The Upper Hand

By: Johnny Shaw

Narrated by: Alexander Cendese

From Johnny Shaw, the Anthony Award-winning author of Big Maria, comes a wild tale about the wonderful things that bring a family together - larceny, deception, and revenge.

Fifteen years ago, Axel, Gretchen, and Kurt Ucker lost their father. At the same time, they learned that he had secretly been a thief their whole lives - and left a fortune unaccounted for. Since then, the Uckers have lived a precarious existence. Their small town shunned and shamed them. Their mother, Bertha, retreated into her religion and her favorite televangelist, Brother Tobin Floom. Axel got a dead-end job. Gretchen turned to petty crime. And Kurt stayed with his mom and his garage band.

When Bertha dies, she leaves everything she has to Floom and his gold-plated revival. The Uckers are at a loss for words. And an inheritance, a house, and a future.

Until their long-lost aunt shows up with a secret: Floom is their grandfather; some new relatives: a family of liars, cheats, and thieves; and best of all, a plan: infiltrate Floom’s multimillion-dollar ministry and pull off the grandest heist in Ucker family history.

When you’ve got nothing left to lose, you might as well risk it all.

©2018 Johnny Shaw (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved

Another Awsome Shaw Book!

The Ruckers are a dysfunctional family that pretty much disinterested when their father died.

With the passing of their Mother they become thrust back to gather and anist intrigued and theift find out the true meaning of family.

Not Bad, But I miss Jimmy Veeder.

Big Johnny Shaw fan. Love his ne’er do well characters and the crazy shenanigans they seem to find themselves in. I liked the Uckers. I just really didn’t find the Jimmy Veeder magic here.

johnny shaw delivers

as always, the characters in the l a test novel were uniquely comedic yet still believeable. each chapter builds until the final rollicking one. who knew crime could be so fun?

Arrested Development meets Fast and Furious

If you love stuff like Schitts Creek, Breaking bad or the novels of Carl Hiasson this book is for you.

an enjoyable crime caper with memorable characters

I am a fan of Johnny Shaw, especially his standalone novels. enjoyed The Big Maria slightly more, but this title was also very enjoyable. likable characters doing and saying funny things, what more could you ask for?

I'm still laughing my butt off!

You laugh from the beginning to the end of the book! The characters are well thought out. The story is nothing mind boggling but it still worked! I love this book! You guys just have to read it.

Adolescent Age

Johnny Shaw is the most underrated author that I always recommend to my friends, but yet, the book club that I belong to, refuses to read any of his stuff. Shaw's writing isn't for everyone. It is almost like a summer read for anyone who have a high level of testosterone rather than estrogen. I read for his jokes, outrages adventures and quick character development. I always have fun reading any of his books.

As for his new one, "The Upper Hand", it wasn't as funny as his previous books and a bit of a let down with limited swearing, but I still got a chuckle here and there. All of his books take me back to my adolescent age. Just funny with no responsibilities.

family you gotta love them

what a riotous bunch of misfits. I wasnt sure if I would like this book but I really enjoyed this book.