title: Gutshot Straight: A Novel
author:  Lou Berney 
description: &#8220;Virtually every character is memorable, and the chemistry between Shake and Gina is brilliant. The plot turns are constant, and the dialogue is sharp. The bad guys are wonderfully scary, and the locales are vividly drawn. Elmore Leonard might be very pleased to call GUTSHOT STRAIGHT his own.&#8221; (Booklist <strong>(starred review)</strong>)<br /><br />&#8220;[A] fast-moving caper&#8230;smoothly blends humor, action and romantic frisson.&#8221; (Publishers Weekly)<br /><br />&#8220;GUTSHOT STRAIGHT has my vote for, among other things, Best McGuffin Ever. Just when you think it can&#8217;t get any weirder or quirkier, here comes the scene where... well, I better not give that away. Energetic, droll, and wheezingly funny.&#8221; (Stephen Harrigan, New York Times bestselling author of <I>Gates of the Alamo</I> and <I>Challenger Park</I>)<br /><br />&#8220;A literary sucker punch -- surprising, funny, effervescent. It&#8217;s a cocktail that won&#8217;t let you off your barstool till closing.&#8221; (Ted Griffin, screenwriter of OCEAN'S ELEVEN, MATCHSTICK MEN and BEST LAID PLANS)<br /><br />&#8220;An exciting read you can&#8217;t put down. A definite must read.&#8221; (Abraham Rodriguez, 2009 Dashiell Hammett Award finalist and author of <I>South by South Bronx</I>)
zlib_text: ![](images/00002.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](images/00002.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
    
    
  
  * * *
  
  GUTSHOT  
  
  STRAIGHT
  
  * * *
  
    
    
  
  Lou Berney
  
    
    
    
  
  ![](images/00004.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  For Christine
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Contents
  
  [Cover](Gutshot_Straight_split_001.html#filepos244)
  
  [Title Page](Gutshot_Straight_split_002.html#filepos379)
  
  [Chapter 1](Gutshot_Straight_split_005.html#filepos7994)
  
  [Chapter 2](Gutshot_Straight_split_006.html#filepos24561)
  
  [Chapter 3](Gutshot_Straight_split_007.html#filepos33654)
  
  [Chapter 4](Gutshot_Straight_split_008.html#filepos41833)
  
  [Chapter 5](Gutshot_Straight_split_009.html#filepos54397)
  
  [Chapter 6](Gutshot_Straight_split_010.html#filepos76002)
  
  [Chapter 7](Gutshot_Straight_split_011.html#filepos87773)
  
  [Chapter 8](Gutshot_Straight_split_012.html#filepos93862)
  
  [Chapter 9](Gutshot_Straight_split_013.html#filepos131134)
  
  [Chapter 10](Gutshot_Straight_split_014.html#filepos138371)
  
  [Chapter 11](Gutshot_Straight_split_015.html#filepos152137)
  
  [Chapter 12](Gutshot_Straigh