Lou Berney's writing delves into the complexities of human relationships and moral quandaries. His narratives are marked by a keen insight into character psychology and a propulsive storytelling style that draws readers in. Berney explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the persistent struggle between good and evil through meticulously crafted characters. His ability to create atmosphere and build suspense makes his stories resonate long after they are read.
Multi-award winning, this book captivates readers with its intricate storytelling and rich character development. It explores profound themes of love, loss, and resilience, set against a backdrop that blends historical and contemporary elements. The narrative weaves together multiple perspectives, offering a deep emotional resonance and a thought-provoking examination of human relationships. With its compelling prose and vivid imagery, the book invites readers on a transformative journey that lingers long after the last page is turned.
From Edgar Award-winning author Lou Berney, a poignant and evocative crime novel featuring a cat-and-mouse chase across 1960's America in the wake of the Kennedy assassination"
The book has garnered critical acclaim, being recognized as a finalist for the prestigious LA Times Book Prize. This acknowledgment highlights its significant impact and quality within the literary community. The narrative likely explores compelling themes and showcases exceptional writing, making it a noteworthy read for those interested in award-winning literature.
"In the summer of 1986, two tragedies rocked Oklahoma City. Six movie-theater employees were killed in an armed robbery, while one inexplicably survived. Then, a teenage girl vanished from the annual State Fair. Neither crime was ever solved. Twenty-five years later, the reverberations of those unsolved cases quietly echo through survivors' lives. A private investigator in Vegas, Wyatt's latest inquiry takes him back to a past he's tried to escape-- and drags him deeper into the harrowing mystery of the movie house robbery that left six of his friends dead. Like Wyatt, Julianna struggles with the past-- with the day her beautiful older sister Genevieve disappeared. When Julianna discovers that one of the original suspects has resurfaced, she'll stop at nothing to find answers. As fate brings these damaged souls together, their obsessive quests spark sexual currents neither can resist. But will their shared passion and obsession heal them, or push them closer to the edge? Even if they find the truth, will it help them understand what happened, that long and faraway gone summer? Will it set them free-- or ultimately destroy them?"-- provided by publisher
Professional wheel man Charles "Shake" Bouchon is too nice a guy for the life he's led and not nice enough for any other. Fresh out of prison, he's supposed to deliver a package to Vegas strip-club owner Dick "the Whale" Moby and pick up a briefcase for Shake's former boss and lover, Alexandra Ilandryan, pakhan of L.A.'s Armenian mob. But when the "package" turns out to be Gina, a wholesome young housewife, Shake decides to set her free—a move as noble as it is boneheaded. Now Shake and Gina are on the run in Panama—looking to unload the briefcase's unusual contents while outmaneuvering two angry crime bosses, a heartbroken ex-linebacker, and a sadistic thug plagued by erectile superfunction. And Shake's learning that Gina is less wholesome and more complicated than he initially imagined.
Set against the backdrop of JFK's assassination, Frank Guidry, a loyal lieutenant to mob boss Carlos Marcello, finds himself on the run. As those connected to Marcello vanish one by one, Frank realizes he holds dangerous knowledge about the crime of the century. With his life at stake and nowhere safe to turn, he embarks on a desperate journey to evade those who want him silenced. The tension of a man caught between loyalty and survival drives this gripping tale of intrigue and danger.
What sets him apart is how well he evokes love, making the romance...as
compelling as the mystery.-Boston GlobeLou Berney immediately earned a seat of
honor at the mystery masters' table with his crackling caper novel, Gutshot
Straight-a lightning-fast, fiendishly clever suspenser that screamed for a
sequel.
