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)

Nicely done.

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

Would recommend. Good quick satisfying read.

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

excellent characterization of all the characters. Love the narration.

This is an offbeat book that is very enjoyable.

This is a very entertaining read. Fans of Elmore Leonard will likely enjoy this book. I wish the series were longer. It is funny and edgy, and it makes you want to keep listening until the end.

Pure entertainment

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

This listening kept my attention throughout and the narrator is just fine I found this very easy to listen to. The story line itself is like a movie script, the action was mostly fast paced with lots of twists and turns. Resuming the book is good, reading is good. You move quickly through the story and feel drawn into it.

Great Story!

Fascinating characters, intricately woven plot, humor in the conclusion. I want to read more by this author! Narration by Ballerina excellent, too.

Entertaining! Great narrator!

I want more...from the narrator and the author. Not your usual who done it. This is why I listen to audio books, pure entertainment. It was over too soon. Definitely one of my favorite books.

Had me laughing from the start. Top story !

What did you love best about Gutshot Straight?

Great story line and characters that were both humorous and real.

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

The final gun pointing show down, so to speak. Very funny, would make a excellent movie scene.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The million dollar foreskin.

Great Book!

Lou Berney is simply at a different level! He just needs to write faster. All of his books are amazing including this one.

A great ride!

This one keeps you guessing till the end! A really cool down and dirty novel!

This was a great listen..

If you could sum up Gutshot Straight in three words, what would they be?

We enjoyed it.

What did you like best about this story?

Twist and turns we didn't expect..

Any additional comments?

I wish there were more books by this author

Loved it!

What did you like best about this story?

I stayed in the story the entire time. Often I lose my place or can't remember what last happened but in this story, I never forgot the story line. I listened to it not only in the car but at home.
Characters were realistic and likable. Pick it up!

Have you listened to any of Edoardo Ballerini’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Edoardo is the perfect reader. I'm listening to Berney's second book as the narrator lacks the chops to do the book justice.