Austin Blues, by Gary A. Keith

“Keith writes with wit and insight about his city. The novel’s rollicking mystery showcases Austin in all its musical, political, and offbeat glory.” – James Wade, author of Hollow out the Dark, Beasts of the Earth, and River, Sing Out

What could blow the dome off the Texas Capitol and the roof off the LBJ State Office Building? What could transport you to the heyday of live music in Austin’s clubs?

Austin: a city rich with music. A power city driven by law, politics, high-tech, and higher education.

Sandy Eden, a Vietnam survivor turned charismatic barrister, has a taste for bourbon, blues, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Yet he often wonders—for what? The answer is his elixir: live music in Austin, where he and his love, Bev, follow the soulful bass lines of his longtime friend Dude from one club to another. But whiskey and blues can’t satisfy his deeper urge to give bullies their due—an itch born in the chaos of war and sharpened by his legal battles.

No longer relying on fists, choppers, or machine guns, Sandy uses his brash charm and courtroom prowess to prove that life is worth the fight. When a whistleblower client hands him the perfect case against arrogant and corrupt state officials, Sandy is plunged into a battle that awakens his war flashbacks and emotional outbursts. With the help of Bev, Dude, and a state agency insider, Sandy navigates scandal after scandal, blowing up the Texas political world and restoring his crown—one win at a time.