Toughnut Blowback

When Fade Out . . .
Means You're Dead!

Neophyte stunt man Lem Buck dies performing a dangerous fall from a San Fernando Valley rooftop that may or may not have been rigged improperly. A car skids off Mulholland Road during a chase sequence that results in two more fatalities.

Foul play? If so, who's behind it and why? Aging director-- with booze issues--Denby "One Take" Bramlett? or vengeful stunt coordinator DirkTurpin? Better yet, the trio of Euro producers with out-of-control substance abuse problems in town desperate to score big in Hollywood any damned way they can?

Set photographer and former assistant to industry fixer Lenny Macaroni, Buster "Red" Lobster is scapegoated and fired. Reduced to driving a cab for grub money, Lobster is determined to do all he can to clear his name and rescue what's left of his director friend's reputation and career--at the risk of putting his own life in jeopardy.

For fans of Lee Child, Vincent Zandri, Derek Raymond, and Charles Bukowski, who prefer their urban tales sprinkled with a fair dollop of dry humor.