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Kept the wonderful wit in the story without making it silly.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes, but it took two days

I wish I liked them

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The book was well crafted. But, the characters were very difficult to care about. By the end I was in a hurry for it to end so I could move on.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I had a hard time caring because the characters as a whole were so unlikable. The twists didn't quite twist and the turns didn't turn far enough. There was nothing really endearing or incredibly awful about any of the characters.

Did Edoardo Ballerini do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

He is a very good narrator. I will be willing to listen to other narrations by him.

Was Gutshot Straight worth the listening time?

No.

Fast Paced and funny with great characters

What other book might you compare Gutshot Straight to and why?

Just think of the best Elmore Leonard book you've listened to then multiply it by 10.

What does Edoardo Ballerini bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voices are terrific and entertaining, he does a great job

Any additional comments?

I'm looking forward to listening to more books by Lou Berney

Fun, fast ride

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Excellent story, characters, and narration! Very enjoyable book. Keeps you guessing and laughing; a great time.

just one of those nicely written noire type novel

What did you love best about Gutshot Straight?

The plot had good twists, the main characters had some wise develpment, and the story was just a pleasure.. We are not talking great novels, but a most pleasant way to distract yourself and get lost in a comfortable book. The narration was great and fit the characters very well. The laconic style of the narrator matched the pace of the book. Good job, that.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gutshot Straight?

The first realizations that all is not what you thought and the different reality of the characters supplies just the right amount of frisson to make it fun and to entice you to want to get to know the characters.

Which character – as performed by Edoardo Ballerini – was your favorite?

Shake, of course. But he did well overall with the rest of the characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

yes, the way that love or lust can change you from doing whats logical to the desire to follow your heart instead.

Any additional comments?

Just liked it. A rare mix of good narration, good characters, and a fun plot that comes together to make you want to relax and enjoy the storytelling. Its what I like about audiobooks when I want to enjoy having a great story read to me.