Double Barrel Bluff follows Gutshot Straight and Whiplash River as the third in Lou Berney's series starring professional wheel man Charles Samuel 'Shake' Bouchon, who used to work for Armenian mob pakhan Alexandra Ilandryan (his ex-lover) in Los Angeles.

Now Shake and Lexy's thug Dikran head to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where she's in need of rescuing.

I am very familiar with Lou Berney having read three of his novels. I was very excited to see a new book coming out, even though I haven't read either of the 1st two in the Shake Bouchon series. This can be read on its own, but there are some major plot points referred to so I, personally, would not go back and read from the beginning. That said, I will definitely read going forward. Berney has become a "go-to" author that I feel is underrated.

As with his stand alones, Berney used a perfect blend of action, drama, darkness and humor. His characters are well developed and sarcastic, and just plain quirky and fun. Berney is an author that you can pick any book and recommend to everyone.

I want to thank William Morrow & NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shake Bouchon used to be a driver for the Armenian mob. His boss was the alluring Lexy. Shake has finally broken away from the mob and is leading a quiet life with his new wife Gina. Lexy has now disappeared while on vacation in Cambodia, and her old friend enlists Shake’s help in tracking her down.

I have enjoyed all this author’s thrillers, with a slight preference for his standalones. He deserves more attention. This is the third book of a series, but it is not necessary to read the first two books before you read this one. This is a plot driven book and I liked the plot. However, a few too many of the characters were off-the-charts stupid for my taste, but they did hold my interest. This was certainly not a contest of wits. There was also a pointless side plot with Gina, and in general I found her annoying. I got no feel at all for Cambodia. The story could have been set anywhere.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

A new Lou Berney novel is a cause for celebration. Double Barrel Bluff brings back fan favorite Shake Bouchon, former getaway driver, now honest citizen, married and living his best life in Indianapolis.
Shake and wife Gina's simple lives are interrupted by a huge Armenian from his past. Dikran isn't here to kill Shake....this time. He needs Shake's help. Dikran hasn't heard from Lexi, the sexy female head of the Armenian mob in L.A, for several days.
Problem is, Lexi was vacationing in Cambodia.
Since Shake has had a past with Lexi, he leaves Gina and hops a plane with Dikran.
Get ready for strange cultures, weird characters and even weirder capers as Berney bluffs his anti-hero into a thriller Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen would approve.
Fast paced, constantly surprising and lined with double barrel wickedness, Lou Berney hits the bullseye with Shake and the gang. Have fun!

The Double Barrel Bluff
By Lou Berney

Lou Berney writes quirky books with characters that are at once the average Joe and at the same time not like anyone you've ever met – and hopefully you never will. Charles "Shake" Bouchon, a Cajun from the Big Easy, is just such a character. He has been the protagonist in multiple book, including this one.

Shake has spent life in and out of prison for crimes, some petty, some not so much. He has been a driver for the Armenian mob out of LA – and the sometime lover of Alexandra "Lexy" Ilandryan, the "pakhan" - or boss – of the Armenian mob.

After a number of adventures together with Lexy, Shake has married Gina, the love of his life, and moved to Bloomington, IN to walk the straight and narrow. He has succeeded for just over a year when Dikran, an Armenian thug and Lexy's closest and most trusted friend, shows up to ask for Shake's help, because Lexy, while on vacation in Thailand, has disappeared.

Thus these two friendly enemies take off to Thailand to find out what has become of Lexy. From this point on the usual array of oddball characters manages to add to the bedlam that transpires. There are kidnappers who don't know who their victim is; a psycho Thai overload of sorts; an underling making his move to move up in the world; a sorta psychic ; and a 26 year old casino manager who thinks he's irresistible to women. Each contributes to the fun and mayhem that always seems to find Shake.

This is once again a fun adventure, not to be taken seriously – just enjoyed for the journey.

Shake Bouchon is living a semi-retirement life in Bloomington, Indiana teaching driver’s education. The former wheel man’s idle life runs into chaos when an Armenian thug shows up. Lexy, the head of the Armenian mob and Shake’s former lover, has been abducted in Cambodia and the mob needs Shake’s help. This setup launches a nifty thriller with plenty of danger, beatings, murder and betrayal. On the peripheral of the story is Gina, Shake’s wife who is none too happy about his running off to find Lexy and ends up playing a key role. There’s plenty for noir fans as Shake prowls the dark and mean streets of Cambodia and wisecracking between Shake and Gina bring to mind Dashiell Hammett’s Nick and Nora Charles mysteries. Cool twists in the tale (one I definitely did not see coming) are throughout this novel making for a fast-moving and satisfying read.

Lou Berney’s DoubleBarrel Bluff is a thrilling blend of humor, grit, and action that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. In this novel, we follow Shake Bouchon, a former bad boy turned regular guy, as he navigates a whirlwind mystery involving his ex-girlfriend Lexy, who has mysteriously gone missing. Despite his commitment to a new, quieter life with his wife, Shake’s decision to help his ex sets off a chain of events that are as entertaining as they are suspenseful.

One of the novel’s highlights is Berney’s witty, sharp dialogue, which adds a lightheartedness to the otherwise intense storyline. Shake’s character is both complex and charming, and his interactions with Lexy and his wife bring out laugh-out-loud moments, showing the humor and tension that arise from trying to balance the past with the present. The inclusion of perspectives from Shake, his wife, and Lexy gives the story depth, creating a multidimensional view of each character’s motives and adding layers to the plot.

Fans of edgy, action-packed thrillers with a dash of humor, especially those who enjoy gritty characters like Max Payne, will find DoubleBarrel Bluff a thoroughly satisfying read. Berney’s combination of suspense, humor, and character-driven storytelling makes this book a standout in the genre.

Double Barrel Bluff is quite a thrilling, dangerous roller coaster ride through Cambodia! Shake Bouchon has forsaken his former life in the Armenian mob to settle down with the love of his life, Gina, in Bloomington Indiana. Gina has also lived a life on the edge and desires a new life as well. When an old enemy from his past appears suddenly at his new home, begging for Shake’s assistance to find his old flame, Lexy, who has been kidnapped, Shake finds himself pulled back into his old life. Lexy is currently head of the Armenian mob and the search is fraught with danger. Lou Berney has written a fast-paced book full of danger, a cast full of unsavory, sometimes bumbling criminals, with a plot full of unexpected twists and a bit of humor! I have not read either of the first two in this series, but it works well as a stand-alone. I absolutely enjoyed the book and found it hard to put down! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy. The opinions of this review are my own.

Double Barrel Bluff Lou Berney is another enjoyable story.
The writing is taut and evocative, skillfully building an atmosphere of unease and suspense. The narrative is well-paced, with just the right balance of tension and revelation to keep readers hooked. Each chapter peels back another layer of the mystery, revealing new secrets and twists that keep the reader guessing.
Lou Berney hits it out of the park again with another outstanding thriller.

BLURB: "With Lou Berney’s trademark wit, flawless plotting, vibrant locale, and memorable characters, Double Barrel Bluff is another unputdownable, globe-trotting adventure."

Shake Bouchon is living a nice quiet life in Bloomington, Indiana with his loving wife, Gina. Both are former criminals with past connections to some very frightening people. One day one of those people, a brutal Armenian thug who once vowed to kill Shake on sight, shows up in their neighborhood looking for you know who...

Long story short, the Armenian needs a favor. A big one. Shake reluctantly agrees to help out; he's still not completely convinced the guy isn't out to kill him but a person who once meant a lot to Shake could be in serious danger. Also, Shake's a pretty good guy in spite of everything else.

Shake and the Armenian head to Cambodia where they get caught up in a comedy of errors that isn't all that funny (at least to them). It's a tangled web of deceit, high-level hostage negotiations, shady underworld characters with questionable loyalties and opportunistic frenemies. And just when it seems like things can't get any worse... they do.

Double Barrel Bluff is the third novel in the Shake Bouchon series. As far as I know I've not read either of the previous books (although I have read other novels by Lou Berney). It's very effective as a stand-alone. One thing I particularly liked is the way the author incorporated the need-to-know backstory details from the previous books without creating the kind of boring information dump that so often occurs in sequels... Everything comes out in a way that keeps things moving and doesn't bog down the plot.

This is a fun read once you get past the first chapter (more on that shortly). The characters are distinctive and fully developed. The plot has lots of twists and turns with a great deal of humor that often borders on silly without crossing that line. I could use a lot of adjectives like witty, wry and farcical but the end result is the same -- it's a fun story with a few darker elements that draws you in and keeps you reading.

It's almost like a genre mash-up of Elmore Leonard and Graham Greene. Fun, oddball characters in an international espionage-like setting.

Regarding that first chapter: The whole thing starts with a cold opening in the middle of an ongoing scheme. It's a standard technic in mystery/thrillers but I had a difficult time following it as there were a lot of Cambodian phrases and descriptive terms that were nonsensical to this ignorant American. I had to read through several paragraphs a few times to even get a sense of what the author was trying to say... Once I got farther into the story it started to unfold in a more readable way and helped make sense of the beginning but it was tough going there for a few pages.

Some great characters in the new book from Lou Berney - Double Barrel Bluff.

"Shake has retired from a life of crime to Bloomington, Indiana - at least until an old adversary, Dikram, shows up and demands his help. Shake is supposed to leave his wife in Indiana and go with Dikram to find Lexy in Cambodia where she's disappeared. Shake is not happy but does he really have a choice?"

You know what you get with a Berney novel - a main character with a good heart but is a little on the criminal side. Shake wants to help find his former girl friend without getting killed by Dikram (who is basically a walking muscle) There's Ouch and the goof and French and the mysterious Ramos. And a kidnapping gone awry. And Gina - the wife set to save the day...maybe.

This is a wild ride in an exotic location. Great, entertaining story from Lou Berney.

The so-so success of her eponymous album and former industry insider father's songwriting beneath her wings, Kim Wilde's second studio album 'Select' mysteriously avoided the US market and garnered luke-warm support in the rest of the music world. A notable departure from Kim's debut, album number two was a slight departure from Kim's OG sound and featured more synthesizers and different themes. Widely acknowledged as the best song from 'Select', Cambodia was ostensibly not related to the carpet bombing of said country in the 70s under Nixon and Kissinger. Borrowing both the theme of losing someone in sad circumstances and the titular country, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF goes full bore on a wild ride through South East Asia; there's murder, bumbling kidnappers, betrayal, love, vengeance and diamonds. There are always diamonds.

New Orleans diaspora and former pro wheel man for the L.A. Armenian mob Charles "Shake" Bouchon wants to go on the straight and narrow, and one day it will happen. Were it not for intrusions of his old life coming back to haunt him. Like John McClane asking himself how the same thing can happen to the same guy twice, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF has Shake whiling away time in the Insurance Capital of the World, Bloomington, ID. He likes it there, the good life with a good wife. The average life. Being a square. Not quite an easy task just out of the joint after serving a three year stretch for keeping your mouth shut and not ratting the female Don (or is it Donna?) of the Armenian mob out to the feds. What's allowed him to prevail thus far, a lifetime with hairy fixes and tight spots, was his number one rule: stay cool. The path of righteousness and the bucolic home life are once again on hold when two expats with shenanigans in their heads and cannabis in their blood decide to kidnap his ex, bringing her right-hand man and confidant to his doorstep. An Armenian brute, a 280lbs behemoth, akin to Lenny from OF MICE AND MEN, offering to help Shake navigate the dangers of Cambodia, just that instead of tending rabbits he wants to break bones.

It's not quite apparent why Shake would agree to this, facing a fuming wife, a crazy Armenian killer who's twice tried to off him, and the missing lady, the ex, who runs the L.A. meat distro and the Kardashians. It's complicated and yet simple. Simply insane and insanely fun. On top of all that, Shake might just be stuck in the middle of a fanning mob war and power shift. What could go wrong? Loosely structured like buddy comedy THE RUNDOWN, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF jumps headfirst into South East Asia, Cambodia, a place with oppressive heat, aggressive insects, a thriving sex tourism trade, and tons of unexploded landmines. Moreover, for sake of the plot, trusting anybody in Cambodia is simply nuts. If readers are familiar with Christopher Hudson's marvelous 1984 movie tie-in novelization of THE KILLING FIELDS, most of the locations and place names will be utterly familiar as the story gets going. If not, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF sets readers on a swell journey of discovery of the former Khmer Republic. With elements of FARGO (the movie, not the TV show), OFF LIMITS, Stephen King's Blaze, and 1997's SUICIDE KINGS, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF argues that nothing in life is 100% and offers a ruthless and brutal game of 5 Questions that rivals the bouts of Russian Roulette played in THE DEER HUNTER. As such, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF is all rage with a malice chaser, a crime caper that is murderously nimble, funny, and entertaining. Three cheers for both barrels. Drink up and don't fumble the reload.

Lou Berney is a super talented writer from my home state! This is the second book of his that I have read and I was not disappointed either time. The fast pace mixed with relatable characters make this book a must read.

I missed the first two books-making this a standalone for me- but that didn't matter. This is a somewhat chaotic tale of Shake, his wife Gina, and his frenemy Dikran who must find Shake's old love (and former boss) who has gone missing in Cambodia. It blends the Armenian mob with other gangsters in a surprisingly (given all the variables) thriller. The relationships are perhaps the best part (especially between Shake and the very patient Gina). It's more funny than distressing but you'll keep turning the pages to find out what happens to those in peril at different points. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. No spoilers from me.

Retired mob wheelman Shake Bouchon gets pressed into service when his former boss, who is also his former girlfriend, is kidnapped.

Shake and his wife Gina are now living a quiet and crime-free life in Indiana. Suddenly his former boss’s blood thirsty right hand man turns up in Shake’s backyard. He demands Shake go with him to Cambodia to help find Lexy, the powerful head of the Armenian mob who disappeared while on vacation.

Shake embarks on a deadly race against time to find Lexy. Almost everything that can go wrong on the trip does, and Shake often finds himself caught up in absurd situations and tangling with outrageous and deadly characters.

This is an action packed and fast paced thriller infused with quirky humor. This is the third book in the Shake Bouchon series, but it can easily be read as a standalone novel. This is an unconventional thriller set in an exotic location that will appeal to readers looking for a fun read.

I received a free copy of, Double Barrel Bluff, by Lou Berney, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book three in The Shake Bouchon series. Shake has started over in Indiana with his wife Gina, his old life in Vegas, with the Armenian mob is in his past, or is it? Shake has been called upon to find his leader in Cambodia. This is not my typical read, this book wasnt for me.

***A big thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this upcoming book***
Ahh Lou Berney….you’re always in good hands when you see his name on the cover of a book. I had actually read the 2 previous entries in the Shake Bouchon series years ago and was worried that I’d be lost when it came to the characters in this new entry. Shortly after I started the book, I realized that I had nothing to worry about. Don’t get me wrong, you will get more enjoyment out of this one if you’ve read the previous books, but it is not at all required.

Lou Berney was, and continues to be event reading for me. I get so delighted when I’m searching for upcoming books and see that he has something new on the horizon. I think I’ve said it before in a previous review I wrote about one of his books, but the man was cut from the same cloth as Elmore Leonard. The characters are all hilarious, relatable or a combination of the 2. There are twists, there are turns and the dialog reads like the best noir/action movies.

You can look up the plot summary elsewhere but I won’t get into it for spoiler reasons. I devoured and enjoyed this book and it is a must read for anyone looking for an itch that Elmore Leonard or others of his ilk have previously scratched. 5 honest stars!

World-class storyteller Lou Berney is back with another book with quirky characters, an engaging plot, and nonstop action. Although his NOVEMBER ROAD is my favorite Berney book so far, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF comes in a close second.

Former organized crime member Shake Bouchon and his wife Gina are living quietly in the midwest when Dikran, a thug from the crime family they once belonged to, tracks them down. It seems Lexy, the mob boss, is missing, and not trusting anyone in the mob, Dikran strong-arms Shake into going to Cambodia to help him find her. Once there, they quickly discover that Lexy is being held for ransom by a couple of men who are unaware of who Lexy is--they think she's a wealthy tourist just ripe for plucking. Amid ransom negotiations, two more members of the crime family show up, but it's unclear if they are there to help free Lexy or have ulterior motives.

I loved the characters. The relationships between Shake, Dikran, and the two kidnappers could not be better. Add a new-age hippy and an angry wife to the mix, and the plot gets more interesting. This is an excellent, action-packed story written with wit and cringe-worthy situations. 5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is November 5, 2024.

This is the third book about Shake Bouchon who was a driver for the Armenian Mafia. He now lives with his wife, Gina, in Bloomington, IN. He keeps a low profile now until Dikran shows up at his house and forces him to help find Lexy, the leader of the Armenian mob. Now it is a race against time to find Lexy before the kidnappers kill her. The book is fast moving with always something new that threatens to change the outcome.
Lou Berney is a good writer that keeps you interested in his stories. There is a lot of action and humor. It's never boring. His characters are well written. Gina and Shake are great together. Dikran turns into a loveable mobster. Mr. Berney is now my go-to author when I want to read something exciting. He keeps you on your toes.
I want to thank William Morrow and Net Galley for my early ARC of this book.


Reading Progress
September 30, 2024 – Shelved as: to-read
September 30, 2024 – Shelved
October 11, 2024 – Started Reading
October 14, 2024 – Finished Reading

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Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Lou Berney’s Double Barrel Bluff is a thrilling ride through the shadowy underworld of Cambodia, featuring the ever-resourceful former mob wheelman, Shake Bouchon. This third installment in the Shake Bouchon series is a testament to Berney’s skill in crafting intricate plots and unforgettable characters.

The novel plunges readers into a high-stakes hostage rescue mission. Shake Bouchon, who has been trying to live a quiet life, is reluctantly pulled back into the criminal world when an Armenian mobster seeks his help in Cambodia.

Shake Bouchon is a compelling protagonist, blending street-smart toughness with a surprising depth of emotion. Berney’s supporting cast is equally well-drawn, from the ruthless mobsters to the enigmatic locals. Each character adds a layer of complexity to the story, making the narrative rich and engaging.

Double Barrel Bluff explores themes of redemption, loyalty, and the inescapability of one’s past. Berney delves into the moral ambiguities of his characters’ lives, presenting a nuanced view of crime and justice.

Berney’s writing is sharp and evocative, with a knack for vivid descriptions and snappy dialogue. His ability to blend humor with tension makes for a highly entertaining read.


Double Barrel Bluff is a standout in the crime thriller genre, offering a perfect mix of action, suspense, and character development. Lou Berney has once again proven his mastery in creating a gripping narrative that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next adventure of Shake Bouchon. Highly recommended for fans of fast-paced thrillers and intricate plots.