I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Whiplash River
in Paperback edition on July 10, 2012 and has 320 pages.
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Second in the Shake* suspense series revolving around an ex-wheelman who has the hardest time going straight.
In 2013, Whiplash River was nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original.
* This is my name for the two books about Shake Bouchon.
My Take
Technically, I suppose this is a suspenseful story, annnddd it has a healthy dose of some unhealthy romance. Talk about dysfunctional…but it does seem to work for them. It’s the kind of situation that will make you shake your head in disbelief.
Whiplash River is somewhere between the roller coaster of a ride that was Gutshot Straight, 1, and a fairly standard thriller. Albeit with some of the craziest characters I’ve ever encountered. That FBI agent is a bulldog of a bully, the tiny Meg has such a one-track mind with the biggest chip on her shoulder, then there’s Quinn. Omigod. I’m getting a headache just thinking of his scamming ways!
With Quinn, you take a step ’cause it seems reasonable, but then you take another, then another, and you’re in so deep…you may never get out! I suspect the way he wanted to help Shake in the first place was simply because it was so much more fun — for him — that way. Then there’s the best way to corral people…oh brother.
Then there’s Terry. He might not be very bright, but he’s easygoing and not one to hold a grudge. Then there’s Meg. She’s not very bright either, but she’s definitely a firecracker.
What was he thinkin’?! I mean, I love the sound of his restaurant in Belize. And it would sound even better if he’d kept his money.
I’m still not getting the deal with Gardenhire. Yeah, it was a huge surprise to discover who he was at the end. And I still don’t get it. He was pretty dang serious at the start.
Whoa, that bit of backhistory — what happened between Shake and Gina after Gutshot Straight ended — is not what I expected.
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah…it’s the only way it could go down if Quinn is involved…ROFLMAO.
It just goes to show that nice people and nutjobs are evenly sprinkled throughout the population. Any population, anywhere.
The Story
Shake’s living out his dream with his Sunset Breeze on the beach, with all the attendant hassles of incompetent help, not-too-competent assassins, and not being able to make the vig. Even the intended victim has his competency issues.
It all gets blown up in every way you can imagine with the FBI and the legbreakers after him. A dubious escape, questionable help, and such a desperate need for money that the shakedown in Egypt actually starts looking good.
The Characters
Charles Samuel Bouchon, Shake since his first fall for grand theft auto, is living his dream of owning a restaurant. If only he didn’t owe money on it. Jasper is a “friend” in Vegas who now runs his own strip club. Gina is in San Francisco and appears to have gone legit with Two Birds, a venture capital fund. Boringly so.
Special Agent Evelyn Holly has her own plans for Shake. Sarah is her very responsible daughter. Andre Guardado is her ex-husband, and the district attorney who blindsided her with the deal he made with the Armenians (see Gutshot Straight). Cory Nadler is with Diplomatic Security in Mexico City and terrified she’s gonna screw up his own op. Mike is her ASAC.
Harrigan Quinn has been everywhere, done everything, and knows everyone. Yup, one of thossse. And he does not know how to shut up. The biggest problem is he knows too much about Sticky Jimmy. Benny is hanging out in Central American, importing birds and other wildlife. Mahmoud is Quinn’s contact in Cairo. Just as big a blowhard too.
Idaba is the hostess at Sunset Breeze. Armando and Roger are his incompetent help. Pijua is another chef on the island; Shake reckons probably the best in Central America. Pijua returns the compliment.
Walter “Baby Jesus” Jenkins is a drug-running bastard with no heart.
One Love is part of his Rasta thug entourage.
Meg is a sociopathic “elf” while her boyfriend Terry Epperson isn’t running on all cylinders. They’re trying very hard to break into the assassin game big-time. Jorge Nolasco is Meg’s friend in Guatemala City who assigns her jobs.
Kevin Coover claims to be a government official, a.k.a., Paul Babb, a bad man for hire.
Daniel Gardenhire is the start of the assassination attempt. He works for Sticky Jimmy, a.k.a., Logan James of Blackbird Energy, billionaire, who is running for president.
Devane is the target; he runs a nightclub called The Wild Rose.
The Cover and Title
The cover make me think of a target as the bullet chases Shake and Quinn round and round as they make their escape in the boat.
Oh, yeah, it’s a Whiplash River all right. The jerks and jolts just keep coming, wave after wave.
