Tishomingo Blues

Dennis Lenahan, a high-diving daredevil, lands an act at the opulent Tishomingo Lodge & Casino in Tunica, Mississippi. His days consist of plunging eighty feet into a shallow pool, entertaining a vibrant mix of gamblers, gangsters, and Southern belles. However, his most dangerous performance isn't in the arena, but off-stage, when he witnesses a brutal Dixie-style mob execution from his unique vantage point atop the diving platform. This places him squarely in the sights of the criminal underworld. Soon, he encounters Robert Taylor, a slick, blues-loving hustler from Detroit, who also witnessed the hit and has a complex, secret agenda of his own. Taylor, recognizing Dennis's unwitting involvement, attempts to draw him into his intricate and perilous game. As Dennis navigates a landscape brimming with eccentric characters, concealed motives, and unexpected dangers, he finds himself embroiled in a bizarre plot involving Civil War reenactors and a level of trouble far beyond anything his daredevil act ever prepared him for. Elmore Leonard masterfully blends his signature sharp dialogue, dark humor, and relentless tension into a unique Southern-fried crime narrative where loyalties are tested and a single wrong move could prove fatal.