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It took me approximately one paragraph of Rick Gavin’s hilarious first novel, Ranchero, to become a devoted fan. So it’s a relief to see Nick and Desmond, Gavin’s delightful Delta duo, up to more of the same outrageous antics in the fun-filled follow-up, Beluga.
Beluga follows ex-cop Nick Reid and his good friend, Desmond, on another adventure through the Mississippi Delta. After coming into a fair share of cash at the end of Ranchero, Nick and Desmond are looking to make some wise investments—and Desmond’s ex-brother-in-law, Larry, is convinced that his plan to steal a truckload of already-stolen tires and resell them is a no-brainer.
Right from the beginning, Nick knows that they won’t make any money off the deal. After all, Larry is a hapless idiot who spent a recent sentence in Parchman prison applying to have his name legally changed to Beluga LaMonte. But Desmond’s ex-wife gives them no choice—and it’s not long before they once again find themselves face-to-face with a variety of Delta ne’er-do-wells.
Admittedly, the story behind Beluga isn’t particularly memorable. Nick and Desmond end up on another crazy adventure that finds them battling a ninja schoolgirl assassin and a family of rednecks with way too many teeth. They try to keep Beluga and his friend, Skeeter, out of danger while evading (and sometimes escaping) arrest. And, along the way, Nick finds himself falling for a pretty young cop who can’t help but notice that his various dealings tend to get him in a whole lot of trouble. But how it all fits together? Well, that doesn’t really matter. What matters is that Nick and Desmond’s latest madcap caper is absolutely, wildly entertaining.
Of course, there is actually a method to all of the madness. And, if you stop and think about it, it actually makes sense. But while you might sometimes lose track of the big picture, in the end, you won’t really care—because you’ll be having way too much fun.
Gavin writes with a style that’s distinctly his own. You’ll hear Nick’s voice in your head as you read, and you’ll practically see the quirky characters of the Mississippi Delta grinning back at you from their place on the page. Thanks to the characters, their language, and Gavin’s detailed descriptions, this fascinating Southern setting will become so clear that the action will play out in your mind’s eye like a classic caper comedy (complete with a Dukes of Hazzard score).
If you haven’t met Nick and Desmond yet, don’t wait any longer! Gavin’s eccentric characters and his down-south Delta style make his novels required reading. I recommend starting with Ranchero, but be sure to pick up a copy of Beluga at the same time—because once you finish one, you won’t want to wait to start the other.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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