Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Review of "Whiplash River" [85]

Whiplash River by Lou Berney
William Morrow, ISBN 978-0062115287
July 10, 2012, 320 pages


"Having left his life of crime behind, former getaway driver Charles “Shake” Bouchon has finally realized the dream of owning his own restaurant in Belize. Unfortunately, to do so he’s had to go deep in debt to a murderous local drug lord names Baby Jesus. And when Shake thwarts an attempted hit on an elderly customer named Quinn, things go from bad to worse.


Next thing Shake knows, his restaurant’s gone up in flames and he’s on the run from Baby Jesus, two freelance assassins, and a beautiful but ferocious FBI agent. Out of options, Shake has to turn to the mysterious Quinn for help. Suddenly Shake’s up to his neck in a dangerous score that he’ll never pull off unless he can convince an even more dangerous ex-girlfriend to join him."

No, it is really not a good idea to borrow your startup money from a drug lord..especially when business sucks and then someone is shooting the customers and blowing the place up.
But it is great fun for the reader!

If ever there was a book that could be described as a madcap caper, Whiplash River is it, just a fun and funny read.
Each character is better than the next, from a pair of deeply in love and rather unlucky assassins, to Gina, the beautiful ex-girlfriend, who has been extraordinarily financially success in the straight life, but can't resist the idea of one more big score, to the mysterious Quinn, with a great plan that might get them all killed. And, of course, we have our 'hero' Shake, who you can help but like, even with his shady past..and present.  Hey, he wanted to do the right thing, giving up his life of crime as a getaway driver for the Albanian mob, he really did. But when that plan explodes, literally, what's a guy going to do? He and Gina make a lovely couple..if they can stay alive and out of jail.
Throw in a beautiful FBI agent, a Belize Mennonite village, the Sphinx, witty dialogue, a couple of unconventional romances and non-stop action and more than a few laughs and I think you will be a happy reader if you are in the market for a very funny thriller.


My thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.

2 comments:

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